Selling Books Online 101- tips for beginners
Doing good business is still the key, but there are many valid approaches.
There are different methods that enterprising Internet sales people use to sell products online. Sometimes the trick is figuring out which method works for products you have to sell. Selling books online is one example of how marketing and sales work differently now because of advances in Internet technology.
Booksellers that Buy Books
Cash For Books and AbeBooks are places you may be able to go online to sell books in a very easy way. Powell's is another similar online book seller that will also purchase books.
With each of them, you simply input the ISBN number. They will immediately tell you if it's something they'd like to buy and what they will pay for it. Several I put in just to see what would come up were books all three services were willing to take. If you are considering selling your books online to a large bookseller, check all of them to see which will offer the best price.
One pro of using services like this is that they'll pay immediately, and even cover the shipping via labels you print out from your computer. They don't take all titles, but particularly with stuff you don't want to keep anyway it could be a useful way to make a few bucks. Newer textbooks; titles that are in demand, and collectibles that have resale value are the kinds of things they look for.
Buying and Selling
Many people start selling the things they have which they aren't using anymore, and slowly move into doing more extensive business. Some people hunt around garage sales and second hand shops looking for titles they can buy, and then resell for a higher dollar amount online. It's good to do some research if you want to consider this. There is money to be made, but you'll do better when you understand more about the available options.
One way to get a feel for how it works is to take a stack of your own books that you don't plan on selling, and use them for an exercise. Pick ten books, and note the ISBN number and the condition of the book. Search for each one by ISBN on both sites above, and see if any of them come up as books they're looking for. Take a sheet of notebook paper or keep notes in word. If there are offers, note the amount. Then search each of the same titles on Amazon and eBay. See what comes up, and note that too.
Chances are, you'll find that some of the books are eligible for services like AbeBooks, Cash4Books and Powell's. You will probably find that most of them are also available at a variety of prices on places like Amazon and eBay, most of them higher than what you would be offered through one of the other dealers I mentioned first. They're middlemen who buy from you, and then sell it for a profit, where services like Amazon give you the opportunity to make direct sales.
Make the Most of Your Markets
The downside to using the services of middlemen who sell your product to someone else later is that you don't make as much money. The upside is that you don't have to wait until individual books sell and handle all of the organization and processing that it takes. The brokers that are essentially middlemen may offer you a useful and quick opportunity, if that's what you're looking for. Their system is easy, all you have to do is package and send what they have agreed to buy. If you're cleaning out the basement, why not see if anything in the garage sale box is worth more this way?
However, if you have a lot of books you want to consider doing this with, you may be much better off setting up your own Amazon store or eBay seller's account. Especially if those books are collectible, or of value in a particular niche.
Maximize Your Earnings
I know people who have had a lot of luck with all of the above. Keep in mind that some online marketplaces charge listing fees and sales fees. Learn how each works by making sure to read the individual FAQ's and Terms of Service information. Many of us are used to just scrolling through all of that, but this is one area where reading what you're agreeing to may make a difference. At first glance it looks like you'll make more with direct sales, but when you take the fees into account it can have a big impact. Many people selling online try to take that into account when pricing their items.
I'm also big fan of eCrater, which allows you to sell online like the other services. The plus side of eCrater is that they offer both auction and fixed price selling options, and take no fees from the seller. You can also use eCrater to sell other types of things, and the interface makes a professional looking online store that is easy to manage. If that sounds like something you'd like to know more about, check out my article on making money with eCrater right here.
Using Different Approaches and Learning from Others
Using Cash4Books or AbeBooks may get you a little bit of cash right away, with minimal effort. Amazon, eBay and eCrater may net you more in the long run. They all require a little more effort in listing your items and setting up online stores, but over time it has the potential to turn into a nice side business.
It is also possible to use all of the above services in combination, to achieve an even better effect. Start by doing some more research. It is also useful to talk to other people that have done this, as they will have a lot of useful tips.For instance, one of my friends has been making good money selling books online through Amazon for about a year now. I deliberately took her out for coffee one afternoon and picked her brain for hints.
Her secrets? She constantly adds new items to her available listings, by going through her things, and by picking up books for free and cheap wherever she can. She has a system devised where she writes down all of what she's selling, it's ISBN number and condition. One things she makes sure to do is keep it all organized in the same area of her home, and she always has appropriate packing supplies handy. When a book sells, she notes the selling price for her records and ships it off right way. Many of her customers have left positive feedback because of that. As a result new customers are more comfortable buying from her, and her business has grown. The method is very simple, do good business and you'll have more business.
Sources:
Make Money as a Used Book Hunter by Kyle Taylor
How to Sell Used Books Online by Fran Brockmyre
How to Start an Online Store Free, With No Sales Fees by Nicolette Stevens
Jean Marie Carrier : Book selling as Business Interview
Personal Experience
More Useful Sites:
Faded Giant's Free Online Guide to Rare and Antique Book Values
