A Beginner's Guide to eBay

More and more people are turning to the income opportunities that eBay has to offer. What are the advantages of starting an eBay business as opposed to any other conventional business? So, how can you get started with business on eBay?

Why start an eBay business? The first and obvious advantage is that you can start an eBay business with minimal capital, unlike other businesses which require a lot of capital.

Secondly, the level of risk is very low with an eBay business. Thirdly, you can get started in your spare time, without necessarily having to quit your 'day job'. This enables you to test the waters before taking the plunge. Many people find eBay to be a fun and profitable hobby or sideline. You will need to decide if you want a business or a hobby.

If you decide to make it a business, then you will need to consider maintaining professional records and paying taxes. You can do business whenever it suits you. You can put up your auctions at 3am if you wish, and people will still look at what you are offering. Unlike conventional business, your market place is unlimited. You can sell your product to anyone in the world, with a potential market place of millions of buyers.

Go to eBay and take a look around; eBay offers helpful informative tours and resources for the uninitiated. Observe some auctions in progress and see how people display and list their products. You could even bid for something that you might like. Look around your house for unwanted items and conduct some auctions of your own. It is fun and there's nothing to lose but your junk. This is a great way of testing the auction waters.

Once you decide to develop a serious eBay business, you should take these steps:

Select your product

Everything from luxury homes to baseball cards is for sale on eBay. Conduct research on possible product options by observing your competition. If you have expertise in a certain area, or a passion, select your product appropriately. There are many research tools online which can help you check how many times a particular phrase or word has been searched for online. If few people are looking for what you want sell, it is unlikely to do well on eBay. However if your product is often searched for, you are likely to succeed.

Don't sell products of poor quality

EBay has a great feedback system, which is used to rate traders. This feedback can be accessed by both sellers and buyers. If you get negative feedback, your eBay reputation can be permanently jeopardized.

Start small

Unless you are extremely confident in your product and very secure financially, start off on a small scale and spend more only when you start making some income.

Test

Try various products and product combinations to find out what works best. Always display photos, because many people only buy what they can see.

Offer exceptional service

Treat others well and you will earn a reputation as a trader who can be trusted, and from whom one can buy with confidence.

by Charles Mburugu

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How to be a Virtual Assistant - Brenda Stokes

Knowing that many are finding a doorway into this career doesn't mean it is time to tell your boss that you are leaving for good.

The job of the virtual assistant is not something that just anyone can do. It does take a certain type of person. There have been many individuals who wished to work at home and failed because they lack the discipline needed for such a job. During the startup phase, it is not uncommon for a virtual assistant to work 14 to 18 hours per day. Weekends and holidays may have to be worked as well and days off may be far and in between.

What Does a Virtual Assistant Do?

Virtual assistants are entrepreneurs that work independently and remotely. Because of the Internet, these individuals can service clients all over the world. All they need is a computer, an Internet connection, and a telephone. Amazingly, the telephone may not be needed at all at times.

The services that are offered by virtual assistants are secretarial tasks. Clients hire these individuals to help them save time and money. By outsourcing secretarial tasks, clients are able to focus on what makes their business profitable. The clients give their virtual assistants their assignments via email, instant message, fax, or telephone.

The jobs that are assigned include typing, making telephone calls, sending emails, processing documents, taking on marketing tasks, and so much more. Virtually anything a client may need assistance with they assign to their virtual assistant.

How to Become a Virtual Assistant

When you want to become a virtual assistant, there is a path that you need to follow:

*Choose the services you want to provide. This means searching your past work background to see what you can offer. Try to offer at least two to three services. You may even want to search the industry to see what virtual assistants are being hired for.

*You will need to take a look at your personal income and see how long you can "float" until you start bringing in a steady income. This will tell you whether or not it is time for you to tell your boss that you are going out on your own.

*You will need to create a business plan for yourself. An effective business plan will help you manage your goals.

*Market your services often. You will need to frequent job sites, classifieds, and you will need to build yourself a website. A website will highlight what it is you can do for clients and give them a means to contact you so that they can utilize your services.

*You do want to be competitive on your rates. Make sure you charge a rate that you can live with. You don't want to work slave wages. Although working from home can be a relief, you will find that it can be daunting if you don't charge enough money.

When working at home as a virtual assistant, don't be surprised if you have to juggle your family and your work at the same time. It can be difficult to separate home from work when working at home, but it also has its rewards.

Search Amazon.com for How to be a Virtual Assistant

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