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Page 1: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

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Page 2: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents Developing a Commerce Strategy

Listing Formats 3

eBay Seller Tools 5

Certified Providers 7

Setting Up Business OperationsSeller Registration 10

ID Verify 10

Customer Service & Return Policies 11

Building Your eBay PresenceStores Overview 12

Is an eBay Store Right for you? 12

Creating an eBay Store 13

Feature Comparison 14

Marketing Your BusinesseBay Stores Marketing Tools 15

eBay Keywords 17

Global Trade 18

Optimizing for Search EnginesHow Search Engines Work 20

Customizing & Selecting Keywords 21

Keyword Guidelines 23

Online Resources 23

Securing Payment with PayPalPayPal Protection 24

Pricing 25

Free Online Tools 25

Signup Process 25

Maximizing Shipping ToolsShipping Calculator 26

Purchasing & Printing Shipping Labels 27

Analyzing & Tracking PerformanceeBay Stores Traffic Reports 28

Sales Reports 28

Accounting Assistant 29

Sourcing EssentialsReseller Marketplace 30

eBay Resources 31

Sourcing Tips 31

Industry Resources 32

Page 3: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

» Listing Formats» eBay Seller Tools» Certified Providers

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Listing Formats eBay offers a variety of selling formats to help you maximize profitability. The most successful sellers on eBay experiment with different Listing Formats to test the eBay Marketplace. You will learn quickly the best ways to market your product and stay ahead of the competition as you try out these different tools for marketing your products on eBay.

Here's an overview of your Listing Format options:

AuctionQuantity Offer bidding on one or multiple items.

Where Your listing appears in the eBay category (or categories) you choose and in search results.

How It Works This is classic eBay. Collect bids on your item and sell to the highest bidder in a fixed length of time. You may also include a Buy It Now price in your auction, which disappears after the first bid.

Why Use

Capture potential value from strong demand.

Best for:1) scarce and hard-to-find items or

2) to quickly move out-of-stock inventory with a low starting price.

Length of Listing

1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 days. Real estate auctions may also run for 30 days.

Note: 1-day listings are not available for eBay Motors Vehicles categories in the US or Canada.

Fees Insertion fee to list

Final Value Fee charged (see Fees for more info)

Fixed Price

Quantity Offer one or multiple items for sale at the Buy It Now price anytime during the listing.

Where Your listing appears in the eBay category (or categories) you choose and in search results.

How It Works You set the price for your item or items, so buyers can purchase immediately (no bidding) using "Buy It Now" feature.

Why Use Provides certainty over final price.

Best for new, in-season goods or when item scarcity is not an issue.

Length of Listing 3, 5, 7, or 10 days.

Real estate auctions may also run for 30 days.

Fees Insertion fee to list

Final Value Fee charged (see Fees for more info)

« previous page Page 3 of 33 next page »

Page 4: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

» Listing Formats» eBay Seller Tools» Certified Providers

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

eBay Seller Tools Sellers with full-time businesses on eBay have different needs than Sellers who list a few items every week. No matter how big or small your sales are, eBay offers the tools you need to save time and scale your business. With eBay Seller Tools, you can create listings, manage sales and inventory, automatically send emails, leave feedback, and more. eBay offers tools that you can use on your desktop or on the Web, so you can work the way you want to. Not sure which tools are right for you? Check out our Quick Guide below for recommendations on the right tool to suit your needs.

Key Features and Benefits● Turbo Lister

Create more listings in less time on your desktop, and save listings for reuse.

● Selling Manager and Selling Manager ProSave time tracking and managing your sales with this Web-based suite of tools. Use Selling Manager to complement Turbo Lister. Use Selling Manager Pro for more advanced features such as automated emails and feedback.

● eBay Blackthorne Basic and eBay Blackthorne ProAll-in-one suite of tools that enables you to create listings and track and manage your sales from your desktop. Seeking a powerful and flexible tool? Try Blackthorne Pro.

Which Tool is Best For Me?

Number of Items I want to Sell on eBay per Month

Web-based or Desktop Solution Pricing

0-10 11-49 50+ Help me create my eBay listings Sell Your Item Form X Web-based FreeTurbo Lister X X Desktop FreeHelp me manage my eBay sales My eBay X Web-based Free

Selling Manager X Web-based$4.99

(free 30-day trial)*

Do it all with one tool

Selling Manager Pro X X Web-based$15.99

(free 30-day trial)**

eBay Blackthorne Basic X X Desktop$9.99

(free 30-day trial)

eBay Blackthorne Pro X X Desktop$24.99

(free 30-day trial)*

* Free for Basic Store subscribers** Free for Featured and Anchored Store subscribers

« previous page Page 5 of 33 next page »

Page 5: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

» Listing Formats» eBay Seller Tools» Certified Providers

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Certified Providers Certified Providers have the expertise and experience to grow your business through technical and non-technical services. They can save you time, provide access to supply, attract more buyers, and increase your profits.

What is a Certified Provider?Certified Providers are carefully screened to ensure that they can provide eBay members with services and solutions to start and grow their eBay businesses. Certified Providers have extensive experience with eBay, pass strict certification exams and provide a number of proven customer references that are checked by eBay.

● Non-technical providers (Certified Service Providers) offer services such as listing strategy and Web site template design.

● Technical providers (Certified Solution Providers) offer services that include integration with the eBay platform and custom software development.

Learn more about what it means to be a Certified Provider and find a list at: http://developer.ebay.com/certifiedprovider/

Certified Provider Software & Services

eBay Business Setup & Design ServicesMany companies offer design services to help provide you with a unique professional look on eBay. Companies like As Was and Internet Business Skills will help you start your eBay business on the right foot by setting up your eBay business based on a custom diagnostic of what is right for you. A professional look and feel is an important part of attracting customers and getting them to purchase. You don't need to know any HTML to have an attention grabbing look. These companies can create a custom listing template, eBay Store, or About Me page that speaks to your audience.

Fully Outsourced Listing ManagementFor those manufacturers or large retailers looking to liquidate their inventory easily and quickly, perhaps outsourcing your entire eBay business is for you. Outsourced listing management companies like Essex Technology Group, Dealtree, Truition, and JustDeals offer the ability for manufacturers or large retailers to get a higher return on their dollar than traditional liquidators. They can offer a range of services including product pickup, listing management, order and payment processing, and shipping to buyers for you.

« previous page Page 7 of 33 next page »

Page 6: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

» Seller Registration» ID Verify» Selling Policies

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Seller Registration To begin buying or selling on eBay, your first step is to register with a unique User ID. eBay makes registration easy by guiding you through a few simple forms.

Step #1 - Establish an eBay Account● Go to www.ebay.com● Click "Register"● Enter your name, address, telephone number(s), date of birth, and email

address● Create a User ID, which is your eBay "business name." You have a few

options ready in case your first choice is in use already● Click "Agree" to eBay's User Agreement and Privacy Policy● eBay will send a confirmation to you by email; click the confirmation link to

establish your basic eBay account

Step #2 - Register as a SellerSelling on eBay requires additional security checks to make sure that the site remains safe and secure. To complete registration, you will need a credit card, bank account and routing number (found on your checks). To make the process easier, you may want to gather this information before proceeding.

● Go to www.ebay.com● Sign in with your User ID and password● Click the "Sell" link● Follow the Seller's Account creation link and you will be asked to verify your

information● Provide your credit (or debit card) information. You may use any major credit

or a Visa/Mastercard debit card (either a personal or business card is acceptable.)

● Enter your checking account information (either a personal or business checking account.)

● Select how you would like to pay your eBay fees. Fees are only applied when you list an item for sale and sell on eBay.

Setting Up ID Verify ID Verify establishes proof of identity by cross-checking your personal information against consumer and business databases for consistency. It also allows you to list in other formats, such as Fixed Price, without attaining high feedback levels. When your information is successfully verified, you will receive an ID Verify icon in your member profile. This icon helps to communicate an additional level of trust to buyers. Learn more about ID Verify

Once you have successfully passed the ID Verify process, a $5 fee will be charged to your eBay account. You won't be charged if you do not complete the process or if you do not successfully pass the ID Verify process.

Note: After successful verification, you will not be able to modify your contact information for 30 days. Also, the ID Verify icon is used for 3 different verification processes. Verisign provides individual verification on eBay.com.

« previous page Page 10 of 33 next page »

Page 7: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

» Seller Registration» ID Verify» Selling Policies

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Customer Service & Return Policies There are several selling policy decisions to be made as an eBay seller. These policies should be displayed clearly on your listing template, About Me page, and eBay Stores page. The more information you give, the fewer questions you will likely receive from buyers. Use this worksheet of common questions to help you develop your selling policies.

Product Information● Photos: Provide clear photos of the piece. Consider if photos are needed from

several angles (front, back, bottom, etc.).● Features: List all the benefits, specifications, and parts included in the item.● Condition: Is the item new, used, or still under warranty? Be sure to mention

any flaws or repairs.● Certificates: Highlight if any product certificates of authenticity are included.

Shipping● Fixed shipping cost or tiered by sale amount?● Shipping carrier and method (USPS Priority Mail, UPS Ground, etc.)? Learn

more● Discounted shipping if more than one item is purchased? Learn more● Will you ship internationally? To P.O. boxes? To unconfirmed PayPal addresses

(i.e. shipping address does not match billing address on file)?● Does shipping cost to Hawaii and Alaska differ?● How soon do orders ship once payment is made? ● Will I receive a shipping confirmation or tracking number when my item is

shipped?● Is insurance offered? If so, how much would it cost?

Payment● Will PayPal be offered? We suggest that you add the PayPal logos to your

listings by setting this up in your PayPal preferences. Learn more● Does payment have to occur within x days of the purchase date?● Is there a specific process for making payment (e.g. eBay's checkout system,

merchant's website)?

Returns● Are returns accepted?● What is the process for returns? What is the time frame for returns?

Sales Tax● Is there sales tax? If so, how much? To what state(s) does it apply? Learn

more

Warranties● Do you provide a warranty? To what state(s) does it apply?

Customer Service● Method for submitting questions (e.g. email address, web form)?● What is your expected response time to buyer emails?

Feedback● Feedback will be given to buyers within x days

« previous page Page 11 of 33 next page »

Page 8: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

» Stores Overview» Store Right for you?» Creating a Store» Feature Comparison

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

eBay Stores Overview eBay Stores is a selling platform that helps you establish your brand on eBay. It's an opportunity to provide merchandising tools to attract new customers. By aggregating all of your items in one central location, Stores helps repeat buyers find your products and introduces buyers to other product selections you have available.

By opening a Store, you will also have access to an additional selling format, known as Store Inventory. This format has the lowest cost and longest listing durations. Store inventory items appear in your eBay Stores and in regular search when there are 20 or less results in auction or fixed price listings. You can also promote your Store Inventory in your non-Store listings to obtain additional traffic.

Your eBay Store will be advertised to all eBay users with the red "Stores" logo next to your User ID. Once you have at least 20 feedback points, an active PayPal account, or are ID verified along with a credit card on file, you can open an eBay Store and tap into this incredible merchandising opportunity.

Is an eBay Store right for you? We recommend considering an eBay store if you are selling at least 25 items per month with a continual flow of inventory. Until that time, we encourage you to start by building your inventory of items and experimenting with the products you sell, different formats, and new features.

One way to determine whether an eBay Store is right for your business is to consider the following:

● The monthly eBay Stores subscription fees start at $15.95.

● Like non-Store eBay listings, each Store inventory item you list in your Store incurs an insertion fee and, if it sells, a Final Value Fee.

● Store Inventory listings are fixed price listings that appear in your Store alongside your other auction and fixed price listings. Store Inventory listings also appear in a distinct placement on the Search Results pages of eBay.com when there are 20 or less results in auction or fixed price listings.

« previous page Page 12 of 33 next page »

Page 9: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

» Stores Overview» Store Right for you?» Creating a Store» Feature Comparison

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Creating an eBay Store What to decide before you begin

1. Which Store level is right for your business? There are three subscription levels available to you within eBay Stores. These levels help businesses of virtually any size market their eBay business.

Store Format FeeBasicAn ideal solution when you are just starting out.

$15.95 / month

FeaturedA more comprehensive solution to aggressively grow your online business.

$49.95 / month

AnchorAn advanced solution for high-volume sales and maximum exposure on eBay. See the feature chart on the next page for more details about the Store subscription levels.

$499.95 / month

2. How will the Store be branded? Your Store can be branded using either your eBay ID, your company name (if different from eBay ID), or a completely new name specifically for your eBay Store. See the "Developing Your Brand on eBay" section for more guidance or click here to access the online tutorial.

How to Create an eBay StoreTo create an eBay Store, just go to eBay Stores hub at http://stores.ebay.com/ and click the "Open a Store" button on the top, right corner. Once your eBay Store is open, you can start customizing it to your business:

● Insert your own logo and other images in your Store

● Create up to 20 custom categories or use eBay's default categories to improve merchandising

● List products in Store Inventory format and start filling the virtual shelves

● Create additional custom pages, and choose existing HTML templates or use your own HTML

Learn more about eBay Stores customization at http://pages.ebay.com/storefronts/store-features.html

« previous page Page 13 of 33 next page »

Page 10: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

» Stores Overview» Store Right for you?» Creating a Store» Feature Comparison

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Detailed Feature Comparison Basic Featured AnchorBuilding Your Store

Your Storefront

Additional pages in your Store 5 pages 10 pages 15 pages

Promotion Boxes

Managing Your Listings

Store Inventory Format

Vacation Hold

Online Sales Management (Selling Manager, Selling Manager Pro)

Selling Manager Selling Manager Pro Selling Manager Pro

Promoting Your Store

On eBayCross-Promotions tools

Custom Listing Header

Free eBay Keywords $30/month allotment $100/month allotment

Increased Exposure on eBay

Off eBayStore Referral Credit

Email Marketing 100 emails/month 1000 emails/month 4000 emails/month

Create Collateral for your Store

Tracking Your Store

Sales Reports Plus Advanced data Advanced data

Traffic ReportsAdvanced data(more details)

Advanced data (more details)

Accounting Assistant

Customer Support Mon thru Fri 6am - 6 pm PST

Mon thru Fri 6am - 6 pm PST

Dedicated 24-hour support

Store Price $15.95 $49.95 $499.95

« previous page Page 14 of 33 next page »

Page 11: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

» eBay Stores Tools» eBay Keywords» Global Trade

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Marketing Your Business eBay can help sellers who are new to e-commerce figure out the most effective ways to market their business. Such solutions include eBay Stores Marketing Tools and eBay Keywords.

eBay Stores Marketing ToolseBay Stores offers ways to promote your Store on eBay and beyond. Make sure you're marketing your Store to its fullest potential and learn how to utilize all of the features and tools described below.

Promoting Your Store On eBayCross-PromotionsOnly Store sellers get cross-promotion placements on all of their Item pages, Bid Confirm and Purchase Confirmation pages. Sellers control exactly what additional items are cross-promoted to buyers while they are viewing or bidding on any of the sellers' items. Cross-promotions allow sellers to show the right product to buyers at the right time.

Using the Store cross promotion tool, Store sellers can:

● Build their own default rules that determine which items are displayed, based on their Store's custom categories or a specific Keyword

● Override their default rules and manually select specific items

● Cross promote up to 12 items on their listings pages!

Cross-promoting items is now easier than ever! The interface for manually selecting specific items is visually intuitive and easy to use. To learn more, check out the Cross-Promotion tutorial

Custom Listing HeadersInclude your own banner, called a Custom Listing Header, on your Store and listings to brand your Store and further enhance the buyer experience. Learn more.

« previous page Page 15 of 33 next page »

Page 12: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

» eBay Stores Tools» eBay Keywords» Global Trade

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

eBay Keywords eBay Keywords puts the power of search marketing into sellers' hands. When sellers achieve prime placement in search engine queries, they drive buyers to their eBay Stores, custom categories, or other listings. eBay Keywords puts your ads at the top of results pages when potential customers type your keywords or phrases into the eBay search engine. It's a cost-per-click program, so you only pay when someone clicks on your link. Sellers have found that effective use of eBay Keywords can boost their overall sales. Learn more.

Key Benefits: ● Keyword recommendations● Choose where your ads appear on eBay● Set your own budget● No charge unless a Buyer clicks on your ad● Free reports show you what is working● Quick and easy setup

« previous page Page 17 of 33 next page »

Page 13: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

» eBay Stores Tools» eBay Keywords» Global Trade

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Marketing Your Business: Global Trade Open Your Business to the Global Marketplace on eBay

eBay connects buyers and sellers from more than 150 countrieseBay is truly "the world's online marketplace®" with sites in 33 countries and users in more than 150 countries worldwide. eBay offers the ability to buy & sell nearly anything with anyone - anywhere in the world!

Listing items on eBay.com and selecting "ship worldwide" puts your products in front of a worldwide audience. Items that sell worldwide and were paid with PayPal receive 16% higher final value prices on average*!

Top 5 Tips for Selling Worldwide on eBay:

1) Select "Ship Worldwide" when you list an itemIt's important to tell buyers which countries you are willing to ship to. Selecting either "Worldwide" or specific countries you are willing to ship to will:

Allow international buyers to find your item from their local site

Let international bidders on eBay.com know that you are willing to ship to them

2) Accept Payments via PayPalWith over 70 million accounts in 56 countries, PayPal is the online payment method of choice around the globe. PayPal lets eBay sellers accept credit card or bank account payments online. To facilitate international transactions, PayPal has been aggressively expanding its global reach and the currencies in which users can complete sales.

Use your current PayPal account to receive payments in: Canadian Dollar, Euro, Pound Sterling, U.S. Dollar, Yen and Australian Dollars. PayPal lets you choose what currencies to you are willing to accept and how you would like to accept them. For more information on receiving international payments through PayPal, visit http://www.paypal.com.

* eBay Insights and Analytics Group, May 2005. Results are based upon statistical averages and do not constitute a warranty that individual eBay businesses will achieve the same results.

« previous page Page 18 of 33 next page »

Page 14: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

» How Engines Work» Selecting Keywords» Keyword Guidelines» Online Resources

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Search Engine Optimization Many people looking to buy items online use search engines like Google and Yahoo! to search for the best deals. With the boom in online shopping in recent years, buyers have many choices in their online shopping destinations. A typical search for items online results in dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of choices for potential buyers. If you have an eBay Store, you would naturally want all these potential buyers to find your Store near the top of their search engine results. You can attract more buyers to your eBay Store by increasing your Store's visibility on Internet search engine results.

How Search Engines Work Before going into what you can do to attract buyers to your Store through Internet search engines, you may find it useful to learn the basics of how search engines like Google work.

Most search engines rank your pages based on the relevance to a user's search. How do search engines determine relevance? One of the most important factors is the selection of keywords used on the page that the search engine is ranking. A search engine sends software programs known as "spiders" around the Internet. While "crawling" around the Internet, these spiders encounter millions of web pages, reading the content on each page to determine the keywords that can be associated with that page. The search engine then ranks the page by associating it with words that a user enters into the search box.

So now you know why it's very important to include the most relevant keywords on your eBay Store pages - because when users type in related words into a search engine, your Store has a greater chance of being ranked higher in the results. For example, if a user searches for "blue widgets" on Google, and your Store is all about blue widgets, your Store is considered relevant to the search and has the opportunity to be ranked.

Here are some tips, tricks, and guidelines to help you understand how you can add important keywords to your Store pages.

« previous page Page 20 of 33 next page »

Page 15: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

» How Engines Work» Selecting Keywords» Keyword Guidelines» Online Resources

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Customizing & Selecting Keywords

Choose a Store name that describes your products well.*Let's say you sell vintage jewelry and jewelry boxes. The Store name "Katie's Vintage Jewelry and Jewelry Boxes" is much more effective than "Katie's Vintage Finds" because the words "jewelry and jewelry boxes" are more specific and easier to rank.

*Note: Do not use the word "eBay" or any alteration of that word (for example, WeBay, eZay, etc.) in your

Store name or in any domain name, as such use would be a trademark infringement.

Choose custom category names that include product keywords that buyers will search on.Even if it is rather repetitive, this will help increase the exposure your Store gets in search engines. Continuing the example above, using "Vintage Brooches" and "Vintage Bracelets" rather than just "Brooches" and "Bracelets" is more effective.

Include keywords that describe the content of your Store in your Store description.You could include some of the names of your Custom Categories and top selling products. For instance, your Store description could include:

Welcome to Katie's Vintage Jewelry and Jewelry Boxes, the best place to look for vintage brooches, vintage bracelets, ethnic jewelry boxes, and many other types of period jewelry. Whether you're looking for handmade carved jewelry boxes, or elegant earrings, bracelets or brooches from the early 20th century, you'll probably find something of interest in our Store.

You can see that this description includes several search terms that potential buyers are likely to enter into search engines. These include: "period jewelry", "vintage bracelets", and "20th century jewelry."

The description appears in the top of your Store and is meant to be user-friendly to your buyers, so write one that clearly represents what you sell. Too many repetitive keywords in the description could look awkward and "forced." Balance the description to be appealing to buyers as well as effective from a search engine perspective. Please also read our keyword spamming policy to make sure that your description is not considered "search manipulation."

« previous page Page 21 of 33 next page »

Page 16: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

» How Engines Work» Selecting Keywords» Keyword Guidelines» Online Resources

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Guidelines for selecting keywords It is important to select keywords that people are actually searching for in search engines. When selecting keywords for your eBay Stores pages, please keep the following in mind:

Think like a buyer!Choose keywords a buyer would use (for example, you can expect that a buyer would typically search for one "treadmill" and not multiple "treadmills"). If you are undecided, use the singular form of the word. If you think the keyword is important enough, use both the singular and plural forms as keywords.

Follow eBay's keyword spamming policies.All of your product keywords must accurately reflect what you are selling in your Store. It is a violation of eBay policy to use brand names or other inappropriate keywords to gain attention or divert users to a listing. Such Search manipulation is unfair to members who may be searching for a specific item and receive inaccurate search results. Users often are confused and frustrated by such tactics.

Please read eBay's keyword spamming policy before choosing keywords for your Store.

Online Resources There are several free resources on the Internet that can help you identify the most effective keywords for the specific products you are selling in your Store. Just enter a keyword into these resources and evaluate the list of other recommended keywords that the software generates.

Overture's Search Term Suggestion Tool● Potential advantages: This tool shows you the number of searches for

related keywords for the previous month on Yahoo!'s search engine. This can give you a good indication of how many people could potentially see your eBay Store listing on Internet search engines.

● Potential disadvantages: This tool does not differentiate between singular and plural versions of a keyword, which could affect the ranking of your Store pages.

Google's AdWords Keyword Suggestion Tool● Potential advantages: This tool has an easy to use interface, not only

displaying more specific keywords on the left hand side, but also similar keywords on the right hand side.

● Potential disadvantages: This tool does not rank the keywords in terms of number of searches, so you don't know which keywords are more popular.

We recommend that you evaluate several methods to identify the best keywords that would be effective for increasing the visibility of your eBay Store in Internet search engines.

« previous page Page 23 of 33 next page »

Page 17: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

» PayPal Protection» Pricing» Free Online Tools» Signup Process

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

PayPal - The way to get paid on eBay.

The all-in-one payment solution that's safe, fast, and easy.With over 70 million accounts in 55 countries, PayPal is the online payment method of choice around the globe. PayPal lets eBay sellers accept credit card or bank account payments online. And even better, payments are deposited into your PayPal account immediately. Find out more about how PayPal works https://www.paypal.com/whatispaypal

eBay buyers prefer PayPal.According to recent surveys, three out of four eBay buyers prefer paying with PayPal over any other payment method on eBay.1 Why? Because when buyers see PayPal on listings, they know their payments are safe and the transactions are fast. And it's easy to sell worldwide because PayPal automatically converts any payment to a seller's currency of choice.2

No one protects you better. A leader in fraud prevention.PayPal has built a reputation for aggressively fighting fraud. Using proprietary technology and working 24/7, we help ensure you're secure. What's more, PayPal teams up regularly with domestic and international law enforcement to further increase your safety.

Chargebacks? PayPal fights them.Although it's uncommon, sometimes a seller experiences a chargeback (this is when a credit card company reverses the payment to your account because of a buyer complaint). If this ever happens to you, PayPal will be there to resolve the dispute and work toward a fair and speedy resolution, and we do it all at no cost to you.

Your buyers feel safer. And that's good for business. Qualified sellers can offer PayPal Buyer Protection so their buyers feel more confident purchasing online. PayPal Buyer Protection is free for both sellers to offer and buyers to use. Find out more about PayPal protection at https://www.paypal.com/security

1 Based on the results of an online survey of randomly selected eBay buyers. 2 Additional fees may apply.

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Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

» PayPal Protection» Pricing» Free Online Tools» Signup Process

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Competitive pricing for any size business. No set-up fees. No monthly fees. And no gateway fees.PayPal will only charge you when you accept a payment.3 Plus, you get free online tools just for sellers.

With PayPal you get more-much more. Free online tools just for sellers.After you sign up for PayPal, you'll have access to several complimentary offerings and tools. Increase your sales or make selling even easier. Here are just a few things you'll find:

● PayPal ATM/debit card - Get cash quickly from your PayPal account at any ATM worldwide.

● Shipping labels - Purchase and print U.S. Postal Service and UPS labels from the PayPal website.

● Promotional financing - Offer your buyers even more payment options, such as "6 Months Deferred Interest."

● Reporting tools - Run reports in a flash. It's easy and convenient.

Signing up takes about two minutes. Get your free account in three easy steps.

1. Go to the PayPal sign-up page. Get there from the homepage or go directly to https://www.paypal.com/signup

2. Choose your country and account type. eBay sellers should choose either a Premier or Business account.

3. Complete the account sign-up process. Enter your business information and confirm your email address.

That's it! You can now send and receive money using PayPal.

3 Additional fees apply to convert foreign currencies.

« previous page Page 25 of 33 next page »

Page 19: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

» Shipping Calculator» Shipping Labels

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Maximizing Shipping Tools eBay has integrated several shipping tools throughout the selling process to help you save time, effort and money. Accomplish all of the essential aspects of shipping right from eBay and PayPal.

Shipping CalculatorSpecifying shipping costs in your listing attracts more buyers. You can either set a flat shipping rate or variable based on the buyer's location. To use a variable rate based on the buyer's location, add eBay's Shipping Calculator to your listings. Just describe your package (size, weight) and the shipping services you offer, and the Shipping Calculator will present the right shipping cost to each buyer.

Benefits of Using the Shipping Calculator:● Sell more successfully - listings with the Shipping Calculator are more likely

to sell with a higher price.

● No more guessing - the shipping cost presented will be based on the specific user's ZIP Code.

● Bundle your charges into one cost by including a handling charge and/or insurance automatically in the total shipping cost.

● Fewer questions since the shipping costs are provided for every location up front.

● Get paid faster; ship faster. The shipping cost is pre-filled in the invoicing and Checkout process, so buyers can conveniently pay the total amount right away.

● International Rates Now Available - you can specify up to 3 international shipping services in addition to the domestic services you provide.

● Select up to 3 different domestic shipping services to offer your buyers a choice.

« previous page Page 26 of 33 next page »

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Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

» Shipping Calculator» Shipping Labels

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Purchasing and Printing Shipping Labels Reduce the amount of time you spend shipping your items when you purchase and print shipping labels through eBay or PayPal. Printing labels is free, you only pay for the cost of shipping.

How to Print a Shipping Label after an Item SellsFrom My eBay:

1. Go to the Items I've Sold view of My eBay and check the box next to each item you'd like to ship. Then click on the Print Shipping Labels button. You'll be asked to login to PayPal.

2. Choose the carrier and service options you would like to use.

3. Enter the package weight, verify that the "Ship From" and "Ship To" information is correct, and click the Print button.

From PayPal:

1. Go to the Account Overview page or Post-Sale Manager and click the Ship button for the item.

2. Choose the carrier and service options you would like to use.

3. Enter the package weight, verify that the "Ship From" and "Ship To" information is correct, and click the Print button.

To learn more at eBay's Shipping Tools, click here

« previous page Page 27 of 33 next page »

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Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

» Traffic Reports» Sales Reports» Accounting Assistant

Sourcing Essentials

Analyzing & Tracking Performance eBay offers easy-to-use analysis tools to help you understand your sales activity. Analyze your performance using eBay Stores Traffic Reports, Sales Reports, and Accounting Assistant.

eBay Stores Traffic ReportsThe same powerful tool that eBay uses to understand its own traffic is now available to all Store sellers FREE with their subscription. Metrics include:

All Sellers Featured and Anchor StoresPage views for each of their listings and Store pages, including the display of their most popular pages.

Keywords used by buyers to get to their listings.

Path analysis showing how visitors move within your Store

Bid/BIN tracking to help you optimize your Store for bidders and buyers

Learn more: http://pages.ebay.com/help/specialtysites/traffic-reporting-basics.html

Sales ReportsAs eBay's marketplace evolves, understanding how your business changes and identifying new opportunities are the keys to your success. eBay's Sales Reports tools help track your key performance metrics so you can:

● Measure your existing eBay business against sales goals ● Understand the main drivers of your business● Determine areas of opportunity and areas for improvement ● Refine your business strategy to ensure success.

There are two-tiers of subscription levels:

Description See a high-level view of your most recent activity, including a summary of your:

● Sales ● Ended Listings● Successful Listings %● Average Sale Price ● eBay and PayPal fees

Sales Reports Plus offers everything in the basic product PLUS:

● Metrics by Category● Metrics by Format (e.g,

Fixed Price)● Metrics by Category &

Format● Metrics by Ending Day

or Time for all formats ● Buyer counts● Detailed eBay fees● Unpaid Item Credits

Requested● Ability to show or hide

sections● Download capabilities

Subscription Fee FREE ! 30-DAY FREE TRIAL$4.99 / month

Free for Stores

Learn more: http://pages.ebay.com/salesreports/welcome.html

« previous page Page 28 of 33 next page »

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Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

» Traffic Reports» Sales Reports» Accounting Assistant

Sourcing Essentials

Accounting Assistant Sellers who use QuickBooks can download Accounting Assistant to easily export eBay and PayPal transactions data to QuickBooks. Downloading Accounting Assistant takes only minutes and set-up is a straightforward process.

● Accounting Assistant is FREE for subscribers to eBay Stores, Selling Manager, Selling Manager Pro, and eBay Blackthorne products.

● Works with: Simple Start 2005, Quickbooks Online, QuickBooks Pro, Premier, or Enterprise editions 2002, 2003, 2004, or 2005.

Learn more: http://pages.ebay.com/accountingassistant/

« previous page Page 29 of 33 next page »

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Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

» Reseller Marketplace» eBay Resources» Sourcing Tips» Industry Resources

Sourcing Essentials Reseller MarketplaceFinding reliable, new sources of supply is an ongoing challenge for eBay PowerSellers who want to grow their existing business or expand to new categories. The eBay Reseller Marketplace offers PowerSellers an online, private marketplace for buying liquidated inventory in large lot sizes directly from manufacturers, liquidators, or wholesalers.

Key Benefits:

● Find great values - Excess and refurbished inventory directly from manufacturers, liquidators, and wholesalers

● Buy in lots - Quantities suitable for resale by small and medium-sized businesses

● Save time - Source from major manufacturers and suppliers immediately

● Maintain flexibility - No long-term or minimum-volume commitments

Learn more at www.ebay.com/reseller

« previous page Page 30 of 33 next page »

Page 24: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

» Reseller Marketplace» eBay Resources» Sourcing Tips» Industry Resources

Sourcing Essentials Other eBay Resources

eBay's Wholesale CategoryeBay can be an excellent source of inventory for your business. The Wholesale category boasts thousands of listings from sellers who are selling small, medium or large lots of merchandise that can be split up and resold on eBay.

To browse eBay's Wholesale Category, click here.

Certified ProvidersProduct Sourcing Certified Providers offer ways to find qualified suppliers and obtain their products for sale in smaller quantities. Drop shipping is a method of wholesale supply where the supplier ships the product directly from their warehouse to your buyer one product at a time. They store, pack and ship the products for you. Some Certified Providers like Wholesale Marketer offer standardized return policies, even if you purchase from different wholesale suppliers.

Wholesale suppliers sell you several cases of products at a time at a wholesale price, and ship them to you. You store, pack and ship products yourself to your buyers. Some Certified Providers like Worldwide Brands offer smaller purchase quantities than traditional wholesale. While somewhat less convenient, this method can offer better pricing.

Educational resources are available to help you qualify and work with suppliers yourself. Whatdoisell.com offers a wealth of information, including articles, checklists, discussion forums, and personal coaching to help you succeed on eBay.

To browse sourcing services from Certified Providers, click here.

Sourcing Tips Keep these 5 important tips in mind when sourcing your product:

1. Keep an open mind when it comes to product sourcing. What is of no value to you is of value to someone else.

2. You can start by researching what you love as a potential product to sell, but you must make your final decision based on existing market demand.

3. The only way to make money on eBay and build a business is to sell a product that has a target market that is willing to spend money.

4. It is easier to tap into an existing market demand than it is to create a demand in a marketplace.

5. Small, narrow, deep niches can often times be more profitable than large, broad, shallow channels.

« previous page Page 31 of 33 next page »

Page 25: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

» Reseller Marketplace» eBay Resources» Sourcing Tips» Industry Resources

Sourcing Essentials Industry Resources

Wholesalers & DistributorsWholesalers and distributors buy merchandise in bulk directly from the manufacturer and resell it to retailers in smaller quantities. In some instances the wholesaler and the manufacturer may be one in the same. When purchasing from a legitimate wholesaler or distributor, you will not pay sales tax. You are buying the product for 'resale'. This will require that you have a business license or tax ID and a resale license.

Purchasing inventory from wholesalers or distributors allows you to easily place reorders, develop a long term relationship with the company and, if your company meets certain financial & credit requirements, buy your inventory on 'terms'. Terms, also called Net 30 or Net 60 allows you to purchase inventory with no money down and gives you 30 or 60 days to pay the invoice in full.

When purchasing from a wholesaler or distributor you must do your research on the market demand of the product on eBay as well as the average selling price in order to determine if your base cost is low enough for you to sell the item profitably. One key to long-term success in dealing with a wholesaler or distributor is building a relationship with them. Once you have established a business relationship you are more likely to be able to negotiate better terms and pricing for your business.

Worldwide Brands, Inc., (http://www.worldwidebrands.com) founded by Chris Malta, eBay Radio's Product Sourcing Editor, is a great source for information on Drop Shippers and Bulk Wholesalers of millions of products that you can sell on eBay.

ManufacturersWhile a large manufacturer will often refer a small business owner to their local distributorship, a smaller manufacturer will welcome the opportunity to deal directly with a reseller. Often times new product manufacturers will sell their products directly to a reseller. A small to mid-size manufacturer may also sell direct.

When dealing with a manufacturer, you will need to have your business license or tax ID and a resale license. Before contacting a manufacturer about selling their product lines, you want to make sure that you are ready to present yourself and your business in the most professional light. Practice calling a few companies that you have no vested interest in doing business with. These 'dry runs' will help you to learn what types of questions they will ask, as well as give you the opportunity to practice presenting your business.

LiquidatorsThe liquidation industry has been the source of inventory for many successful eBay sellers. The ability to buy for pennies on the dollar and resell at a substantial profit attracts many eBay Sellers to this method of product sourcing. An important point to keep in mind however, all Liquidators are not created equal. And it is very crucial that you check out who you are doing business with before you make a large purchase.

The liquidation industry is built upon the resale of discontinued merchandise and surplus or salvaged goods. Liquidation merchandise is generally sold in pallets. A pallet is a huge 4' x 4' x 7' "lot" (a large quantity) of goods. While products from a lot of brand new discontinued merchandise still in it's original packaging can often times command near retail prices on eBay, merchandise that has been opened, used and returned or damaged does not obtain a high sales price on eBay.

« previous page Page 32 of 33 next page »

Page 26: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

» How Engines Work» Selecting Keywords» Keyword Guidelines» Online Resources

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Customizing & Selecting Keywords Continued

Customize the keywords used in your Title and Meta Tags.Titles and Meta Tags are components of a web page. They are important because the content you enter in these areas helps search engines rank the page.

What are Title and Meta Tags, you ask? You can see your Store page's Title on the top blue bar of your browser window.

Unlike the Title, Meta Tags (also known as Meta Description and Meta Keywords) are invisible to most users. You can view Meta Tags for your Store page by right-clicking your mouse on the page and then choosing the View Source option. You will then see your eBay Store page's Title and Meta Tags in the HTML source code. Here's what they look like:

<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Title Tag Goes Here</TITLE>< META name="description" content="Meta Description Tag Goes Here">< META name="keywords" content="Meta Keywords Tag Goes Here"></HEAD>

If Meta Tags are invisible to users, why are they important? The simple answer is that Google and other search engines use both Title and Meta Tags to help determine the rank of the page. If your Title and Meta Tags have relevant keywords, your page will be more likely to rank well.

Customizing the keywords for your Store pages takes only minutes. Here's how you can do it:

1. Go to My eBay

2. Go to the "Manage Your Store" page

3. Select the "Customize Keywords for Search Engines" link

4. You will see a tool in which you can edit the default keywords for your Storefront, Custom Categories, and custom pages. These keywords will then be used to generate the Meta Tags for your pages.

For more information on using the keyword tool, check out a thread on Customizing Keywords for Search Engines on the eBay Stores discussion board.

« previous page Page 22 of 33 next page »

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Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

» eBay Stores Tools» eBay Keywords» Global Trade

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Marketing Your Business: Global Trade

Top 5 Tips for Selling Worldwide on eBay Continued:

3) Include international shipping rates in your listingIncluding shipping rates to international destinations is a great way to encourage international bids on your item. Choosing eBay's International Flat Rate or Calculated Shipping options gives you an easy way to include rates in your listing.

As you list your item, select "Add Service" in the International Shipping section and choose your preferred shipping method. You can then either enter your flat rate shipping cost or display a "shipping calculator" to allow your customers to quickly determine their own shipping charges based on where they live.

4) Research foreign markets to decide what to sellThe tastes of buyers around the world vary depending on local culture and item availability. In general, items which have a high dollar value relative to their weight are those most likely to be sold internationally. Items that fit these criteria include collectibles (such as coins and stamps), jewelry, electronics (such as PDA's & MP3 players), auto parts and sporting goods.

You can do an advanced search of "completed listings" to get an idea of final sale prices on in other eBay markets. You can also do independent market research by country on www.export.gov, the US Government Export Portal. (Check out their Marketplace Research site.)

5) Visit eBay's global trade resource pageThe global trade resource page is a central information hub for selling worldwide on eBay. Visit www.ebay.com/globaltrade to:

● Interact with other eBay worldwide sellers on the Global Chat Board● Learn the latest tips and tricks to selling worldwide on eBay● Research which items are selling in other markets● Download the International Selling Toolkit

« previous page Page 19 of 33 next page »

Page 28: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

» eBay Stores Tools» eBay Keywords» Global Trade

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Promoting Your Store Off eBay● Customize Keywords for Search

You can select your own keywords to improve your Store page rankings in search engines and increase exposure for your business on the web. See the section called "Search Engine Optimization" for additional tips or click here to learn more.

● Store Referral CreditEarn back 75% of your Final Value Fees when you drive traffic to your Store. Learn more.

● Email MarketingSend customized email newsletters to your buyers with Stores Email Marketing. Learn more.

● Promotional FlyersYou can easily create your own custom flyers to highlight specific items or specials. Insert your flyers in all your shipments to buyers to encourage them to shop with you again. Learn more.

● Export ListingseBay can make a file of information about your Store Inventory listings available for third-parties to download to help drive traffic to your listings. Learn more.

● Co-op AdvertisingeBay's Co-op Advertising Program is designed to help you market your products and services to new and existing buyers via offline advertising efforts. Learn more.

● Collateral for Your StoreStores offers a variety of easy-to-use templates to create your own professional-looking business cards, letterhead, thank-you notes, and envelopes to promote your Store. Learn more.

« previous page Page 16 of 33 next page »

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Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

» Stores Overview» Store Right for you?» Creating a Store» Feature Comparison

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Detailed Feature Comparison Basic Featured AnchorBuilding Your Store

Your Storefront

Additional pages in your Store 5 pages 10 pages 15 pages

Promotion Boxes

Managing Your Listings

Store Inventory Format

Vacation Hold

Online Sales Management (Selling Manager, Selling Manager Pro)

Selling Manager Selling Manager Pro Selling Manager Pro

Promoting Your Store

On eBayCross-Promotions tools

Custom Listing Header

Free eBay Keywords $30/month allotment $100/month allotment

Increased Exposure on eBay

Off eBayStore Referral Credit

Email Marketing 100 emails/month 1000 emails/month 4000 emails/month

Create Collateral for your Store

Tracking Your Store

Sales Reports Plus Advanced data Advanced data

Traffic ReportsAdvanced data(more details)

Advanced data (more details)

Accounting Assistant

Customer Support Mon thru Fri 6am - 6 pm PST

Mon thru Fri 6am - 6 pm PST

Dedicated 24-hour support

Store Price $15.95 $49.95 $499.95

« previous page Page 14 of 33 next page »

Page 30: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

» Stores Overview» Store Right for you?» Creating a Store» Feature Comparison

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

eBay Stores Overview eBay Stores is a selling platform that helps you establish your brand on eBay. It's an opportunity to provide merchandising tools to attract new customers. By aggregating all of your items in one central location, Stores helps repeat buyers find your products and introduces buyers to other product selections you have available.

By opening a Store, you will also have access to an additional selling format, known as Store Inventory. This format has the lowest cost and longest listing durations. Store inventory items appear in your eBay Stores and in regular search when there are 20 or less results in auction or fixed price listings. You can also promote your Store Inventory in your non-Store listings to obtain additional traffic.

Your eBay Store will be advertised to all eBay users with the red "Stores" logo next to your User ID. Once you have at least 20 feedback points, an active PayPal account, or are ID verified along with a credit card on file, you can open an eBay Store and tap into this incredible merchandising opportunity.

Is an eBay Store right for you? We recommend considering an eBay store if you are selling at least 25 items per month with a continual flow of inventory. Until that time, we encourage you to start by building your inventory of items and experimenting with the products you sell, different formats, and new features.

One way to determine whether an eBay Store is right for your business is to consider the following:

● The monthly eBay Stores subscription fees start at $15.95.

● Like non-Store eBay listings, each Store inventory item you list in your Store incurs an insertion fee and, if it sells, a Final Value Fee.

● Store Inventory listings are fixed price listings that appear in your Store alongside your other auction and fixed price listings. Store Inventory listings also appear in a distinct placement on the Search Results pages of eBay.com when there are 20 or less results in auction or fixed price listings.

« previous page Page 12 of 33 next page »

Page 31: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

» Seller Registration» ID Verify» Selling Policies

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Customer Service & Return Policies There are several selling policy decisions to be made as an eBay seller. These policies should be displayed clearly on your listing template, About Me page, and eBay Stores page. The more information you give, the fewer questions you will likely receive from buyers. Use this worksheet of common questions to help you develop your selling policies.

Product Information● Photos: Provide clear photos of the piece. Consider if photos are needed from

several angles (front, back, bottom, etc.).● Features: List all the benefits, specifications, and parts included in the item.● Condition: Is the item new, used, or still under warranty? Be sure to mention

any flaws or repairs.● Certificates: Highlight if any product certificates of authenticity are included.

Shipping● Fixed shipping cost or tiered by sale amount?● Shipping carrier and method (USPS Priority Mail, UPS Ground, etc.)? Learn

more● Discounted shipping if more than one item is purchased? Learn more● Will you ship internationally? To P.O. boxes? To unconfirmed PayPal addresses

(i.e. shipping address does not match billing address on file)?● Does shipping cost to Hawaii and Alaska differ?● How soon do orders ship once payment is made? ● Will I receive a shipping confirmation or tracking number when my item is

shipped?● Is insurance offered? If so, how much would it cost?

Payment● Will PayPal be offered? We suggest that you add the PayPal logos to your

listings by setting this up in your PayPal preferences. Learn more● Does payment have to occur within x days of the purchase date?● Is there a specific process for making payment (e.g. eBay's checkout system,

merchant's website)?

Returns● Are returns accepted?● What is the process for returns? What is the time frame for returns?

Sales Tax● Is there sales tax? If so, how much? To what state(s) does it apply? Learn

more

Warranties● Do you provide a warranty? To what state(s) does it apply?

Customer Service● Method for submitting questions (e.g. email address, web form)?● What is your expected response time to buyer emails?

Feedback● Feedback will be given to buyers within x days

« previous page Page 11 of 33 next page »

Page 32: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

» Listing Formats» eBay Seller Tools» Certified Providers

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Certified Provider Software & Services Continued

Marketplace Strategy Consulting ServicesMarketplace Strategy Consultants take a personal look at what you want to get out of eBay selling, and prescribe the best practices to help you get there. Companies like Internet Business Skills, As Was, and some listing management solution companies offer keyword recommendations to help the maximum amount of buyers find your listings, build pricing strategies to maximize profit, and provide ideas to help you attract and retain more customers.

Product SourcingProduct Sourcing Certified Providers offer ways to find qualified suppliers and obtain their products for sale in smaller quantities.

Drop shipping is a method of wholesale supply where the supplier ships the product directly from their warehouse to your buyer one product at a time. They store, pack and ship the products for you. Some Certified Providers like Wholesale Marketer offer standardized return policies, even if you purchase from different wholesale suppliers.

Wholesale suppliers sell you several cases of products at a time at a wholesale price, and ship them to you. You store, pack and ship products yourself to your buyers. Some Certified Providers like Worldwide Brands offer smaller purchase quantities than traditional wholesale. While somewhat less convenient, this method can offer better pricing.

Educational resources are available to help you qualify and work with suppliers yourself. Whatdoisell.com offers a wealth of information, including articles, checklists, discussion forums, and personal coaching to help you succeed on eBay.

« previous page Page 9 of 33 next page »

Page 33: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

» Listing Formats» eBay Seller Tools» Certified Providers

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Certified Provider Software & Services Continued

Listing Management SolutionsOne of the quickest ways to manage listings with few people is to use listing management software from companies like Infopia, Marketworks, Kyozou, Vendio & Andale. There many solutions available depending on how many listings you plan to do, what features you may need, and what categories you want to list in. Some features and benefits include:

● Listing management to list or modify a large quantity of items at the same time

● Order and payment processing to ensure better feedback

● Inventory Management to keep track of what you have and when it's time to replenish

● Email management to respond quickly, and sometimes automatically, to buyer questions

● Specialty software fine-tuned for products like apparel, DVDs, cars, and jewelry to save time

If you need a custom solution, or need to integrate into other inventory, order, or payment solutions you can get custom software development from companies like Watermark Solutions or JDT Technologies. They will create a solution specifically designed to your requirements.

eBay Data Research SolutionsData research companies like Terapeak and Andale offer you the ability to better grow your busness by seeing what works for others. Here are some things you can learn through data research:

● What features work best for your type of listings

● How many items you should sell and for what price

● The hour, day and duration that is best for selling

● How you stack up against top sellers

● When you should start to sell seasonal items

● What the top categories are and how they are performing

● How many sellers compete for your money

« previous page Page 8 of 33 next page »

Page 34: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

» Listing Formats» eBay Seller Tools» Certified Providers

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

eBay Seller Tools Continued

Feature Comparison

TurboLister

BlackthorneBasic

BlackthornePro

SellingManager

SellingManager Pro

Web-based or Desktop Solution Desktop Desktop Desktop Web-based Web-based

Create eBay Listings

Create listings in bulk X X X X

Easy-to-use listing templates X X X X

Manage inventory quantity X X

Manage eBay Sales

Track the status of sales X X X X

Send emails and leave feedback in bulk X X X X

Integration with Quickbooks using Accounting Assistant

X X X X

Automate emails and feedback X

Profit and loss reporting X X

Manage Your Business Operations

"Open" Access database X X

Supports multiple user profiles and preferences X

To Learn More, go to http://pages.ebay.com/sell/tools.html

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Page 35: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

» Listing Formats» eBay Seller Tools» Certified Providers

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

Listing Formats Continued Stores Inventory

Quantity Offer one or multiple items for one Buy It Now price.

Where Your Store Inventory items appear in your eBay Store and in regular search when there are 20 or less results in auction or fixed price listings.

How It Works

Buyers can purchase the item immediately from your eBay Store at a set price (no bidding).

You must open an eBay Store to use this format.

Why Use

Best for add-ons, accessories and deep inventory that might not be cost-effective for the auction or fixed price format.

Cross merchandise store items to traffic from highly visible auction or fixed price items.

Length of Listing 30, 60, 90, and 120 days. Also available in the Good 'Til Cancelled duration--the listing will automatically renew every 30-days until you end it or all the inventory is sold.

Fees Insertion fee of 2 cents per listing, whether you list one or 1,000 of the same item (see Fees for more info)

NOTE: Sellers of high-value items with a limited base of potential buyers might consider using "Best Offer" - you can designate listings which consider "best offers" from buyers (example, "$250.00 or Best Offer"). Buyers who choose to make an offer where the feature is available will have an opportunity to purchase items they want at their stated best price. To learn more about Best Offer, click here

To learn more about each format:

Auctionhttp://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/f-auction.html

Fixed Pricehttp://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/fixed_price.html

Stores Inventoryhttp://pages.ebay.com/help/specialtysites/stores-inventory-format.html

« previous page Page 4 of 33 next page »

Page 36: pages.ebay.com/merchantsolutions/eBayMerchantGuide.pdf

Table of Contents

Developing aCommerce Strategy

Setting UpBusiness Operations

Building YoureBay Presence

MarketingYour Business

Optimizing forSearch Engines

Securing Paymentwith PayPal

MaximizingShipping Tools

Analyzing & TrackingPerformance

Sourcing Essentials

» Reseller Marketplace» eBay Resources» Sourcing Tips» Industry Resources

Sourcing Essentials Industry Resources Continued

Merchandise MartsA Merchandise Mart is a huge building that houses a variety of different manufacturer's showrooms under one roof. One of the most notable Merchandise Mart is the Chicago Merchandise Mart. The Mart is the largest trade center in the world and hosts 16 major trade shows a year. Merchandise Marts are where the brick and mortar retailers go to source their products for the coming year. A Merchandise Mart can be an excellent source of inventory, however you must present the utmost in professional business presentation in order to do business successfully in this venue.

Each Merchandise Mart has its own specific rules for entrance, but generally you will need at the very minimum a business license or tax ID #, business card, and business check. Additionally, you will be required to present $2000 of wholesale receipts prior to registration to enter the mart. If you are a new retailer, you will still be allowed to enter, but in order to remain an active membership, you will need to present a specific amount of wholesale invoices within the next 3-6 months.

Gift and Trade ShowsGift and Trade Shows are usually held on a regular basis once or twice a year in a variety of different locations. An extension of the Merchandise Mart which contains permanent showrooms, a trade show will bring together vendors from all over the country and sometimes all over the world. The requirements to enter a Gift or Trade show are generally the same as entry to a Merchandise Mart.

Attending Gift or Trade shows is an excellent way to source products for eBay. The ability to look at and evaluate the products as well as talk to the manufacturer's reps, really gives you an inside view into the products available for that industry. Trade Shows also provide a number of industry related publications as well as show guides that contain the name and contact information for the hundreds of vendors in attendance. If you attend a Gift or Trade Show, plan to go for at least 2 days. To successfully source products in this venue you will need to combine product evaluation at the show with eBay research at your office in order to determine which merchandise to purchase.

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