Online auctions are hot. Just ask one of the more than 750,000 people who make a living or substitute their income selling merchandise on online auctions such as eBay, and they will tell you that selling online is a great way to make money. In addition to being a great money maker, online auctions allow persons to start their own business with very little or no money of their own.

And the earnings can be phenomenal. The truth is that eBay has created comfortable lifestyles for a multitude of people. In fact, one woman reported earning more than $250,000 in 2005 for items she sold on eBay.

Granted, not all find their fortune in the great world of online auctions, and phenomenal earnings are not guaranteed when selling at online auctions. But people do succeed everyday. You can too, but first you need to get started. Here's how:

Choose an online auction

There are several online auctions that you can choose from; eBay is the most popular and successful. While other online auctions may not have the selling competition that eBay does, they also do not have the multi-million customer base associated with this online auction giant. All of this should be taken into consideration before you choose which online auction to go with.

Other things to consider are listing fees, customer and technical support, and ease of site use, all of which can be vital to your success. Look for listing fees that are minimal as you will pay these even if your item or items do not sell.

Become familiar with your online auction

Once you have chosen an online auction, you should browse through each section of the site to learn all that you can about your new store window in the e-marketplace. Learn how to use all of the tools and features. Also pay special attention to what is being sold and for how much. This will help you when you are deciding what to sell.

Learn all of the terms and conditions associated with the use of your online auction. Unknowingly going against these terms can get you booted. On the other hand, knowing them can help you in the event that you come across a buyer who does not play by the rules.

Choose items

There are virtually no items, barring explosives, which cannot be sold on eBay and other online auctions. The trick, though, is to find which ones will sell quickly and at a great profit. This takes research and a lot of it. Look for products that have high bid values but low numbers being offered. These statistics will let you know which products are likely to sell very well.

Study your facts

In addition to knowing which products to sell at an online auction, you should also do some research to find out how much you should start the auction at for your items. While people who shop eBay and other online auctions are normally looking for a bargain, they are not set against paying a reasonable price. So, see what your items are going for retail and set a price that is a bargain but not a give away.

Watch your competitors

As with any business, you need to pay careful attention to what your online auction competitors are doing. What are they charging? What are they selling? Are they doing better than you? You can learn a great deal from your competitors.

While there are no guarantees when it comes to succeeding with online auctions, getting the proper start can make all the difference. Do your homework. Have fun and good luck.
About the Author

Written by Randy Myers with Auction Co Pilot
For a complete step-by-step system for generating
quick & easy profits on eBay, visit Auction Secrets

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