Becoming a successful eBay seller is easy—all you have to do is follow the checklist below (and maybe pick up a special license, such as a California resale certificate).
Setting Up an eBay Account
Before you can become a successful eBay seller, you must first have an eBay account. The following steps will show you how:
- First, click “Sign In” on eBay’s homepage.
- Next, select “Create an Account.” If you already have a business, make sure you select “Create a Business Account.”
- Enter the required details. Be sure to add an automatic payment method so eBay can collect any fees you incur while selling.
- Choose a professional username that will accurately represent your business.
- Buy one or two items through eBay so you can understand the buyer’s experience. You’ll also get some good feedback and build up your presence on eBay.
- Offer Guaranteed Delivery. eBay’s new search system now considers competitive shipping a major factor.
Researching Products
Once you have an eBay account, the next step is to start researching the best-selling items on eBay.
- Visit Explore eBay. This page will show you what kinds of items are trending. If you have any items in your possession you plan on selling, use Explore eBay to search for them.
- Look at how your competitors are photographing items and take note.
- Keep an eye out for keywords and keyphrases. If certain words and phrases repeatedly turn up, they’re probably included to get a search engine’s notice, as much as a human buyer’s.
- Go to eBay’s website and do a search for any items you plan on selling. Again, look at competitor’s photos and descriptions. You should also make a note of how they ship their items.
Optimizing Listings
- Get a good product photo that represents the item you’re trying to sell. Use natural daylight if possible and if there are extra components to the item, be sure to include them in the photo.
- Write an honest product description that highlights the item’s best qualities. Make sure the description is free from grammar or spelling errors, and use popular eBay acronyms like BNIB (brand new in box) and VGC (very good condition) to add more detail to your description without going over the 55-word limit.
- Start with a low bid to attract bargain hunters. If you’re worried about losing money on the item, you can add a minimum price that will ensure the item is only sold if the bidding reaches that amount.
- Offer multiple payment options. The more payment options you have, the more potential customers you’ll get.
- Schedule your listing so it ends Sunday evening, which is when most people are casually browsing eBay, according to PC Magazine.
Avoiding Outdated Strategies
- Don’t over-optimize your titles. Writing your title for search engines instead of humans translates to a lower click-through rate.
- Don’t neglect customer service. eBay rewards sellers who have good customer service by making them Top Rated Sellers. This ranking gives you discounts and more opportunities to get your product listings in front of buyers.
Conclusion
Getting started selling on eBay may seem daunting at first. If you’re willing to put in some time and effort optimizing your listings and figuring out the best things to sell on eBay for profit, though, you’ll have a successful side hustle going in no time. Now that you know what to do, get started on eBay—and contact FastFilings to ensure a hassle-free process in getting any business permits you may need.