Long term I always recommend dropshipping from your own website rather than auction and classified websites, mainly because of profit margins. However using auction sites is a great way to build up a customer database and get used to running an online business. eBay is the website of choice for the majority of dropshippers due to the amount of shoppers on eBay, here are 5 really simple ways to increase your conversions (auction listing visitors becoming buyers).

1. Start Small

Do you know how to do it? I know exactly how it works ...

Do you know how to do it? I know exactly how it works ...

A drop ship business offers an advantage in terms of stocking goods - you don't have to bother about it at all. But this advantage has a downside: since you are not stocking goods yourself, you may be unaware of some changes in the inventory made by the wholesaler.

A drop ship business offers an advantage in terms of stocking goods - you don't have to bother about it at all. But this advantage has a downside: since you are not stocking goods yourself, you may be unaware of some changes in the inventory made by the wholesaler.

Let's face a simple fact: to make money on eBay or in any other online business you'll need to pay almost as much effort as to arrange an "offline" business. So, there is no sense in rushing forward straight away. Your keys, like in any other business, will be patience and research.

Marketing is the part of business that no one seems to like. Perhaps that's because it's confusing and made to be even more confusing when you begin to read books on marketing and its applications to the business world. So, are there any secrets that actually work and that you can actually apply to your online business? The answer is yes. There are three home based business marketing secrets that you can keep in mind as you begin this adventure into running your own business - and as you become a success.

Let's face a simple fact: to make money on eBay or in any other online business you'll need to pay almost as much effort as to arrange an "offline" business. So, there is no sense in rushing forward straight away. Your keys, like in any other business, will be patience and research.

As business grows, it can be a good idea to support your eBay sales with a website. The first step is building a web presence outside of eBay by creating your own website. Building a website is not a difficult task. These days you don't necessarily need the know-how to do it all yourself - there are plenty of people who will do it for you. Turnkey stores are an option, or you can have a designer create the basic design for a website and then purchase shopping cart software separately.