Top Reasons to Use Poster Advertising for Your Online Business

 

Not sure about using poster advertising for your online business? Check out the following 10 benefits to determine if they would speed your business toward success.

 

Benefit 1 - Budget-friendly. They're a whole lot cheaper than taking out an ad in a newspaper or television.

 

Benefit 2 - Flexibility. They are flexible advertising tools that easily promote any business. They can be printed to any size, shape or paper weight.

 

Benefit 3 - Variety. They offer a variety of uses such as, event publicizing, service promotion or to sell a product. Many different fonts and colors can be used and images to enhance your company's brand.

 

Benefit 4 - Readability. They are quick and easy to read making them an excellent choice for the window shopper or passerby. Only a few words or phrases are generally used. They need to "capture" the reader's attention and motivate them to take action. Unlike newspaper ads or brochures and flyers which are sent through mail by companies who hope their prospective customers will read them in full.

 

Benefit 5 - Visibility. If placed in an area with lots of foot traffic, such as in a store in a mall, your poster can be seen hundreds or thousands of times. Plus, the same person may see it many times over. Keep your poster at adult eye level for best visibility.

 

Benefit 6 - Credibility. They've been around an awfully long time and people trust them. They are used to seeing them. For this very reason alone - they are trusted - is probably due to the fact they are most likely seen in public places of business.

 

Benefit 7 - Effectiveness. They contribute a second opinion to ads a prospective customer may have already seen on Google, on television or heard on the radio. A customer will be more likely to take a second look at a product if the advertising is done in this duplication manner.

 

Benefit 8 - Controllable. It's all about location, location, location. With posters, you can target businesses where like-minded customers hang out. People who would be looking for just the thing you are advertising. Suppose your daughter's Girl Scout troop is selling their fabulous cookies. Hang a poster next door to the local bakery in the mall. Then, sit back and watch hungry people eye up your advertisement and buy your cookies.

 

Benefit 9 - Long shelf life. They generally hold up well and can be printed on high gloss paper for added durability.

 

Benefit 10 - Customized designs. Most can be printed with all of your brand logo, colors and font styles so your business is represented in a professional manner. In plain language, posters are wonderful!

 

To determine if your poster has successfully increased your company's profits, ask yourself this question. Has it brought in more people?

 

If so, I'm sure you will agree they are an excellent way to promote your business.

 

 

 

 

Selling Handmade Items on Etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace which allows you to sell handmade items, vintage items which the company describes as and item at least 20 years old, and art and craft supplies. According to Wikipedia, it was started in 2005. It has grown quickly and encouraged the handmade movement. One may find hundreds of thousands of listings, if not more, at any given time. With Etsy, you are allowed to sell handmade items made by you, vintage items at least 20 years old, or supplies. There are no fees to have a storefront, you simply pay per item listing fees, and minimal sales fees if the item sells.

 

Opening a store is easy, all you need is a computer and valid credit card. There is no software to download, everything is very easy to use and there is a plethora of information on Etsy to guide you along the way. Once you "sign up for Etsy", by choosing a user name, and providing some information, you can sell by attaching a credit card to secure any billing fees incurred (payable monthly).

 

Billing includes a small listing fee, as of now, only twenty cents per item which gives you a four month long listing and the ability to add five photos. There is no fee to "have a shop", you simply pay the per-listing fee and a small fee when your item sells. Currently set at 3.5%, these are some of the lowest selling fees on the market right now, making Etsy an attractive place to sell your wares.

 

Before you open an Etsy store, make sure to read their online information on "How to Sell" and tips and tricks in their forums and in their "Storque" blog. You will be glad you did as there are many secrets to being a successful seller, some of which includes proper category listing, tagging your items properly, and good photographs.

 

Once you have already setup your account and you have opened at least one shop, you can now start setting up your storefront. You can do this by clicking the link that says "Your Etsy" and then the link to "Appearance". You can put up a banner for your shop so if you do not have one yet, make sure to make one as this can be the trademark of your shop. If you do not know how to create a banner, you can check out some tutorials online on how to do it or find someone who can do it for you at a small cost.

 

After putting up your banner you need to create a Shop Announce, this is where you will be introducing your shop to your target market.

 

You should also fill up the sections for the Shop Policies to let your prospective buyers know about your shipping, handling and return policies. Lastly, you will need to create your "Shipping Profile". This will cover both domestic and international rates for shipping.

 

If you are having a hard time, you can simply check out other sites for some ideas.

 

Once everything is setup, you can now start listing the items that you want to sell. Simply click on the link "List an Item" and you can now get started. When creating a title for your items, you can use Google Search and find a keyword for it. This is to make sure that your items are easily found by your prospective buyers. Make sure to be specific and include measurements and colors of the item to provide more information to your buyers. You can also tag your items depending on the color and its use for easier searching.

 

After that you can now start uploading images for your item. This is important as this is how your buyers will see your item so make sure to take a good shot. As much as possible, make sure that the image can show more details of the item so that buyers can take a good look at it. Do not be contented with just some cheap shot as this may affect the impression of the buyer on your items. You can take the shot in different angles but make sure that there is a close up shot of your item.

 

Once you have done all these, you can now start selling on Etsy. However, if you are still a little confused and you still need more information before you get started, remember that you can always do a research. You can find a lot of tips and tricks on how you can start a business on Etsy. Researching can also give you an idea on what is hit and trending in the market today. That means you will get more options when it comes to the items that you are planning to sell to your target market and your prospective buyers.

 

 

Sell on Amazon

Amazon is one of the biggest marketplaces online that sells to people all over the world. Since this is such a large website, it reaches millions of shoppers each and every day. Virtually anything can be found on this site, from cups and plates to books and televisions. A lot of people actually sell products through Amazon because they are able to reach so many potential customers through it. This is not an auction site like eBay, so all items have their price listed and shipping will be extra if it's not available on Amazon's Prime Membership.

 

Using tips to make money selling on Amazon can help anyone succeed.

 

Making an account

 

The first step anyone should take if they want to sell is to make an Amazon account. The website is actually really easy to navigate, especially for sellers. There are a lot of instructions and there are online guides that can help as well. A seller account will allow individuals to list the items they want to sell. Some products can't be sold through Amazon, including toys. The restrictions are listed on the facts and information page through Amazon.

 

The fees are also stated for sellers when they initially sign up. There are two different selling accounts available to choose from. One is more suitable for people who plan on selling a lot of items. The other package is best for sellers who will only be selling a few things every now and then. The fees will vary based on the type of selling account that is chosen.

 

Selling products

 

Amazon does offer a special service for individuals who plan on turning this into a home business. They will have the seller take pictures and list the items, but they will ship all their products to Amazon after that. The product will then be listed through Amazon Prime, which is a membership through the website that offers free two-day shipping. Amazon will be responsible for sending the product out whenever something is purchased. This makes it a lot easier for most sellers to keep inventory and control of their products that are sold.

 

Sellers who want to do it themselves can simply take pictures and list their product under the appropriate category. A good description is also required so buyers know just what they are going to receive and if they would like to purchase the item in the first place. Good pictures and descriptions can help decrease chances of a buyer returning something. Other sellers are going to be competition with most products, so pricing is important to consider.

 

Shipping products sold

 

Individuals who don't have Amazon ship their sold products will have to do this on their own. Quick shipping is extremely important since buyers want to get their purchase quickly. Comparing the prices between different shipping companies is one of the best ways to save money.

 

Most shipping companies will even come to the home and pick up boxes, saving a lot of time for the seller. Purchasing postage online is also generally cheaper than purchasing it in the actual post office.

 

All items that are sold should be shipped within one or two business days. The type of shipping that is chosen will depend on what the buyer paid for. Sometimes they will pay extra to have two-day or overnight shipping. The seller needs to make sure they know what the buyer paid for so they don't get a package too late. Once it's in the mail there is nothing either party can do to get it to the destination more quickly.

 

Feedback

 

Sellers need to get good feedback from buyers in order to rise in the ranks on Amazon.com. When a seller gets five star reviews for their service and products that are sold, they are going to be easier to find in the marketplace. Their products will generally be listed first and more people will feel safe buying from them.

 

E-mailing customers to answer questions is very important for all sellers through this website. This will help the buyer make a decision about what they should purchase. Getting back to potential buyers quickly will decrease the chance of them purchasing the item elsewhere.

 

By keeping all these tips in mind, you'll be on your way to creating a successful Amazon business.

 

 

eBay - Product and Shipping Prices

Once you have established an eBay Seller account and fidgured out what kind of items you're going to be selling, the fun really begins.

 

Rummaging through the attic, basement, or garage has probably given you quite a bit of products that may be sold on eBay or you may be selling handmade or new products. But how should you price your items? What amount of shipping should you charge?

 

Well, product pricing, shipping costs, and commission fees all need to be calculated to determine whether or not it is going to be a profitable endeavor for you.

 

The following example is for a Fixed Price Listing but you can apply the same principles for shipping or when adding a reserve on an item.

 

Let's say for instance that you have a piece of luggage you want to sell. A quick search on eBay is going to give you thousands, if not tens of thousands of results, and prices ranging from $0.99 to hundreds of dollars. Not very helpful. So we need to narrow our parameters.

 

Click the Completed Listings link in the left margin. This will show you all of the listings that have ended within the last 30 days. Still a lot of listings, however you are only interested in the prices in green. These are sold items. Take an average of the sold listings for your base price, and adjust for condition, and rarity of the model/line that you may have. Let's say you come up with $45 as your base price.

 

Now we need to factor in shipping.

 

Your suitcase may not be very heavy, but it is bulky, and shipping companies calculate cost based on dimensional weight as well as how many pounds the item weighs. Once you have surmised the weight and dimensions of the product, you can calculate an estimated shipping cost by going to the USPS website. Simply click Calculate a Price, and you will be prompted to enter weight and dimensions of your item. You will also need to enter a zip code for your destination. At this point you may be asking: how do I know where it's going!?! Of course you don't know, so you need to improvise. Punch in your home zip code, and enter the furthest zip code (major city) from your location. Once all this information is entered, you will be presented with several options. For a suitcase, Standard shipping would be the way to ship. You can find this price by clicking Other Options. You may be surprised at just how much it costs to ship! Of course, smaller and less heavy items will be a lot easier to calculate shipping costs.

 

You could also list your products with Free Shipping on eBay. Now is it really free? Of course not, you simply build the shipping cost into your listing price and you receive several benefits for doing so. Customers always want to feel as if they are receiving something for free and shipping is no different. It also becomes a "no-brainer" as the potential buyer doesn't need to calculate two separate prices for their purchase. Also, eBay rewards sellers that offer free shipping on their products with a 20% discount on fees once they have reached Power Seller status (more on this in a future article).

 

Now that you have come up with your base price, and your shipping cost you need to set your final price. So, $70 for a piece of used luggage seems a little high, so you could bring the price down to $59.95 and see what kind of response you receive. Now that you have set your pricing and calculated how much it will cost to ship, the next step is to get your items listed and start selling!!

 

 

What To Sell On eBay

You've got your account. You're looking to get your foot into the eBay auction world. But what should you sell on eBay?

 

This is the make or break of your eBay business. You need to sell something that people will want. So, here are a few pointers to get you thinking about what you should sell.

 

The first thing to do is to look around your house. Do you have any antiques? They don't have to be one-of-a-kind antiquities that are 1000 years old and of great value. But if you have an old record player, or an antique chair or furniture that you no longer use, those will sell very well on eBay. Used and second hand furniture are always highly searched for on eBay and you can usually get a good price.

 

Don't have any antiques? Collectibles are just as good. Hot Wheels, old Barbie Dolls, vintage clothing, glassworks, vintage newspapers and posters, movie memorabilia, collectible books etc, all of these are good bets. Old toys in good condition in general are great to sell on eBay, especially those that are either rare (such as the old '70s Stretch Armstrong series of toys) or have a mass fan following (such as Star Wars action figures or original run Cabbage Patch Kids). They don't have to be "mint-in-box,".

 

If you have a stamp or coin collection that is valuable, consider selling that, either together or broken up, on eBay. Another good idea might be to watch a show like American Pickers, and ask yourself "do I have anything like that laying around in my house?"

 

Still having trouble with what to sell on eBay? Another resource to tap is garage sales and thrift stores. "Trash" just may be your treasure when it comes to eBay (not actual trash of course!). By going to garage and car boot sales, second hand markets and thrift stores you can find tons of hidden gems to sell on eBay. Ask your friends, families and co-workers if they have any items that they want to get rid of. Offer to take them off their hands for a small price of for a percentage of the income from the sale.

 

Even though you have the capability of selling almost anything on eBay, there are some things that just DO NOT sell well on eBay.

 

Beanie Babies, Princess Diana memorabilia and other fad items that had a "bubble" collectors market years ago have had their day. Every one and their mother bought them at the time thinking that there would be collectable value in the future, but this is the exact reason why there isn't.

 

They were mass produced and MADE to be collectable. Recent baseball and other sports cards (generally from 1980 on) are also a tough sell, with the exception of some well-known or intentionally rare cards. If you have a first issue of a comic book from the collector's boom of the early '90s (for instance, a first issue of 1993's X-Men or the Todd MacFarlane Spiderman), you won't get much money out of it - those issues were printed in the millions, and unlike a mint-condition Action Comics #1 from 1938 there are still millions in existence.

 

Also, common goods, such as most DVDs, books, and new clothing items can be a hard sell as people can get their hands on these from local retailers.

 

Are you a crafter? Do you handmake items that are unique or quirky? Items that you can't easily find anywhere else do well and you can get a good return on your time and effort.

 

The main thing to focus on when deciding what to sell on eBay is "do I have a niche I can fit in?". Aim to sell items that there aren't thousands of others eBayers selling the same thing. The key is research. Think about what you want to sell and search eBay. Look at what comes up for your search and how many sellers you find. If there isn't a huge amount of competition or you're selling something very unique it's a good indication that you're on to a winner.

 

Finally, carefully check the items that you're selling, especially if they are baby clothes or toys of any sort of vintage items. Make sure they are in good condition and free from any damage. Items under recall, or items that the Consumer Products Safety Commission have determined are no longer safe for commerce will not be able to be sold via eBay, even though possessing them is legal. Items in this category include things like lawn darts, old toys or household objects that contain lead paint or have been the subject of a safety recall, vintage baby clothes or blankets that are not fire-retardant, and drop-side cribs (recently banned by the CPSC). Also, certain vintage glazed dinnerware (such as the infamous red Fiestaware manufactured up until 1972) may be mildly radioactive due to the presence of uranium oxide in older glaze recipes.

 

Research the items you want to sell and then get listing!

Starting an eBay Business

With the recession and all the recent financial hardships we've been facing, many people are still tightening their belts and looking to save money how ever they can. Many people are also looking to secure a second income, usually from an online business that they can do part-time or even after their normal hours of work.

 

Many have great ideas, but don't know where to start. There are many ways to make extra money, from selling on eBay, to selling at markets, garage sales, and car boots. But for most people, selling items on eBay is perhaps the easiest way to start. The benefits are clear to see, as you can work from home, selling to millions of prospective buyers who have cash to spend, and can devote as much or as little time to it as you wish. It is very easy to start a small business on eBay, however, many fail at the beginning. The usual mistakes are failing to find products to sell on eBay that have a good profit margin, finding products to sell that people will want and the failure to understand best practices on how to sell on eBay effectively.

 

The assumption that big retailers get their products at cheap wholesale prices, is mis-guided on a number of levels. First, big retailers have the capital to secure products in genuine bulk (bulk meaning hundreds of thousands of pounds/dollars on a set of products). This is a huge mistake that new businesses make, with their thinking being that they can go to a wholesaler and purchase in very low quantities.

 

True wholesale prices are only attained through big orders, often needing to meet the wholesalers big Minimum Order Quantity. When you're starting out on eBay, you'll want to purchase items in smaller quantities until you know that they are selling and that you'll be making a profit. So although you'll be paying slightly more for your items and selling them with a smaller profit, your up front costs are lower and you're not risking a large amount of money.

 

The second big mistake new businesses make, is the assumption that high ticket products, like tablet computers and laptops, have huge margins for profit. Often they do not and they can actually be one of the lowest margins out there. Big retailers actually make very little profit on the sale of these items. They make their profits from a process called up-selling. That is, selling a product on top of the initial main product, such as accessories or extended warranties. They also need to sell a high amount of product to make a lot of money.

 

There are many trains of thought on how an everyday person can start a profitable eBay business in their spare time. The most popular way is sourcing products from China, where often the minimum order quantity will be lower, and the cost per unit much lower than UK or US wholesalers. However, the problem here is that a buyer still needs to buy in true bulk, as often shipping rates are high, and with Import Tax being charged on top of this, it sometimes works out more expensive to source items from China. Buying smaller quantities at slightly higher prices from your own country instead of importing is the way to go when you are starting out.

 

A lot of new start ups on eBay also assume that they need to be offering large quantities of the same item. With eBay you'll have a selling quota where you can only list a set amount of items per month. If you list 60 tshirts with the exact same design, you're eating into a lot of your quota and you are best of diversifying the products that you offer. Offer a good range of products.

 

To be successful on eBay, an entrepreneur must research and learn how to sell on eBay and how to set up their eBay business correctly. Secondly, a business must thoroughly look at and research products to sell on eBay, in order for them to start a profitable eBay business.

 

In all, it is not easy to start any business these days, however, eBay does offer an excellent platform for even beginners to start building up a small, successful business.

 

Article Writing Tips

Although writing and selling articles is a lucrative way to make money online, you will make far more money if you use your articles for promotion. Unlike selling articles for pay, where you receive a set amount for the articles, with promotional articles you can make as much money as you want. Your articles become passive marketing machines, and if you recycle your content into documents, videos, audios, and other content, you can stretch your marketing even further with very little additional work. Here's how to get started promoting your articles for more traffic:

 

1. Post your articles to the top directories.

 

It's the 80/20 rule at work: you will get the most traffic from the to article directories, so this should be your first stop in marketing your articles. The more you submit, the more chances at traffic you will get. Use the data you get from these sites to tell you which articles are performing best and then write and submit more of this content to these sites. Also, some of these sites only accept unique articles so make sure you know which ones these are and submit the appropriate content.

 

2. Write for promotion instead of for money.

 

I've already mentioned this, but I want to mention it again: writing for promotion takes the limit off the amount of income you can earn from an article. If you write articles to sell, there is a limit to the amount you can make because you are either selling these articles to customers, or you're selling to publications. Take the limits off and use them for promotion.

 

3. Recycle your content.

 

You can get far more from your content by converting it to different formats. This includes audio, video, documents, and slides. Look for different ways to recycle your content and then submit to the appropriate sites so that you get more from it. This also creates additional passive marketing machines for your business. What could be better than that?

 

4. Write articles as blog posts and guest blog.

 

There are two ways you can do this. First, you can write an original article for guest blogging. Your article should be at least 300 - 400 words, but you want to make sure that it conforms to the site you want to submit to. Second, consider rewriting your article and then submitting it.

 

5. Use revenue sharing sites.

 

Sites like Helium and Yahoo Contributor Network allow you to make money from your articles. You can get one time payments plus revenue sharing or just revenue sharing. Whichever one you choose, make sure you write the appropriate content and then submit it. Make it your best.

 

Give them what they want. Learn from your failures here, and you'll get more traffic and more sales quickly because your content will get accepted more easily.