Is eBay finished?

Well I hope you’ve just about recovered from the indulgences of New Year’s Eve and are raring to go! Here we are two days in to the New Year already and so I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy and successful 2015.

I mentioned in last weeks eletter that New Year’s Day is always very significant to me because it’s the very day that 10 years ago (where has the time gone?) I decided to make some changes in my life. If I hadn’t made the decision in 2005 to go for it and start my own eBay business, I wouldn’t be sat here writing this now. What I would probably be doing is still working for someone else, seeing even less of my family and generally plodding through the weeks in a state of boredom.

But because I made a decision when I did, the last 10 years have been an awakening for me. I have made mistakes along the way of course, but have absolutely no regrets, which is why I urge you to push on with your dreams of a comfortable, flexible lifestyle and make this the year that you embrace change just like I did.

Has eBay had it’s day?

I regularly get asked whether eBay is still a viable place to start an online business as it has grown so much in recent years. There is that little niggle of ‘too much competition’ which worries many people. But I have to say that, in my opinion, it’s actually easier now than ever before to start an online business – and particularly on eBay.

Why? Well, there are more tools, resources and information online now than ever, all of which make it much easier for you to research, source and market your products. Yes there are lots of big companies including high street names, with a presence on eBay – but they would be missing a trick if they weren’t – alongside much smaller ‘kitchen table’ businesses, built entirely from scratch online.

eBay remains the easiest place for you to start your own business. After all where else can you start a business with very little capital, with low overheads, minimal risk and literally thousands upon thousands of ready made visitors from all over the world?

It’s a ready made starting block from which you can continue to expand your business incorporating Amazon and your own webstore. And talking of webstores – even that isn’t difficult these days with the emergence of Shopify and EKM Powershop amongst others!

This is the key. Expansion. eBay is certainly a venue where you will make fantastic profits but you should also market your products through other online venues and most importantly, you should think about setting up and promoting your own stand alone webstore. Why? Well, because multiple income streams equal multiple profits.

Build slowly to achieve success

If you are serious about building your online business, expanding your sales reach via other channels and making sure that your customer service is top notch should be a priority for you this coming year.

But I’m not suggesting you go full steam ahead and try and do everything at once. I realise that you might feel overwhelmed with the list of things you must do to forge ahead and make a real success of your business and as I write this I totally understand that you might be wondering exactly how you can do all these things and finally achieve your goals, but as I have always promised, I am here to help you on your journey so that you’ll find things easier to manage.

I want to ensure that you know exactly how to get the best out of your online business because as I have often said, I genuinely want you to succeed. I know it’s not always easy but you can achieve your goals with a bit of determination and positive thinking.

Remember that I have been in the very position you might be in right now so I know what it’s like – the frustrations, the excitement, the mistakes and the sheer relief when you get something absolutely right and the orders come flying in.

So, will this be the year that you go for it? Make the decision to do it now, remember I’m always on hand to answer your email, queries etc. and to give you the benefit of my own experience.

I am constantly researching new strategies, techniques and suppliers – and as you’ll know by now, I’m not capable of keeping information that will be helpful to you, to myself for long!

During the coming year I will continue to offer you my experience, skills, strategies and insights to help you with your online venture. There are exciting times ahead!

Here’s to 2015 and as always I wish you the best of success,