Dr. Tony Vercillo

Link: http://www.ifmc-consultants.com/shop

For those us that are adults, the vast majority of our lives, secondary products were sold in the Penny Saver, classified ads, or at a garage sale. Advertising our personal goods was limited to our local newspapers and any signs we may have put up. Since the advent of websites like eBay and Craigslist, though, that all has changed.

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Both of these sites are fantastic sources for selling personal items as who will view your items increases far beyond the scope of just your basic locals. While Craigslist usually limits to your general area, eBay is viewed by anyone who has access to eBay. That said, in regards to Craigslist, if you wish to look beyond your area, it’s quite easy to do so.

But most don’t know how to advertise on these websites. While many just want to put something up because they don’t want it anymore and are looking to make a few bucks off of it, quite a lot genuinely want to make get something in return for the items they have and it’s important that they sell. So how does a non-sales person go about getting the most out of the items they want to sell? Here’s a few simple steps.

Be Enthusiastic

It doesn’t matter what you’re selling, people need to be excited about what you have to offer if they’re going to show any sort of interest in purchasing it. Whether it’s an iPad that’s less than a year old, or a fridge that’s 10 years old, make sure, right in the title, you give people a reason to check it out further. Potential customers don’t want to feel like they’re buying your second-hand junk that you no longer want, but an item that you hate parting ways with. When it’s the latter, individuals will feel more like it’s an item that has been taken care of and will come to them in perfect condition.

Be Clear

Always assume that the person buying your product has no idea what you have to offer and, most likely, doesn’t understand what you’re saying when you explain it. By that, I mean don’t write in short-hand, and especially don’t ever write anything down the way you text. You can write W Frg, 10yo and I guarantee the vast majority of people won’t know that you just said White Fridge, 10 years-old. When it comes to text-writing, many times people won’t trust that you are serious and legit if you try and shorten everything you say. Ads aren’t confined to 140 characters anymore. You have the room to say what you have.

Be Prompt

If you are selling an item online, always make sure you are in a position to reply to inquiries as quickly as possible. Most people, when looking for an item, will look for several options and, quite possibly, email/call all potential sellers. After all, in the case of Craigslist, items don’t come down off the site until you manually remove them, so seeing it up doesn’t necessarily mean it hasn’t been sold. Most buyers familiar with Craigslist know this and will assume that if they don’t get a quick response that the item has been sold.

As a side note, don’t tell individuals in your ad that if they see the ad they should assume it’s still for sale and not ask if it’s for sale. It’s rude and, many times, you may be in the process of finishing a sale as someone emails you. Remember that as the buyer, you are putting yourself in the position of customer service. If you plan on selling more items, treat people well and they will be back.

Lastly, Be Patient

This is particularly important as there are also many others out there selling items similar to – or exactly the same as – yours. Just because there are so many more potential customers who have access to what you’re selling doesn’t mean you’re going to sell your items immediately. For example, in the case of eBay, it’s a lot like starting a business. It takes time to build customer awareness and positive feedback. The more people work with you, the more you will be awareness of about yourself and your good customer service.