Advantages of selling in Online Market Places is online marketplaces have produced  great success stories of the Internet and you can  reach an enormous customer base!

Disadvantages of selling in Online Market Places

Many people will start out in an online marketplaces such as Ebay or Esty which is  fine but the fees and commissions charged by online merchants  can quickly add up,  and don’t forget you  still have to pay credit card fees for  credit card payments you receive.

You don’t have to stop selling in online market places just use them to your advantage. For instance Ebay has an about me page, use the about me page to generate traffic to your own website.

To do this simply add a  link  to your own online store in your about me page provided by ebay . Look for other opportunities to use online marketplaces to direct customers to your site without violating the marketplace rules.  
 
Even if you sell in online marketplaces having your own site for presentation and calling is a wise choice. Presentation on the Internet is key, people are more likely to freely purchase from you knowing you have a professional business site setup online.

An inexpensive way to set up a store online and save a bundle is to use free Internet software.  Zen Cart is my preferred choice for its easy of use. The cost can be less then $5.00 per month depending on the hosting company you use. 

To help you get started  click here  for  Zen Cart beginners tutorials.

You will need to provide a credit card so Ebay can bill you for sellers fees, which you pay for posting an item and you are also charged a commission fee if the item sells.

It is a good idea to use of  a separate credit card for all on-line activities . Besides if your business takes off and becomes a full fledged business you will need to have kept your sales transactions separate from your personal business. 

When starting a new business you are normally required to open a business checking account for the purpose of keeping your business transactions and personal separate .

On Ebay you will be given  the option of giving bank information and having fees deducted directly from your specified banking account. . 

Ebay Fees:
Know Your Fees:
 
a.) Insertion Fee—varies by starting bid price.

b.) The Selling Fee—is based on final selling price of the item.

c.) Special Fees— include bold, icons, buy it now, etc.

d.) Vehicle/Real Estate—one time only fees.
 
Ebay will bill you for your fees on a monthly basis. Generally, the fees are bill are billed to your credit card and you pay with your credit card payment. 

Listing: 
To list an item, you will need the following information

• Your item description
• Your photos – pictures saved on your computer can
  be added to your listing right from the Sell Your Item form OR enter the URL (Website address) for photos you have hosted some where on the Web.
• You will need to determine the EBAY category you’ll list under (antiques? toys? coins?).Click on the Sell button at the top of any page, this will bring you to the Sell Your Item form. Once you fill in all the necessary information, then  sit back and watch your auction progress.
• HELPFUL TIPS:1)Always use a picture if at all possible, it helps items sell and sell higher.2)Include yourr shipping costs in listing.It is very important to calculate your shipping costs in advance if possible because this is where you can lose profit if you charge to low there goes a potion of your profits if you have to go back and ask for more money on shipping once you posted the shipping cost it may make you appear shady.On the USPSsite and UPS site you can get a estimate on what it would cost to ship to various locations. It is also a  good idea to add the Insurance/Delivery Confirmation fees.If you sign up with USPS to print your labels you can save on shipping cost and order free priority mailing shipping supplies.It is a good idea to offer combined shipping for multiple items won by the same bidder.3.) Include payment information in your listing

  Let the buyer know what type of payment you are willing to accept, Cashier’s Check/Money Order , Personal Check , Credit Cards or Pay Pal.

  The Popular payment method for Ebayers is to accept credit cards or electronic checks through Paypal.

  

  Selling On Ebay with PayPal

  Using PayPal makes buying and selling easier and more secure for both buyers and sellers on Ebay.  Most EBay seller account holders prefer PayPal for payment.

  PayPal offers secure shopping for the consumer, eliminates the need for a merchant’s account with a credit card company, and allows the seller to receive instantaneous notification of payments received.

  Many EBay sellers have a PayPal debit card which gives them the possibility to withdraw their money directly from any ATM, or even using their debit card for their own purchases, whether on Ebay, or any other online or offline merchants.

  Ebay recommends that you set up a PayPal account when you sign up for your new Ebay account as a seller.

  After The Sale: 

  After the sale, notify the high bidder through e-mail with a message stating your payment information,  where to send payment and an overiew of the  total final price including shipping.

  I always ask for them to reply to the confirmation that they received the e-mail and are following through with payment.

  The winning bidder should send you payment however you specify. When you receive payment, ship item and leave feedback for buyer!

  The buyer should notify you when they receive the item and leave feedback for you!

  Click here for links to Ebay Educational Videos..

You need to add a Web page title, meta description and meta keywords and key phrases . Next thing you need to do is choose your search engines and directories,  add your URL , use various channels on the Internet including , article marketing, video marketing, social Media etc.

I learned early on in my Internet business how to optimize my site for the search engines and it was well worth the trouble. My website has held high ranking through out the Internet for years .
I have never had to pay a dime in advertising yet I made a good income from my website because of the traffic I received via search engines. I will attempt to give you insight into how to prepare your web site to increase traffic to your website.

Related Articles:

• About Search Engines
• SEO
• SEO Tips
• Registering with Search Engine
• Using Site Maps
• Use Social Media Such as Facebook

If you don’t receive the merchandise you can put in a dispute complaint with Pay Pal and they will follow up and work to get your money back as long as the seller has the money in their account. Use the following link to setup your Pay Pal account.

Note: PayPal’s Verification system does not constitute an endorsement of a member or a guarantee of a member’s business practices. You should always consider additional information when evaluating sellers, as well as what other customers are saying about them.

2.) Use escrow services
Use of escrow services when available can also help keep buyers and sellers safe from fraud. Escrow service collect the money from the buyer and hold it until the buyer and seller agree that the terms of the sale have been met. Once both parties are satisfied, then Escrow services sends the payment to the seller. Escrow is available for any purchase, but typically is used for purchases of $500 or more.

Importing - Buy Low, Sell High 

Importing can be financially rewarding and offers High Profit Potential.. Selling imported goods online can be a lucrative business opportunity. It offers tremendous savings for resellers which means high profit margins.
In my own business importing our products gave us the upper hand over the competition on the Internet. We were able to buy low and sell the products at a lower price then many of our competitors and still make a good living selling online and it enabled us to stay a few steps ahead of the competition on the Internet.

I must admit when I first started importing I was as shaky as a mouse.  The  first import was from a exporter located in Hong Kong.  My biggest fear was losing my money, after all  I had no experience in importing and I didn’t know what to expect or better yet what to do! As a new importer all the written rules and regulations is enough to discourage the unknowing. Don’t get discouraged , I will say it again  don’t get discouraged !

Small time Importing is not always  as difficult as it may sound.

Informal Entry is for Imports Under $2000
The informal entry for goods valued at less than $2000, is the easiest method of importing. In general, an informal entry involves the importation of merchandise that does not exceed $2,000 in value. 

Informal entries covers personal shipments, commercial shipments and mail shipments that are being offered for consumption.

This is not the case for most textiles imported for commercial use, which are, subject to quota. Informal entries do not require filing a CBP Form  (Entry Summary), posting of a Customs bond, and are liquidated at the time of release. Informal entries are used for both personal and commercial importations.  
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Determine the marketing opportunity of imported products, be sure to check U.S. trade barriers and local
in-country laws to be certain that you can receive exports of your chosen goods out of the country of origin into the U.S.

Do not order counterfeit or branded products, unless the supplier can prove they are an authorized reseller.

The U.S. is normally import friendly, but it still has stringent safety and quality controls that don’t exist outside its borders. Foreign nations tend to sometimes restrict the export of religious ornaments, rare or protected goods.

For example, certain animal by-products such as furs and ivory as well as fake designer goods are banned or are governed by “export restrictions”. 
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Check Whether you Require a License or Permit to Import Certain Goods. Many imported and exported products are regulated by federal agencies. If you import or export certain types of products listed by the government you may be required to obtain specific licenses and permits or complete additional paperwork to get the  appropriate licenses and permits. A customs broker can also help with this aspect of importing goods. 
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Tariffs and Import Fees 

What is a tariff? 
A tariff (or duty, the words are used interchangeably) is a tax levied by governments on the value of imported products. Sales and state taxes, and in some instances customs fees, will often be levied as well. The tariff is assessed at the time of importation along with any other applicable taxes/fees.  

What can be Imported through the mail:
There are a number of issues to be considered when importing something into the U.S. through the international Postal system. The first thing to consider is whether or not the item you wish to import may be legally sent through the U.S. Postal Service. The USPS Web site has this information. 

Secondly, the value of the item(s) you wish to import should play a role in your decision to use the postal service. Imports of goods valued at more than $2,000 cannot be sent to the intended recipient through the mail. This is because the import of goods valued over $2,000 automatically require a formal entry.

I have been importing for years I  have never had any problems, never had to have any special permit on the products
I imported .

For information on verified exporters we used in our business click here.. 

Related Articles:

• Importing Over $2000.00
• Safer Importing

Facebook allows anyone who declares themselves to be at least 13 years old to become a registered user of the website. Facebook rank  #1 on the internet according to Alexa top 500 websites on the web.

So as you can see incorporating Facebook social network into your web promotion strategy  is a good choice!!. Before you can begin promoting your business on facebook you need to create a Fan Page.
 
How to create a Facebook Fan Page:

To create a fan page, you’ll need to have a Facebook account  www.facebook.com and fill out the form on the homepage to set up a new account.  Once you’ve set up your Facebook account, go to http://www.facebook.com/ and log in with your user name and password.

Then go to www.facebook.com/pages/create.php For “Name of Page,” choose something that will clearly identify your Business. Then click on the “Create Page” button.
  
How to promote your Fan Page

You have to promote your fan page otherwise how will people know you are there?  Here are a few tips to promote your page and  help you increase your number of “fans”, and use Facebook to get the word out.:
 
Invite your Facebook friends to your page. 

Invite your personal friends and family.  Send them a personal message inviting them to check out your Facebook page.  it is a good idea to invite those you think will be interested in the business you are promoting.
 
Keep your Facebook page updated.

Don’t neglect your Facebook page very “important”. Like any website you should keep the content fresh keep in mind with someone interacts on your page it could appear on that person’s Facebook feed, promoting your page to their friends. If a fan asks a question, a quick response could gain you a A+.
 
Create exclusive content just for fans.

Add content to your page for your fans that they cannot get anywhere else. Think about exclusive videos, podcasts, tips,
gifts, discussion threads, etc.
 
Promote regular interaction.

Keep in mind interaction keeps people connected. For example,  think of ways you can get them to maybe upload things of interest to your type of business.

For example if your are a craft vendor maybe you can ask them to upload pictures of what they made with the crafts they created etc.
 
Use a button to your Facebook page on your website

Download your “Find us on Facebook” badge .  Insert the Facebook image on your website home page and link it to your Facebook page. 

The URL of your Facebook page is randomly generated until you reach 1,000 fans, then Facebook lets you pick your own URL. To be sure you add the correct link when it is randomly generated, copy the URL in the address bar of your webbrowser. 
 
Use  email contacts

You are likely to have contacts in your email address book. . Include your Facebook page URL in your email signature.
 
Tag photos

Just recently a friend used this method to promote her church event on all her fans wall.  Photo taging  is a good way to let all your fans and possibly their fans know about your upcoming events . It can also be a pain if you are not interested in having someone else advertise there business adventures on your page.

The way it works  you  load the photos onto  your fan page and tag the people on the photos. The idea is to encourage your fans to tag themselves. This will  push that photo and the link to your page out into their wall and their friends.  As I mentioned it can be a great advertising tool if used wisely
 
Use the @ tag.

As long as you’re a fan of your own fan page, you can  “@ tag” it on your own personal profile wall.

Tag your fan page by writing a personal status update. Start typing the “@” symbol and the first few letters of your fan page name (this works whether you have your username registered or not) and it will appear from a drop-down menu to select.

This makes it an easy link that your friends can choose to click. This also can be done when you post messages on other people’s walls or fan pages.

Do not  spam ! Spam is sending or posting many copies of the same message.
 
Additional tips:

• Avoid sending too many updates to your fans.
• Highlight new Facebook features when and if they are added.
•  Talk specifically about how to use new features and ask others to share their experiences with new features.
• Mention when your Web site is updated, whether it’s new photos, an upcoming event, etc.
• Add links to drive traffic.
• Favorite other Facebook pages that have topics similar to your Facebook page.
• Monitor comments on your Facebook wall daily and respond to those that warrant it. 
• Ask others to “Share” or “Post” to your Facebook page.
• Include a link to your Facebook page in your e-mail signature.
• Include your social media information in promotional materials.

Sitemap 0.90 is offered under the terms of the Attribution-ShareAlike Creative Commons License and has wide adoption, including support from Google, Yahoo!, and Microsoft. 
  
Google and Site Maps
 
Sitemaps are a way to tell Google about pages on your site  google may not  otherwise discover.  Creating and submitting a Sitemap helps make sure that Google knows about all the pages on your site, including URLs that may not be discoverable by Google’s normal crawling process. 

How to  submit your site map to Google using Webmaster Tools. (Before you do this, you must have added your site to your Webmaster Tools account with google.)  
 
Free Site Map Generator
 
The following is a free tool you can use to  create a Site Map . Once you’ve created your Sitemap, you can submit it to various search engines including Google.

There are 3 basic reasons to submit a web site or web page to a search engine.

The first reason would be to add an entirely new web site because you would rather not wait for a search engine to discover your site.

The second reason is to have a web page or web site updated in the respective search engine.

The third reason your site has been published on the Internet for quite a while and you still can find  it listed with the major search engines.

Do not spam the search engines otherwise your site may be rejected or banned for spamming. Spamming is when you repeatedly submit the same site back to back with out first giving time for the search engine to index your page.  It can take up to six weeks for your page to appear in a search engine.

There are two basic methods still in use today that would allow a webmaster to submit their site to a search engine. They can either submit just one web page at a time, or they can submit their entire site at one time with a sitemap.

However, all that a webmaster really needs to do is to submit just the home page of a web site.  With just the home page, most search engines are able to crawl a site, provided that it is well designed.

Tip:
Always submit manually to the top search engines… that is where 80 to 90% of your traffic normally comes from.

Do search engines index the entire Internet?

No. You might have thought that search engines look all over the Internet to collect data about your search query. In fact, even the best search engines can only search certain parts of the Internet.

A search engine spider will, for instance, be stopped dead in its tracks if it encounters a Web site that requires a user to register and log on to get further information. that is, the parts of the World Wide Web that are invisible to search engines.
  
Start by listing your website on Major Search Engines first. You should first look to see if your site has already been listed with the search engines.