Many people spend countless hours a day doing crafts for the sheer reason that they love it. Have you ever considered making money from your crafts? It’s very possible—and there are several ways to make a little income from your work.
One great way to do so is to sell your items on the extremely popular auction site, eBay. If you’re ready to take the plunge and make some cash from your labor of love, then here are some practical tips to get you started:
1) Create an account.
The first thing you need to do is to open an eBay account. You’ll find step-by-step instructions on the site to walk you through the registration process.
2) Do a little research.
You probably already have an idea of what items you’d like to sell on eBay. Take advantage of eBay’s ‘advanced search’ feature to see how sellers list their items in order to get a feel for how other people sell crafts on eBay. If, for example, you plan to sell handmade jewelry, check out the listings of similar items.
You can also choose to view only completed listings, so you can see how much items similar to yours have been sold for.
3) Take great photos of your item.
Although it is possible to list an item for auction or sale without a photo, it will greatly lower your chances of selling your item. Take one or more great photos of your item and show off your hard work. If you aren’t very good with a camera, ask a photographer friend to take photos for you. Presentation plays a big role when selling a product.
4) Think about your shipping requirements.
Aside from creating your product, you also have to think about how to ship it. As a seller, it is your duty to make sure that your item gets to your customer in good condition. If your item is fragile, will you need bubble wrap or other special packing materials? Be sure to charge accordingly.
It is also your job to find a reliable and reasonably priced shipping method. Will you use the postal service or will you use a courier service? These are things you need to think about.
5) Aim for good feedback.
On eBay, both buyers and sellers are able to leave feedback for each other after each transaction. Feedback is based on a transaction, and can be either positive or negative. While positive feedback will likely lure in more customers, negative feedback can just as easily steer them in another direction. Treat each customer with respect, and make sure to communicate with each person to the best of your ability.
Selling crafts on eBay may take a little getting used to if you aren’t familiar with how the site works. However, you just need to invest time in learning the ropes and you’ll quickly find yourself earning income from creating something that you love.