Quick Tip: Blogging for Customers

Tip for today:  You probably have certain keywords that you know people use to find your items for sale.  If you have a blog, write a post using those keywords as the topic.  Put the keyword or phrase in the title of the post, the first or second sentence of the post, and again in the last sentence of the post.  Link the post back to your store.  You just might get some traffic - and new customers - that you weren't expecting. 

Don't have a blog?  It's easy to start a free one at blogger.com.  Have a blog you've ignored?  Resurrect it with a new post, then another, then another.  Blogging is a great way to build traffic and find new customers.

How to Start Your Own Online Business

TIME SENSITIVE INFORMATION:  Want to learn how to start your own online business? Need someone to answer your questions? I have an answer for you. My friend Phaedra Stockstill is hosting an e-commerce training session for those who are interested in learning how to sell online. Phaedra's an experienced online seller and a knowledgable expert on the subject as well as a dynamic speaker, so I feel quite confident in recommending her training to anyone wanting to build a successful online business.

This is an in-person training seminar, to be held November 16, 2010, in Patterson, Louisiana. It is geared toward "newbies," those who have little to no online business experience. Topics include:

• How does it work?
  
• Choosing a product
  
• Accepting online payments
  
• Choosing a venue - eBay, Amazon, Bonanza or your own website
  

and much more.

Seating is limited to 10 participants, so you can be assured of plenty of personal attention in this three-hour seminar. The price is $129.99 and I can assure you that this is a small investment for a few hours that could change your life forever. You'll definitely receive your money's worth in valuable information, insider tips, and more.

If you're seriously considering starting your own online business and need good, basic how-to advice from someone who has been there and done that, click here to Learn How to Start Your Own Online Business from a Trusted Industry Expert.

P.S. Not a newbie? Already have an online business? Need to learn to market your business? Check out Phaedra's Internet Marketing Training Seminar.

Where to Find the Best Halloween Costumes to Sell Online

I wanted to share this really great deal with you and the time truly is limited, so please pay attention. If you act before September 10th you can get this outstanding ebook that teaches you exactly where to find and how to sell the best Halloween costumes online for just $20.  But you must use the special link provided here. Otherwise, you'll pay the full price of $29.

Used Halloween Costumes is a hot market. You can find costumes for under $10 and instantly turn them around on eBay for $30-100 or more RIGHT NOW - if you know what to look for and where to find them! This ebook lays it all out - and even lists over 200 HOT used costumes to look for this year.

The eBook bundle sells for $29 regularly, but through a special arrangement with the author I can offer it to you for just $20 - if you click and buy it right here.

It's not too late to make your $20 back - and much, much more - by following the advice offered in this ebook. Remember, click here for the discount and to get instant access so you can get started right away on finding, listing, and selling the hottest Halloween costumes on eBay or your favorite online selling site.

To read the sales page with all the details about the ebook, go ahead and look HERE. Then when you're ready to buy, come back and click the picture above or click on this special link to claim your discount. Then get busy listing the absolute best Halloween costumes to sell online - and start raking in the profits.

How to Prepare for Selling Around the Holidays

Some of the best information about how to sell on eBay is available from eBay itself, including live online chat-style workshops.  If you can't attend live, never fear.  Transcripts of the sessions are archived for you to read and study anytime.  One such recent workshop was called "Holiday Sales 2010: Tips & Prep for a Successful Selling Season."  If you missed it but want to take advantage of the selling season that occurs on both sides of Christmas, you'll definitely want to click here and read through the session for some great information you can use. 

The workshop was presented by Lisa Suttora, an eBay expert who definitely knows her topic well.  A few highlights from the workshop include:

• What events and holidays are included in the selling season (some you probably haven't thought of)
• What inventory you should promote in your store
• How to decorate your store for the holiday shopping season
• Why "Top Lists" are important
• Ideas for promotions

If you enjoy the workshop and would like more information from Lisa, you'll find some helpful books and DVD's from Lisa Suttora here.  It's not too early to get started with preparations for selling around the holidays.  In fact, savvy sellers have been gearing up for weeks, so get started with your holiday sales preparation by studying these terrific tips right away!

P.S.  Most of the tips presented in the workshop can be applied to other online sales businesses as well as to eBay, so don't skip this valuable resource no matter where you sell online.

EBay Marketing on Facebook and Twitter

I'm so excited! My friend Beth Cherkowsky of AntiqueDaze has agreed to guest post for us today.  Beth has been selling on eBay and at Amazon.com for 13 years and really knows a thing or two about social networking.  Today Beth teaches us about marketing our eBay items on Twitter and Facebook.  Pay attention; there's a quiz at the end.

So you heard that you should market your eBay items on Facebook and/or Twitter and get more sales?  How?  I don't mean the "ethics" or advisability of it but HOW? the practical, functional question..how do I get it from there (eBay) over here (Facebook)? Well follow along with me...here is one of my items - see the spot I circled?? That's a handy dandy eBay application that if you click on it, WALA it does almost all the work for you.* 

  (*follow after the jump)

So  you click and you get three options - EMAIL TO A FRIEND, SHARE ON FACEBOOK< SHARE ON TWITTER...

Here's what happens when you pick SHARE ON FACEBOOK

Write a scintillating comment or at least a little "blurb" about this item or at least the category of item (such as "I love Rolypolys but I really like ALL the Harmony Kingdom items' or "this is a vintage rock made in Albania in 1742".  Not just "look at my rock".

I'd show you how to share on Twitter but the FailWhale is sitting on everything over there so I can't right now.

Now there are some rules in polite society and there are here too.  Ms Manners is busy but here are mine - 

1. I only do one or the other for any particular item - Facebook or Twitter - not both.  In part, that is because I had my twitterfeed going to Facebook for a while.  But also because the demographics are different so I try to send stuff where I "think" it will be viewed by the folks, who are most likely  to "want" it. (someday I'll be smart enough to explain that statement but today is not looking good)

2. Do Not sit there and click on every item in your eBay store which has 5000 items.   I will unfriend or unfollow you so fast you won't know what hit you. And so will most other "HUMANS".  I didn't follow/friend you to be spammed.  But I'll tolerate it occasionally.

3. If I have a category that has say 113 items in it, I sort the MYEBAY page by that store category and then copy that url.  I  use Tiny URL or  BudURL or another "Shortener" (Hootsuite.com has a built-in one) to shorten the link and I'll send a link to the whole category so folks can see for themselves what's interesting.  I do not have the patience to tweet 113 things or to put up with anyone else doing that to me either. 

4. if you want people to share or retweet your item, keep YOUR tweet or your "blurb" short.  Twitter allows 140 characters. If you use 139 HOW do you expect me to retweet it??
So 

     4A) use "texting" spelling here - GR8 - 4 U - 2 U-  C U THERE~

           and should be &,  tonight can be 2nite or tonite  for is 4...and four is 4  SHORT and sweet as my mother used to tell me..

     4B) leave me a minimum of 15 spaces to retweet (rt @........) otherwise I'm not gonna do it

      4C) In general on Twitter? LOSE THE PUNCTUATION and the obsession with periods.  Leave a space at the end of your thought, it's  enough.

See you on Twitter or Facebook
@antiquedaze  http://www.facebook.com/antiquedaze and http://twitter.com/antiquedaze
@depressionglass  http://www.facebook.com/depressionglasswarehouse

Did I tell you that Beth knows her stuff? That's the quiz and the correct answer is a resounding "Yes!" Be sure to follow her on Twitter and "like" her page on Facebook at the links above. Thanks again, Beth, for sharing these great tips with us!

EBay Sellers' Christmas in July Sale

There's nothing better than having a group of like-minded friends to encourage you in your online sales ventures. And when members of said group unite to create some exciting sales, great things can happen. The Online Business Success (OBS) seller's group, led by Beth of Depression Glass Warehouse, has united this month to encourage their members to set up Christmas in July sales in their eBay stores. What a great idea!

A dozen or so members have set up sales and are offering discounts in their stores for most of the month of July. Here's the initial post about the Christmas in July sale in the group's blog. More sellers have joined the sale since that initial post, so be sure and read through subsequent posts for more information.

On a side note, you've gotta love the name of the OBS group's blog, "These are the DSRs Of Our Lives." Clever! If you're an eBay seller, you'll either laugh or you'll groan, but you'll "get it" right away. If you're not and you don't, it doesn't matter. Just check out the blog and check out the Christmas in July sales from some of the best sellers on eBay. If you love bargains, you'd better hurry. July is halfway gone and Christmas will be over soon. When you buy something, tell them Susan52 sent you!

VHS Video Tapes

My friend Brenda, expert eBay seller and movie reviewer, has graciously provided this guest post. Thank you, Brenda, for sharing your expertise!

"Where can I sell my used video tapes?" is a question I read frequently online. People have invested their money in a collection of movies that they want to part with now because they have moved on to DVD. It is hard telling them that there is no market for videotapes.

That is, there is no market for most videotapes. There is a market for some VHS video tapes, and a quick peek at recent eBay statistics revealed these interesting sales:

• A copy of Good-bye, My Lady with Sidney Poitier and Walter Brennan sold for $97.97 plus shipping.

• A copy of Alice Cooper’s The Nightmare (not The Nightmare Returns) sold for $81.49 plus shipping.

• A copy of A Time To Live starring Corey Haim and Liza Minnelli sold for $66.00 plus shipping.

• Welcome to Pooh Corner tapes sold for between $32 and $100 plus shipping or an average price of $52.55 plus shipping.

If you want to sell VHS video tapes, you will have to be careful because you are right, the bulk of video cassettes are worth nothing…not even fifty cents at a garage sale. My quick peek revealed not only those tapes shown above that sold for a good price but also listing after listing of VHS tapes that are not sold, and probably never will be.

The most important rule of thumb is that once a video is on DVD the videotape is no longer of interest to anyone. The tapes listed above all have that in common. NONE of them have ever been issued on DVD.

If you are a seller, you will have to decide how you will guarantee used videotapes. All of my videos are tested and fully guaranteed. I would not buy anything on eBay that is not fully guaranteed so neither would I sell anything without guaranteeing it and yes, there is a fair bit of risk with a used videotape. However, I am sure that this guarantee makes it easier for someone to spend what is a significant amount of money on a used videotape.

If you are a buyer (and even if you are a seller), I recommend you read my page Rare VHS Tapes ~~ A Collector's Guide to Videotapes, which will give you more to think about if you are buying tapes as well as guidelines on how to properly care for and preserve the tapes you already own.

There is the chance, I suppose, that some of those tapes listed above could be issued on DVD. If that happens, it will instantly render the VHS tape valueless, which is exactly what happened with Barbra Streisand's Yentl now that the DVD is available. However, it is also quite possible that these movies will NEVER be released on DVD or any other format.

In 2009, Marc Savlov of The Austin Chronicle reported that only 50 percent of films that were on VHS have been transferred to DVD. That leaves a large number of movies only available on videotape...the challenge for eBay sellers is in identifying the valuable ones.

Brenda
eBay name: treasuresbybrenda
eBay Store: Treasures By Brenda
Rare VHS Tapes ~~ A Collector's Guide to Videotapes
Brenda's blog: Music & Movie Treasures by Brenda

Order the Be Kind - Rewind t-shirt here

Vintage Little Golden Books

There are few vintage collectibles that capture the joy of a baby boomer era childhood better than Little Golden Books. Whether the books explore magic and imagination, holidays, pets, toys, or everyday life, the words and images are nostalgic and charming.

Little Golden Books are one of my favorite things to collect - and to sell - on eBay. I personally collect Little Golden Books about dogs and Christmas, as well as Eloise Wilkin illustrations. Two of my books are in the photo above. I have a special fondness for activity books, like Trim the Christmas Tree, which has little paper ornaments to cut out and assemble. I had a copy of this book in my childhood - which of course I used to make ornaments. I am delighted to have another copy now that is complete.

As a seller, there are several things a buyer will look for with Little Golden Books. These include:

* Title
* Author of Book (some authors are collectible)
* Illustrator of Book (there are some treasures here – i.e. Corinne Malvern, Eloise Wilkin, Richard Scarry, Garth Williams, etc.)
* Book Number (top right corner of front cover). It is important to note that numbers featuring a hyphen, i.e. 254-12, are newer editions, and not as collectible.
* Original Price of Book (top right corner of front cover). 25¢ and 29¢ books are the best sellers in the vintage market.
* Date of book publication - On copyright page, make sure you have included the last date of publication included. For instance, if you see 1950, 1962, 1976, then the date to include is 1976.
* Edition - For older books (i.e. 25¢ - 29¢ books) you will also find the book’s edition inside the back cover. Open the back cover and look at the bottom of last page of book in the book gutter at binding. With oldest editions, you will see a letter, i.e. A, B, C, etc. A is a First Edition, B is a Second Edition, etc.
* Condition, including any writing or marks in book, child’s name, gift inscription, etc.

Little Golden Books are a uniquely charming baby boomer vintage collectible, and great fun for buyers and sellers alike!

Trish
eBay name: birdhouse-in-your-soul
eBay Store: Birdhouse Books
Fan page for updates and vintage chat: Facebook.com/birdhousebooks
Trish's blog: Adventures on eBay


(Many thanks to Trish, proprietress of Birdhouse Books, for today's guest post.)

One Woman, 39 Bras, and a Cause

What do you get when you take one driven woman with a cause and add a group of friends and 39 bras? You get a month's worth of eBay auctions for charity.

The woman is Beth Cherkowsky of Depression Glass Warehouse on eBay. The cause is Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The occasion is the 25th anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this October. The 39 bras are fantasy bras created by a group of Beth's friends and supporters for her "Bling My Bra" project to raise money for the Komen organization. And bling those bras is what they did! Take a look.

Each day in October, at least one fantasy bra auction will end and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the cause. The first auction launched on September 24th and will close October 1st. You can check out the auctions running now in Beth's eBay store.

What a great time to choose a collector's item and support a great project. Look for Halloween themes, peacock feathers, autographs from a certain eBay celebrity, autumn leaves, and flowers galore. Each is truly a unique masterpiece.

Shop now, have fun, and support a great lady and an even greater cause.

Product Sourcing With Close-Out Deals

I'm ready to reveal my sources. Well, one of my sources.

When I was actively selling products from my own inventory, one of my favorite places to find liquidation sales and close-out bargains for resale was Graveyard Mall, "Where high prices come to die!" (Gotta love their slogan.)

I've found great deals in their collegiate products department, health and beauty, home improvement, and more. I could name several items that I purchased in bulk then practically gave away on eBay but still doubled or tripled (at least) my investment.

The best tip I can offer about buying on Graveyard Mall is to research the items first, before you get carried away because of a low price. Remember, these are close-out type items and sometimes they're being closed out for a very good reason: nobody wants them. Nobody. And that means your customers won't want them either, so do your due diligence before you buy. You will find some bargains, though. For instance, I see one particular item priced at $1.99 that's selling for $9.98 right now at Amazon.com. Seems someone could turn that one around and make some money, wouldn't you think? (I'll give you a hint: It's in the Dollar Store category.)

Sign up for the newsletter to to keep up with their specials and visit the site daily to check their Deal of the Day. Hope you find some great bargains!

For more ideas for product sourcing, check out Where to Find Stuff to Sell on eBay.