Where To Sell Goods Online

Except for avoiding scams (or being a seller of scammy products), selling digital goods online is really easy.

However if you sell physical goods online, there are a few things you need to pay attention to.

Selling on your own site or at third party sites?

For example you might find that selling your goods online from your own website might be much better in the long run than selling through a third party place like Ebay which takes quite a hefty fee from your earnings.

Alternatively you might not want to hassle with learning how to setup a website, and leave all geeky, tech stuff to others. In this case any of the links mentioned above are perfect.

For example I have a crafty hand and I create silver jewelry. I have setup a Dawanda store for my sterling silver handmade jewelry because I am located in Europe. Setting up a store at a third party is quite easy as they are usually giving you all the tools needed to do it, and they also offer help if you get stuck.

Know your local laws

Also you need to be aware of the local laws about fees and taxes. Some countries like the US are collecting various taxes if you exceed a particular amount (I think in the US it is $600, but don't quote me on that). Do your own research instead.

You don't want the IRS to come to your doorsteps because you were not aware of your local laws.

Make Your Research

Before setting up store, make your research. Which store has the less fees, is the most user friendly/easiest to set up and can help you attract traffic to your store front?

For example Ebay seems for many people initially quite a good place to start, but many leave it becase they soon realize that the fees are quite outrageous and there are several other problems with it overall. However there are still some powerseller that are making quite good money from their wares.

Time To Invest In Selling Goods Online

And this leads me to another point - how much time do you want to invest in your online store. Is your intention to start selling big time and become maybe a power seller like so many do at Ebay? Are  you willing to devote all your time for a while so that you eventually earn a full time income?

Or do you intend to sell just a few times, here and there, to get rid of your old junk or help pay the next bill or your kids' Christmas presents?

Knowing how much time you devote to it will also influce the type of store you will set up, and where that store will be setup in the first place.

Type Of Payment

Finally you will have to decide what type of payment you will accept. Most places use Paypal, however you might not have a Paypal account yet. If you are serious about selling goods online, setting up a Paypal account is crucial. You can start with a personal account, and eventually change it to a business account if you see that your business goes really well and your income increases by leaps and bounds.