by Kathy Terrill | Jan 10, 2017 | eCommerce Selling Tips, Selling on eBay
Almost daily I am approached by sellers asking me ” Kathy how do I start selling online full time?”
My answer is “Have a plan for success”.
There are people that are super successful that seem to grow their business by somehow being in the right place at the right time. They may prosper for a while, but eventually they will face a hard lesson in numbers. If they side step learning and knowing their numbers they will fail. Most sellers businesses will stop growing without a plan, grow haphazardly or die. If you are looking to be a full time seller then look to increase your profits in a professional business like way. Here are 5 proven steps to move your business to the next level.
#1- Do the Math
Let’s say you want to increase your eBay business by $1000.00 gross revenue a month. That may seem like a lot. Do the math. Most months have 30 days. So that would be an increase of roughly $33.33 a day. Can you do that?
That brings us to your next step.
#2- Make A Plan
If your goal is to increase your eBay sales by $33.33 a day how do you do that? Do you need to increase your inventory? Do you increase your sell through rate? Most likely it will be both.
Join Facebook groups and get tips from seasoned online sellers. eBay Basics Nothing But Selling Basics has thousands of eBay sellers helping each other plan and grow their business.
#3 Increase Your Inventory
The rule of thumb on increasing sales is that if you want to grow your sales by 20%, you increase your inventory by 20% etc. If you plan to increase sales by 20%, do you have inventory on hand that is unlisted that you can list to accomplish this? If you don’t, where can you access inventory? Does your inventory come from thrift stores, yard sales, consignment shops, auctions, retail stores, wholesalers, liquidators or drop shippers? You may need to have several sources of inventory to expand your business successfully.
#4 Execution Is Key
Many sellers write plans, dream plans, talk about plans but they don’t DO them. Look at your end goal. Then break down the journey to accomplish your goal into doable steps. You may want an accountability partner or seller buddy to encourage you and check on your progress. If and when you hit bumps along the way, don’t give up. Focus, re group and get back to work!
#5 Celebrate!
You’ve take all the essential steps to reach your goal! Good for you. Plan a celebration and treat yourself royally. Would you like a nice manicure-pedicure, or a special dinner out? It’s important to take the time to soak in your achievement. You’ve worked very hard. Take time and relish your accomplishment. Thank those that helped you on your journey.
Soon enough it’s time to set the next goal and start the process all over again!
Plan and then take that essential first step and then the next. You’re on your way to another success!
by Kathy Terrill | Dec 12, 2016 | eCommerce Tips, Facebook Business Page Tips, Selling on eBay, Social Media Tips
Holiday shoppers are rushing into retail stores and jumping online to get the gifts they need right now!
Use my 3 hot Holiday sales tips to attract eager customers your way and score sales NOW!
Are you ready?
#1 Hot Holiday Sales Tip – Offer Free Or Paid Expedited Shipping!
Whether you’re selling on Amazon, Etsy, eBay and/or your own website, don’t miss out on crucial Holiday revenue by neglecting to offer expedited shipping.
Why not offer the upgrade in shipping service free for your higher price items and wow your customers?
For lower price items with a few simple clicks of the mouse you can include a paid shipping service upgrade for shoppers that want their items fast. Many sellers neglect to offer shipping upgrades and lose sales to other vendors. Snag extra Holiday sales by offering your shoppers a choice of shipping services. My video shows you how to quickly add shipping choices on eBay. The process is very similar on Etsy.
#2 Hot Holiday Sales Tip – Check Your Prices!
Focus on the items you have chosen as your top Holiday gift items. Regularly check the price(s) of your item(s).
Check Prices On The Web!
Be sure and also monitor relevant prices on the worldwide web.
There are times when pricing a product $1 less can get you the shoppers you’re looking for. Don’t lose crucial Holiday shoppers because you’re not checking prices across multiple platforms on the web. Shoppers know how to use Google search to locate and buy from the seller offering the best value.
#3 Hot Holiday Sales Tip – Keep Sourcing And Listing Holiday Products!
Keep an eye on brick and mortar retail stores when you’re out and about.
Many Big Box retailers are slashing prices deeper and deeper as Christmas and Hanukkah approach.
Be alert to grab great inventory you can list quickly and score sales now and into 2017!
#4 BONUS Holiday Sales Tip – Maximize Your Facebook Business Page To Gain Shoppers!
Facebook continues to be a top resource for sellers who want to quickly and effectively promote their inventory. Don’t miss sales by not fully optimizing your Facebook Business page.
The Ultimate Guide To A Facebook Business Page For Sellers!
Offering shipping upgrades, monitoring prices all across the web and continuing to source hot inventory will get you the Holiday sales you want NOW sellers!
Add the proven tips in my The Ultimate Guide To The Facebook Business Page For Sellers Mini Course sellers, and you’ll have a Facebook Business page that drives eager Holiday shoppers your way for even MORE sales at this crucial time!
by Kathy Terrill | Dec 2, 2016 | eCommerce Tips, Selling on eBay
It’s December.
The Christmas countdown is ON!
Christmas Is Coming!
Some online sellers are rocking it. Some sellers are in panic mode as sales are not as anticipated.
If you’re killing it, good for you! Whatever you’re doing is working. Continue on.
If your sales are slow, now is the time to regroup and quickly.
There are several good weeks of Holiday shopping left. Now is the time to dig in!
Pull the top 5 products you think should be selling. Go online now and check prices. If you sell on eBay , Terapeak is a professional pricing tool that will quickly give you the numbers you need. Often an adjustment of a dollar or can kick start your sales!
Once you’ve checked prices, take the time to closely scrutinize your selected listings.
Scrutinize Your Listings!
Look very carefully at your title, pictures, item specifics and your description. You need to maximize every inch of your eBay listing to get the best search results possible. Good search results can get you more sales. My proven guide The Secret To eBay Search For Sellers walks you through every inch of your eBay listing.
In The Secret To eBay Search you’ll find the ins and out of every part of your eBay listing. The vital information is accurate and up to date with verified data and insights.
eBay search has changed a great deal in the past few years. A practice that was cutting edge even a year ago is not the wisest choice now. I explain what works on eBay NOW and I explain why.
Asses your sales now. If your strategies are working, continue on! If they are not, do a careful assessment of your listings and sales strategies. It’s time to pivot and retarget now to gain Holiday sales momentum.
The Secret To eBay Search gives you the professional tools you need to optimize your eBay listings NOW for a great Holiday sales season.
by Kathy Terrill | Nov 20, 2016 | eCommerce Selling Tips, Selling on eBay
Black Friday is less than a week away!
Online sellers are scrambling to have all their inventory listed and promoted on social media.
Shipping supplies are stacked and ready to be used. Inventory is stocked, stored and double checked.
With Christmas fast approaching, what is a seller’s most precious commodity right now? Is it money for inventory, learning a new listing software, or is it training Holiday help?
When I speak with sellers, hands down their most precious resource this time of year is TIME!
eBay, Etsy, Amazon and other online sellers come to me and ask, “Kathy how do you get so much done?” “Kathy I want to list more but I can’t find the time!” “Kathy I want to do more social media, but I don’t know how to fit it in my schedule!”
I will tell you what works for me. I plan yearly, monthly, weekly and daily. Success starts with planning!
Each year I set myself goals. I tweak and adjust my overall goals throughout the year.
Starting each month, I look at what needs to be accomplished that month towards my yearly goals.
Is my monthly goal making sure all my Holiday inventory is listed? Is it deciding what sales I’ll run during 4th quarter? Is it setting up a date night ( or several) with my husband? Once my monthly goals are set, I then look to each week.
Each Sunday, I check my coming week. I focus on any deadlines I have. I do create deadlines and challenges for myself. For instance, I make a weekly challenge for myself to list XX new items that week. I then plan backwards from my goal to strategize how to accomplish my goal.
Success Starts With Planning!
With an overview of my week I then take 5 minutes the night before, or 5 minutes first thing in the morning to plan my day.
I think through what must be done in that 24 hours. I include personal activities such as a doctor’s appointment, my favorite Pilates class, or a play date with my grandson. I set my top 2-3 priorities each day.
Prioritizing each day is crucial for success. Without priorities important tasks can get overlooked.
What is that day’s most essential tasks? Is it listing products? Is it taking pictures of my products ( or training someone to do it)? Is it shopping for inventory at the 1/2 off sale? I chose my priorities. I can also re-order my priorities as needed. Normally, I list and ship sales every morning before I do anything else. If I need to leave home by 10 am for a client meeting, I look at the time needed to list and ship. I get up early enough to do my morning tasks before I need to leave home. I may only get 1 new listing up. I will then will schedule myself to get more listings done later.
Plan Breaks
I plan breaks and rewards for myself.
My break can be a walk around the block. I also enjoy coffee with friends at a nearby coffee shop. I set a time allowed for my work break and do my best to stick to it.
The task(s) I least like to do, I schedule as early in my day as possible to get them over with. If I think X should take XX time and I’m consistently running overtime, I look at the task to see if I can streamline it. If that’s not doable, I allow more time to accomplish it.
There are never enough hours in the day.
To help my seller friends set and keep priorities that lead to sales, I have developed my Holiday Sales Success Tool Kit!
In addition to my insider video that walks you through winning 4th quarter strategies, I give you tools to set and stick to priorities that ignite your sales! Click HERE for instant access!
Setting and keeping priorities equips me for success!
I set priorities on a yearly, weekly, monthly and daily basis. I monitor my progress monthly, weekly, daily and adjust. Without planning you’ll lose your day and your success.
With my Holiday Sales Success Tool Kit you’ll have proven tools that empower you for sales success!
It’s in your power to chose a day that leads to success for you and your online business. Choose success!
by Kathy Terrill | Nov 9, 2016 | eCommerce News, Selling on eBay, Social Media Tips
Holiday selling is ramping up.
There are more shoppers than ever on the internet now. The volume of gift buying shoppers will only increase in the coming weeks.
With this huge increase of shopping comes an equally large amount of listed products on eBay, Etsy, Amazon and all the big online retailers.
How can a small Holiday online seller stand out amidst the crowd?
How Do You Stand Out?
1-Leverage your size.
For many smaller entrepreneurs, you are the chief bottle washer. When someone asks a question about your eBay, Etsy or Amazon item, it lands in your inbox. This is a HUGE plus. Large sellers often use auto-responders and or outsource their customer service. Buyers have YOU! Whatever the question, make it a point to respond quickly and accurately. Buyers often are shopping during short breaks of time. Answering quickly can get you the the sale. The same question if received by a large seller can take over 24 hours to get an answer.
2- You exceed expectations!
Give your shopper a free shipping upgrade!
Wow your online customers. When a shipping upgrade is only a small amount of money, upgrade your customer’s purchase at no additional cost to them. Put a note on their packing slip wishing them a wonderful Holiday, letting them know you upgraded their shipping for free! Is your normal handling time 1 business day? During the Holiday season ship the same day with a cut off time that works for your shipping schedule to move that purchase just that much faster.
I elaborate on this tip and the others listed here in my recent appearance on eBay Radio with Lee Mirabel and Jim “The Griff” Griffith. Click HERE to listen.
3- Offer Gift Messages and Cards!
When your customer messages you indicating that a purchase is a gift, offer to include a card or gift message. Customers will appreciate that your read and responded to their message quickly. Everyone appreciates thoughtfulness, especially during the hurly burly of the Holiday shopping season.
On their Facebook Business page eBay For Business has a card that sellers can download and use. The card wishes people Joy during the Holiday Season. Click HERE to access this free card.
4- Do Social Media that WORKS.
Social Media is essential to reach your customers where they are! Customers are on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Targeted, friendly social media can reap rich rewards for sellers.
My FREE Top 10 Holiday Sales Success Social Media Tips arms you with proven tips to effectively use social media to score sales.
5- Offer White Glove Service!
What sets apart the great hotels and restaurants from the mediocre?
Yes it’s location and their luxurious and high quality offerings. It’s also their white glove service. Superb establishments offer their customers white glove service. Their attention is on their customer’s every need. During this frenetic time of year, how can you help your shoppers have an easy and pleasant time with you? Are your listings clear and easy to read? Do your pictures represent your product well? Are all the item’s measurements included so a potential buyer doesn’t have to message you for them? Think, how can I make shopping with me the BEST possible experience. Then do it.
This all takes time. Time is a small sellers most precious resource.
I’ve developed a Holiday Sales Success Tool Kit to help you use your time well!
My Holiday Sales Success Tool Kit will equip you to maximize your sales NOW. The proven Tool Kit includes my video that will steer you week by week through the Holidays. You will know how and what to target for sales success. I give you worksheets so each day of the week to equip you to ignite your sales.
For a short time my Holiday Sales Success Tool Kit is 50% it’s regular price of 10$ and is ONLY $5. That’s right right now you can get access to this proven set of sales tools for $5.
Be sure to get access to your Holiday Sales Success Tool Kit NOW while it’s HALF OFF for only $5, click HERE.
Attract customers during this hectic selling season with effective selling using the assets from your Holiday Success Tool Kit.
Enjoy the best Holiday selling season ever!
