Welcome to my Freebie!

These are some selling tips I have collected over the years that might just help you too.

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Set goals for yourself and do your best to stick with them.

Extensive research done at Harvard University shows that people who write down their goals are 70% more likely to achieve them than those who don't.

Did you know that the top 3% of all income earners in this country write down their goals?

Surround yourself with positively. Starting and running a business is hard work. Do not devalue yourself or your work with negativity.

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Decide if selling online is a hobby or a business. If it is a business then work it like a business. Develop a business plan, an accounting system, and marketing strategy. Make sure to set goals and define your mission statement. The Small Business Administration is a great resource to use. It offers free online training and forms.

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And as a side note - it's time give some "tough love" to those products that haven't sold in a long time. Don't get attached to your inventory.

If it's not selling - clear it out of your store and MOVE ON! With the exception of those rare one-of-a-kind collectibles that are waiting for the right buyer, most inventories should be "turned over" every 90 - 120 days.

Describe your item as if there is no photo and make sure your photo is clear and precise enough as if there is no description in each of your listings.

Use phrases in your description that makes the buyer feel an urgency to enter your store and see what else you have to offer. This too will almost always ensure multiple sells to the same person

Offer discounts for multiple purchases paid for on the same invoice. Buyers love to receive discounts.

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Take a break and step away from the PC sometimes this is really important for sanity of mind and eyesight!

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Branch out and learn something new about being a entrepreneur, go to a seminar, read a book, do online research, talk to someone successful in the genre you sell in. Whatever it takes for you (as an online seller) to cultivate and enhance your business knowledge. Knowledge is POWER!

Plan time for education. Thankfully, there is a large amount of information available to help us with our business. The downside to all that information is that you can quickly become overwhelmed. Keep a running list of things you want and need to learn, bookmark sites and info to come back to later, prioritize your list with your goals, and schedule time each day to study the topic at the top of your list. Doing things this way will help you stay focused and will not take time away from your other important business activities (listing, marketing, and customer service).

Get and stay excited about your online business. When you are excited it will show throughout your business and potential customers will get excited also, it is contagious!

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PROOFREAD YOUR LISTINGS. (Yea how many mistakes can you find here? LOL)

Have someone else critique your writings, your store, your descriptions, etc! It is always better to have a second pair of eyes.

Don't be afraid to change the description of your item if you are not getting a lot of visitors. Sometimes I change the description 3 or 4 times! trust me, it is all about marketing your product.

Research, research, research! I always look at completed items before I sell a similar one. You can get a good idea of the starting price and the final selling price. Also, you can find out if something is hot or not.

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Take advantage of free websites, such as myspace, squidoo, facebook and the like, to promote your store and give buyers the inside look!

Learn networking options (auction bump, facebook, myspace, blogging) to brand your self and become more visible.

Use email and other sales print flyers post at your grocery store, nurseries, or any place that you can do legal, to help sells, remember this is a business work it like it is one tell people about your items. Send your customers sales ads just like any business.<o:p></o:p>

Blog, Blog, Blog!

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Always include a thank you note and a promotional flyer with all packages. This is a great way to get repeat orders from that customer in the future.

Look and watch what is selling but try to sell stuff you know about so you can answer questions

Always offer some kind of return policy as Pay pal will give them money back on most items anyway so be a good seller and help your customer with concerns before gets to pay pal may save a customer.

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It is okay to re-use packing materials, just spiff them up a little. I like to put those illusive packing peanuts in the filmy bags you get from the grocery store produce section so they don't jump out of the box. You can wrap toilet tissue and paper towel tubes in a tiny bit of colored tissue wrapping paper (saved from gifts) to make an attractive lightweight spacer for your box to keep the contents from shifting.

Waterproof all shipments by slipping the item into a Ziploc plastic bag or wrap with plastic wrap and tape securely water-tight.

Keep an eye out for cast-off bubble wrap (and handy sized boxes) on garbage day. I keep an extra plastic bag in my pocket when walking my dog and often find treasures.

Sellers can take advantage of the FREE priority boxes, shipping envelopes, (that come in various sizes and quantities) and customs forms available at usps.com that will be shipped right to your address so that you have all you need right at your disposal when your item sells.<o:p></o:p>

AND THE BEST SELLING TIP IS SELL ON BONANZLE!!!