How To Work From Home On eBay: Build A Customer Base
In order to have a successful business, one must have customers. Without buyers a business will quickly fail. Want to know how to work from home on eBay? Build a customer base. It is not as difficult as you would think and the extra effort will pay off big time.
What exactly is a customer base? This is a base of people who have purchased from you in the past and it can be a literal gold mine. It is easier and less costly to sell to current customers than it is to go out and get new ones. All of the how to sell on eBay articles will talk about your listing and what to sell, but very few articles or books talk about your existing customer base and how to effectively use this information to increase sales and profitability.
Every sale should be your most important sale. Treat every customer as your most important customer and you will get return business if you ask for it. That is the key. Asking for repeat business is crucial to running a successful eBay business from home. Getting customers to return is not difficult, just ask them.
Here is how to generate repeat business from your customers. Start a wish list. Ask your customer at every sale if there is a particular item in your category that they are looking for. This works especially well in the collectibles, antiques, vintage and designer clothes, books, and other media categories. After a customer receives their item and you know they are happy with the purchase because you provide outstanding customer service, ask them if there are any items they would like for you to look for and also ask them if you can email them with auctions that might be of interest to them. Most will say yes. In addition, ask them if they want to sign up for your newsletter. That's right, you need a newsletter.
The newsletter and why it is important to have one. Customers have short memories. If they do not hear from you every 30 days or so, they will forget you. The trick is to give them the information they want and need without becoming annoying. This is where a newsletter comes in. Let your customers know that newsletter subscribers get promotional discounts that others will not have. Your newsletter does not have to be long. You are not writing the NY Times, just a page, no more than 600 words. Remember it is going out via email and there are people who use dial up services. Feature one topic of general interest to your customers, for example if you sell collectibles, write a little bit on how to detect fraudulent collectible items on eBay. Then offer a discount to anyone purchasing or winning an auction that month. For example, you can offer free gift wrap during November. Have a code so when they pay online they can contact you about the newsletter special.
Now that you have a list of customers here is how to work from home on eBay using that information. Check your wish lists prior to ordering inventory and after receiving a shipment. If an item that is wanted has been obtained by you, email the customer and let them know that you are putting this item up for auction. When you list the item, offer a buy it now option with the auction so that your customer can purchase it quickly if they desire. Be sure to ask again if they want their wish list updated. Good communication between you and your customers will result in repeat eBay business. This is a technique that many PowerSellers use but do not share with others.
You have the tools and you know how to work from home on eBay. Build a customer base and be sure to stay in contact with them. Doing so will ensure that your business grows.