How to be more successful as an online reseller.
The online reseller business has long been a way to be your own boss and make extra money in your spare time. Done well, what you earn through your side-hustle could wind up putting more in your pocket than your career does and quite possibly with less effort involved. Find some steps to take that can improve the chances that you will be successful reselling stuff online. Who wouldn't love that?
Reselling items online through marketplace platforms like eBay, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, ThredUp, Craigslist and Mercari is a side-hustle with a low barrier of entry. It doesn't take much money to get involved, you don't need to be a social media expert and you don't have to work forty hours a week to make a profit (unless you really want to). But you do need to be able to navigate the basics. Here are five essential steps to creating a solid reselling business on the side.
There are also free, non-profit organizations that can give you advice on how to set up and run an online business. The most well-known is SCORE, and they are a national volunteer organization made up of tens of thousands of coaches. There are also free workshops (remote or in person) about running e-commerce, reseller sites. Learn more on free business advice.
Choose Your Niche
Decide what you want to sell. The possibilities are enormous, ranging from artwork to books to clothing to health and beauty and much more. If you're unsure where to start, lead with something that interests you or that you're already knowledgeable about. If possible, try to narrow it to a “niche” as well, as that can help differentiate your marketplace and also the more unique content you have on your website for a niche product, the better chance you will have being indexed higher by the various algorithms, such as google search. If you love shoes, for example, start there. But maybe some type of unique shoe, say collectible or retro.
What you sell may influence where you sell, as many online platforms are geared toward certain merchandise. Etsy (etsy.com), for example, is a good place to sell vintage and hand-crafted items, while Poshmark (poshmark.com) is good for selling fashion. Other platforms, like Facebook Marketplace (facebook.com/marketplace) and Craigslist (craigslist.org), allow you to sell just about anything as long as you categorize it properly.
Source Your Merchandise for Your Reseller Site
Three things matter most when you're looking for something to sell: quality, marketability and room for profit. Look in secondhand stores, flea markets, other online marketplace platforms, social media networks and at estate sales. You can even do something called retail arbitrage by combing through the sales racks at retail stores and outlet malls. Don't have the money to invest? Start with your own closet. Selling a few gently used items will help build the capital you need.
You may also be interested in buying in bulk. Many companies, like Wholesale Ninjas (wholesaleninjas.com) or AliExpress work with retail companies to sell liquidated merchandise in lot or pallet size. Buying store returns in bulk from companies like Amazon (amazon.com) is another option, although it carries the risk of receiving some items you can't sell.
Take Great Photos
Nothing is a more powerful selling tool than the pictures you take. Grainy, fuzzy, poorly lit pictures will make potential customers click away while attractive pictures can make them want what you're selling. Great lighting is key. Take photos near the sunniest window of your home or outside on a balcony or porch, says Fashionista (fashionista.com). Eliminate background clutter. Take multiple photos that represent every aspect of what you're selling. Don't hide signs of wear and tear. Customers will be angry if they receive an item that isn't as expected.
When you can afford to, invest in professional lighting for your reseller business Many resellers use ring lights positioned on a tripod to take pictures. You may also choose umbrella lights or soft box lights that, while a little more expensive, imitate natural light. An inexpensive backdrop gives you full control over the setting. As for a camera, phones are so sophisticated now that the camera on yours should do just fine.
In addition, with more than 60% of shoppers using their phones to shop, be sure to check the quality of your photographs using a smartphone. Be sure to view your photos, after they are posted in your reseller store, on an iPhone and/or Samsung – ideally both if you have access to them.
Market Your Online Store and Items Being Sold
While you do not have to be a social media expert or “influencer” to be successful at be an online reseller, this should be a tool you use to help drive sales. As the fact is that there is a lot of competition when it comes to selling items online – not only are you competing with huge corporations like Ebay or Amazon but also hundreds of thousands of smaller e-commerce sites.
Use any social media profiles you currently have, such as Facebook, Instagram or others to try to drive traffic to your online reseller store. Network with your friends, relative, neighbors and larger community. Maybe even try buying a couple advertisements on a service such as Facebook, as an ad may cost as little as $5. So the cost is minimal.
Also, write a good description for the stuff you are selling. Be sure to include a short, coherent description that is as “unique” as possible. This is another reason that finding niche products for an online marketplace is a good idea as it is easier to write more unique content - the more unique the description is, the better chance that the store algorithms boost it in the rankings and make it easier for shoppers to find.
Allow Multiple Payment Options for Your Marketplace
The largest, most well known and trusted on-line payment networks are Paypal and Venmo. Be sure to include those as payment options as well as Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) for your online reseller store. In fact, most consumers will only shop online using those payment providers do to their trustworthiness. Read more on Buy Now Pay Later services.
However, in addition to those two options, allow some others for your online reseller business, but make sure those two networks are first and ideally on the main checkout page. But put the two market leaders (Paypal and Venmo) front and center.
Provide the Best Service
When a potential customer asks a question about your merchandise, answer right away in a professional and friendly manner. When you get an order, ship as soon as possible. Your packaging should be thoughtful as well. Wrap items nicely and ship them in the right-sized envelope or box. Fragile items should be covered with enough cushion to ensure they don't get damaged during delivery. Consider including a brief thank you note with an offer for ten percent off the next purchase.
Once the transaction is complete and everything has gone well, don't be afraid to reach out for a good review. Some platforms require customers to rate but others don't. A short, friendly request may be all you need for a five-star rating. The more of those you get, the more customers are willing to trust you.
Keep Going!
No matter what site you're on, the more stuff you post and time you put into your reseller marketplace, the more likely you are to make sales. Marketplace sites like eBay, for example, have an algorithm that will push your posts forward the more active you are on your account. Keep hunting for new finds and posting them regularly. Stay active with your current posts. Drop prices on items that aren't moving. Make offers to interested buyers. If you see something not moving at all, consider taking better photos, pulling the post down and redoing it.
It will take time to find your own personal groove. Once you do, you'll make regular sales and your bank account will start growing. There's no better feeling than that.
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