3 Ways to Start Selling Stuff Online

It’s the all American dream to open your own business—work from home, make your own hours, you’re your boss to #%&@ off, etc.

Or, it’s the proactive approach to unemployment/retirement/a general need for extra income.

Ignore any of those sales pages promising you’ll earn a six-figure income in the first year (as long as you pay them for information) because the only information you need can easily be found online or in a library for free. Also, be realistic… I’m not saying it’s impossible to earn a six-figure income in your first year but I am saying it’s unlikely.

With that being said, there are 3 options you have right from the beginning. Your decision should be based on what you’re selling because you should start out with the platform that will help you start selling sooner for a quicker ROI.

You Can Sell Stuff on an Already Established Site

The two biggest options that come to mind (eBay and Etsy) are examples of trustworthy sites where people go to buy specific things.

Naturally, your handmade art will sell faster on Etsy than on your own website (at first) so it is worth the listing and transaction fees. You can market an etsy or eBay store as if it’s your own website, and focus on building your own unique brand while benefitting from the trust already associated with the “landlord” to your storefront.

You Can Use a Hosted eCommerce Solution

If you don’t already have your own products to sell and prefer to work with wholesale retailers for drop ship orders by using a hosted eCommerce platform such as Shopify or Big Commerce. Here you will have all the tools you need to build an online store that you can customize to cater to any niche.

You Can Design Your Own Custom Solution

This is for the existing brands that need something personalized… where a generic Shopify template or Etsy store just won’t cut it. Of course you shouldn’t exactly design a custom solution yourself… instead you should work closely with a developer who can build an online store that fits your unique needs.