Coffee Money Maker!
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small BusinessesMake Money With This Sexy Program! FREE
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It's fun!
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Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small BusinessesMake Money On CraigslistHello,
Are you struggling because of the economy? Were you aware that you could make fast money on Craigslist? Its very simple actually, you just subscribe to get our Free Starters Kit and its a step by step process in showing you how you could earn your own money quick. There are plenty of reasons that you may want to make a little extra money. Maybe you want to start a business at home, where you can still be around your family. You could just want to pay off some of your debt. Other things that may interest you :
Working less & Making more
Simply working from home
Loving what you do
Paying off debt
Spending more quality time with the family
Even firing your boss
If any of these apply to you, and you're looking for good quick money, order your Cathy's CD kit Click here
Order our FREE CD now and find the best program for you, today. Click here
Mom's ExpoI just wanted to share this site with you. Moms Expo !! This is an awesome site full of info to make stay at home moms into work at home moms!!
Most of it is free! Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses ArchivesJust a reminder that if you like what you see on this first page then check out the archives for tons of info. Info about home-based businesses, crafts, and more .
I have written a ton of info on this blog for real ways to make money at home. Just look through the past 2 years of this blog and you will be making money at home in no time.
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses Happy Thanksgiving
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses
Check Out MY WAHM Bookstore
All of the books are for everyone who want to work at home ,have a home based business , crafts, etc. I hope you will take the time to look through it.Life of a Work At Home Mom Book store
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses
10 Ways For A WAHM To Have A Successful Day!10. Pick one task that MUST get done and accomplish it First!
Be sure this is not a multi step task such as submit my advertisement to 100 sites, that could take all day. You want this one task to be something accomplished immediately so when the day falls off track due to your toddler helping themselves to the permanent markers, you know you've gotten something productive done in your business.
9. Take a 10 minute break EVERY hour.
You wouldn't believe how happy your kids will be when you take 10 minutes to fully devote to them. Set up a new game or activity, color, play tag. Get them on a roll. Your next 50 minutes of working will be filled with laughter.
8. Make snacks FUN!
Nobody likes graham crackers in a bowl everyday. A little effort into snacks can bring smiles. How about strawberries cut on a plate, cool whip with drizzled chocolate syrup. Takes less than 5 minutes and your children will WANT to sit at the table.
7. Use the Crockpot.
During morning snack time, while the kids are at the table with their fancy snack. Throw some meat in the crockpot, add some spices, put the veggies on the table or in the crock. Dinner will be ready in 15 minutes after your long day working at home.
6. Let's get Physical.
Don't forget kids have a ton of energy and you need to help them use it up. During your 10 minute breaks, be sure at least 3 of those are physically tiring activities. Besides you'll get your 30 minutes of exercise in for the day!
5. Use a Timer.
This is both for you and the kids. A large kitchen timer that counts down 50 minutes at a time. Even the littlest of toddlers will recognize the beep and realize it's Mommy time! You can set it again for 10 minutes which will remind you and your children its time for Mommy's work. This will keep your day flowing without losing track.
4. Take One day OFF a week.
Places such as museums and zoos are less crowded during the week. Take the day off, pack the kids a lunch and GO! You'll be refreshed and more productive the next day. You won't believe how many new ideas you can come up with when you walk away from the computer for more than a minute. Plus, your kids will probably go to bed early from the outing, you'll be able to check your emails in peace.
3. Don't forget your Friends.
We have many different roles to play once we become Mommy. Most of the time we forget to be a friend to our peers. Not just our other Mommy friends that we met because of our kids, but the friends that we don't talk to all the time or make playdates with. Call the friend that you only see once and a while. Have lunch and an adult conversation.
2. Take Time for Yourself
It's o.k. to read a book that doesn't talk about marketing strategies. Spend 10 extra minutes in the shower and actually dry off before you get dressed. Instead of making everyone's favorite dinner, order out your favorite meal. You'll be a better person to everyone when you take time for yourself.
1. Remember why You Choose To Stay Home!
When your frustration level is increasing, you can't get anything done, your toddler just hit delete on the article you were writing and the dog is barking....enjoy it. This is why you are home. Step away from your work, take a deep breath, take time to get the house rythym back and then worry about work. You're home to love your kids when they need it most, take advantage of the opportunity to handle challenging times, this is why you're a WAHM!
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses Create Themed Gift BasketsGift baskets are a great way to make a personal gift for family or friends. AND A GREAT WAY TO MAKE MONEY AT HOME!! This article includes many ideas of containers and themes to help you get started on a gift basket for everyone on your list. Gift baskets can be a lot of fun for you and the recipient and don't have to cost a lot of money.
The Recipient
The first thing to consider is who you are giving the basket to:
- What do they like?
- What are their hobbies?
- What do they need?
- What do they like to eat?
Containers
The container or "basket" doesn't have to be expensive. Pick a theme (some are listed below) and find a container that goes with the theme that can hold some items or have items attached to it. You want the container and the items to go together and for everything to be usable and practical. (This is not to say that a few fun things can't be thrown in too.) Below are some of my ideas for containers but there certainly are many more possibilities.
- Baskets of all shapes and sizes
- Bowls
- Flower pots
- Watering can
- Fishing creel
- Canvas bag
- Day pack
- Waste basket
- Bucket - ice, plastic or garden
- Colander
- Plastic container
- Storage box
- Platter
- Tin
Ideas for Themes
The items that go within the gift basket should be tied together by a common theme. The themes below are gift basket recipes that can be modified to fit your needs or to get you started on developing your own themed gift basket.
College Student Gift Basket
Use a basket or usable container
- Pens and Pencils
- Printer paper and supplies
- Mouse pad
- Washcloth and hand towel
- Yummy healthy snacks
- Phone Card
- Gift certificate for a CD
- Nail Clippers
- Book light
Bath Gift Basket
Use a nice basket
- Gel eye-pack
- Epsom salts or bubble bath
- Aroma therapy oils
- Scented candles and holders
- Pumice stone
- Washcloths, scrubber or loofa sponge
- Back cleaning brush
- Relaxing music on CD or cassette
- Rubber ducky
Kids Coloring Gift Basket
Use a rubber/plastic storage box
- Assorted papers, coloring books
- Crayons or colored pencils
- Nontoxic markers
- Assorted stickers
- Paint box and brushes
- Safe scissors
Photographer's Gift Basket
Use a basket or a camera bag
- Film
- Coupons for picture developing
- Camera Filters
- Lens cleaner
- Lens cloth
- Photo print paper
- Picture frame and matte
- Picture Album
Letter Writer's Gift Basket
Use a square basket or plastic box
- Note paper or cards
- Envelopes (choose a variety of sizes)
- Letter opener
- Pen or pencil
- Personalized seal
- Sealing wax
- Return address labels
- Rubber stamps to decorate envelopes
- Stamps
Crafters Gift Basket
Use a rubber storage container
- Glue gun and glue sticks
- Acrylic paints
- Assorted brushes
- Craft knife
- Craft supplies (this will depend on the craft they do.)
- Craft patterns or how-to books
- Craft papers
- Scissors
Pasta Lover Gift Basket
Use a colander or bowl
- Package of gourmet pasta
- Tongs or pasta grabber
- Package of sun-dried tomatoes
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Fancy olives
- Spices: oregano, basil, garlic powder
- Collection of your favorite pasta recipes hand-printed on recipe cards
- Pasta cookbook
- Jar of gourmet sauce
Gardener's Gift Basket
Use a clay plant pot, bucket or watering can
- Gardening gloves
- Hand tools
- Vegetable, flower seeds
- Liquid fertilizer
- Kneeling pad
- Gardening book
- Subscription for a gardening magazine
- Plant markers
- Heavy Duty Hand Lotion
Cat Lover Gift Basket
Use a cat bowl or pet bed
- Catnip Mouse or other cat toy
- Hair ball paste
- Cat treats
- Cat Brush
- Scratching post
- Gourmet cat food
Dog Lover Gift Basket
Use a dog bowl or pet bed
- Rawhide bone
- Dog biscuits
- Squeaky toy
- Dog shampoo
- Brush
- Collar and/or leash
Dogs come in all sizes so make sure you are buying for the right size dog. Also if it is for a puppy, chewy stuff is the best.
New Home Owner Gift Basket
Use a tool box or tool tray
- Screw drivers - Slot and Phillips
- Wrench, Pliers or Vice Grip Pliers
- Hammer
- Assorted nails, tacks, screws, washers
- Gift certificate for the local hardware store
- Do-it-yourself Home Repair book
- Other assorted odds and ends like:
- super glue
- light switch covers
- light bulbs
- duct tape
- paint brushes
- knobs and handles
Guitar Player's Gift Basket
Use a basket or gig bag
- Assorted guitar picks
- Tuning pipe or electronic tuner
- Sheet music
- CDs or cassettes of great guitar players
- Guitar strings
- Capo
- Polishing rag
- Guitar polish
- Chord or lesson books
Skier or Snowboarder's Gift Basket
Use a small pack or canvas bag
- Gloves, mittens and/or warm hat
- Hot packs
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Moisturizer
- Pass to the local ski hill
- Hot chocolate
- Ski, snowboard or sled waxes
Grandparent Gift Basket
Use a basket or reusable container
- Scrapbook
- Children's artwork
- Gifts made by the kids
- Framed family pictures
- Videos of the family
- Long-distance calling card
- Candy, coffee, or tea
- Handmade Christmas ornaments
- Polar fleece lap blanket
Wine Lover's Basket
Use a wine cooling bucket
- Wine Glasses
- Cheese and Crackers
- Cork screw
- Bottle of wine
Holiday Entertainment Basket
Use a nice holiday basket
- Holiday Napkins
- Holiday Plates
- Holiday Cups
- Whole Mixed Nuts
- Nutcracker
- Cookies or baked goods
- Holiday floral picks or ornaments for decorating
- Cheese ball or Sausage stick and crackers
Fillers
Once you have obtained your items here are some fillers to put around them.
- Piece of fabric
- Shredded paper, newspaper or colored paper
- Straw
- Easter basket grass
- Tissue paper or newspaper comics
- Raffia
- Colored towels or cloth napkins
- Cedar shavings
Extra Items
For Christmas Baskets add:
- Candy canes
- Candles - scented or unscented, votive, tea lights or tapers
- Pine cones
- Cinnamon sticks tied with red ribbon
- Greenery - spruce, pine, cedar, holly
- Christmas ornaments
For any occasion add:
- Potpourri
- Hot cider, special tea bags, special coffee or cocoa mixes
- Mandarin oranges, tangerines, oranges or apples
- Unshelled nuts or packets of roasted nuts
- Wrapped candy or baked goods
- Small toys or puzzles
- Sample hand creams
- Lip gloss or Chapstick
Finishing
If you buy colored cellophane you can cover the entire container with it disguising what is inside. Tie a ribbon around the whole thing or paste a ribbon on top. Have fun!
Be sure to let us know if you have more ideas for themes and items!Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses Host Your Parties OnlineHostapartyonline.com~~
"Connecting Consumers with Consultants" in Direct Sales, Home Party Plan Companies and Work at Home Business Opportunities like Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Mia Bella Soy/Veg Candles, Avon, Discovery Toys, Longaberger and more! Purchase products online, host an online party or become a consultant! Work at home and be your own boss! Great opportunities for stay at home moms!
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses Open A FREE T-Shirt Store Christmas time is a great time to open a t-shirt store so that customers can Make it personal: design and buy your shirt! for gifts. T-shirts are a low-cost way to get all of your gifts for Christmas. If you have your own store , you will be making money from all of that gift buying. Thousands of T-shirts will be bought this holiday season , so why shouldn't they be buying them from your store! Open your own free online T-shirt shop today!
Make Money With Home Made Bath & Body Items Do you want a great way to make money? This is the perfect time to start it. This holiday season is a great time to start a home based business making bath and body items that people will buy for gifts. There are a ton of recipes and ideas on WAHM Make Money With Home Made Bath & Body Items blog. This is a low cost way to start a home based business and with the upcoming holidays, like Christmas and Valentines Day , this is also the perfect time to start it.
Great Money Maker For The Holiday!!
What’s so great about FLiP?
Fun Lovin’ Parties is a NEW, INNOVATIVE, HIP, and FUN romance party!
A ground floor opportunity for you.
TOP 10 FAQ
1: How much does it cost to get started?
We offer several options to get started with FLiP. You can choose what’s right for you.
ITTY BITTY FLiP KIT: $49 (over $100 in value)
This kit is offered to help get your foot in the door. If you just don’t have the money to shell out, then start here and build your kit as you get your business going.
BASIC KIT*: $99 ($200+ of retail product)
Everything you need to get started with home parties.
STANDARD KIT*: $199 ($400+ in retail product)
Includes everyting in the Basic Kit plus more products.
DELUXE KIT: $299 ($700 in retail product) BEST VALUE!!!
Includes everyting in the Basic and Standard kit plus more products.
If you are with thinking of switching from another company, we offer transfer kit options as well.
Each kit has all you need to get started including catalogs, brochures, fliers, invitations, training manual, and much more!
*Special discount- When you sign up as an affiliate you receive a coupon code for 10% off a Basic, Standard or Deluxe Kit.
2: What is the minimum to remain a consultant? And are their any fees?
No minimums or quotas EVER! No fees. No monthly fees, no annual fees, none.
3: How often do I get paid?
If you do home parties, you get paid the night of the party. When you become a consultant you receive 40% discount on all retail products. When you place an order through the website the discount comes off the total. When you make an online sale through your website, say through a banner, then you get paid the commission on that sale on the 10th of each month.
4: Do I get a website and how much does it cost?
Yes, all affiliates and consultants get a website and it is FREE. There are many tools in your back office: banners to use for your own sites/emails/solo ads/blogs, etc., promotional emails, party games, business resources, and much more to help you succeed as an affiliate and a consultant. We are adding to these resources all the time.
5: Can I have the items directly shipped to my customers?
Absolutely! That’s what makes this company so great. We can ship directly to your customer at NO EXTRA CHARGE. When you order, you just fill in the shipping address. It’s that easy!
6: I’ve never sold romance products before. Do you offer training?
We include a training manual in your kit package and also hold training chats. In your start-up kit there is a book titled Toygasms which we highly recommend reading. It educated you about sex toys and your bodies and is an EXCELLENT resource to have for selling our products. Also, we are always available through email, phone, and IM. There is also a Fun Lovin’ Parties Yahoo group where you can network with other affiliates and consultants. We are working on training audios that you can download from the website.
7: Do you sell business supplies?
YES! There is a large web store for consultants to buy supplies. Here you can buy catalogs, brochures, order forms, and tons of home party supplies!
8: Is it easy to book parties and so you provide leads?
We can’t keep up with all of our party leads. We need you. Whenever we receive a party lead in your area we contact you immediately. What’s great about our parties is that not only are they easy to book but it’s the only home party that husbands will hand over the checkbook and WANT their wives to spend money! Also, you can do coed parties, couples parties, and all men parties. How fun!
9: Why should I choose you over bigger companies?
I hear this complaint a lot…
“I joined my company for the great incentives, compensation, and rewards. They offered low minimums to stay active and great training and support.
I joined ready to sell, sell, sell and became a recruiting star. After joining, I didn’t realize the fees involved. We pay a monthly fee for our website. And an annual fee for just being a consultant. Then I reached a selling goal and earned this great prize, but in order to receive it I had to pay my way to an annual convention across country. Well I couldn’t afford it so I lost the prize. And to top it all off, I had to take some time off and felt pressured to make the quota I needed to make to remain active. I ended up buying products myself just to stay and in those months, with the fees and quotas and high shipping costs, I spent more money than I made. I am disappointed I didn’t do my homework but I didn’t know what questions to ask. And I was never told this by my team leader and feel deceived.”
I have heard the stories from the consultants that have been in the business.
I can’t sit here and promise you success.
I can’t promise you financial freedom.
We don’t do that.
What we do…
We don’t charge any fees. No fee for your personal site. No fee to remain active. No fees to join our affiliate program. No cancellation fees.
We don’t have minimums or quotas because we know life is unpredictable.
We ship direct at no extra cost.
We provide the means, we provide the resources, and we provide support.
We offer great compensation and our prices are not over inflated.
We work with you and your needs.
We want to help you succeed but will not promise you success. You are responsible for your own success.
We offer excellent one on one support and training chats every so often, but our consultants and affiliates are very independent. If you feel you need strong team motivation, we may not be the company for you. But if you are considering coming back into the business or switching, please check us out.
Our company may not be for you and that’s okay. We do have rewards for superstars if that’s what you are. But we also have attainable awards for others that may not be on top. We try to cut costs in other ways so we are able to provide our consultants with what they want and need. There is no “perfect” company to match everyone’s needs. But we have listened to what many are looking for in a romance company and strive (and are still striving) to do our best to give the majority what they want and need.
If you are considering the business, please make sure you do your homework. Know what questions to ask before you join.
10: What if I decide it’s not for me?
This business is so much fun that it is hard to imagine you being unhappy BUT if you decide it is not for you then you leave with a fantastic supply of toys and products to enhance your sex life. And you can come back any time.
So what are you waiting for?
JOIN NOW! I would love to have you on my team! This time of year is the best time to join!! Holiday time is the biggest money making time of the year with Christmas and then Valentine's Day coming up!! JOIN and get ready for some huge sales and money making opps.
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small BusinessesVetern's Day!! Thank You!!
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses
Places To Sell Your Items OnlineThis holiday season there are many places online to sell your wares besides ebay. Many of them are totally free, have free listings, or are low.
Here is the list:
Gothic Auctions - Even though it is called gothic you can sell many different things on it. I have sold clothing, shoes, books, jewelry, movies, video games, and more and IT IS ALL FREE!!!!!
Goth Auctions Another totally free auction site that you do not have to be gothic to sell on. Great site.
Ibidfree is one that I have not tried yet. I might have to this year though, ebay fees are eating my profits all up.
e-witch has a low final value fee on their auction site.
Ecrater is a free online store that you can place as much inventory in as you want and any kind also. Totally FREE!!
ePaganAuctions is another free site that is easy to use and great. Lots of traffic.
This is just a few of them. Do some research on google and you will find some more.
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses New Blog AlertI have been working on a new blog and I think that I am ready to let the cat out of the bag. Prepared For Survival The recent economic stuff and the election has gotten me to wondering about how to be prepared if something bad happens.
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses 2 Minute FudgeTake a break from working at home and make this rich fudge!!
A 2-Minute Fudge
1 lb Powdered sugar
0.5 cup Cocoa
0.25 ts Salt
0.25 cup Milk
1 tb Vanilla extract
0.5 cup Butter
1 cup Nuts, chopped
In a 1 1/2 qt.
casserole, stir sugar, cocoa, salt, milk and vanilla together until partially blended (it will be too stiff to blend thoroughly).
Put butter over top in center of dish.
Microwave at high for 2 minutes, or until smooth.
If all butter has not melted in cooking, it will as mixture is stirred.
Blend in nuts.
Pour into a lightly-buttered 8x4x3" dish.
Chill 1 hour in refrigerator or 20 to 30 minutes in freezer.
Cut into squares.
Makes about 36 squares.
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses This is a great time to work at homeThis time of year is a great time to work at home and make some extra money!! Get started now for the Christmas season. Start now and make toys, make candles, make soaps, knit hats, scarves, gloves, quilt baby blankets, make cloth diapers, make baby bibs, make bath and body items, bake cookies, make gourmet doggie treats, and more!! Anything that can be a gift item can be made at home and you can sell to make money. You can sell the items on ebay, on other online sites, at local craft fairs, etc. There is no end to the possibilities of making money at home this time of year. Just use your skills and your ideas and get started. You have a few more weeks to be making some money for your own Christmas gifts!!
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses I am giving this blog a vacationI am so busy working from home and taking care of a toddler that is going through the terrible twos that I am going to give this blog a vacation. Please keep visiting though, there is still a ton of information on here for you to search through. I still have some other blogs that are taking up a lot of my time. I just am not working on this one right now. I have some plans for it and want to update this one soon and change some things.
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses Do you believe horoscopes??
I am a Taurus and some of this is perfect for me! Kind of scary how close it is to me.
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small BusinessesBlogDumps Affiliate Program
This would be another great way to make money online!! Put the banners on your blog and watch the money come in!! That is it.
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small BusinessesSuccess Start-Up Tips For A Recession During tough economic times , starting a home based business is a great thing to do. You will be saving money by not spending so much on gas and daycare. Here are a few tips so that you have success with your start-up during a recession:
1. Keep a strict eye on your finances. Be thrifty in all of your spending. Make sure that right at the start you have what you really need for your business. You can always buy extras later when you have more money coming in. Avoid building debt and keep your fixed expenses low. Maintain a positive cash flow.
2. Market your business effectively. Search for where your ideal customers are and market too them! Especially to them that will keep buying. Maybe market yourself more often with low cost advertising and publicity tactics to save money. Encourage word of mouth advertising from your customers by offering them savings or freebies.
3. Partner with other business owners on projects and in advertising.
4. Stick to your mission and build a strong business philosophy that will guide your business's operations successfully through any and all economic fluctuations. If you prepare in advance then when times are rough you will be able to stay afloat.
5. Be alert for potential profitable sidelines of your business services or products that will meet people's specific demands caused by a slow economy. Maybe offer free shipping or delivery so they will not have to drive when gas is so high.
6. Offer the highest quality. Your customers are going to want to highest quality and the best service even during tough economic times.
7. Be flexible and ready to adapt your business to any challenge and economic threat that is thrown your way. Always be planning ahead so that your are prepared for anything that is sent your way. You customers will trust you more when they can see that any challenge that is thrown your way is met with confidence and taken care of!!
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses
I have been "sew" busy!!I have not been writing on this blog in a while now. I have been so busy with sewing. I have been making a ton of things. Lately it is nothing but cloth diapers. You can see some of them on Cloth Diaper Blog and I have a made a few for my son and a ton for my grand daughter.
I will get a break soon to write more on here. Bear with me. I get into these moods where all I want to do is sew and it will pass soon!!
Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses How to Start a Freelance CareerHow to Start a Freelance Career
Work at Home and Earn an Excellent Income
Imagine being able to work from your own home, doing a job you love, and
getting paid handsomely for doing it. Wouldn't that be great?
Well, the good news is that this is not just a fantasy. It is a prospect that is
well within your reach. Today, millions of people worldwide have established
highly-successful careers as freelance professionals. Writers, designers,
programmers and many other home-based consultants have discovered that
freelancing offers the perfect combination of freedom, creativity, flexibility
and profitability.
So do you need years of experience and fantastic qualifications to join these
lucky people? Not at all. You just need a skill that you can offer to potential
clients, and the willingness to learn how to run a home-based business.
Of course, the biggest challenge for new freelancers is finding enough work to
justify giving up a day job. How can you be sure that you will keep yourself
busy with lucrative work? This used to be a concern, but thanks to the advent of
the Internet, things are now much easier.
Now there are a number of job sites dedicated to helping freelancers find work
and stay busy. Freelance Work Exchange, for example, brings you hundreds of
fresh freelance jobs like these:
Write for Discussion Boards: $1200 per week, plus bonus
A writer is needed for an ongoing writing project. You will need to write copy
to stimulate others into joining the discussion board. The writer needs to
actively encourage regular and meaningful debate on the relevant discussion
board, with some moderating of the content. You must have solid writing skills
and good ideas.
Administer a Web Business from Home: $4000 per month
A successful e-commerce venture is seeking a part-time virtual assistant to act
as a home-based office manager. You will deal with email correspondence, update
site content and deal with general admin issues. You should have your own
computer and Internet access.
Transcribe Author's Notes: $80 per hour, flexible working
A publishing company is seeking a freelance with an eye for detail to
transcribe authors' notes and recordings for a range of ongoing projects. You
must have a good grasp of English, be able to edit content into readable form,
and be able to submit work from home by email.
You can sign up for a trial subscription for just $2.95, and get instant
access to all the projects in the jobs database. So if you would like to get
started on the road to freelance success right now, click here to sign up
today.
 Threadsmith - Custom Embroidery for Small Businesses The Top 7 Overlooked E-bay Success Tipsby: Jamie Sloan
Last year alone, millions of people made a profit on e-bay. Some were just selling odds and ends, while some ran huge businesses exclusively on e-bay. The amount of commerce done on the internet is only expected to increase, making prospects for e-bay users bright. You very well may be one of the people who's discovered the great benefits of making money from e-bay auctions. I myself have been an e-bay user for a little over a year and have had great success with my auctions.
When my friend began her business on e-bay selling high end purses, it started out quite rocky. Her auctions weren't getting the hits she wanted and usually sold off of one bid, instead of creating the bidding frenzy that beautiful bags like she had should have!
So, she called me up knowing I had been successfully using e-bay for almost a year at the time. She gave me her login information (we're best friends- she trusts me!) and asked me to check her her sales and current auctions and see if I noticed where the problem was. When I saw her current auctions, alot became obvious!
So, I compiled a list of things that I had used which had made me successful which I suggested she implement into her own auctions. I even revised the auctions she had active at the time. One of those auctions- a gorgeous brown Coach purse- sold for $546.00. She had listed it for $125.00. It was her biggest sale yet and she was thrilled.
The funny thing is, the methods I use are not some internet guru secrets. They are just things I picked up during my time using e-bay, but seem to be overlooked alot of the time. Here are what I have found to be the top 7 overlooked tips for successful e-bay auctions:
1. The Importance of a Good Title- When you're creating a title for your auction, you've gotta think like a buyer. When I checked my friend's listings, she had a beautiful, brand new brown patchwork Coach purse titled as 'coach purse'. This is way too general! A buyer knows what they want; in your title, include color, any brand name, main keywords that people will search, and condition is possible. I changed her title to "Brown & Beige Patchwork Coach Purse-Brand New". By the next day, it had over 100 new hits. Previously her auctions were hardly even reaching 100 hits throughout the whole 5 days.
Another mistake people often make is writing things like 'The best wristwatch ever!!!!" Even if you do believe you're selling the best wristwatch ever, is this really what a buyer is searching for? Of course not. Use a more descriptive, detailed title like 'Gold Armani Wrist Watch w/ Leather Band-New".
One more thing when it comes to titles: make sure keywords are included. For example, whatever the item you're selling actually IS, include that in the title. On e-bay, I mostly sell high end women's heels. I always make sure to include in my title 'Womens Shoes" because this is a common keyword. An example of a title I would use is:
"Brown Marc Jacobs Womens Silver Stud Pumps Shoes"- I know that 'pumps shoes' sounds awkward, but many women will search for "marc jacobs womens shoes", and I want to be sure my item shows up in the results. Use these tips when creating your title and you'll be sure to see increased traffic to your auction.
2. Give honest descriptions- Sure, that stain, tear, or other defect may be sooo small that it's almost impossible to notice. Still, mention it in your auction. If you send an item out and a buyer realizes that the item has a defect that you didn't mention in the auction description, they will be disappointed and very possibly leave you negative feedback. Anyone familiar with e-bay knows that feedback is everything. It is what makes people feel comfortable buying from you and proves that you are a trustworthy, reliable buyer.
It's best to provide a photo of any defects so potential buyers can see what they're getting. And believe me, if you say that there's a defect but don't show a picture, people will e-mail you asking for some. I have sometimes had a defect so tiny on a shoe that I couldn't even get it to show up in a picture. If that's the case, say it! Provide a picture of the area where the defect is and also explain in your listing that it's so miniscule that you can't get it to show up in the picture. Buyers will trust you much more and be way more willing to buy from you in the future. You also won't have to deal with an unsatisfied customer who can damage your feedback rating and make future potential buyers hesitant or even completely dissaude them from buying from you.
3. Offer International Shipping- So often I see sellers who are providing great products but don't offer international shipping. Let me tell you- about 30% of my sales are to international buyers, and very often international buyers will pay more for products. I never understood why people are restraining their own sales potential by not offering international shipping.
Remember, the buyer is the one who pays the shipping, not you!! Even though international shipping is expensive, you are not paying it! And don't be discouraged thinking sending things internationally is difficult- it's super simple and not much different then sending things within the country. If you use USPS (the method I find most efficient for prices and service), you may have to fill out a short customs sheet that takes no more than a minute. Don't be lazy! Offer international shipping and see your sales soar!
4. Send a Thank You card with your purchase- You can get packs of black decorative cards from any general store, WalMart, or even discount chains like TJ Maxx. Buy a couple packs and with people's packages, send a nice thank you card.
You don't have to write a dialog, just a simple "Name of Buyer, Thanks so much for your bid! Enjoy your purchase, and I hope to do business with you in the future! Your Name or Business Name" If you want to really go all out and rake in some super feedback, include a small free gift. When I sell a pair of shoes I usually include a free headband or pair of earrings. If you'd like to try this out, try to find something that compliments whatever it is that you're selling. You could also include a little bag of candy or some tea light candles (go to the dollar store for great knick knacks and free gift ideas). Use your imagination to make your customers satisfied and loyal!
5. Offer combined shipping Buyers love combined shipping. If you offer a good combined shipping deal, and have more than one item they're interested in, they're ten times more likely to buy both items. Some people choose to determine combined shipping depending upon the two items the buyer is interested in, while others have set shipping rules. A good example is to charge $_.__ for the first item and offer to send the second item free, or for $1.00-$2.00 more. Usually the additional weight of the package isn't much so it's possible to offer combined shipping without losing any profit at all. Determine your own rates depending on the weight of the items you sell and the shipping service you use.
6.Keep communication with Buyers open and offer more pictures upon request. Of course in your listing you must include good pictures to attract buyers. Most people include 2-4 pictures per listing, depending on the size of the items and any special details you've got to show. I always include at least 3 pictures, and more if I feel the item needs more pictures of some detail it has that is unique.
Even though you have already provided your buyers with good pictures, it's helpful to write in your listing "Contact me with any questions or for more pictures. (with your contact info)" This is another method that makes buyers instantly trust you more and feel more comfortable placing bids. They feel that the communication lines are open and that they can get more info on the item if needed. And don't be discouraged thinking that you'll spend the whole day responding to e-mails requesting more photos; If you've already included good pictures, most people won't bother asking for more. Of over 50 listings where I've written this, only one person ever asked me for additional pictures. Check your e-mail though at least once a day to see if you've got any questions, people love quick responses and will reward you with good feedback for your effective communication.
7. Always use Delivery Confirmation- This is a biggie! Make sure that when you post your shipping costs, delivery confirmation costs are included so buyers aren't questioning the extrra expense when they receive their invoice. Delivery confirmation is a cheap effective way to ensure both your own and the buyer's investment.
First of all, you do not want to get scammed. What? Scammed? Yes, it happens. I know that most of the scamming referred to on e-bay is about sellers who scam their buyers, but don't be naive; we sellers are also at risk. Although the majority of the e-bay community is good people who are just trying to conduct legitimate transactions, there are those rotten apples which make it hard for all of us.
The usefulness of delivery confirmation was brought to my attention my an acquaintence of mine who does some selling on e-bay. He sold some very high quality digital remote for around $250.00. He shipped the item using delivery confirmation, and after about a week told me he received an e-mail from the buyer saing she'd never received the product. She filed a whole complaint with e-bay and made a big fuss about it. GOOD THING he had the delivery confirmation number and was able to prove that the product had been shipped to her address. Don't let one of these scammers get a chance to cheat you out of your money.
Making delivery confirmation a requirement is also something that will make serious bidders trust you more and see that you're a legitimate business person who wants to secure shipment. Think about it; if someone requests NOT to use delivery confirmation, you can guess where their intentions are. The extra .75 is not breaking anyone's piggy bank, so don't feel bad about it.
There you have it! Use these highly useful yet highly overlooked tips to generate more traffic to your auctions and enjoy higher sale prices. To e-bay success!
Check out http://www.freelancemommystudio.com for more e-bay and work at home tips and programs!
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