CHOOSING YOUR MEDIUM

The old-timers around my area used to tell me that there are any number of ways to skin a cat.

Likewise, there are any number of ways to sell your product or service online. Your particular method will depend largely upon your own unique business model and products.

This lesson will discuss some of the more popular methods for selling online.

Selling On Ebay

Many online vendors have found great success on Ebay.

Ebay (in case you live under a rock) is a huge auction site which allows you to auction off almost anything.

This option works particularly well for unique items, or for used products which are in high demand and ship easily. Some Ebay merchants sell only on Ebay, while others sell on Ebay and through a shopping cart on their own website at the same time.

Selling From Your Own Website

If you decide to sell your product from your own site, there are several ways to go about it.

The easiest way, by far, is to simply place an order form on your site which collects enough information from a buyer to allow you to arrange payment and ship the order. With this method, you will be well advised to call the buyer personally before shipping.

Another way is through the use of Paypal's "Buy Now" buttons. These are easy to add to a webpage, and collect all payment info on the Paypal site. Money from the transaction is deposited directly into your Paypal account.

Selling your products through a shopping cart is another option, and one which is widely used. Shopping cart software helps to provide your visitor with a shopping experience they are familiar with.