The $2.7 trillion USD e-commerce market is constantly growing nationally and globally. Nowadays, eBay is one of the most frequently used e-commerce websites for consumer-to-consumer transactions. These platforms have also made it easier for people to sell products to a wider audience.
If you are after a business idea that is 100% online, this article will outline how you can start an eBay store and get your foot in the door.
Choose your Subscription Type
There are a variety of subscription types you can purchase to sell on eBay. Your fees and obligations as a seller will depend on your subscription type. There are 3 types of subscriptions available:
Basic Shop
This is the most basic store you can open and offers 200 fixed price listings per month. It also requires a minimum contract of one month. As with other stores types, you need to be PayPal verified and this type of store costs $24.95/month.
Featured Shop
This is the mid-tier subscription offer which allows you to have 1200 fixed price listings per month. You also get benefits such as a dedicated customer care team and discounted international listing rates. This type of subscription costs $54.95/month.
Anchor Shop
This is the most advanced subscription type which allows you to have unlimited fixed price listings. On top of the benefits of the featured shop, you also get software and technical support to automate your sales. The software allows you to manage your inventory, listings, sales, feedback, and customer emails in bulk. This subscription costs $549.95/month.
Open an eBay Business Account
After deciding what type of store you want, you need to sign up on eBay with a business seller account type. Before you can proceed with this, you need to satisfy a few criteria:
- You must be PayPal verified.
- You must be registered as a business seller on eBay to open a Featured Shop.
- Have an average 4.4 seller score or above for a 12-month average for a Featured Shop.
- Have an average 4.6 seller score or above for a 12-month average for an Anchor Shop.
After qualifying for the subscription type you want, make sure you know what you are going to sell and have the inventory in stock. If you are going to be using an eBay Business Account, it’s also recommended that you apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN).
Launch the Store
Once you have decided on what to sell, it is time to open up your store. Start by choosing a name that will describe what you will be selling. Your store’s name should be easy to remember.
Next, create and upload a logo. Your logo should be neat, professional and simple. You can also register it as a Trademark so that is had protection under the Trademarks Act 1995 (Cth). Lastly, write your store description and choose your featured listings.
Make sure you are happy with the design of the store. Try to upload high quality photos for your listings. You should also be careful regarding any grammar or spelling mistakes on your store or product descriptions. Having correct grammar and information will also make your business appear professional.
Increase Traffic to the Store
It’s very important to focus on getting customers to visit your online shop. For this, you need to advertise. It will determine how your target market will hear about your products and will decide the success of your business. There are a few ways to advertise effectively:
Search Engine Optimisation
This changes the order of your online store to rank higher on search engines using relevant keywords, descriptions and meta titles. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as utilising key terms commonly searched on Google or having a website that draws users in. If you run your own website outside of your eBay store, it is also recommended that you have a privacy policy to inform users about the collection of their data.
Social Media Marketing
Having a presence on major social media applications such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can increase your store’s reach. You can do this by simply uploading photos of your brand and products on these platforms or run paid advertisements on them.
Email Marketing
Emailing customers to inform them about new products, specials and updates around your store can not only retain existing customers, but expand your reach to new ones. Keeping a constant line of communication with your customers will also make them more likely to recommend you to other potential customers.
Starting eBay store can be a great way to get into the online marketplace. However, as with any venture, you need to plan it carefully and take any necessary precautions. Make sure that you use a reliable service to deliver your products, as the success of your eBay store will hinge upon the reviews left by your customers.
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