Optimizing traffic to your ebay page without a store

[licoricebabyandfabmama]

I know there are plenty of ways to get traffic to your store,  but what if you dont have a store and have to first compete with stores to even get to the point where it is worth having a store.  I cant justify having a store right now obviously especially if the store costs are about to double.   The only thing I can think to do is charge a bit less and lose some profit in order to gain some sales.  Other then that maybe have a picture tht stands out more,  better product descriptions.     I think if you are truly selling niche products you'd have better luck competing without a store,  but finding a niche product these days is trickier then it seems.

I am doing a course on selling on ebay (inlaws paid a heap of money for it,  but then didnt have the time so passed it onto us)   Anyway this worked for me because I wanted to open an online store and want to use selling on Ebay to fund my stock for that store.    The products I want to sell are brands that dont allow selling on Ebay, which is good in my opinion.

But of course sounds like this course would have profitted more like 5 years ago and of course selling from Australia almost doesnt work at all.  Soon I will start dropshipping from the states and just sell within the states,  but even there I will competeting with heaps of stores.    Sorry to ramble on but thats my story.      Course has taught me heaps but only discusses maximizing traffic from a store point of view.

[thesoulyearns]

A store is good if you're a power seller, by nature. If you have a ton of stock and know how to sell it to achieve your goals. It's also good to have that left-panel which shows your store products in the description. Other than that, in my opinion, it's just a name.

Know your target market. Some people are always looking for things to buy on here at every time of day, 7 days a week. That's how sellers are able to sell things every single day in multiple quantities. Try to find out when your target market is expected to be home and looking on eBay and when they are most likely to bid.

Since it seems alot of Aussie buyers wait until the last second to place a bid, it seems a good idea not to work out the start time... but the end time for an auction. The exact time and day when you think most people will be looking for something to buy. That's usually Sunday night or weeknights, though weekdays before school pick-up time might be good for women's/mother's things. This may also be true for BIN, as some people will only click on Ending Soonest, so they may not see your BIN until its last 24hrs. Other than that, just be relaxed about selling... from my experience, when you write the description in a relaxed and carefree way, just hoping to make a buck, it will show and people will be inclined to purchase from you, rather than if they think you're only out for $$$$. It's one of those subliminal things.

(now for a little rant)

I listed something on one day. Within 24 hrs it had 21 views, 5 watchers and a bidder. The next 24 hrs, no views at all. Very strange. For some sellers, it's as if their items cease to exist at certain times or days.

[fullboarqld]

You can sell at half price and it does NOT mean you get the sale. People tend to think theres a problem with the item if it looks the same but is cheaper. Almost 35 years in business teaches you a lot about pricing and it doesnt always work the way it should!...but then neither does an ebay course!

[auto_body_auto_parts]

(A few years ago your store listings never come up in searches people had to go to your store to view them on eBay maybe that is where this course is coming from in regards to store traffic which is out dated.)

I can't believe you just said that!!!

Did you read the title of this post?

The course is a con,

I'm a store owner Registered business in Australia. We had it tough at the start (we all do)  I can say this,

You will not make money drop shipping period...

If you are running in Australia you go to take into consideration, Example, Buying your product from your supplier, Recording all the Gst costs, Listing on eBay (small fees) Selling item, (eBay fees, postage fees, PayPal fees, 10% Gst of the total amount. also paying tax on that money you have made.

There is allot more to it than taking that course.

Besides if you have a insider or have a fairly close relationship/friendship with them, Most Suppliers/Distributers only deal with clientele to them, Not sending 1 of this to here 1 of that to their, That's the reason they become distributors, They are the middleman between you and the manufacture.

Unless you're serious about selling and turning this into a business, then I do suggest you get a eBay store.

Not having a store will just be a normal person to everyone else. Majority of the Non stores are selling second-hand items. Why buy second hand when you can buy a brand new for a few $$ extra unless it's a rare or valuable item.

Drop Shipping you are just advertising your supplier and not yourself.

Create a store. Nominate 2-3 days for handling. Order as you sell on your store to conjest losses into stock. If you can get same day or nextday delivery to yourself from your supplier then thats the best option.

Building yourself up from the start - finish is the key.

Simple sollution's

Buying more & more items from your suppliers you get better rates.

Shipping more items out will lower prices of shipping.

Selling more items on eBay Also (top rated seller) will decrease your eBay fees.

eBay fees are the main killer, Ecommerce is pretty much were its at these days.

(Advertising your own site anywhere, People can see your items and not see others items on your website will indeed produce more sales for yourself)

Server host $1000 per year, I paid $1800 ebay fees last month.

So my point at last Dropshipping will not make you money on ebay.

Get a eBay store and build yourself up!!!!!!

[licoricebabyandfabmama]

Sigh.....  yes this post title should actually be changed to pros and cons of dropshipping.

Anyhow,  yes the inlaws were ripped off majorily could have been avoided had they researched the company and all the lawsuits people were trying to open against them.     That being said since i did the course for free it did tell me step by step how to sell on ebay,  that did help me ( i know ebay teaches for free) but having all the information step by step in videos was great.

Um dropshipping    I knew before i even did the course it does not work in Australia for all the reasons you listed and more.

Im not as quick to say that it doesnt work in the states,  selling from the states to US customers.  This is the important part. People reading this post have gotten the wrong idea and did not read the part about selling from the states to US customers.   Maybe it works because there are heaps of companies offering dropshipping in the states, free shipping, short delivery time etc, and the largest customer base in the world.  The way to make money i guess is you are selling heaps and heaps of products.        Now Im sure there are dropshippers out there that would say it works  and Im sure none of them will reply to this post.

Now the inlaws were ripped off even more so being in Australia because they were not told that dropshipping does not work from Oz and the coaches when I asked had no idea and told me to dropship within the states.  Of course when I asked them how, they could not give me any advice.     I have done some research into how to operate from the states Of course it can be done,there are lots of people operating businesses from Australia in the states.   Quite frankly at this point Im too lazy and I didnt finish the course since they couldnt really help me anyhow.

Ok deep breath.   lol.

I am having fun buying product and selling from within Australia,  but i dont have money to buy a huge amount of stock to validate having a store and Im not making enough money to open a store lol.   Therefore I guess what myself and others want to know is how to get our products noticed so that we can sell enough to buy more and then to open store.    I dont know,  maybe Ebay has changed so much over the years its harder to start small and go big.

[auto_body_auto_parts]

Sorry my first point about reading the heading was directed to member emporiumdownunder that said the stores never showed in eBay searches. people had to click on your shop. ( How would they find your shop if your items were never in search)  That's my point out, Sorry if sounded like it was directed to you.

Ok, Tips on sales and enhancement.

1.

Basically without a store you can only list 1 Quantity at a time. Once you sell that item but you still have more you then relist that item for sale. Which then results last in the search results for that item.

If you had a store, You can list more than 1, e.g. List 10 qty. t-shirts exactly the same, Cost 40cents for you to list.

Once you sell 1 your qty. is now 9. Because you have sold 1 then your item progresses up the food chain in the searches.

2.

Find items that people haven't listed will have more greater chance selling the items, Having a good title name and description. Include good photos of the item. To really stand out customize your photos with a nice border, So when they show in searches as the small thumbnail pictures it's a nice professional look that reaches out and grabs shoppers attention. (People don't like cheesy pictures.)

3.

Make sure your completive in prices with others on eBay also in retail stores.

Remember about postage costs. Research your products and look at what others are selling and how many sold in that field. As long as you're not too expensive on postage just remember online stores are beneficial for people who don't have time to go and buy them, This is a Door to Door Service so don't think people won't buy your products. Use postage calculator to find prices of shipping to WA and base your rates from that. Offer pick-up service in the location your from, Remember you can also make money from postage prices in some cases.

4,

Smart Listings,

Bundle items as a pack/kit.

I have just looked through the items you sell, Try listing the Kiddopotamus cacoon with a Hawaii pacifier and a bib. Or Can be anything else relating to babies.

This way you save on postage and you sell 3 items in 1 sale.

Your descriptions look great. Pictures could be a little more consistent in quality.

..............................................................................................

May I ask also do you have a supplier for the products your selling, Or are these items that are on special sale in cabbage patch, K-mart or Target that your buying.

Hope I could help you.

If you click on my store page we have just had our store graphically designed.

I can tell you we only created this eBay account in late Jan this year, We have sold to this day 930+  items in that time it's an average of 4 items per day since the starting day.

It's really slow at the start I can assure you this, At the start we didn't have any stock to sell, As we sold items we would then purchase from our suppliers in same day delivery if not next day delivery, Then send out to our customer.

February we sold 28 items.

We sold 190+ items last month.

So my point in this is stick to it, You don't become a millionaire over night. It will take time to build your infrastructure.

[licoricebabyandfabmama]

Auto   just had a look at your store,   looks great!

Yes I have a supplier in the states with great shipping,  but I only order a small amount at a time because i dont have the investment funds for my store.    I cant really bundle items because they are things buyers come specifically looking for and they wouldnt necessarily want one with the other,   but I send standard so the shipping fees arent that much.  If i bundled items I would have to send prepaid sachel and the shipping cost would double anyway.        I guess Im just plodding along here,    waiting for the money to come in where i can buy a large amount of stock and then open a store.  Catch 22 really.

[the-kazbar]

Sorry my first point about reading the heading was directed to member emporiumdownunder that said the stores never showed in eBay searches. people had to click on your shop. ( How would they find your shop if your items were never in search) 

It is correct that store items (BIN) didn't show in searches. I think it was 2007 that it changed (someone can correct me if it is wrong) .. anyway, stores were $9.95 (basic) and store listings were 10c each plus 1c for gallery.  

That sounds really cheap, I know but the kicker was that because those items didnt show in searches (unless there were very few auction results) you also had to run lots of regular auctions and keep asking everyone to check out your other listings.

Buyers would hopefully find one of your auctions (which cost around $1.09 each with gallery for under $19.99 start price) and then hopefully go in to your store to look at your store listings.

[licoricebabyandfabmama]

Oh  Auto had forgotten what the rest of your post read before i responded lol.

Thats a good point about quantity listings in stores.  I had not realized that as you sold items your listings go further up the list in searches.  That would be a good reason to open a store right there.

Also Im having a hard time finding good quality resolution pictures even though there are heaps of stock photos online.    Might be worth it for me to open a few of my packages and take my own photos in a lightbox-  but again financially right now I cant afford to open product (unsellable after due to hygienic reasons) no matter how little the cost.

Your store has done well in a small amount of time. Congrats to you!    its always nice to hear a success story.

And so basically you are saying  that opening a store really boosted your sales and that you would not have been able to make your selling as successful in the short amount of time without the store.    Thats important for a new seller to hear,  because if you have the 50 bux a month to invest in a store (and a good supplier)  it may be the only way to increase sales in a short amount of time.

Im a stay at home mom at the momement so I just cant take that 50 dollars away from my family right now,  but for anyone else I think would reccomend taking that plunge and opening the store.

[gigabean-au]

I'd recommend cross-promoting your items a bit too.

I see you're only selling a few items at the moment so it wouldn't take much to add a bit at the bottom saying "Check out my other items" - helps give exposure to your other items.

We do this on all of our listings.

[keri1128]

This has been a very informative discussion. I stumbled upon it while searching for reasons to open an eBay Store.

I'm selling low value items individually by auction and the fees are basically taking any profit I might hope to make. But in order to justify opening a store and saving on the insertion fees by listing multiple quantities, I too would have to buy a lot more stock than i currently have,

I started buying my own stock to sell because the items I was buying were all coming from China and taking sometimes 6 weeks to arrive. Whereas if I buy bulk, direct from the manufacturer, I can receive my goods in a week! But to justify buying bulk, I have to sell some of it. At the moment I'm trying to sell enough stock to make my next purchase. It's a slow process as having used my 30 free listings I now have to decide whether to list more with the 50 cent insertion fee and risk making no profit. I am starting to get some return buyers, which is grea and has me wondering if a store could be more profitable.

Good luck with your venture. I'm off to gOOgle dropshipping and find out exactly what it is now!