Creating Multiple Streams of Internet Income: Writing For Pay

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket."

We've all heard that quote, but what does it mean when it comes to earning money in general and earning money on line in particular?

It means getting streams on income from as many different sources as possible. If you sell on eBay, have several different products or suppliers. Don't get too comfortable when one line is doing great, be sure to have another one in the works. Markets change fast and you need to be evolving right along with them.

The same goes for suppliers. Have at least two or three main suppliers, that way you are less affected when one changes prices or policies.

It also means selling "wide." If you only sell on eBay, consider also selling on Amazon. Start building your own web site. When you sell on multiple sites, you have the opportunity to earn more. You are also less at the mercy of any one site's rate changes.

It is important to also consider completely new revenue streams. Many online people earn money writing articles. There are great opportunities to share your knowledge and earn some money at the same time.

One place you can earn money writing is the Examiner. You can apply to become an examiner in just about any area. They offer pay based on traffic and ad revenue. They also have a great referral program. For every new writer you send them, they will pay you $50!

Writing on line is a great place to share the knowledge and expertise you have about your niche or what you sell. Check out the Examiner and please tell them I sent you.

Retail Resale--Risk Free Ebay Inventory

If you live in an urban area of any significant size you have a great opportunity to acquire inventory (risk free) to sell on eBay. Many eBay sellers earn decent money reselling items purchased at their local stores.

Many online shoppers live in rural areas or in foreign countries and don't have access to the stores we take for granted. They especially lack access to sales and to clearance items. This is where an eBay seller can help out! You do the digging and find the bargains and sell it to them on eBay.

Here are some tips to get started:

1.) Stick to name brands. They sell much better on Ebay and are what people search for.
2.) Look for clearance and deeply discounted items. EBay items usually sell for 10-20% below retail, so you will need to buy things discounted at least 40%.
3.) Make sure you list it as "new" and mention in your description that it is "new with tags."
4.) Research before you buy. You may need to make two trips, to see what is on sale and compare it to the completed listings on eBay. A smart phone helps out here.
5.) Save your receipts and pay attention to return policies; this makes it simple to return unsold items.
6.) Store Suggestions: TJ Maxx, Marshalls, American Eagle, Hollister, Abercrombie, DSW Shoes, Outlet Malls

Last Spring, I walked into Walmart and noticed the Twilight Board Game for sale. I knew the Twilight books and new movie were very popular. I bought a couple of the games to see if I could sell them on eBay. They were $15 at Walmart and I put them on Ebay for $30. By the next morning, both of the games had sold. I returned to Walmart and bought all the games they had in stock. It was a nice week for me on Ebay thanks to that one item.

If you have any "retail resale" success stories, I would love to hear about them!

Creative Ebay Auctions

My six year-old daughter loves Zhu Zhu pets and she loves shopping on Ebay. Tonight she was shopping on Ebay for a new mechanical hamster to add to her collection. She came across some cute, tie dye Zhu Zhus. At first, I thought the manufacturers of this latest toy obsession were capitalizing on their luck and the Zhu Zhu craze by offering a wider range of hamsters. Upon closer inspection, however, I learned that these are CUSTOM MADE Zhu Zhus that are being sold by a creative ebay seller.

I LOVE IT! Some of these little guys (around $8 at Walmart) are going for $40-$50 with their custom paint jobs.

Zhu Zhu pets were THE toy to buy and sell on ebay this past holiday season. Sellers who were able to get the pets were easily able to triple their investment reselling them on Ebay. As the holiday season came to a close and the supply of hamsters caught up with the demand, the ebay value of these guys eroded quickly. It was fun while it lasted.

However, this creative seller is taking the Zhu Zhu obsession to the next level. By adding a little paint and a little time, she is to making the Zhu Zhu unique and capitalizing on the latest toy trend.

Seeing sellers like this one is inspiring. There are hundreds of popular products that could be improved or customized and sold on ebay. Using the advanced search option in ebay and the words "custom" or "refurbished" can get your gears rolling.

Scratching your way out of the price battle; how to sell commodities online at a decent profit

Selling online is tough stuff--don't let anyone pretend it isn't. Selling commodities, or anything that is plentiful and sold by a lot of people, is especially tough. The price wars can be vicious with sellers undercutting each other until the only winners are the customers.

I have been selling a lot of a particular product during the last few weeks at a fair profit. I found the product quite easily (at my local box store) and was surprised when I listed it that no one else was selling it. My assistant was ecstatic, we were selling several a day. I knew it wouldn't last long; it was only a matter of time until my competition caught on and listed it too. It happened a couple of days ago--I knew we had been "found out" before even doing the research because sales came to a screeching halt. I found him (or her) rather quickly, they had under priced me by one penny!

Now, no one accuses ebay shoppers of being loyal. They are usually on ebay for a bargain and the lowest priced product usually wins. I get that. But it is still frustrating.

What are the options when this pricing war starts? How can you stand out from your competition without slicing your margins?

1.) Stand out from your customers with great photos. If everyone is using the same stock photo, do something different to yours to make it a little different. Add text advertising your money back guarantee or add a border or use a different picture. Buyers are more likely to click on a listing that appears unique.

2.) Bundle your product in a different way. Sell two instead of one or include an accessory or two. Add value to YOUR listing.

3.) Give away free information relating to your product. Even if the information is easy to find, your taking the time to print it off and include it can add value and make your product worth more.

4.) Provide excellent customer service. Make your listing crystal clear and answer all questions right away. Brag about your customer service in your listing. Maintain the best feedback you can.

5.) Stay a step ahead of your competition by staying on top of the product lines. Introduce new items and get some sales in before you have a lot of competition. Offer the accessories and add-ons that other sellers don't carry. Be creative with your product mix.

Above all, DON"T GET DISCOURAGED! Ebay is a dynamic, fluid marketplace and creative and persistent sellers will always find a way to persevere.

Ebay's "About Me" Page

Ebay's "about me" pages are a GREAT place to tell your buyers about you and your business. Buying online can be impersonal and faceless and this is one way to connect with the people you are selling to. Take a few minutes to let them know who you are and what your business is about.

Your "about me" page is your chance to highlight your experience in your niche, your dedication to customer service and your selling policies. Make it personal and professional at the same time.

Buyers are probably not curious about your favorite TV shows or where you shop(unless it relates to your niche,) but they DO want to know when and why you are selling on ebay. Be honest--buyers don't mind if this is a part time job you perform between diaper changes and carpool runs. Tell them about yourself and keep it positive.

You are allowed to tell buyers about your own website or encourage them to sign up for your newsletter, but make sure never to bash ebay or ebay policies.

Post a picture of your family or your pet. You will never meet your customers in person and most buyers like to know something about who they are buying from.

Jim Cochrum at My Silent Team has extremely creative ideas about how to use ebay's "about me" pages to grow your sales and your customer base.

The Ultimate Ebay Book...

I have read every single book in my library and dozens more about ebay and how to sell on ebay. Many books offer insight and ideas, but one book shines as the best all-around guide for beginning, intermediate and advanced ebay sellers. It is Skip McGrath's Titanium Ebay.



This book offers some basics on getting started, but then it moves quickly into a hands on list of how, when, why are what to sell on Ebay. He has an entire chapter dedicated to researching markets, with specifics on how to tell if there is enough opportunity in a niche for a new seller to move in. He also has an entire chapter dedicated to finding inventory at auctions and another to working with wholesalers. The entire book is sprinkled with his success stories and ideas that have worked for him over time.

This book sits on my nightstand and has been my guide throughout the last year of learning to sell on ebay.

This is the ONE book you don't want to miss as a new (or intermediate) ebay seller.

Two EASY Ways to Get Your Listings Found in Google

Feel like your listings might be invisible in the tangled and complex World Wide Web? Wondering how to get buyers to find YOUR product amongst the millions of listings on the Internet?

Figuring out how the Google spiders operate is no easy task. Without overwhelming yourself or your budget there are two very simple things you can add to your ecommerce listings that will help them get "noticed" by the search engines.

First, label your pictures with keywords. The search engines pay extra attention to pictures and having your labeled with a keyword or a keyword phrase gives you extra "points." Naming your picture is an easy way to add value to your listing.

Second, put a keyword or two at the end of your listing. Search Engine spiders pay extra attention to what is printed LAST on your page. A quick sentence stating the name of your product or the benefits of your product using keywords can also increase your score.