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Showing posts with label online selling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online selling. Show all posts

7.13.2011

The Benefits of Opening a Booth on Bonanza

Bonanza (formerly known as Bonanzle.com) is an online auction site similar to eBay. You can buy and sell a variety of products there. You can sell anything from handmade products to antiques. Just the variety alone is a good reason to sell on Bonanza.

Registering on Bonanza is quite simple, you fill out four fields with your information and you have completed the registration process. Bonanza seems to be like eBay, instead of having a store like on eBay you will have a booth on Bonanza. If you have an eBay store, you can use the import tool to import the products there and bring them over to your Bonanza booth. Although it is time consuming, it is easier to import around 10 products at a time rather than 50 or more.

It is necessary to get to know your potential customers. They can contact you through your booth, and you can answer any questions they have about your products. This is extremely important to develop the trust between the owner of a business and the customers.

As a business owner, you need to write out your company policies so that there are no misunderstandings. You need to address returns and refunds.

Posting any items to sell if completely free and that includes posting pictures of your items too. When the item is sold, there is a very small fee, it cost about one third of what eBay charges for the same process. The seller is responsible for setting the prices for the items they are selling.

Taking photographs of your items is a very important part of selling. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. Bonanza encourages you to use or 4 different views of your items so that the customer can see every angle. Along with your pictures, you should write snappy descriptions of your items. Make your item sound like something every one needs to own and can’t resist purchasing it.

There are three different ways to sell your wares. The first way is the regular auction where people bid and the person who bids the most wins. The second is setting a price on your item and sticking with it. The third is called a rush sale on Bonanza. A rush is a quick sale, it is when a group of sellers with similar products discounts their rush items at least 15%. There are different category rush sales every day. It is a way to clear so of your older items and replace them with newer items to sell. This is where setting your price comes in handy, you must make it so that you still profit even having your items in a rush sale.

The seller is responsible for marketing their booth any way they choose. It is simple to add a link to your other websites or in your emails. You can also advertise in several places on the internet. It helps if you email all your friends and family with the news that you have a new booth at Bonanza include your link. Have your family and friends spread the word about your booth and before you know it the customers will come to your booth in droves.


Related Links:

eBay tips that can be used on any online selling service

True or false: Can your packages help you build your customer base?

Learn the tips you need to be successful on online sites from three successful online sellers


7.05.2011

Amazon: MY New (Selling) Frontier

In Search of...Income

 
As you know from my other articles, I am a virtual assistant. While I am constantly building my virtual assistant business, I am exploring other options for income. Many years ago while listening to a teleseminar, a coach mentioned that the self-employed should have seven sources of income. Personally, I thought that may be a little excessive but I do believe you should not place all your eggs in one basket!

 
I have been running a Cafepress store for more than eight years. In the past, I have run an eBay store as well. My store is currently on hiatus. I have my virtual assistant business and have decided to consider selling on Amazon.

 
With Cafepress already selling shirts with some of my designs on Amazon and the clothing section of Amazon not accepting new vendors, I began to look at selling used books. I met Suzanne Wells (virtually) years ago when I joined MomPack. MomPack is a virtual network of women-business owners from every industry imaginable. Suzanne is known as the eBay Selling Coach. Her wealth of knowledge has expanded beyond eBay to other sites. Amazon is one of them.

 
Suzanne is now one of the coaches featured at OnlineSellingCoach.com. Thanks to my membership there, I was able to attend a webinar that detailed things to consider when starting or building a book selling business with Amazon.
 
During the webinar, Suzanne shared the following:
  • Why traditional books are still a good seller (even in the age of the eReader)
  • How to determine the condition of your book (which you have to list on Amazon since they may be used or new)
  • How to price competitively
  • How to find books to sell
  • What tools and software is available to help you sell your books on Amazon
  • New uses for old books
 
If you would like to learn more, the webinar I attended is now available on online for replay. To see the replay, you have to be a member of Online Selling Coach. The membership fee is $9.95 per month and you will have access to EVERYTHING on the site, not just this webinar. The site covers selling on many sites such as eBay, Amazon, eCrater, Bonanza, and others.

 
Thanks to Suzanne, I have many tips and tools to help me get started.