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Absolute Beginner's Guide to Launching an eBay Business

  • By Michael Miller
  • Published Nov 24, 2003 by Que.
    • Copyright 2004
    • Pages: 360
    • Edition: 1st
    • eBook (Watermarked)
    • ISBN-10: 0-13-264923-3
    • ISBN-13: 978-0-13-264923-0

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Product Author Bios

Michael Miller is a top eBay seller and a successful and prolific author. He has a reputation for practical, real-world advice and an unerring empathy for the needs of his readers.

Mr. Miller has written more than 50 how-to and reference books in the past 15 years for Que and other major publishers. His books for Que include Absolute Beginner's Guide to eBay, Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics, and Absolute Beginner's Guide to Upgrading and Fixing Your PC. He is known for his casual, easy-to-read writing style and his ability to explain a wide variety of complex topics to an everyday audience.

Mr. Miller is also president of The Molehill Group, a strategic consulting and authoring firm based in Carmel, Indiana. You can email Mr. Miller directly at ebay-business@molehillgroup.com. His Web site is located at www.molehillgroup.com.

A real-world business book for the explosion of eBay entrepreneurs! Absolute Beginner's Guide to Launching an eBay Business guides you step-by-step through the process of setting up an eBay business, and offers real-world advice on how to run that business on a day-to-day basis and maximize financial success. This book covers determining what kind of business to run, writing an action-oriented business plan, establishing an effective accounting system, setting up a home office, obtaining starting inventory, arranging initial funding, establishing an eBay presence, and arranging for automated post-auction management.

Table of Contents



Introduction.

I. LEARNING THE ROPES.

1. Reviewing eBay Basics.

How an eBay Auction Works. Other Types of Auctions. Navigating the eBay Site. How People Make Money on eBay.

2. Using eBay's Advanced Features.

The Ins and Outs of User Feedback. Using My eBay to Track Your eBay Activity. Showing Off Your Business with About Me.

II. SETTING UP AN EBAY BUSINESS.

3. Step One: Create a Business Plan.

Thinking It Through—Before You Start. Why You Need a Business Plan. How to Create a Business Plan. The Components of a Winning Business Plan. Writing the Plan.

4. Step Two: Evaluate Your Funding Needs.

How Much Money Do You Need—and Why? Where to Find Funding. Which Is the Right Option for You?

5. Step Three: Deal with Business and Legal Issues.

Choosing a Type of Business. Filing and Registering. Dealing with Taxes. Setting Up Your Bank Accounts. Obtaining Insurance. Working Through the Checklist. Hiring Professional Help.

6. Step Four: Set Up a Record-keeping System.

Why You Need to Keep Good Records. Components of a Bare-Bones Record-keeping System. Setting Up an Accounting System.

7. Step Five: Set Up Your Back Office.

Setting Up Your Home Office. Setting Up Your Packing Center. Managing Your Physical Inventory.

8. Step Six: Find and Manage Your Inventory.

Where to Find Merchandise to Resell. Managing Your Inventory Levels.

9. Step Seven: Research Other eBay Auctions-and Set a Pricing Strategy.

Why Researching Pricing Is Important. How to Research Other eBay Auctions. Working with Grading, Authentication, and Appraisal. Setting a Pricing Strategy. Using Reserve Pricing. Using Buy It Now.

10. Step Eight: Establish Your eBay Presence.

Creating an eBay Seller's Account. Arranging to Pay Your Fees. Building Your Reputation—with Positive Feedback.

III. MANAGING YOUR DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS.

11. Creating Item Listings.

Before You List. Understanding eBay's Fees. Creating a Basic Auction Listing. Listing in Bulk.

12. Managing Your Auctions.

Managing Your Auctions Manually. Using Auction Management Tools.

13. Managing Customer Payments.

Evaluating Different Payment Options. Accepting Credit Card Payments.

14. Managing Packing and Shipping.

Choosing a Shipping Method. Calculating Shipping and Handling Fees. Packing Your Items. Streamlining the Packing and Shipping Process. Shipping Larger Items. Shipping Internationally.

15. Dealing with Customers.

Answering Bidder Questions. Managing End-of-Auction Correspondence. Mining Your Customer Lists. Handling Buyer Complaints.

16. Dealing with Problems.

Contacting eBay for Help. Relisting Unsold Items. Checking Up on Questionable Bidders. Dealing with Deadbeat Bidders. Coping with Complaints About You. Your Best Resource—Other eBay Sellers.

IV. MOVING FROM SELLER TO POWERSELLER.

17. Becoming an eBay PowerSeller.

What Is a PowerSeller? Do You Qualify? PowerSeller Benefits. How to Become a PowerSeller. Ten Tips for Achieving PowerSeller Status.

18. Making Your Auctions More Effective.

Determining the Best Days and Times to List. Selecting the Right Auction Length. Picking the Right Category. Choosing Listing Enhancements. Writing a Powerful Item Listing. Creating Better-Looking Item Listings. Using HTML in Your Listings.

19. Working with Photographs.

Pictures Work—Here's Why. Taking Effective Photos. Scanning Instead of Shooting. Editing Your Photos—Digitally. Adding Photos to Your Item Listings.

20. Using Professional Auction Tools.

Should You Be Using Auction Tools? Evaluating Third-Party Auction Services. Another Option: Software Tools.

21. Opening an eBay Store.

What Is an eBay Store? Benefits of Opening Your Own eBay Store. Do You Qualify? The Costs of Running an eBay Store. How to Set Up an eBay Store. Listing Merchandise for Sale. Cross-Selling Merchandise.

22. Setting Up Your Own Web Site for Online Sales.

Utilizing a Prepackaged Storefront. Building Your Own Site from Scratch. Promoting Your Site.

23. Integrating eBay Auctions into an Existing Business.

Creating a Dual-Channel Sales Strategy. Creating a Dual-Channel Pricing Strategy. How Other Merchants Are Using eBay to Increase Their Sales. Cross-Promoting Both Channels.

24. Promoting Your eBay Auctions.

Cross-Promoting All Your Auctions. Linking from Other Sites to Your eBay Auctions. Advertising Your Auctions.

Index.

 
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