The entry-level Powerseller, the Bronze level, does at least
$2,000 a month in eBay sales, maintains a 99% positive feedback
level and maintains their eBay account current. Higher award
levels are granted at the $10,000 level, (Silver level) and
at the $25,000 level. (Gold level)
What are some of the strategies and techniques
these PowerSellers use?
As someone who achieved Powerseller status
several years ago and continues to study other Powersellers,
here are Dave Espino's 21 Success Strategies of eBay Powersellers...
An eBay Powerseller is serious - Powersellers
treat their eBay business just like they would any other business.
They are dead-serious about it. Look at any Power seller operation
and you'll find organized systems and "assembly-line" techniques
being used. While a Powerseller may not have invested thousands
of dollars into her operation, she treats it as if she has.
eBay Power sellers are focused - A Powerseller
is focused on listing, packing and shipping, often on different
days of the week. Their focus is as intense as that of a Corporate
Executive or an Olympic athlete, because they are juggling
various activities at the same time.
Powersellers are organized - The Power
seller is organized, otherwise they wouldn't make it to the
level of Powerseller. Since Powersellers do a huge volume
of listing, packing and shipping each month, they must develop
processes to ensure that the items sold are delivered within
a reasonable period of time and that customer satisfaction
is always at the forefront.
eBay Powersellers delegate - Power sellers
delegate because they have to! Their volume dictates that
they hire an assistant to do some of the more repetitive tasks
that don't require the Powerseller's attention. This way the
Powerseller can focus on the important money-making tasks
of product acquisition and marketing.
Power sellers use assembly line techniques
- The Powerseller has developed smooth running systems to
make sure that product fulfillment is accomplished as quickly
and efficiently as possible. This may involve setting up a
large 4' by 8' table with bubblewrap and packing materials
at one end, products in the middle, and boxes, labels and
packing tape at the far end.
eBay Powersellers use Dutch auctions
- Many Power sellers have graduated from selling one-of-a-kind
knick-knacks found at yard sales and are now selling a volume
of the same item through Dutch auctions. In a Dutch auction,
a seller can place a large number of the same item up for
sale. The bidders can bid on one or more of the item, but
the highest bidders will be first in line to actually get
or "win" the products they bid on. So there is a possibility
that if someone bid too low, they might not get a product.
A Powerseller uses Dutch auctions often because it is a huge
time-saver. This is a true "assembly line" auction from start
to finish. The packing and shipping goes a lot faster when
the same item is being packed and shipped over and over again.
Power sellers do efficient work - Another
trait of the Powerseller is that they are extremely efficient,
knowing that time is money. A Dutch auction is a great example
of this efficiency. In the same period of time that it takes
to list one item, you are listing dozens, or even hundreds
of items! This time-efficiency is a powerful way to leverage
your time and profits.
eBay Powersellers "Bulk List" their auctions
- Bulk listing your auctions using a bulk listing software
or auction management service will dramatically organize your
time and allow your eBay operation to run a lot more smoothly.
There are various options in this area, from eBay's own "Mister
Lister" to Blackthorne software to Andale, and Auction Watch
auction management services, there are a lot of options for
you to look into. These services allow you to list your auctions
at your leisure and then schedule them to go live on a certain
day and time. This saves you the hassle of having to list
your auctions on the particular day that you want them to
go up.
Power sellers use clearly focused photos
- Power sellers have acquired their status by using clear
photos or scans of the items they are selling and making sure
that the photos show all flaws. In effect, along with all
of the other skills they have acquired, they have also become
semi-pro photographers! Many have built a "mini-studio" with
optimum lighting and background, that is available at their
beck and call for those quick shots when they need to e-mail
an additional photo to a bidder. Powersellers usually have
both a digital camera for photographing 3-dimensional items
and large items and also has a scanner for the paper items
and flat items.
Power sellers use headlines with key words
and no fluff - A Powerseller resists the temptation
to use "fluff" words like "L@@K", "WOW" and "MUST SEE". Instead,
the Powerseller uses descriptive words in the headline, realizing
that the headline is the "ad for the ad". A Powerseller is
also "search engine savvy", realizing that keywords in the
headline are picked up by the eBay search engine. They are
sure to load the headline with descriptive, keywords that
help the bidder determine if the item is what they're looking
for and keeps out the "fluff".
Powersellers write thorough and detailed
item descriptions - A Powerseller has achieved their level
by maintaining a high ratio of positive feedback. This is
primarily accomplished by having clear and accurate descriptions
of the items so that the bidder can clearly "imagine" the
item as if it were sitting in front of her. The art of writing
a great item description involves an interesting mix of using
"selling words" (such as "beautiful", "fantastic", "intricately
designed", "gorgeous", "spectacular", "powerful", "colorful",
etc.) along with describing the flaws in the item. A great
description should entice the bidder to bid while at the same
time providing full and complete disclosure of the item's
condition. Your test of whether you have a great description
or not is if it answers the following two questions well:
A. If I were to compare the description
to the item, while holding the item in my hand, would it
be an extremely accurate description? or would I have good
reason to return the item?
B. Does this description entice me
to place a bid on the item?
eBay Power sellers give "Benefit of the
doubt" customer service - Customer service is such a cliched
catchphrase in American Business today. In the eBay auction
world, it is mandatory that you implement a very meticulous
level of customer service. Powersellers have a clear reflection
of their level of customer service in their feedback profile.
One glance at any eBay seller's feedback profile and you have
an instant snapshot of that individual's customer service
rating. (Imagine if regular "brick and mortar" stores had
a feedback rating posted at the front door!) This public feedback
rating is both your best advertisement (if you provide great
customer service) and can also be your downfall. (if you don't)
A Powerseller is constantly aware of this "sign at the front
door" and places a high priority on giving stellar customer
service. I call it "Benefit of the doubt" customer service
because even in those instances where the customer is clearly
wrong, the Powerseller doesn't argue or get into an emotional
"war of words", she simply refunds the money or reduces the
shipping cost or sends an unexpected gift with the package.
The Powerseller realizes that business and ego don't mix,
they leave their ego on the table - they go on to build lifetime
customer relationships.
Powersellers (like Dave Espino) have their
own websites - A Powerseller realizes that business conditions
change. On the Internet, business conditions can change literally
from quarter to quarter! Because of the transient and high-speed
nature of change in the Internet business, the Powerseller
realizes the value of having their own storefront on the Web.
They have either built a website themselves or have had someone
build a site for them. They have developed a following and
a customer base through their eBay auctions that can help
sustain them even if dramatic changes come about on their
main selling venue. As eBay continues to evolve and change
- applying restrictive and invasive policies - this will become
more of a priority for all eBay sellers, not just Power sellers.
An eBay Powerseller makes it easy for bidders
to pay - By offering a variety of payment options, Power
sellers make it easy for winning bidders to pay for their
items. They offer to accept Checks, Money Orders, all types
of credit and debit cards through PayPal, Billpoint, or their
own Merchant Accounts. By offering a wide variety of payment
options, they open up their market of available bidders and
end up with higher ending bids as a result.
Power sellers offer discounts on multiple
items - Whether it is a discount on shipping multiple
items or a discount on the actual price of multiple items,
Powersellers realize the value of a good customer and treat
that customer special. Unexpected discounts tell the customer
"You're special" and build a reciprocity that keeps customers
coming back or searching the Powersellers' auctions. Powersellers
are always on the lookout for great deals - The Powerseller
is the consummate "deal-maker". Whether it's at an antique
store or at a swap meet, the Power seller is always thinking
about things they can re-sell. They find that pop-culture
collectible and buy it. List it the same day and see the bid
amount grow and grow. Part of the thrill of selling on eBay
is "taking a shot" and listing items that you are not familiar
with. Seeing the items shoot up in price is a fun and enjoyable
hobby!
Powersellers are always on the lookout for
great deals - The Powerseller is the consummate "deal-maker".
Whether it's at an antique store or at a swap meet, the Powerseller
is always thinking about things they can re-sell. They find
that pop-culture collectible and buy it. List it the same
day and see the bid amount grow and grow. Part of the thrill
of selling on eBay is "taking a shot" and listing
items that you are not familiar with. Seeing the items shoot
up in price is a fun and enjoyable hobby!
An eBay Powerseller does not mind making
money! - A Powerseller has no "issues" with making money.
Many Americans have been brought up with the notion that the
only "respectable way" of making money is by working at a
job for thirty years. Sales and selling is looked down upon.
The Powerseller is way beyond that. They have a healthy attitude
towards making money and it becomes like a "hobby" to them!
As new and strange as it may appear to the more traditional
types, selling on eBay is one of the easiest and most lucrative
ways to make a part-time income. The alternatives to selling
on eBay are either too time consuming or too unrealistic.
This "new" way of earning an income is powerful and realistic.
eBay Powersellers enjoy their work-at-home
lifestyle - Powersellers love the fact that they get to
work from home while the rest of America sits on the freeway,
waiting for their fellow "worker-bees" to move. The freedom
of having a Home Based Business is something the Power seller
relishes and appreciates. This enjoyment of the lifestyle
has many tangible benefits - better health, freedom of time,
being able to spend more quality time with kids, attending
their school functions and field trips, better scheduling
of time (around the rush hours) and an overall feeling of
well-being. There is no doubt, working from home is the wave
of the future.
Power sellers are willing to invest in their
business - Whether it means investing in a high-speed
cable modem or DSL connection, high-quality computer components,
including digital cameras, monitors, keyboards, etc. or whether
it means buying a "Featured Auction" listing which will drive
further traffic to their other auctions, the Powerseller knows
how to use their money wisely. There is a difference between
wasting money and investing money in your business. An eBay
Powerseller knows when to "invest" money into their business.
Basically, anything that saves you time or saves you money
is an investment in your business. As an example: A digital
camera is a huge time-saver over taking traditional 35 mm
photos and then scanning them. The investment in a digital
camera is one of the best ways to become a more efficient
eBay seller!
A Powerseller stays up-to-date on auction
trends and changes - Because Power sellers take their
business seriously, they constantly keep themselves up to
date on the latest industry trends and changes. They do this
by buying books about online auctions, participating in eBay
Message Boards / Forums, and staying tuned to the eBay Announcements
Board. They don't want to be caught off guard with a new change
or new policy that might affect their business.
An eBay Powerseller is always looking for
better ways to do things - Whether it's listing auctions,
packing and shipping, getting organized, or expanding their
business, Power sellers are always looking to improve their
online business. This is the nature of all successful business
people, they want to improve their business constantly.
As the 4% of eBay sellers known as Powersellers
continue to improve their processes, here’s hoping that the
above strategies will be helpful reminders in improving yours!
Dave Espino is the author of Beyond
eBay and Life In The Dot Com Lane.
Visit Dave's website at: HomeBasedBusinessOwner.com
