How do I start a web store?

What is the quickest way to start a web store? how do i find popular products to sell w/high profit margins?

• Answer:

  Before you start your web store, you first need to think of the products to sell. You can either sell through your own website, or create a webstore in places like eBay. Here's the advantage/disadvantages of each option CREATING YOUR OWN WEBSITE Pros - allows you to establish your own "real estate" on the Web; - allows you to attract a bigger audience; not limited to eBay buyers (not everyone buys on eBay) - scaleable as it allows your business to grow; - allows you to give more information about your business to your visitors and give them reasons to trust you - alliws you to give more information about the product, play around with factors that can increase conversion - gives you a more professional look - makes you look like a "big" business (an e-commerce seller that also sells on ebay "looks" so much bigger than a purely ebay seller) - you can put in as many items you want without paying listing fees - you can sell as many items as you can without paying value added fees - less restrictions than eBay (you are more free to write your sales copy) - easier to market on the Web Cons: - requires technical knowhow to create a website (or money to pay someone to do it for you) - fixed price (price you set is what you get) SELLING ON EBAY Pros - auction format; prices can go up higher than you originally set it for - eBay's brand and size of its market Cons - listing and final value fees - lots of restrictions - harder to get onto search engines - link exchanges are more difficult - increasing competition (it is not as easy to sell now on eBay compared to others) I would say it depends on what you want with your business. If you have a steady supply of product to sell (not just based on what you can find in your attic), I would go create a website - and THEN use eBay as an additional sales channel. You just have more room to operate and grow your business with having your own store.