| Testing the Waters | | | | - eBay has an 800 number with live support. |
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| If you've ever dreamed of quitting your job | | | | - eBay provides workshops, at no extra cost, |
| and going into business for yourself, you may | | | | on how to implement the various tools they |
| have considered online retail. But opening | | | | offer. |
| your own website is quite an | | | | |
| undertaking-you'll need to get a URL for your | | | | 3 eBay Tools You Should Be UsingeBay offers |
| website, acquire a shopping cart, have | | | | built in channels for growing your business. |
| someone design your web pages, get listed | | | | What amazes Janelle Elms, successful |
| with the major search engines. And you're | | | | e-business author and lead instructor for |
| going to have to pay for all those services | | | | eBay University, is how many sellers are "not |
| up front, which means you'll need to have | | | | taking advantage of all the amazing tools |
| some capital set aside. So before you tell | | | | that eBay gives you for that $16 every |
| your boss what you really think of his | | | | month." Three of eBay's biggest untapped |
| toupee, you may want to consider trying a | | | | resources: |
| less-drastic route first-the eBay store.eBay | | | | |
| stores are a great way to get a feel for | | | | - An opt-in newsletter to keep your eBay |
| whether or not selling online suits you. It's | | | | store in front of your customers. A series of |
| a very simple entry point that lets you test | | | | clicks and pull down menus, and your |
| the waters without committing a lot of your | | | | newsletter is ready to go in a matter of |
| money or time. The cost is only $16.95 a | | | | minutes. A simple source to keep your |
| month and the first thirty days are free-a | | | | customers coming back, but many people don't |
| pretty safe investment. | | | | even realize that option is available to |
| | | | them. |
| 5 Benefits to Choosing eBayeBay takes care of | | | | |
| much of the busywork associated with running | | | | - RSS Feed (Really Simple Syndication). Once |
| an eBiz . There are numerous advantages to | | | | you turn this button on, all your buyers have |
| starting an eBay store before attempting to | | | | to do is click on it, and every time you put |
| create your own website: | | | | new products in your store or up for auction, |
| | | | they'll get an update telling them what |
| - eBay hosts your site, provides you with a | | | | you've added. Elms refers to RSS Feed as "a |
| URL, a shopping cart, and an easy-to-use tool | | | | legal version of a pop-up ad." |
| that lets you quickly design an attractive | | | | |
| storefront. | | | | - Printable brochures of your eBay store to |
| | | | send out with every package to show your |
| - eBay takes care of search engine | | | | customers what else you offer and to remind |
| optimization for you-making sure you will be | | | | them to shop with you again.eBay stores are |
| listed with the major search engines. | | | | user-friendly: anyone can run an one. In |
| | | | addition to being a great proving ground for |
| - When you start an eBay store, you have an | | | | your online retail skill, you may find it to |
| immediate presence online-from day one, you | | | | be a very profitable enterprise in and of |
| have 170 million customers. | | | | itself. |
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