If you’re looking for a way to kick start your online business, setting up an eBay store is the way to go. For more than 20 years, Aussies have been turning to eBay in search of great products and value, so choosing this channel to sell your products is a no-brainer.

2020 reshaped the way Australians do business. As a result of the global pandemic, more people are shopping online than ever before. From October 2019-October 2020, NAB estimates Australian consumers spent a record $42-billion shopping online.¹ While COVID-19 helped to accelerate e-commerce growth and adoption, the convenience, safety and ease of online shopping mean it’s a trend that’s here to stay. Setting your business up for success in 2021 means an e-commerce presence has to be part of your operations.

Why choose eBay?

Setting up an online sales channel can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Savvy business owners have already realised the benefits of joining an established online marketplace like eBay to get their products noticed. With over 11 million unique visitors each month, eBay is Australia’s number one shopping site. Already over 40,000 Australian businesses sell goods via ebay.com.au . Here’s why:

• Selling on eBay gives you instant access to a local and international customer base
• Set up is simple with step-by-step and how to guides to maximise your performance
• You get a one-stop Seller Hub helping you keep track of your business, manage inventory and customers

Whether you’re starting from scratch or are an old hand at online sales, eBay’s ‘business in a box’ solution makes it easy to get your products in front of customers. From your Seller Hub you can see your sales history, access shopping insights, buy and print postage labels and promote your items all in one place! And best of all, eBay brings online shoppers to you.

Here are five steps to set your online business up for success on eBay

1. Buyers will judge a book by its cover

You may have quality products that buyers are looking for, but you need to ensure you list your products in the best way possible. Take professional photos in a natural light and against a white background to present your products in the ‘best light’. Make sure to include all the necessary details in the title of your listings (i.e. colour, sizing, condition, brand etc.).

2. Customer service is key

When running your online business, customers may ask questions about your products or in rarer cases, a customer may report that items haven’t arrived or are faulty. It’s always essential to work as quickly and constructively with your buyers as you can to resolve their issues. A prompt response will help ensure you maintain a positive feedback score and be known for excellent service!

3. Everybody loves a special offer

As an eBay Seller, you get access to a suite of free promotional tools to set-up offers for your buyers. You can set-up special offers and even give discounts to buyers who buy multiple items. These can help your business stand out in eBay search, and give buyers a reason to add your products to their cart!

4. Do your research

It’s essential to understand your buyers, so you can ensure you’re selling the right products at the right time. As an eBay seller, you get free access to the eBay Research dashboard (formerly known as Terapeak). The dashboard lets you search trending products, see which listings are having the most success and see buyer insights for products in your category. Not only can it help you make inventory and sourcing decisions, but it can help you better serve your customers.

5. Know the retail standards

When online shopping, buyers have certain expectations which we call ‘retail standards’. These are the standard practices we recommend sellers follow to create fantastic buyer experiences. This includes offering free shipping (where feasible), allowing for easy returns and always using a tracked postage service so buyers can follow their parcel’s journey. These help you stand out from other sellers on the platform and give buyers more confidence when making purchasing decisions. Meeting retail standards means more sales and fewer customer claims and enquiries.

To get your business set up on eBay today, visit https://sellercentre.ebay.com.au/getting-started

This helpful content was brought to you in partnership with our friends at eBay.

References

[1] https://business.nab.com.au/nab-online-retail-sales-index-october-2020-43882/