Expert: Marvinator - 2/2/2011

Question
Hi there,

I would like to start making some money online, I am considering an online store but with all the talk about ebay, I'm wondering if it is a better option.  Do you think that ebay would be a better option than an online storefront?  I haven't quite kept up with internet business and such, so I'm looking for something not too difficult.

Answer
For the beginner, I'd recommend Ebay for one important reason: Ready customers.  If you went with making your own website, you are then tasked with generating a flow of customers.  I mean it's not like they are going to surf on by.  You have to get the name of your site out there and get it to show up on searches as well as found in forums.  In addition, you are also responsible for the code in creating the site, at eBay it's all done for you, as much or as little as you want to use.  

I recommend doing a lot of searching and looking at competitors auctions.  See what sells and why.  Create an HTML template for your auctions which is clean and easy to read.  Follow Ebay rules and you'lll have no problems.  

I also recommend hanging out in the discussion forums and chat rooms on Ebay. You can learn a lot from the pros who have done it all already.

Also, feel free to come back here and ask any questions you like.

Good luck.