5 Vital Tips for eBay Success

5 Vital Tips for eBay Success

If you like to earn a little bit of extra cash on the side as an eBay seller, how realistic would it be to take this profitable hobby a fulltime job? The answer might surprise you. There’s actually precious little difference between someone earning $100-$200 on eBay, and those who make enough to support themselves fulltime.

Of course, as with any self-employed position, becoming a fulltime eBay seller is not without its risks; but, if you’re already active on the site, have an established customer base and a good feedback score, there are a few small changes you can make to take your operation to the next level.

5 Vital Tips for eBay Success

 

1. Lay solid foundations

eBay has transformed the way we shop, but with a 90 million strong eBay community it’s still essential you stand out. Having a unique and inviting storefront is a crucial part of branding and differentiating yourself from the competition. But more important still is having a functional, intuitive store that’s easy for customers to navigate.

So, before you go wild with your storefront design, make sure everything’s working as it should be behind the scenes. Create a clear navigational structure and make sure there are no broken links. Even something as simple as a grammar or spelling mistake could damage your credibility.

2. Be unique

It takes guts to be different. When you’re surrounded by bland and generic storefronts, the temptation is to play it safe and blend into the crowd. But, if you’re set on eBay success, it really does pay to be different.

The truth is that people love a good story. You have 15 customisable pages to tell your story and make your business stand out. Going the extra mile in terms of your copy and design is an important part of building a brand. Creating a brand will not only attract more customers, it will also make them less sensitive to price. The result is a boost to your bottom line.

3. Pay attention to design

In many cases customers buy with their eyes, so, if your storefront looks great then you’re already half way there. There are a number of different elements you need to consider to create an appealing storefront. Product images should be prominent and high quality, and text should be easy to read. If your storefront is all one colour, differentiate between menus and submenus by changing the size of your text.

As a simple template for good storefront design:

  • Use as few design elements as possible
  • Make them as interesting as possible
  • Make them as clearly understood as possible

If you’re struggling to create an intuitive design yourself, there are plenty of easy to use eBay store templates to give you the helping hand you need.

4. Cut down on the clutter

Passion is a prerequisite for a successful eBay store owner, but there does come a time when too much passion can be counterproductive. The temptation is to wax lyrical about your products and provide the customer with more information than they actually need. Information overload is a real risk for eBay storeowners, and it’s only going to turn prospective buyers off.

In terms of customer behaviour, overly cluttered stores have been proven to increase exit rates and reduce sales. By reducing the information on each page, you allow your customers the brainspace they need to navigate your store at their own pace. Here’s a little more about the best ways to avoid clutter.

5. Don’t rush product listings

Your product listings are the single most important element on your eBay store. You have 80 characters at your disposal, so you need to make the most of them. An effective product description should:

  • Give you the highest possible position in the search results
  • Provide customers with all the relevant information they need
  • Make your listing standout in the crowd

That sounds like quite a lot to achieve in 80 characters, but following this simple and consistent template should stand you in good stead:

  • Always start your listing with the main keyword
  • Capitalise the first letter on important words to make them easy to read
  • Do not use words you don’t need

And there you have it, your blueprint for eBay success. Happy selling!

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