International Sales

Did you know that International sales account for 54% of eBay revenue? 

If you choose not to sell cross border you're missing out. I know it's a tough business decision in many cases. Do you want to try for higher final values? Or, do you want to make less but know you'll have fewer problems with lost packages, potential lower DSR ratings (thus lower final value rebates) and the never ending requests from buyers to mark those packages as gifts? All things that can suck the potential extra revenue dry.

As you may be able to tell - I haven't been very delighted to sell cross border lately. I sell photography equipment. There have been problems with the electrical current; 110 verses 220. I've had to refund buyers who purchased converters and blew the system, mad purchasers who bought and exclaimed, when refunded, "that I should have been clearer in the description" (probably true) and finally being 'dinged' on my DSR's because shipping was too high, or too slow.

I think many of these issues have caused American sellers to start withdrawing from selling International. Add trying to break into an International market where you don't know the language and sellers really face some daunting problems.

But, I've changed my mind......

That's where the company Merchant Run comes in. My colleague, Bob Robillard, a eBay Certified Business Consultant recently introduced me to the company.

Here's the deal. If you know your products will sell well in Australia - why not list directly on their site, instead of just eBay.com? Or, if you are an Australian and know your product will sell well in Germany - list on the eBay Germany platform. MerchantRun.com has a unique listing tool that helps you sell on all 21 eBay marketplaces. 

The listing tool is very easy to use. Some of the features of the Global Link Software include:

• professional looking design templates

• support for multiple user id's (not that you need them to sell cross border - but you may want to use them to protect your DSR's)

• translation 

• currency conversion

The best part is the cost. Merchant Run comes with a free trial and if you decide to continue to use the service, you only pay when the item sells. Costs to use the service are anywhere from .75% to 1% of the final value. Not bad for the ability to expand your selling reach by over 50%!

Bob Robilllard and I joined the founders of Merchantrun.com James Huang and Ryan Miller for a webinar on what/why and how of Merchantrun. I recorded it, you can watch the video inside the websellerscircle member area. It's free - just join the circle at www.websellerscircle.com and I'll send you the login and password.

Meanwhile - if you have any questions about Merchantrun.com feel free to contact Bob, James or Ryan.

Want to start building a passive income generator?

The newly released "Make Money with eBay Affiliate Web Sites" is selling really well and if you haven't purchased yours yet - read on. 

I just received this wonderful email from Cindy Hamilton of Bombay Bongo:

For more information or to purchase Make Money With eBay Affiliate Web Sites DVD click here.

The Web Sellers Circle Continues to grow

I want to thank everyone for the support and enthusiasm with the Web Sellers' Circle project.  

Several Charter Members jumped on the chance for a lifetime membership to the site. They know we'll provide them with quality material to help grow their online businesses. 

There's still time to get in as a charter member - we're offering lifetime memberships, plus some great incentives to the first 25 subscribers. Janelle Elms was going to post a blurb about the site in her newsletter last week but she got side- tracked creating the new check list for the upcoming eBay changes and she forgot. So there are still a few remaining Life Time Charter Memberships.  If you're interested, please visit http://websellerssecret.com for more details.

For those who are wondering why they might join - here's a quick list of the few benefits you can expect from membership:

• Members only webinar training and conference calls

• Members only forums 

• Members only bonuses, how to articles, step-by-step videos and podcasts

• Members only discounts on products

• Members only access to information about digital photography, marketing, search engine optimization, blogging, pay-per-click advertising, copywriting, product sourcing, networking, POD self-publishing and more 

All designed to help you have a profitable home business. 

I hope that even if you don't decide to jump into the lifetime subscription you'll consider subscribing once the site goes live. We're getting closer, our designer is nearly finished and then we'll start putting the information together. We expect the doors to open in June.