Discover Your Niche and Learn What Sells Well on eBay
Author: Amanda O' Brien
Last Updated: 12/10/2009 1:08:25 PM
Summary
Anyone starting out in the world of online auctions is likely to ask the question, what sells well on eBay? An answer such as electronics, media and designer clothing may sound useful, but in actuality the best product for a person to sell is completely unique to that person. In the course of the next few hundred words you will discover how to identify an area in which you could sell, and whether that area will be profitable.
Article
Step 1 - write down your areas of interest
Chances are if you are interested in an area you will also have a
certain level of expertise in it. This expertise will help you to
write descriptions for your products that will convince prospective
buyers that you are a great source for your particular product. It
will also help to motivate you if you are having a bad day; at
least you are selling things that you yourself enjoy.
Get out a pen and a piece of paper and write down everything
that you could enjoy selling. Struggling for ideas? Have a wander
around your house and write down some of the items that catch your
eye, everything from your computer to your toaster could be a
potentially lucrative market.
Step 2 - narrow down your options
Go through your list and put a star by the five top areas of
interest or potential areas in which to sell. From these five,
select one particular area to research first. If, when we research
what sells well on eBay, this proves to be an unprofitable area we
will return to this point and select another item from the list of
five.
Step 3 - research your niche
You've selected an area that you are interested in and that you
could potentially sell products related to. Now it's time to find
out whether people are looking for that product. The first step is
simply to head over to eBay and search for your product or for
similar products. How many results are returned? Go into the
auctions themselves and check how many page views they have
received and how many bids.
Even this initial research should give you an indication as to
whether there is a demand for your product, but we won't stop
there. Use the Advanced Search functionality to look at completed
listings. This is where things get interesting as you will be able
to see how much similar items sold for, and therefore how much
potential profit you could make.
Step 4 - test the marketplace
If it seems that no one is interested in your area then go back to
Step 2 and select another niche. If however there seems to be a
reasonable level of interest it's time to test the marketplace by
selling a handful of products into it. Find some cheap items from
charity shops, car boot sales, even from around your house and get
those auctions listed on eBay. This is a valuable step in
discovering what sells well on eBay as if none of your auctions
sell, or not for much of a profit, then you may need to return to
Step 2 to start the process again.
Be specific when it comes to selecting your niche and, after
performing this research, you could soon be making a lot of money
through selling on eBay.
The Author
Amanda O'Brien is a successful eBay Powerseller
and author of 'The 2,500 Per Week eBay Powersellers Secrets' home
study course. Want to learn more about starting an eBay business or
simply want to improve your eBay sales? Claim your free eBay
Selling Secrets Report at http://www.powersellerpod.co.uk