Hey you! Motivation Techniques for SaleHoo Lurkers!

Hey you! Yes, you, lurking around my site, reading all these fabulous blogs, and picking through the supplier directory, but never actually doing anything useful like, oh, I don’t know, selling something on eBay!

We have set up this amazing and easy-to-use site so that absolutely anyone can learn how to make money online, and that includes you! So, tell me, or at least think about it; why did you join SaleHoo? Were you tired of your boring job, your nagging boss, your early starts, being away from your kids all day, or were you simply looking to make some cash to buy yourself a new car, or go on vacation? Perhaps you have forgotten why you joined SaleHoo altogether?

The truth is, we can spoon feed you all the information you need, we can tell you the hottest tips on selling on eBay, and we can give you access to the best suppliers available online (and we do!), but only you can take those crucial steps to email a supplier and enquire about prices, and take the time to list a few auctions or set up a website to sell on.

Why so many struggle to get started

Working for yourself and from home can be a challenge. There are no colleagues or bosses around to help keep you on track, and it’s so easy to get distracted by the dishes that didn’t get done last night, or the piles of laundry that need attention. Often getting started is the hardest part, which is why I put together this helpful little how-to guide to get you back onto the money-making highway!

Many online retailers don’t succeed because they let too many easily-solvable problems get in the way. Here is my answer to some of the most common (and pathetic) excuses made by would-be PowerSellers:

I don’t have any spare time.

Oh how this one makes me laugh! In fact, I’m pretty sure I hear this one more often than personal trainers.

Ok, so I’m not denying that you aren’t busy, I’m sure you are. But, I’m certain you do have time to sit down and list and manage a few eBay listings, you just have to look for it.

Consider this, for example: How many hours do you spend watching TV each week? It’s more than you think. In fact, if you double that number that just popped into your head, you are probably right. I’m positive that you can eliminate many hours of TV watching in order to get your online business growing, or even just make a few listings. Sure there are some great shows airing right now, but too many people get caught up in watching mindless TV when they could be doing something more productive, and you could be using this time more wisely. Unless of course, you can look at me in the eye and say "I would rather watch CSI Miami than make money".

My computer is broken

Fix it. You won’t get anywhere without it. If it’s going to be a costly repair, talk with your insurance company about whether the damaged caused is covered in your policy, or make a plan to save for the repairs.

I can’t find a supplier for the products I want to sell

Email our friendly support team at support@salehoo.com, and if there is a legitimate supplier out there selling what you are looking for, they will find them. Simple!

The prices quoted on supplier’s sites aren’t competitive enough for eBay. Why bother?

On, now come on! We talked about this when you first signed up, and it’s even on our FAQ’s! For those of you who missed the boat on this topic, here is the run down.

First of all, you can make a profit using these suppliers, even when their advertised prices don’t add up with what you have seen on eBay. How? Let me tell you all about it…

1.      Advertised prices often represent the price you will pay if you buy only 1 item. But because you will be selling many items, you will be buying in bulk, which means you will get a bulk discount.

2.      Quoted or advertised prices on supplier’s sites may be out of date, and it’s often the case that their actual prices are lower, they simply haven’t changed them yet, so make sure you get in contact and find out if this is the case.

3.      It’s no new idea, but you need to spend money to make money. The more you buy from a supplier, the greater the price will be for you. Wholesalers work on very low profit margins, and when you buy in big bulk from them, you can expect to get items very cheaply.

I can’t afford it!

Wrong again! You just think you can’t afford it. You might be right in that you can’t yet  afford to make a big bulk order for 1,000 items, but you can start out slow and work your way up. Heard of drop shipping? It’s the way to sell when you have very little money to invest, and it just became your new best friend, and your key to making money, so it’s best you find out more about it. Start here.

Motivation techniques to get you going

Use a vision board! A vision board (also referred to as a treasure map, a visual explorer, or a creativity collage) is simply a collage you make yourself either on your computer or on a poster board which you can fill with clippings from magazines and newspapers.

The idea of a vision board is to help remind yourself why you are doing what you do everyday, and of what you want out of life. For example, someone training for a marathon might put pictures of someone crossing a finish line, pictures of their children who they want to inspire, and a medal or certificate which they may earn.

As an online retailer, you might want to use a picture of a bank balance which is in credit, or an airplane or cruise ship, indicating a vacation you are saving for, or maybe a house with a white picket fence and swing hanging from a tree which you want to buy for you and your family.

Not forgetting the journey, you as an online retailer might want to show not just the end result of earning more money, but also some of the perks of being able to earn more money from home, such a picture of your home office, or of you packaging up boxes for buyers in your pyjamas, or whatever you love most about what you do (or will be doing once you’re done reading this blog post!).

If you want some good looking pictures to use on your vision board, check out stock.xchng and photoxpress for stock images that will help keep you focused.

Create a routine

I know, I know! Some of you are getting into online retail because you don’t like the routine-feel on your current life, but I’m afraid that until you can work solidly and consistently without a routine (and it will happen for you in time), you are going to have to stick with some kind of schedule, just to help keep you on track.

If you are starting out big and will be working at this full time, get up early, get showered and dressed, then start work at a certain time (yes, you can make it 11am if you like) and stick to taking a short break in the morning, and in the afternoon, and take a proper lunch break and get away from your computer.

If you plan to work on your business part time, get prepared for this. If you have children, make sure your partner understands that you need time and no distractions to get the work done. If you are a single parent, getting the kids off to bed 30 minutes early will make a big difference to giving you time to work while they sleep.

If you aren’t so great at staying up late, spend a few hours between getting home from work, and making dinner on working on your business. This way, you can relax later in the evening.

Control your online procrastinating  

It’s OK when you are at work, and you have your boss hovering over your shoulder, and where all the good websites like Facebook and MySpace are blocked, but when you are at home, there is very little keeping you from getting settled in for a few hours work, then wasting it away by religiously checking and rechecking for updates on Facebook.

Fortunately, there are some great software options and FireFox add-ons which can help you.

FireFox

FireFox’s BlockSite 0.7.1 is an add-on which blocks web sites of your choice. It’s easily removed, meaning it’s not 100% procrastination-proof, but as it is password controlled, you could have someone removed the function when you have completed your work for the day (just don’t let your kids be the password holders, the power might go to their head, and you might end up having to take them out for ice cream before they will enable the sites for you!).

Internet Explorer

If you’re still living in the Dark Ages and using Internet Explorer, there is a way for your to block individual sites. For Internet Explorer 7, in the Menubar click Tools>Internet Options>Content. In the Content Advisor box, click Enable.

Click the Approved Sites tab. Enter the address of the website. If you want to block the entire website put * in front of the URL. For example to block myspace.com, type *.myspace.com. Click Never and then OK.

Click on the General tab and make sure to select Users can see websites that have no ratings. Have someone enter a password for you. Click OK.

For all browsers

Alternatively, consider downloading GFI WebMoniter, an award winning site application which allows you to block non-work related sites during your chosen hours of work. Better still, you can schedule GFI to allow you to view these sites during your breaks. Perfect! You can start with a free-trial and then choose from a number of packages. Visit here for more information and to start your 30 day free trial. 

Baby steps you can take today!

As we all know, getting started is the hardest part, it’s a little bit like going to the gym, the thought of it exhausts you, but once you get there, you find it’s quite enjoyable. Once you get started on your online business, you will find it enjoyable.  So, with that in mind, here are a few (very) simple steps you can take today, to get you on your way:

1.      Sign up to eBay, or another site to sell on

2.      Set up a PayPal account

3.      List maybe 5 items (hey it’s better than what you are doing now, right?!)

4.      Email a supplier and enquire about bulk-buying discounts

5.      Write an eBay About Me page (a great marketing tool for eBay sellers)

6.      Photograph all your stock

7.      Research the best way to ship your items. You could save yourself time and money!

Above all, the very best advice I can give you (and some of the best advice I have received) is to commit to spend 20 minutes per day on achieving your business goals. Everyone can spare 20 minutes, and you will be surprised at what you can get done during this time… you might even find that a whole hour flies by without you even noticing!

Crunch time

It’s crunch time for all you procrastinators out there! It’s time to get started on your journey to becoming a successful business owner. If you are ready to stop procrastinating, and start setting some goals, I want to hear from you.  

Make a pledge by leaving a comment below and tell me exactly what you are going to do, and when you are going to do it by. If you plan to list some items on eBay, tell me your ID number, and I’ll check up on you. If you plan to update or build your website, tell me the URL and I’ll take a look.

Good luck, talk soon!

We have had a lot of questions recently about Simplx.com. Many of our inquisitive members are curious about what Simplx has to offer, so to help cure your curiosity, this week we did a little investigative journalism and reviewed Simplx.com – a drop shipping service offering product sourcing and profit making solutions.

What is Simplx?

Simplx describe themselves as the deliverers of "the next generation in drop shipping" (link), who offer competitive prices on thousands of big brand names like Apple, DKNY, Sony, Dolce and Gabbana, Dr Martens, Adidas and Rolex.  What’s more, they claim to offer these products at discounted prices (link), and as we all know, designer brands at discounted prices aren’t easy to come by! So how can they offer such high-profile and hard-to-source products at discounted prices? According to Simplx, it’s all because they supply thousands of their members who sell millions of these luxury products every year, giving way to a huge bulk-buying discount (link).

What can Simplx offer you?

Simplx claims that aside from their seemingly never ending list of designer and brand-name products, they can also offer you everything you would expect from a the best drop shippers such as fast delivery to your buyers (link), as well as professional business training (link). Depending on which program you sign up for, you can either have one-on-one training or use their other, more affordable learning systems (link).

How much does it cost to become a member?

This is where it gets a little tricky. First of all, Simplx do not show their membership prices on their web site. To get started and get a quote, you must fill in a Client Application form and pay a fee of US$19.95 (according to past members) and then Simplx will decide whether you are eligible to become a member.

To enter the program, you must pay a membership fee which seems to vary from package to package and member to member. However, according to this blog on the Simplx web site, most members pay around US$200 as a set up fee, then US$40 per month of membership. Rumours of memberships costing US$5000 have some truth to them (link), but you only have to pay this kind of cash if you want one-on-one training.

My two cents

I dove into my research with an open mind; convinced that a company could not possibly run the way it is alleged to by so many past members for as long as it has. However, I have come across a lot of serious complaints about Simplx. Most notably, Simplx has received 146 complaints made about them to BBB.com (Better Business Bureau) over the course of the last 36 months which shook my confidence a little, as the BBB is arguably the most trusted source of business accreditation and information.

Simplx responded to their poor ratings on BBB by confidently proclaiming that 2 years ago, they aimed to have 0 unresolved BBB complaints. They claim to have reached this goal, and are resubmitting their application to the BBB for a review of their rating (link).

Still wanting to give them the benefit of the doubt, I ran a few Google searches trying to find members who have had good experiences with Simplx (finding one of people who made US$13,000 per month which they boast about on their web site would have been perfect!). I searched using the keywords "good experience with Simplx" but sadly, I didn’t find what I was looking for. I found the same results when I searched for "Simplx helped me make money" and "Simplx review".

What’s more, when I did find a few Simplx testimonials on their sister site SimplicitySecure.com, they seemed to be matched with extremely happy and good looking models which I had seen before. Sure enough, when I searched for "business people" on iStock.com, a site where you can purchase millions of royalty free images, sure enough, I found "Eric from Connecticut" and "Linda from Arizona".  Of course, this doesn’t prove that the written testimonial themselves aren’t true, but it is certainly not good practise.

The good news is…

We can, however, say that one of our senior SaleHoo members has only good things to say about Simplx, saying that many past members only feel they have been given the run around because they don’t truly understand how Simplx works and goes on to defend any other claims that Simplx is a ‘scam’

The bad news is…

The sheer volume of complaints and poor reviews on Simplx would cast serious doubt on my willingness to pursue Simplx as a serious tool for my business. It appears that in the past at the very least, Simplx has not delivered a good standard of service.

To conclude

I came away from my research feeling that there seem to be many dissatisfied past Simplx customers out there. Most of these past members feel that Simplx was very difficult to contact when they needed assistance, misrepresented themselves by saying they offered  drop shipping services (and in all honesty, they are not a drop shipper in the way that most of us think of them – they even admit this themselves here), and should have given more information about their services on their website, so that they didn’t have to pay the $US19.95 fee then find out that Simplx wasn’t what they were looking for.

What we must keep in mind however, is that just as people are likely to tell 10 others about a bad restaurant experience, they are only likely to tell 1-2 about a good one, and people will always do the same when it comes to discussing online services. Whatever the case, for now it doesn’t look like Simplx is going anywhere. Their recent pledges to become more customer service orientated will hopefully mean we will see a lot less bad press on them in the future. 

Disclaimer: I am not, nor have I ever been, a member of Simplx. I looked to apply, in the interests of research and to bring you more information, however, not only am I not willing to forgo the application fee, but also, when I filled in the initial form and hit the submit button, I was told I was not eligible because I stated that I was interested in using Simplx to help grow a new business, rather than an existing one.

Going Beyond Buying Online: Trade Shows

Imagine if you will, an oversized showroom filled with eye-catching displays, free giveaways and hundreds of eager product suppliers, all enthusiastically vying for your attention and offering the best prices possible on the latest products out. As amazing as it sounds, it’s really not that far-fetched, it’s just a typical scene from your everyday trade show.

We’ve always encouraged our members to try out new ways of finding and sourcing products, and attending trade shows is one more fantastic way for you to do just that. There may come a time in your product-sourcing career when buying online will no longer cut it,  and it will be time for you to go beyond the limitations of Internet-based sourcing. When this time comes, you should definitely give trade shows a go!

What is a trade show?

A trade show (which may also be called a trade fair or trade expo) is an exhibition which has been organized by industry leaders or exhibition planners to bring together companies and service providers in specific industries to learn about new developments and products. Trade shows are expensive to hold, for both organizers and exhibitors who pay a fee to host their own stall, but can be very profitable, which is why many cities host large trade shows as a way of generating local income.

Why Trade Shows?

Bargains galore!

When you visit tradeshows, it’s almost guaranteed that you will get the very best price possible, so get ready to make some big savings! Trade show stands are usually held not by wholesalers, but by the manufacturers themselves which simplifies the buying chain and eliminates the middlemen and the commission they take!

The hottest products

One of the reasons why manufacturers exhibit at trades shows is to showcase their latest and upcoming products. This creates a highly unique opportunity to find niches and there are very few places a retailer can go to get so many great money-making niche ideas.

Finding new products and gaining a monopoly on them is a highly powerful accomplishment for retailers, especially eBay sellers, and should be something that all retailers both off and online should aspire to achieve. Being the sole distributor of a particular item doesn’t always last long, as others will eventually identify your product as being profitable and will hunt down a supplier (maybe even your supplier!), but for at least a few months, you can really bring home some big profits.

Relationship Building

You’ll already know how important it is to build up a strong relationship with your supplier and how it can go a long way in getting you better deals and greater access to new, hot-off-the-conveyor-belt products. Don’t be shy about getting to know new suppliers, it’s mutually beneficial for you to both get along and make acquaintances.

How to make the most out of a trade show:

Select the right show

This might seem obvious, but it’s important to make sure you attend the trade shows most relevant to you and your business. You can easily waste a lot of time and money on admissions fees if you attend a show which only has 1 or 2 exhibitors relevant to you. Pick industry-specific shows, rather than general ones, wherever you can that are most fitting for your business and for any product lines you would like to explore in the future. 

Plan your time

Whether you are going to a small trade show for a day, or scouring around a larger one for a week, it’s a good idea to plan how you will spend your time. When the marketing material is released, you can find out exactly who and what will be exhibiting there. Make a plan of who you want to visit, and if you are ultra organized (or just a big geek like me!) you could write down a few questions you want to ask each exhibitor.

Learn to say ‘no’

You will meet some of the best sales people in your industry when you attend trade shows, and they will either have strict sales targets to meet to help their company pay for their stall, or will be sales making maniacs who will be using the trade show as an opportunity to make some serious commissions. These salespeople can potentially waste hours of your time by trying to sell you ideas, products or services which may have no benefit to you whatsoever. If you get yourself into the sticky situation of being at the receiving end of a hard sales pitch, you need to know how to get yourself out of it.

Often, all it takes is a simple ‘no, thank you’ followed by a polite smile, but for some people this isn’t easy. If you struggle to get away from pushy sales people and would rather hand over your credit card for something you know you aren’t going to get any use out of, you are going to have to get creative! You have a couple of options here, both of which are tried and true. You could do the ‘sorry, this is fascinating, and I’m really interested, but I really need to go to the bathroom!’ or the old look-at-watch-and-exclaim ‘is that the time? Sorry, buddy, I gotta go, my wife/husband/boss is waiting for me’. Whichever approach you take, don’t feel bad for not taking the time to listen to a sales pitch on a product you have no intention of buying, you’ll be wasting their time too and they would rather spend it dealing with more solid prospective buyers.

How to find trade shows near you

The best way is to simply Google ‘trade show + your area’, but there are some helpful directories out there that can point you in the right direction which I have listed below.

www.tsnn.com

www.biztradeshows.com

http://directory.tradeshowweek.com/directory/index.asp

Virtual trade shows

If you can’t find one in your area, never fear! You can easily access virtual tradeshows from home. Virtual trade shows have really taken off recently, mainly because of how affordable they are compared to regular trade shows where exhibitors have to pay hundreds to host a stall and attendees may have to pay for travel and accommodation. Virtual trade shows offer everything a regular trade show does, but it’s all done online, meaning you can get the benefits of visiting a tradeshow all from home!

To find out about virtual trade shows in your industry, try Googling ‘virtual trade show + your industry’, or take a look here: http://www.conventions.net/marketplace/virtual_shows-c88.asp

The #1 Rule of Online Business

Could following one simple rule completely transform the way you do business and increase your profits? Yes! Can you guess what it is? If you think it’s offering the latest products or spending thousands on marketing, you are wrong! (Although these can certainly help) What if I told you that you could increase return buyers and make more money by simply offering exceptional customer service?

It’s a simple formula: 1 customer + first-class customer service = 1 great customer experience = repeat buyers = more sales for you!

So with all that money-making potential, what’s the best way to go about offering the greatest customer service possible? Read on to learn the craft, then wait for the positive feedback to roll in and watch your business grow!

Is there a difference between online and offline customer service?

Absolutely! When you go to a store or restaurant, what makes the service great? A warm smile when you arrive, a friendly and enthusiastic waitress, or maybe it’s the small talk between you and the salesperson behind the counter that leaves you feeling satisfied? Unfortunately for online retailers, this type of personal contact isn’t possible, which is precisely why we must go above and beyond to make our customers happy.

The good news is that while you can’t always greet buyers with a happy smile or give a friendly handshake after making a sale, there is plenty you can do to make your customers have a great experience when they shop with you.

Today we are going to go a little beyond the basics (which you have hopefully already implemented) such as listening to customer needs, dealing with complaints professionally and fairly, and bring you some more expert approaches to customer service which you can work towards:

Customize your email communications

Personalizing is everything, and while some of your emails might be automated, you can easily personalize any other communication you have with a buyer. Saying something as trivial as "have a great weekend" or "How’s the weather over there in Utah?" can make the entire transaction more pleasant for the buyer and give them greater confidence in buying from you.

Don’t skimp on the post sale communication

A week or so after the trade, it’s a good idea to send a quick email and ask if the item arrived safely. It’s the perfect way to let customers know that you appreciate their business, but also a great way to help get more sales in the future by letting buyers know about new promotions and products. This is a highly effective marketing tool because it’s quick and concise, and it won’t end up in a spam folder (as long as you use the email address you used to communicate with during the initial trade).

When buyers have a great experience with you the first time, they are more than happy to hear from you and learn about new product lines or sales. Remember that discount coupons for their next purchase are always a great incentive for them to revisit your web store or eBay listings.

Send out items as quickly as possible

This is crucial. Many buyers on eBay feel anxious during the time between when they pay for their item and when they receive it, especially first-time buyers. Therefore, getting their item out to them as soon as possible gives them confidence in buying from you, and significantly increases the chances of them telling their friends about you, or returning themselves.

Getting to the post office every time a payment comes through is far from efficient, so thankfully there is a solution! Our friends at USPS offer a free carrier pick up service so that you can give them a call and have them pick up your packages (that’s right you can do more than one at a time!) as long as you let them know by 2am (CST) on the day you want it picked up. Check out http://www.usps.com/pickup/welcome.htm for more details.

Make it easy for people to contact you

Responding to individual requests or questions won’t take up as much time as you think and there will always be customers who don’t read through full item descriptions or FAQs and will take up more of your time than others, but this is simply part of running any business. Always be patient and answer their questions thoroughly.

Make sure you list your contact details prominently. If you are selling on eBay, you can do this on your About Me page, or when using your own website, have a ‘Contact Us’ page and list at least two ways buyers can contact you such as email, phone or Skype.

To go that one step further, consider setting up an 800 number. This will help give you a competitive edge, and sellers of high-involvement or technical products will find this useful when buyers have a lot of questions. Plenty of phone companies only charge you on a per-call basis so you will only pay if and when a buyer uses it.

Remember that good customer service can be the cheapest way to make customers happy and keep them coming back for more. The truth is that when it comes to online business, you can master every other sales strategy from stocking the latest products to perfect keywords and searchability, but if you don’t keep the customers satisfied, these aren’t worth a dime!