Selling on Ebay is one of the most successful online business models of our times. Its infectious in its ability to sprout self-employed people everywhere. Starting a new business is no longer a luxury afforded by very few. The term ‘starting a business’ is searched about 330,000 times every month online. Google alone returns more than 130 million web pages for that phrase, relevant to business start up support and advice. Are you one of those searching for information on starting a venture? Or, does your business depend upon these new ventures and start ups? Doesn’t matter which side of table you sit at, online business is a phenomenon which is happening far more than ever. And if you choose to be a 9-5er skeptik, you dn’t know what you are missing out on!

This series of article deals with different online business models. Starting with Ebay makes sense, as most people can easily associate internet and trading with Ebay. It’ll be a sin to presume that the readers of this article are unaware of what Ebay is, how the marketplace operates, what are the basic ways of earning money from Ebay.(For those who have been holidaying on Mars since 1995 can check out my blog for detailed info on Ebaying). Well, Ebay is a marketplace and you are provided a place to sell your goods. You are provided with customers lurking about in millions and you are provided with shop space to stock and manage your inventory. So lets assume by saying you have goods to sell and you are looking for best practices and tips to maximise Ebay profits.(For tips on finding products to sell check out my blog) Here we go:

1. Ebay Shops: If you are anywhere serious to earn money on Ebay, you got to have a shop. Basic shop costs you £6/month and you get first 30 days free. In a shop you get to list your item for 3p/month for as long as you want. So basically you get to list it longer for cheaper. A shop comes with a lot of cool tools free. For starters, Selling Manager Pro, which usually costs £4/month, newsletters, and other marketing tools.

2. Ebay Softwares: If you want to be a pro seller you will be listing a lot of items and listing the normal Ebay way will take you ages. Turbo Lister is a must-have tool and its free. You should take time to master it. Selling Manager Pro is good and you will get it bundled with your shop. It automates your Ebay process fantastically. There are useful outside free tools as well: Photobucket to host your images, saves you 12p/image that Ebay charges, Auctiva Gallery to give your listing that smart scrolling gallery.

3. About Me Page: This the page where Ebay gives you free hand to write whatever you want about your business. This is, in effect, your business card on Ebay. Very few people use it to full effect. You MUST use it to market yourself like a pro and if you have an external website or blog, add the URL here!! 4. Optimising Pages: Now how many of you actually know that Ebay listings can also be optimised for search engines. But nothing hides from Google and the gang. Especially, the shop home page. All the titles: Headings, Category titles, promotion boxes, should be optimised keeping in mind your keywords.

5. Email Marketing/Newsletter: Ebay gives you an opportunity to keep in touch with your customers by sending them email newsletters. You have to prepare your newsletter, which is easy with Ebay’s ready formats. You have to put the subscription form everywhere you can. Email marketing is an essential way to get returning customers.

6. Postage and Delivery: Okay, you must know this by now, but you should never try to rip your customers off by charging ridiculous postage charges. Ebay community is based on trust and credibility and that applies to your individual Ebay shop as well. Its okay to charge a quid extra towards bubble wrap but unfair to charge for DHL delivery and send the item by Royal mail second class.

7. Dispute Resolution & Feedback: Feedback rule for sellers is to leave only after you have received one from the buyer. Never leave before you got one, imagine what’ll happen if you left a positive as soon as you got payment, and the buyer left you a negative. Now you can’t do anything. Also, only wait for seven days for payments and the eight day open dispute formally. Obviously, you’ll have to remind the buyer during that period. Opening a formal dispute safeguards your position as a seller and 9/10 times you’ll be in Ebay’s good books doing so.

I can go on and on here but to get detailed Ebay guides please visit my blog. I am also available for professional consultation on Ebay.