Selling - - on Ebay, Amazon, and Etsy, and a podcast list.

So far, Amazon has been my biggest selling site.

But Ebay and Etsy might catch up, once I have listed enough things on those sites.

I hope to start with Playing Cards soon, but want to re-join a fun Card Group first.

Right now, I sell mostly books. And book sets. Some I have read, but some not. I have some art on Etsy too, and hope to get back into that soon again too.

It was fun writing on Squidoo. But the owners decided to close it up years ago. I just now got rid of my Squidoo website. I was not posting on it, so it really didn't matter. I don't see the site coming back anytime soon.

Seth Godin was one of the owners, I think. He has gone on to write more books. I'll bet the site was making money, but I'm just guessing. For those who were not there, this was a fun article-writing site that shared revenue with writers. It had a great Member Area where you could learn more about it too. Some of my fellow writers and sellers there are now on Facebook OR are selling on their own websites now.

I have subscribed to several podcasts about selling, that have some great ideas they share. One recent idea was to try out new products from other people's stores, and see how they sell. A somewhat obvious piece of advice was to research what is selling well on other sites. This can be done online and you don't need to have much expertise to do it. Much info. is online about this. (Market Research).

See also what is NOT at Amazon yet, and get your foot in with a product, and see what happens. I have heard somewhere that Amazon will eventually try to get into your same market, so you need to keep looking and seeing your opportunities.

(So, it seems worth a try.) More on that later.

The usual Ebay advice I have seen is to get rid of things at your house first, then decide what to buy and sell at a profit. There is still opportunity out there, because the big companies do not have a monopoly on everything - yet!

I thought MAYBE that having my own selling website would be an option. But I think unless I am selling a LOT at once, it probably would not be a good idea right now.

Also, listing, listing, listing is a good idea until you get maybe at least 100 items on each site. THEN you can decide if things are working for you. Because until then, your items will probably not get much attention.

Another new item - good vs. bad. GOOD: Corel has made a MAC version of Corel Draw and more. BAD: It costs $500. Darn.

Here are a few podcasts I am listening to for online selling advice:
The Amazing Seller
Selling on Ebay
Selling Online Today
Silent Sales Machine Radio
Building Billion Dollar Companies
Reezy Sells Podcast
The Unstoppable Entrepreneur Show
There are many more - - also Writing ones.  

Join me on Twitter at @scholarsgrants, @betsyanne or @nontrads
Onward and Upward!

And be sure to visit my other blogs and sites:

My selling site: The Best Books and Collectibles

The Nontraditional Student website and The Nontraditional Student blog

Bookselling, Facebook pages, blogging again, the Moose Lodge dinner,

Hello (again) from The Garden Spot!

I am very happy to be writing on this blog again. Yes, it's been raining a LOT here. But I got the MAIN mowing done today.

What else have I been doing? Helping with Facebook pages, posting there too, helping with Girl Scouts online, organizing, and more.

Comment with what YOU have been doing, if you have time, and there is room for comments below.

Sharing: Are you on Ebay? I plan to have more things there soon. I may also get a store going.

I'd love to have a website featuring a unique Online Bookstore that really looks like a store, with the books and other things for sale featured on bookshelves.

It would be neat to have a "Virtual Bookseller" there too. Remember Microsoft Bob? I liked it. You could go from room to room and put your computer files in different places. One of these days I hope to have an online store like that. But for now, I'm on Ebay, Amazon, and Etsy.

So, hello from The Garden Spot, and I hope to continue blogging MOST regularly now.

I think it helps with ME getting motivated to do even more.

Off I go to get some great meatloaf and fixings at the Moose Lodge.

Have a GREAT week.

Onward and Upward!
Located at The Garden Spot, BG, Kentucky

Other sites:

My selling site: The Best Books and Collectibles

The Nontraditional Student website and The Nontraditional Student blog

For Resisters: The Betsyanne Site (and some old Business pages are there, too now...)

Time for a New Calendar, and a New 2014 Plan.

1-2014 - An Update.

I am using a new calendar, and deciding what to do for 2014 too. I expect lots of people are doing this right now.

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I didn't make any New Years' Resolutions except a couple - - to endeavor to achieve a cost balance cash flow (money in = money out), to devote some time to creativity and finishing projects, and to live each day to the fullest.

Some magazines and books are helping me do this. One is Mary Jane's Farm, a great, fun magazine that features hobbies, a farm lifestyle, and stories of women doing fun things.

Here is her website:  http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/ (select where to go from this page).

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We ran our faucets the last couple of days, and luckily did not have any pipes freeze up.

I rescued my daughter's sheet music which I found in the yard and utilized some book-saving methods I learned from my mother. They are in a book press right now with white-facing paper inbetween each one.

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Look for some NEW online selling stores soon from me. I will sell at several venues, hopefully Ebay, Amazon AND Etsy.

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And later, maybe I will take or give some classes.

So, what's up with you all? Leave a comment.

Betsyanne 
My Personal Page and blog
The Nontrads site and blog
My Squidoo pages
Join me on my Fan Page on Facebook
Join me on Twitter as @betsyanne or @nontrads

Find Christmas and Holiday presents at many auction sites! Betsy's Big List of Auction, Buying and Selling Sites 2

Betsyanne's big list of Auction, Buying and Selling Sites 2

I first started listing auction sites a few years back. I collected some that sounded good, but I have some favorites that have been around awhile I trust the most.

Are you an internet buyer? A seller? I have been both, and definitely have my preferences on sites.

It is the time to buy last-minute presents... and you can still find some things MUCH cheaper on an online site. You can find Christmas presents, accessories, things for yourself, and unique gifts sometime for a very hefty discount. Many have used items you can buy or give as gifts too.

LIST 2 - Sites I know or have heard about. 

Important: a word to the wise: you need to personally check out these sites and sellers. I am sure some are better than others.

And as far as the sellers go, you need to check their recommendations and how long they have been selling too. Any seller or buyer (like any person) can be trustworthy or not. I like to think that most people are pretty honest.

If you are a seller, these sites below may be the next option for you if you want to expand your store to other sites.

These are Biggie Sites

It used to be that Ebay was the ONLY site out there to buy or sell from. But today many people are starting new auctions sites, trying to duplicate Ebay's success.

True, you will get more hits to your queries on stores or bigger sellers when you use Ebay today, but there are still great deals to be had there. Plus, you can still find things you want using the "search" button. I think it's a BUYER's MARKET right now, but I have still sold things now and then this year.

I will list the Biggie Sites here that have been around awhile and that I like the design of or how they work. Some I have not used. If you use one of the sites that is not as well-known, let me know how you like it as a comment below.

Amazon - The Amazon site has much more for sale than it used to have. I love to find used books here. I have a Seller's Account there too, and may put more books on there later. Here is that link. You can join for free, and can make Amazon Book Suggestions mini-sites to link to if you wish. I have tried this, but haven't advertised the pages much.

BlueJay - This site is free to use. I like the very nice, low-key design. I have tried this one, and it was easy to list and had a nice store look. I wished I could figure out how to add more pictures, though. You can post your items here free for 180 days at a time. I was a member here for awhile, but I didn't get as much traffic as I did on Ebay.

Craigslist - here I must say Buyer Beware.  But this site is definitely fun. And you can find deals here. With the local pickup option, always take the usual safety steps. Craigslist is even more popular now than ever. Register, find your local Craigslist, read the rules, and go to town.

Ebay - this site is still so fun. Try searching here for things that you need and definitely still save some money. I still have fun here. One of the big plusses of shopping here is that you can save certain auctions into your Watch List and then choose the best one you find later.

Ebid - this site is definitely worth another look. I like the professional design it has. Make sure to go to the correct location. The correct address for this is: http://www.ebid.net/.

ECrater - This site is also know as The Moon. Some Ebay sellers have switched here.

Epier - this site is also becoming larger. They have store options for sellers and the site helps you make your own page. It's worth a visit.

Etsy - this wonderful site has great handmade items and more for sale. AND you can open your own shop here for free. If you have not been here yet, you need to check it out. See the newest designs across the country and get ideas for your own crafts too.


Goodwill Auctions - Goodwill stores sometimes take their most vintage, antique, or valuable items and put them on the Auction site now. I know of one person who got a good deal here. Expect to pay more because they often know what they are selling here. I went to check this one out a while back, and found some things I liked. They knew what they had (too bad) so the prices were good, fair, but not a steal.

Half.com - This is a subsidiary of Ebay. They almost closed it a year or more ago, but got a lot of complaints about it, so they kept it. You can find (and sell) book deals here and lots more. Sometimes you find a bigger discount.

Main Street Mall - this is a private online seller site. You can get a store here. The owner of the site is a long-time internet seller who also gives free advice to people making web pages. I like him! If you can afford to pay a free per month, Main Street Mall is a nice option. They also run Our Hutch, another online store site based in Kansas.

Online Auction - I like the fact that the Online Auction site is a Rotary Member and a Better Business Bureau site.

Ruby Lane - I love this upscale selling site. You can find jewelry, collectibles, books, furniture, and all kinds of retro and antique things in this virtual Antique and Selling Mall online It's fun to browse through and "window shop" the listings.

Sotheby's - A premier art auction site. Look here for high-ticket items, such as old masters, new masters, antiques, and lots more.

Ubid - this is another popular online selling site that features auctions too

WeBidz - another Ebay alternative auction site that cross-lists on Froogle.

Try the link below for more sites, shipping supplies, online directories, other online Auction and buying sites, and online help for sellers and buyers.

Source
The Betsyanne Big List of Auction Sites 2008

Have a favorite site you would like me to visit? Add it as a comment. And just leave a comment about anything related - - I love comments!!

-Betsyanne

My Personal Page and blog
The Nontrads site and blog
My Squidoo pages
Join me on my Fan Page on Facebook
Join me on Twitter as @betsyanne or @nontrads

Ebay and what is selling!

I found out something yesterday.

A friend's relative is doing very well on Ebay - - and is selling vintage things. Now I am going to try again there. There is also a sale on seller's fees, too.

Sounds fun!

I have some playing cards (vintage, of course) that I plan to sell, plus some vintage books and new ones too.

Check out this great online commerce page!

The Power Sellers Unite site is counting auctions on popular buying and selling sites.

I think this is an awesome idea.

Here is where their website watch page is:
http://www.powersellersunite.com/auctionsitewatch.php

I went to the site today, then to the page (above). I notice that Ebay leads by a LOT.

Of course, we all knew that would probably be the case.

But other sites are adding to their count.

So... according to the Power Sellers Unite site, it looks like the ten alternative sites with the most auctions are:

#1: Ebay
#2: IOffer
#3: eCrater
#4: Bidville
#5: us.ebid.net
#6: uk.ebid.net
#7: CQout (I hadn't even HEARD of this one!)
#8: Blujay
#9: OnlineAuction
and
#10: EPier

This is a very useful page. They even have updates every hour, to let you know which sites are going up or down.

It is definitely worth a look.

Here is the link again:
http://www.powersellersunite.com/auctionsitewatch.php