Online sellers from eBay, Etsy, Craig’s List selling and Amazon come to me sadly saying “Kathy, if I only knew…”. Yes, if they only knew!
When you first dip your toe in the water of online eCommerce often sellers are making money as a hobby. They are selling personal items from their home and/or a few things they pick up locally at thrift stores and yard sales.
A seller will chose to grow their business or not.
If you chose to grow your online selling business entrepreneur make sure you don’t make this serious mistake!
Don’t neglect to plan!
Do you use Google Maps on your phone when you travel?! I do. I type in my destination and my current location and bam in a matter of seconds my phone is guiding me in the right direction.
Google Maps cannot help me if I don’t give it my current location and where I want to go.
When you haphazardly source and sell, for the most part you will get haphazard results.
Professionals in all businesses plan.
Write in a journal, loose leaf binder, post its, Evernote, what and wherever it works for you but write it down. Look at your gross sales numbers for this time last year. What is your goal this month? 20% increase? 30%? You want to set a goal that challenges you and that is attainable. To say you want to double your sales, sounds great but unless you have massive amounts of new inventory coming it’s unlikely to happen. Why set yourself up to fail entrepreneur?
Pick a goal that is a stretch, but attainable!
Inventory bundles are an awesome misunderstood and under utilized tool by sellers on all platforms! That includes those of you who sell on Amazon, eBay and Etsy!
Products bundles are a low cost way for sellers on any online platform to grow their business! They have the BONUS effect of increasing your products search results which can also help INCREASE your sales. Bundles are a win-win to grow your sales profits!
My hit class Secret Spice For Online Sales gives you over 50 ideas for product bundles to sell as you grow you online business!
My hit online selling class help you grow your business!
Success Takes Planning!
Planning your business growth is exciting. Sit down and grab your pen and paper or favorite app. Start thinking through what and how you want to grow this year! Then get busy taking the next right step entrepreneur!
Don’t Just Dream!
The business that you want to have may start in your dreams, but it comes to fruition through your planning and hard work! I can’t wait to hear about your business growth this year. Take some time now to plan and you are on your way to your best selling year yet!
One of the biggest mistakes you can make starting your online business is to not buy your eBay store or Etsy shop dot-com name!
1-You don’t want someone else owning your store name!
After you’ve worked long and hard developing a brand and presence on social media using Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram and on eBay and Etsy you don’t want someone else to own your name!
You don’t want someone else to own your name!
2-Owning your dot-com is also a great way to help Search Engines Find you!
Google, Yahoo and Bing search find your online products! Once you purchase your name you can use it to direct online traffic to your eBay or Etsy store!
3- You’ll find that owning the dot-com to your online business is very handy!
You can easily use it on social media and on your business cards! Rather than you having the long, long http address from your Etsy or eBay http address, now you are able to print www.mystore.com on your business cards and on your social media posts! With a short easy to remember dotcom address it’s far easier for you to give out your name to shoppers. It also speaks to your professionalism as a seller. You can tell customers and vendors, find me at www.mystore.com!
You can put your dot.com on your business cards!
4- It’s Easy To Purchase Your Name!
Go to sites like Go Daddy or Host Gator and buy your name. You don’t need the large assortment of add ons they will offer. Google for coupons as there are usually many for both sites.
5- What To Do With Your Dot-Com Once You Buy It!
Once you have purchased your name go to your domain dashboard and look for the link to refer traffic from your purchased address.
You will copy and paste your eBay or Etsy store address and confirm.
Give it a few minutes to process. Then enjoy Googling your store name and watch the internet search engines find your eBay or Etsy shop and store!
6- What A Deal!
For under $20 you have given Google, Yahoo and Bing a boost to find you and your online sales items. You have also made it easier for yourself to promote your online products on social media and to present yourself professionally on a business card!
Almost daily sellers will message me wanting tips to get their online products found in search. To help them I’ve investigated this important topic for years.
Are you also looking for better search results for your products on Amazon, eBay, Etsy, your own website and everywhere you sell?!
Are you looking for better search results?
I know you’re thinking to yourself, “Kathy, yes! yes!!”
I am constantly looking at retail stores and then looking at online selling to find ways to bring retail secrets to my online selling friends.
Your words matter. On Amazon there is a set formula for titles to be followed. It is not as cut and dry selling on eBay and Etsy.
When moving products from Amazon to eBay and Etsy and other sites it pays to do some simple research on what words get the most searches.
Hit sales class to ignite your online search results!
I’ve worked months testing the strategies I share with you in this power packed class. I’ve found the secret to leveraging product bundles to increase your search results not only on the selling platforms of Amazon, eBay, Etsy but all sales platforms. The strategies I’ll share with you also impact your product’s search on Google, Yahoo and Bing!
I’m so glad to give you useful tools to bring your items better search results, and ultimately more sales!
Cha chings are the perfect way to start to 2016, wouldn’t you agree?
2015 is drawing to a close and 2016 is just around the corner. As an online seller on eBay and Etsy here are my top winning tips for you to start 2016 right!
Top Tips To Start The New Year Right For Online Sellers!
1-Know your numbers! Your profit and loss are key numbers that all sellers should look at regularly to gauge the success of your selling efforts. Your profit and loss are the foundation of your business. In every segment of the hit CNBC show The Profit when the star Marcus Lemonis as he decides whether or not to invest in a company he asks, “What are your numbers?” Successful sellers know their numbers. Many new and or floundering businesses don’t and /or they guess.
How quickly does an item sell?
2- What is your sell through rate and or conversion rate? Roughly how long does it take to sell an item? Look at when your listed your products and look at when they sold. It’s important to know this as it informs you to how long your money will be tied up. Make notes on what item(s) and categories sell the fastest. Sell through rates are key to the cash liquidity that is needed for a successful business.
With this vital information to your overall profitability you are now ready for the next step!
Time To Find Profitable Products!
If you sell on eBay you can use effective research tools like Terapeak to do a deep dive and discover products that sell well. Then as a successful seller you look to source those products from wholesalers and distributors and/or direct from the manufacturer. Selling on Etsy you want to check your shop’s statistics.
Equipped with the knowledge of what is and is not selling the New Year is a great time for selling off stale inventory. Check the marketplace prices on the site where you sell. You also want to look at prices all over the web. Google search is an invaluable tool for this information. Then you will price and promote your inventory to sell now. My effective Secret Sauce for eBay Sales Class gives you tangible tested tools and strategies for increasing your sell through rate on eBay and getting cash in your pocket!
Tools to move ebay inventory!
Start the New Year right eBay and Etsy sellers. Know your numbers. Resolve to move stale inventory now. Start your 2016 with sales!
Cash is a very nice way to start 2016, wouldn’t you agree?
Christmas is less than 7 days away! The final Holiday sales days and hours are counting down now!
Keep in mind that if buyers live in your state or nearby they can still order with you and anticipate the items they buy to be delivered in time to be under their Christmas tree!
For this to happen and keep shoppers stress to a minimum, it’s smart as a seller to offer expedited shipping for free and /or a very low cost as an upgrade to your primary shipping service.
Now that being said, ebay and Etsy sellers don’t forget shoppers like to shop for themself! This is called self gifting and it’s a growing trend every year. Many shoppers are buying right now for their own pleasure. They are NOT concerned with whether the item will arrive by December 25th, as they are making purchases of some goodies for an end of year treat for their own use!
Keep self gifting in mind this week with your posts on Facebook, Google Plus, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. Welcome those customers in for purchases they they will enjoy for their own personal use!
‘Tis the season to shop for others and yourself! Targeting and welcoming self gifters is a great way for you to end your ebay and Etsy sales for 2015 with a bang! Other sellers will flounder as purchasing gifts for others will dwindle and they have not considered or thought of the self gifters.
You savvy seller can pick up sales now and through the end of the year with a targeted listing and social media approach to self gifting ! The result for you will be more sales and a strong end to the 4th quarter!
Isn’t that a nice gift to enjoy for your business?
With Christmas here in a few weeks it’s a frenetic time of year for ebay and Etsy sellers!
The Holidays are fast approaching!
Holiday shopping is a wonderful time of year for sellers meeting their customers needs with the special gifts shoppers want and that personal customer service they enjoy from your small business!
Amid all the Holiday events it’s good to take a tiny pause and think. Is there a charity I can reach out at this time of year? Christmas is a wonderful time full of work, family, friends and gifts. It is also the perfect time to remember our blessings.
It’s time to count our blessings!
Giving money to the charity of your choice, and to shop ebay looking for businesses donating to great causes with ebay for Charity are thoughtful choices to make.
Shopping with charities is a great Holiday choice!
Don’t forget the gift of time. Is there an elderly neighbor that could use a nice phone call? Perhaps you know a military veteran that could use a plate of cookies or at single Mom that would love the treat of a manicure pedicure while you keep an eye on her kids for a few precious hours.
Frankly my schedule is absolutely packed full this time of year with selling online, consulting with sellers, working brick and mortar retail for clients and grabbing precious time for my family.
In the midst of the Holidays events it’s truly a joy to be helping a dear friend from my QVC days Marie Cisterino Ludwig . Right now Marie has a selling event on ebay through ebay for Charity for her 501c3 charity Stephanie’s House.
Stephanie’s House was created by Marie as a loving and safe place for Marie’s adult autistic daughter Stephanie. Marie’s vision includes room for other women living with autism to share the home with Stephanie. While tirelessly raising funds to maintain the home Marie doesn’t stop there! She helps other families that reach out to her for tips on how to build similar homes for their very own adult autistic children. Stephanie’s House reaches hearts and needs for many families caring for autistic children.
Enjoy the sales ebay and Etsy sellers! Enjoy reaching your returning and new customers, and remember the Stephanies of the world.
All it takes is a phone call, a plate of cookies, or for Stephanie, buying a beauty cream or lotion from Marie on ebay!
Come shop with Marie and me at Stephanie’s House on ebay!
Count your blessings! Enjoy the fruits of your very hard work this year sellers. And enjoy the greatest gift of all, freely giving from what you are so blessed with!
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