"Selling on 'the River', "The Niche Book", and
"Amazon - The Quick & Dirty Guide."

You have no idea how good it feels to hear that many of you are selling well on Amazon. Many are using FBA, and I hope more of you will look into that. On Amazon, as with eBay in the earlier days, summer is a slow time. So if you're doing just "okay" in the summer, my bet is fall and winter will be great!

On to the newsletter...

In This Issue

1. Amazon Takes Another Bite Out of eBay
   
2. Leftover Gold - The Quick & Dirty Guide II
3. An Invitation for You...to Earn More Money
   

1. Amazon Takes Another Bite Out of eBay

eBay's latest earnings report shows they are depending heavily on PayPal for good news.

The fact is, one of the few remaining reasons I venture into the eBay world is to create a shipping label through PayPal. Many people use PayPal to create shipping labels for their Amazon orders. They have asked when Amazon would offer a shipping solution - and their prayers have finally been answered.

A little over a week ago, Amazon announced the launch of the Amazon Marketplace Shipping Service.

Using this new service you can purchase USPS postage directly through your Manage Orders pages. To start the process of buying postage for an order, click the Buy Postage button under the order's Product Details section. For more information, click any of the "Learn more" links you see along the way, or go directly to this Help page.

Many eBay sellers enjoyed the tools eBay provided to make selling easier. It was a little disappointing to find that Amazon did not have those tools (but the fact that we actually had orders made the situation bearable.) Now Amazon is catching up.

Skip McGrath commented on the growth of Amazon in his July 28, 2010 newsletter:

Amazon’s net sales jumped 41% to $6.57 Billion. Net income increased 45% to $207 million. Amazon said third-party (that’s you and me) and retail sales are growing rapidly. Business is so good Amazon will build thirteen new fulfillment centers. Amazon also reported that FBA – Fulfillment By Amazon (see next article for more on this) is growing rapidly and necessitates opening several new warehouse fulfillment centers.

How about eBay? Well eBay grew, but not that much. Revenue rose 6% to $2.2 billion. eBay's net profit was $412 million, or 31 cents per share, compared with $327 million, or 25 cents per share, a year ago. But most of that growth in profits came from PayPal not eBay. eBay reported that PayPal is adding over 1 million new customers a month –much of the growth coming from overseas.

It makes me feel bad that eBay squandered the devotion of thousands of loyal sellers. On the other hand, it makes me happy to see many of them have found a new home with Amazon. For now at least, it seems Amazon is welcoming third-party sellers with open arms.

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2. Leftover Gold - The Quick & Dirty Guide II

A couple of weeks ago, I released my new ebook, Amazon: The Quick & Dirty Guide II - Leftover Gold. It has been received very well. After reading it,  Adam Bertram, who has been a big inspiration for me as a bookseller, emailed me and said:

Excellent eBook, Steve.  It takes a lot to hold my attention and this eBook did all the way through.  This is one of the best written and entertaining eBooks on the subject I've read so far.

This ebook is not a revision of the first Quick & Dirty Guide, it goes into a new direction. There are items besides books that do quite well on Amazon. And these are items that other sellers pass up every day. The goal of this ebook is to teach you to spot valuable products that other sellers miss, or ignore. It doesn't just dwell on thrift stores, but even shows how you can get really profitable items at retail stores. It also discusses salvage grocery stores. Never heard of them? Well, here's a sample of what I found in my local salvage grocery store:

These items are currently selling on Amazon for $10-$22. I paid $3 for each item. The woman at the counter asked what I was going to do with all of these things, I said, "I just know a lot of people." I bought everything the store had of some items, and as much as I could of the others. I'll go back for the rest this week. (I only had about $80 with me at the time.)

The bottom line is, someone decided these brand new products were not cut out for their store. They are "leftovers." But there are still people willing to pay good money for them. I'll get the difference. I figure my $80 will turn into about $500 within a short time, thanks to Amazon FBA.

If you haven't gotten your copy of the Quick & Dirty Guide II - Leftover Gold, you can still get it for less than $20 as long as the initial offer lasts. Get it today and start digging!

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3. An Invitation for You...to Earn More Money

Believe it or not, I'm not real comfortable promoting myself or my products. I'm always flattered when I get a compliment on something I've created. Many readers have asked for links so they could promote my products. Maybe it's the A.D.D., who knows? but I never had a very good place for people to go and find what I have for sale.

Finally, there is a single place you can go to become an affiliate and promote my ebooks to your own email list. I've set up an affiliate center so you can sign up, create links, and eventually maybe even participate in contests to see who sells the most.

For every ebook you sell as an affiliate, you'll earn 50% commission. Go sign up - it's pretty painless and you can earn some money by bugging your friends to buy an ebook and start selling on Amazon!

You can sign up and get the links at: http://www.genuineseller.com/affiliate-signup.html

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Thanks for reading! I look forward to hearing from you.

Steve

"Selling on 'the River', "The Niche Book", and
"Amazon - The Quick & Dirty Guide."

Since the last newsletter, I've been so busy with Amazon and writing that I've only had a little time to look for interesting new things. But wait till you see what I've found! Especially if you're interested in Amazon FBA. I'm still trying it out myself, so I'll let you know more in a week or so - plus I'll have a brand new ebook to share.

Stay tuned for that - but for now on to the newsletter!

On to the newsletter...

In This Issue

1. An Amazon Niche Site in 30 Minutes?
   
2. No Kindle? No Problem - Save TONS of money on books.
3. Shocking Video: Removing Ink Signatures from Books
   
4. Flip Camera Secrets
   

1. An Amazon Niche Site in 30 Minutes?

As regular readers know, I'm not a big believer in "autopilot" income - at least not in the way most gurus promote it. But I do have several little websites that make money every month. Most of them use the eBay Partner Network. But I have begun trying to find ways to use Amazon Associates (Amazon's affiliate program) to replicate my eBay-based sites.

It's no secret that Wordpress is a great platform for niche websites. Once you learn to use Wordpress, you can create really powerful sites, that can bring in a check every month. I've usually built mine from scratch. But I found something last week that I liked so much I bought the rights to offer it to you.

This is an entire Wordpress golfing website, pre-loaded with articles, and affiliate products. The designer made it very easy to add your own affiliate IDs to the site. If you've wanted to have a nice-looking niche site, but didn't know how to put it together, this is for you.

It's also completely customizable. You can add articles, move things around, change the ads, add products - whatever you want. You own it completely. So while other people may buy the same package, your customizations will make yours unique.

It's a professionally designed site that is dedicated to golfing - which you likely know is an very profitable niche. There is general information, golfing tips and over 600 golf related products pre-loaded on the site. When those products sell, you earn a commission through your Amazon Associates account, and ClickBank. It also has Google AdSense ads built in.

I set up a demo site - totally on my own - in about 45 minutes (once I carefully followed the instructions). I added the Review Site as well, you can find the link in the navigation bar - check out the demo site here.

Included in the package is a golf information blog / website and a golfing product review web site. I used them together, but you could even get a domain for each part for twice the traffic and selling power. The blog is preloaded with content, niche theme, plug-ins and more. The review site is ready to go, simply plug in your affiliate ID, upload and it's ready to crank out some sales for you.

Site Features:

1. Pre-loaded with 20 quality SEO Optimized posts, including Images.
2. Built in Amazon Store Pages pre-loaded with Golf Related Products (Over 600 Products).
3. Related YouTube video page with related Golf videos.
4. Ready-to-go Adsense Ad Spots (2)
5. Ready-to-go ClickBank Ad Spots (2)
6. PSD (Adobe Photoshop) Images so you can brand it totally as your own
7. Quality Custom Golf Blog Theme
8. Everything is included, even Wordpress files (Ver 2.9.2).
9. Theme and Plug-ins are preloaded, ready right out of the box
10. Simple 30 minute or less setup

It also comes with over 40 Amazon Product pages, with each product listed as a separate post, adding a large number of extra pages for the search engines to crawl! We've also made it very easy to add your Amazon Affiliate ID,
ClickBank ID, and AdSense publisher information. The products come pre-loaded for you, they are ready to sell.

Everything you need is in this package, once you get it, you'll need to open it and find the Blog and Review Site Installation Guide.pdf and follow the instructions carefully. I believe anyone can do this, but obviously the more experience you have with Wordpress the easier it will be. The package creator offers support inside the guide.

Even though you can (and should) customize the content on this site, I'm limiting the number of packages I sell. Plus, I'm including the Private Label Rights for you if you would like to resell it on your own.

I found similar pre-built sites selling for between $49 and $95 elsewhere. I'm going to offer this package, with resale rights for just $27 to my readers.

Download the package now! Sold Out! (watch for pre-loaded sites based on other niches soon)

2. No Kindle? No Problem - Save TONS of money on books.

Do you have a Kindle? Amazon's electronic book device is pretty popular with people nowadays - but I don't have one, nor do I need one.

I do a lot of reading though, and I see those cheap prices for the Kindle version of books on Amazon. In case you didn't know - you can buy and read those Kindle versions of books without having the actual Kindle device - and you'll save a bunch of money over paying regular price for books. If you're already used to reading ebooks, you may like this program a lot.

Just download Kindle Reader for PC (for free) and you'll see what I mean.
Mac people, don't feel bad - you're included. Download Kindle for Mac here.

Say...if you are going to be working on your niche site, and you need some help with Wordpress, try the Kindle version of these books:

Wordpress Website Secrets: How to Use Wordpress to Build Killer Websites! Average Rating:

WordPress For Dummies Average Rating:

Smashing WordPress: Beyond the Blog Average Rating:

WordPress Bible Average Rating:

WordPress: Visual QuickStart Guide Average Rating:

WordPress for Web Designers Average Rating:

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3. Shocking Video: Removing Ink Signatures from Books

The shocking part about this video is how bad I look. (I will shave next time.) Most readers of this newsletter sell on Amazon. If you are a bookseller, you've probably run into writing, in ink, inside the front cover of used books. It's especially frustrating when the book is otherwise in outstanding condition. I wrote about some methods to clean up books, CDs, and DVDs in Amazon-The Quick & Dirty Guide. But this method is best shown in a video (albeit one where I have shaved and have better lighting and sound - see article #4 below after you're done).

DISCLAIMER: I know some people will be appalled at this method - but it works, and I've never received a single complaint or return. Obviously, you have to use discretion - especially if you're dealing with a valuable book. The fact is: most of them aren't that special. Try this on junk books first, until you get the hang of it. Please do not sue me if you mess something up, you are on your own here.

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4. Flip Camera Secrets

Okay - I didn't do myself any favors by my appearance in that video. Since I found this site by Dave Kaminski, that may change.

If you use any of the popular Flip-style cameras to shoot video but have been disappointed with your video quality or have been frustrated that your videos don't look as good as others you've seen, then your proverbial ship has arrived.

It's a collection of over a dozen professionally produced training videos that show you step by step how to shoot killer video with your Flip-style camera...no matter your experience level.  The videos are web-based, so you can watch them on demand on any computer...and even better...they show you everything you need to know in under an hour.

These videos uncover secrets like:

• How to create perfect lighting for your Flip-style camera using items already laying around your house
• Do-it-yourself tricks for steady, smooth video without using bulky or expensive tripods
• How to get the best looking video when shooting outdoors
• How to get the best looking video when shooting indoors
• How to get the best looking video when shooting with a green screen (like the TV weather person)
• How to make the audio from your Flip-style camera sound 100% better
• 3 simple techniques that instantly (and dramatically) improve the video from any Flip-style camera
• and a lot more...

Right now Dave is offering lifetime access at a special introductory price (which I believe is pretty reasonable).  Plus this video package includes two really good bonuses at no additional cost.

The special deal won't last much longer.  So if you own a Flip-style camera and would like to discover step by step how to turn your so-so video into killer video (and in under an hour), click here to get started right away.

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P.S. - Like I mentioned at the beginning: Watch for a couple of really cool things coming up in the next week to ten days. I don't get excited easily - but I am thrilled with what I have found!

Till then - thanks for reading!

"Selling on 'the River', "The Niche Book", and
"Amazon - The Quick & Dirty Guide."

Thanks so much for all of your kind comments after the last issue. I'm getting back into the swing of things, and thank goodness Amazon sales have been good. Over the past two weeks, two used books sold for nearly $200 each, and one on recipes for homemade soap sold for over $60. I hope you enjoy this issue!

On to the newsletter...

In This Issue

1. Are You Using Amazon's Affiliate Program?
   
2. Scanning on 'the River'?
3. Beware of the Amazon Drop Shippers
4. Odds and Ends
   

1. Are You Using Amazon's Affiliate Program?

Most readers of this newsletter sell on Amazon. It doesn't matter whether you're a large or small seller, you can sell a lot more, and you don't have to buy a truckload of merchandise. You probably know the drill by now. With a very simple website or blog, you can promote products found on Amazon as an affiliate.  Then you earn a commission when someone clicks from your website or link and buys something.

Amazon's affiliate program is officially called Amazon.com Associates. It's much easier to participate in Amazon's program than the eBay Partner Network. Besides that, Amazon just has a more stable program than eBay in my opinion. Since eBay began running their own affiliate program, I've had to make changes to the links at least twice. If you have blogs or websites linking to hundreds of products, that is a lot of work. I have not had any problem with Amazon's program.

If there is a down-side to their program, it has to be the fact that Amazon doesn't pay as well as some other sites. But if you do things right, you can pretty much "set it and forget it." Lots of people are looking for "autopilot" income, and while I don't really believe there is such a thing as true  "autopilot income," there is a method that is pretty close.

With the huge variety of products on Amazon, you can create niche websites that will need little to no maintenance, and bring in cash every month. I know it works, because I have several of those sites myself.

Last year (during one of my more pronounced A.D.D. phases) I created several of the sites and then just moved on and left them alone. Now, some of them pull in $5 a month, and some pull in $50. Every so often, I'll get a bigger sale and a site will bring in over $100. It adds up to several hundred per month, but I never touch the sites.

As former Van Halen lead man David Lee Roth brilliantly stated, "To me, it's not rocket surgery. It's very simple to put together."

I believe anyone can create the type of simple (nearly automatic) sites I'm talking about.
You just need a step-by-step way to do it. I found a great video series that explains it in every detail. Even though this series deals specifically with Amazon, the process can be used for other affiliate programs as well, such as Commission Junction.

Here is a list of what each video covers:

Video 1 - Overview - Amazon's Affiliate Program
Video 2 - Selecting Product Keywords
Video 3 - Becoming an Amazon Affiliate
Video 4 - Registering a Domain Name
Video 5 - Setting Up Your Hosting Account
Video 6 - NameServers And Domain Hosting
Video 7 - Install WordPress Using Simplescripts
Video 8 - Install WordPress Using Fantastico
Video 9 - Using and Optimizing WordPress Plugins
Video 10 - Change Your Wordpress Design Theme
Video 11 - Grab Your Amazon Affiliate Links
Video 12 - Your "Money" Post
Video 13 - Promote Using Social Bookmarking
Video 14 - Promote Using Press Releases
Video 15 - Promote Using Web 2.0 Properties
Video 16 - Promote Using Video Marketing
You'll also get a Press Release Template (MS Word doc)

The narrator does a nice job of explaining everything clearly on the live screen. He doesn't spend time trying to get you to buy other things, it's very instructional. He stays focused and takes you from the very beginning, through the very end and shows how it's done. I think it's a really good quality product. Along with one other new ebook, I am adding it to my list of products for under $10.

Get the Amazon Affiliate Video Series Now for only $9.97

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2. Scanning on 'the River'

Last week at a local thrift store, I arrived and found another "non-scanner" equipped  book seller picking through the shelves. After he moved a short distance away, I began using my PDA/scanner on the books he had just rejected. I could sense his irritation as I got hit after hit and filled my basket with books his "gut" said were rejects.

One of my favorite readers has suggested for some time that I write an ebook about scouting services and book scanners called Scanning on 'the River'. I'm not sure I have enough for that, but I like the title anyway. (Thanks Matt!)

Maybe you've seen people using a PDA or a cell phone to scan the barcodes on used books. Those folks are probably using a scouting service. There are several companies that offer a service that tells you which books to buy and which ones to reject. You benefit by only buying books that are likely to sell. It's also great for finding those $100+ gems among the everyday stuff.

The software they provide compares any book to Amazon's database and determines what you should purchase based on the book's sales rank, condition and current selling prices. In most cases, you can set the criteria for your own needs.

For example, with the service I use, AsellerTool, I can set the scanner to return a "Buy" signal for any book, ranked better than 10,000, where the average selling price is a minimum of $4.

These tools can be pretty expensive. The PDA with the software can run from a couple hundred to over one thousand dollars. I wasn't willing to spend that much, so I began by just renting on a monthly basis. I highly recommend that if you're just trying it out.

In Amazon - The Quick & Dirty Guide, I talk about how scanning books, and using Amazon's FBA program has turned my book selling business into a major part of my income. In fact, I believe those two components are the key to very quick success on Amazon. Evidently though, I didn't go deeply enough into the subject.

Since then, readers have asked a lot of questions about the scanner I use, and scanners in general. Two (or even three) heads are better than one, so I asked for help from my friends Nathan Holmquist, author of Selling on Amazon's FBA Program, and Adam Bertram, author of  Used Books: Big Business. Between the three of us, we have experience with several companies.

Most of the services offer live access from a computer or cell phone. The "offline" option lets you use a small hand-held scanner to compare books against Amazon's database. I call it offline because the database files are downloaded and stored in the device, so they are not "real-time" or live. Every few days, you just connect to the internet and download the newest database files.

There are two costs involved. Access to the data is a monthly subscription, ranging from $6 to $50 as you'll see below. The second cost is a one-time cost for the PDA/Scanner. Prices can range from $100 to over $1000, depending on what you are willing to spend. Most of the companies below offer PDAs pre-loaded with their software.

Here are some of the better-known book scouting services include, along with a really brief review:

AsellerTool - www.asellertool.com

Steve: This is the scanner service I use. I have found it reliable and the service has paid for itself over and over again. I chose this company because it was well-established and they offer a monthly rent-to-own option. You can rent a scanner for one month at a time, and after a year, you own it. The $60 per month rental cost includes the $30 per month subscription.

Besides the PDA-type scanner, you can get their service for your cell phone for as little as $6 per month. You simply "text message" the ISBN from a book (you can send five at a time) and AsellerTool texts you back the results. It's a little primitive, but it works, and it's cheap. You must be able to send text messages with your phone for this service.

Neat-O-Scan -  www.neatoscan.com

Adam: Neatoscan offers a few different services to a potential online bookseller.  The first is their typical database download and sync to your PDA for offline book scouting.  They have a lot of robust features in this software such as native sound notification for you to discreetly put some earbuds in and start scanning.  If you scan a book that meets the criteria that you have set previously it will give you a cash register sound, for example.  There are many other configurable options in this software which allows you to do just about whatever you’d like in terms of what criteria you’d like met before you buy a book.

Neatoscan’s book scouting service is $50/month for 1 account for standard level service or they offer a business level service at $100/month which comes with better support and some extra features that you don’t get with the standard account.  Consider Neatoscan once you’ve got your feet wet and know what book scouting is all about.  They seem to be placing themselves as more of the luxury line of book scouting services.

Nathan: I've used Neatoscan.com for 3 years and never looked back - been very happy with them.

They are a very innovative company and I've found them to be good, smart people. Their interface is easy to read. I also like that they offer tools besides a scanner, such as their Inventory Evaluator. They also list book sales and events on their site.

The only "Con" I can list is the price: $50/Month for the scanner software.

ScoutPal - www.scoutpal.com

Adam: ScoutPal is known for it’s open source approach which means it’s very configurable and open to change. Whenever I’ve asked for some features that were not in the original product they have always tried to accommodate me.  They have a “format results” screen that allows you to configure just about anything you’d like.  For example, I’ve set the screen to say “Toss it” for books with low sales prices or “Amazon FBA” for books that have low sales rank prices.  Scoutpal’s support is very good also.

For me, the price of Scoutpal is what sets it apart from the rest.  It’s very cheap at $9.95/month.  This is one of the primary reasons I started using it.  It's good for someone just starting out using selling books online because it’s A. cheap and B. it works.  It has all of the Amazon pricing information you need for that fee and can get you up and running in no time.

Media Scouter - www.mediascouter.com

Steve: None of us have used Media Scouter recently. But it has a couple of features worth mentioning. One is that they update their information from Amazon on a daily basis, while others are less often. The second thing is something Adam pointed out, Media Scouter has a search by title feature for pre-ISBN books (pre-1970). (Others now offer that feature as well, such as AsellerTool.)

Media Scouter is also a bit pricey per month - $40 for a single device.

Which comes first?

The bottom line is, there are plenty of options to choose from and all of the services work pretty well. Some of the scanners do more than books. Many will return results on almost anything with a barcode. I use AsellerTool for CDs, DVDs, and VHS tapes all of the time. You just have to decide which is best for you based on the price and features. Visit their respective websites and spend some time doing research, then sign up  and get started!

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3. Beware of the Amazon Drop Shippers

Have you ever seen sellers on Amazon that seem to offer virtually every book you can imagine, and at insanely high prices? "Virtually" is the key word here. Because in many cases, they do not possess the items they list for sale.

These sellers are a type of "drop shipper" on Amazon and some of them are a thorn in the side of many buyers and sellers alike. Here's what they do:

They list items (typically books) for sale at outrageously high prices - often three or four times the genuine sale price. They don't maintain real inventory, they just keep a gigantic list of ISBNs. If they get a sale, they order the book from another seller, at a much lower price, and have that seller send the book to their customer. They then pocket the difference.

Is this wrong? Not ethically? The price is openly stated, and if a buyer chooses to pay it - it's up to them.

The problem lies in the fact that this type of seller seems to get away with breaking Amazon's rules.

For one, Amazon requires that an item be shipped within two business days of an order. Once one of these drop shippers receives an order, they regularly miss that deadline while they search for an item to purchase and get their end of the deal completed.

The second problem is Amazon's rules state: "Sellers are required to have their items on hand and ready to ship." Just as with eBay, some of these sellers seem to stay on the site forever, despite their horrendous Feedback scores.

How They Affect Autopricing Programs

As my inventory has grown, I found a need to use automated pricing to keep everything current. As I add inventory, I run a report, submit it to my repricer, and it prices my items according to my specifications. (FYI: I'm not one of those people that tries to be a penny below my competition.)

My repricer looks at several competing offers and condition levels to determine my selling price. What happens when one of those offers is a drop shipper selling at a ridiculous price? It gets figured into the mix, and then MY price becomes ridiculous too! For example, one book should have been priced at about $15. When my repricing program looked at similar books, in order to determine a price for the one I was listing, it found two at $12-$16 and one at $84. It then set my price somewhere in between. Not good if I want to sell books.

If you use a repricing service, watch your results carefully. If you see something priced at an insane amount, check out the competing sellers. In my case, it was a seller with the user name "any_book" that was throwing things off. I just kept seeing that name and wondered how it could be possible that they have the same title as I do every single time.

My repricing service lets me exclude certain sellers, so they won't be considered when they do their thing - and they won't affect my prices.

When I did a Google search for "any_book" I found out that they're quite well-known - and not in a good way. Hopefully, the reputation of the worst offenders will bring them down. Until then, I'll do my best to keep them from affecting my sales.

To research these sellers, you can look at a book like the hard copy version of Selling on 'the River'. I self-publish that book using CreateSpace. I keep a few copies in stock, and Amazon does too. But look how many others are selling it. Even good ol' any_book is there too. Chances are good, that the other sellers are drop shipping. Either way, in this case, I make a sale somewhere along the way...

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4. Odds and Ends

Just a couple things to add...

1. Nathan Holmquist just updated his book, Selling on Amazon's FBA Program. If you haven't purchased a copy I highly recommend it, if you've purchased a previous copy Nathan will give you the update. Just contact him and ask. (I'm not sure if he'll require a receipt, but it would be handy to have it ready just in case.)
2. If you receive my emails, at some point you signed up to get something, a bonus, or an ebook and were added to my list. I understand that you might want to unsubscribe at some point, and on each email you receive there is an unsubscribe link for that purpose. When people use the "Spam" button to unsubscribe, the sender is unfairly penalized. In order to help fight real spam, make sure when you use the "mark as spam" feature it's truly for email you never requested.

That's gonna have to do it for now. I have quite a few more things to share, but they'll have to wait till next time.

Thanks so much for reading.

Steve

"Selling on 'the River', "The Niche Book",

and "Amazon - The Quick & Dirty Guide."

I'd like to begin by apologizing if I missed some of your emails. As I mentioned last October, a very dear family member was informed she had inoperable cancer. She passed away last week, after a brave fight. Needless to say, it has deeply affected my wife and me. I'm now trying to get my head back in my work a bit more, but my heart is going to take awhile.

I've found writing about it, and your kind comments were very helpful, so I provide more details at the end of this issue. Meanwhile, I appreciate you all bearing with me during this time if I seem a bit distracted.

On to the newsletter...

In This Issue

1. Amazon's Buyer-Seller Messenger Service
2. Ten Ideas to Make Some Fast Cash!
3. Craigslist and the eBay Partner Network - Beware!

4. Sad News - A Death in the Family

1. Amazon's Buyer-Seller Messaging Service

If you sell on Amazon, you may have read the announcement about the new "Buyer-Seller Messaging Service" (not to be confused with the psychedelic band from the sixties Quicksilver Messenger Service).

In short, when you communicate with an Amazon buyer, your messages will be going through Amazon's system. Email addresses, yours and whoever you're dealing with as a buyer or seller, will be "anonymized" much like communication on Craigslist. You will have a unique anonymized email address. You shouldn't have to make any changes to your order processing system. You can treat the anonymized e-mail alias in the same way as you would a real e-mail address.

I know the conspiracy theorists out there will have a problem with this...but seriously, it's not likely that your email messages are all that interesting. If you're not doing anything wrong, you probably don't have anything to worry about if Amazon has the ability to look at your communication regarding an item sold on their site.

On the contrary. If you're involved in a dispute, and you need someone to referee, there is a benefit in knowing that someone can actually look at all of the communication between buyer and seller.  I could go on and on...but you can just check out the FAQ at: Buyer-Seller Messaging Service FAQ

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2. Ten Ideas to Make Some Fast Cash!

Use PayPal to download it instantly right now: Ten Ideas to Make Some Fast Cash!

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3. Craigslist and the eBay Partner Network - Beware!

One reader wrote to me this week with a very good point regarding Craigslist and the eBay Partner Network (ePN). You will find that many people, and ebooks suggest using a method that involves both sites to make money through ePN. I've mentioned this method before, and it's in The Craigslist Cash Cow.

It roughly goes like this: You go to the Wanted section of Craigslist and find people looking for...oh, I don't know...Elvis Lawn Gnomes. Then you go on eBay, find a lawn gnome in the shape of "the King" and create an affiliate link to the item through ePN. If someone clicks on that link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.

Now you go back to that person looking for the Elvis gnome, and send them an email that says, "Hey, I heard you were looking for a Brown-eyed Lawn-gnome Man!" (Okay, it's as close as I could get to an Elvis song, work with me.) Anyway, you say "I found what you're looking for!" and send them a link to the item, with your affiliate code. They get their dream gnome, and you get a little commission. Nobody gets hurt.

Except that it could be against the ePN "Code of Conduct" (I'm not kidding, that's what it's called.) You are specifically prohibited from posting a Craigslist ad that includes your eBay affiliate code (ePN Code of Conduct, Section D (1)). But this is not a "Posting" per se, this is an email response to someone looking for an item. In that case, you might be okay, if you are emailing them directly and not using the Craigslist email system to send your link. But, then you might be violating the ePN rule that says you may not use your affiliate code in emails. Gheez! eBay's "Business Prevention Department" was working overtime on this stuff.

The other problem with this method is Craigslist's Terms of Use (Section 7 (k)) says:

7. You agree not to post, email, or otherwise make available Content:

k) that constitutes or contains "affiliate marketing," "link referral code," "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or unsolicited commercial advertisement;

One could argue that emailing someone, outside of the Craigslist system is not included in the restriction above. I'll leave that up to you.

The bottom line is, if you follow the method above to try to make some extra eBay affiliate income, you are walking a thin line. If they choose to dump you as an affiliate, or Craigslist bans you from posting, it won't matter if you are technically right, you'll probably just lose. So beware.

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4. Sad News - A Death in the Family

Around 1:30 AM, March 15, 2010, my dear sister-in-law Jody passed away after a battle that began with breast cancer. She was only 35 years old. She left behind her husband Daran, and her 3 year-0ld son, James. Understandably, our family is very sad, and we continue to grieve. We miss her right now, and life will be different for all of her family and friends.

I was unsure about including this personal story in the newsletter. As you know, this newsletter generally deals with the comparatively less-important topic of making money and business. But I decided to include it for a few reasons:

First, she was such a good person. She was a quiet person, and kind. I told my wife, that in all the years that I knew her, I am not aware of her ever spreading harmful gossip or speaking harshly about anyone. I can never remember a time when she was angry or unfriendly to anyone, not even me (and I can be irritating). She was a great sister, mother, and wife - she was such a nice person. I want people to know that about her.

The way Jody dealt with her illness was amazing. I never knew of her to complain or feel sorry for herself. She went through the horrible ordeal of cancer with incredible dignity and grace. She was not a person of outward strength, she wasn't loud or pushy. But when facing a situation that can potentially rob a person of their dignity, she showed a quiet fortitude. She was a real lady.

Back in October, when I first mentioned that a family member had cancer, I received many encouraging comments and emails from you readers. Maybe my reason for including this personal story is slightly selfish. The many kind words helped a lot.

Ironically, another dear friend of mine died about a day and a half before Jody. The difference was, she was 95 years old, and although she'd gone through many difficulties in her life, she had a relatively short "final battle." One thing about her situation that made it just a little easier was that she'd lived a long life. But with Jody's young age, it was harder to find anything positive. There are some positive lessons though...

• When someone dies, I always tried to call, send a card, or at least share an encouraging thought with their family and friends. I used to think it didn't mean much, and now I know otherwise - it helps immensely. I'll never forget that.
• I've also learned that when you see a person a couple of weeks after they've lost a loved one, they may seem okay. But they are probably not okay. They may look okay, they might even say they're okay, but they are likely still hurting inside. I certainly am.
• And I've learned that when a friend asks you how you're "holding up" - it's okay to tell them the truth. It's alright to say if you're not doing too well. In fact, it's best to tell them, that way they can help, which is what friends do. Nothing compares to the hugs of good friends.

Speaking of friends, there were around 350 people at Jody's funeral, all for a soft-spoken lady who was not wealthy, she had no prominent position in the community, or special title. People were there because of her, not who might see them, or what they might get in return. That says a lot about the kind of person she was.

Although I don't discuss religion in this newsletter, and I know everyone has their own viewpoints, I personally find a lot of comfort in the Bible. I have a booklet with a verse to consider each day. On the morning Jody died, the verse was from Ecclesiastes 7:2, which says:

Better is it to go to the house of mourning than to go to the banquet house, because that is the end of all mankind; and the one alive should take [it] to his heart.

As we listen to the funeral of someone who has died, we should be moved to examine our own life course. As a result, we may conclude that we need to adjust our goals in order to use the remainder of our lives wisely. Jody made a good name for herself before she knew she had cancer. Her example makes me think of what kind of name I'm making now.

We don't know what our future holds...and things can sure happen fast.

I hope you enjoy this short issue. To tell you the truth, not much has happened lately that has been very exciting. I've been concentrating on Amazon on one hand, while trying some new things on the other, which you will hear about soon...

Oh and by the way - for the record, in real life I do not look as red as I do in the video below...although I really am that bald. Also, I am proud that I was able to work my favorite gin into the scene.

On to the newsletter...

In This Issue

1. Video Tip: Add the Shine Back to Your Book Covers
2. 20 Ways to Make Money Now on the Internet
   
3. The End of the "Wild West" Days for Online Sellers
   

1. Video Tip: Add the Shine Back to Your Book Covers

If you are a seller of used books, you may be able to relate to this: You find a book in very nice condition. It seems no one has ever read it. It has just sat around, possibly piled up with other books and the once-pristine shine of the cover has become dull and scuffed. It's a shame to rate a book as only "Good" when it's still practically "Like New." What can you do?

When I wrote, Amazon-The Quick & Dirty Guide, I mentioned a few ways to spruce up your books so they would be more appealing to your buyers. There was one thing that I hadn't figured out at the time though, and that was how to get that shine back on a cover to pull a little higher price from a good used book. I have figured out something that works for me, and I've created a quick video to show you what it is:

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2. 20 Ways to Make Money Now on the Internet

When I wrote my first ebook, Jim Cockrum contacted me and we began what has turned out to be a good business relationship, as well as a friendship. I've never told anyone this, but at first I was always waiting for the "other shoe to drop" as Jim helped me get started. I kept expecting that there would be some "catch" or "strings attached" to what he told me. There wasn't. I eventually found out that really is Jim a very nice, and honest guy.

Last week when he sent me an email announcing a new ebook titled: 20 Ways to Make Money Now on the Internet, I had to take a look at it right away. He may have sent me a free copy as a friend, if I'd asked - but he's busy, so I just bought it myself. I'm glad I did.

Jim has put together a collection of ideas that anyone can make money with. There are 20 strong, proven methods here, along with a unique rating scale to help you see how difficult they are, as well as how quickly you can expect to see a return on your efforts. (Disclaimer: When it comes to selling on Amazon, Jim discusses Selling on 'the River,' an unsolicited endorsement which I appreciate.)

Even though I'd heard of many of these ideas before, I wound up with a list of projects I plan on tackling this year alone after reading it. Just seeing these methods described in someone else's words helped me think in some new directions.

Each idea is discussed in a basic manner, along with that rating system I mentioned. Then for more in-depth information, Jim points you to resources that really dig into the details. Even without venturing into those resources, I have a platefull already to deal with. I recommend 20 Ways to Make Money Now on the Internet for anyone looking to get their creative income juices flowing.

UPDATE: I was already happy with the ebook, but I just received an email with even more resources from Jim. You'll also get the entire book in audio format, so you can listen to it while you work. I also got access to a free copy of his newest version of The Silent Sales Machine.

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3. The End of the "Wild West" Days for Online Sellers

As this economy stumbles along, the governments are working hard to make sure anyone who generates income gives them a cut. For many years, some online sellers have considered themselves immune to the taxman. Business on the internet has been compared to the free-for-all days of the "wild west" in the western United States.

Much as barbed-wire tamed the west, in the United States, the Internal Revenue Service has announced that online payment companies, such as PayPal, Google Payments, and Amazon, will be required to issue Form 1099-K beginning next year. That form will report the "earnings" from online sales to the IRS and taxpayers will not be able to fly "under the radar" as before.

There are a bunch of questions that need to be answered, of course. For example, how will sellers report losses against the reported amounts? PayPal doesn't know how much I paid for my item, my shipping supplies, and my office. But the bottom line for those sellers who haven't been reporting their income properly is - you'd better get your accounting act together.  For years, we've been hearing that we should treat our online selling as a bona fide business, with Tax ID number, separate business finances, proper licenses, etc. Now those who followed that advice will sleep well at night, and those who didn't may be reading Bookkeeping for Dummies.

	Bookkeeping For Dummies Sale Price: $13.59 You save: $6.40 (32%) Average Rating:

Ina Steiner has an excellent article on this new form and what it will mean for online retailers at: http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y210/m03/abu0258/s03

I have finally found some time to write a few things for you. Sales are still going strong on Amazon, and I'm working hard at building up my inventory. So this issue focuses primarily on Amazon selling.

There have been a few book sales in my area lately, and I've seen a few other booksellers with scanners. They can be a bit pushy, even downright rude - so I've come up with an idea for an invention: A book scanner / taser combo! If anyone gets pushy or rude - Zapp!

On to the newsletter...

In This Issue

1. Amazon FBA - Now I Know...
2. What Sells on Amazon? Amazon Pre-Order Reports
   
3. A Call for Non-Media Amazon Sellers
4. Recently Found...
   

1. Amazon FBA - Now I know...

When I started using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) several months ago, I had a bunch of questions. However, I did not wait for all of the answers before getting started. I figured they would come in time, and they have. Besides that, I've just learned more about the program as I've gone along. Here are a few things I wondered about.

• What happens if my shipment is damaged on the way to Amazon's warehouse?

This has happened to me once. I shipped a box of books (some valued at over $100) to Amazon FBA. They were damaged in transit according to UPS's tracking information, and some of the contents were "discarded."

This caused me some concern, but I was patient and waited to see what would happen. I did take the step of politely inquiring about the shipment through Amazon's Contact Us form and got a response within a day. Even so, it was a "wait and see" situation.

My package (or what was left of it) was sent to Amazon in Washington state for inspection. To make a long story short, they automatically credited me for what was lost, and shipped the rest to the warehouse where it is now in stock. The credit was very fair. Since the shipment was inventoried, they could tell what was missing. They gave me the fair market selling value of the items on Amazon, less Amazon fees. I was completely happy with the outcome. The books that were damaged would not have sold quickly. But with the settlement it was as if they sold right away.

TIP: Amazon guarantees your shipment to their warehouse. You must pack your items properly, according to the specifications in the FBA manual, to avoid damage. Most importantly though - you must use Amazon's Partnered Carrier - UPS. If you don't - you're on your own.

• Do I have to put labels on each item I send to Amazon?

The short answer is "yes." The vast majority of us will be required to put a scannable label on each item. Creating those labels is part of the Shipment Creation process and you can print them on your own printer. You should buy Avery #58160 white, repositionable labels so they can be easily removed later.

There are some circumstances where labeling every item is not necessary. If you're shipping a case of identical, new books for example, you may label the case.

• Do you have to package your products for shipping before sending them to Amazon's warehouse?

A general rule is, if you're selling media items (books, CDs, cassettes, or DVDs) you may combine them all together, and ship them to Amazon. They will pull, pack, and ship the item for you in boxes they provide. (An important exception to this rule is with regard to multiple volume set book publications. They must be packed for Amazon just as you would pack them to ship yourself. The set forms a unit.)

Just about everything besides the media products mentioned above needs to be sent to Amazon labeled, and ready to ship. They won't assemble or combine items for you at their warehouse. For example: you can't send a case of tea cups and a case of tea pots and and expect them to fulfill the combined order for a tea set.

• Doesn't shipping to Amazon's warehouse eat into the profits?

When creating your shipment, you'll see the option to use Amazon's Partnered Carrier (UPS) or your own carrier. If you use Amazon's Partnered Carrier, the shipping label is created on their account, with their (really low) rates. It's the cheapest way to ship to Amazon. Once the shipment arrives at their warehouse, your Amazon Payments account will be debited for the shipping amount.

I'm sure I'll cover more things in the future. A few months ago I talked about an ebook by Nathan Holmquist called Selling on Amazon's FBA Program. This ebook is what got me to try FBA. The original version was pretty short, and I even mentioned that to Nathan that I could use some more details.

He recently revised and expanded Selling on Amazon's FBA Program, and it's for sale now. (If you purchased the earlier version, you should have received an email from him offering the new version at no additional charge.) If you were holding back for some reason, and you want to quickly get up to speed on FBA, and especially how to make money on books, grab this ebook!

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2. What Sells on Amazon? Check the Pre-Orders

Amazon doesn't share their recent sales like eBay does. But they do provide some helpful reports on what people want to buy. Every so often, I receive an Amazon.com Top Out-Of-Stock Products Report.  The products listed are the top 50 products in the Books category that customers were interested in during the last month, but are currently unable to purchase because there was no available inventory from any sellers as of January 18, 2010. You may receive that report yourself for the category you sell in the most.

There is another report that gives you much more information, as well as the amount people are actually willing to pay for an out of stock item.

Amazon Pre-Order Reports used to be known as the Buyers Waiting Report. These reports list products that are out of stock, with buyers waiting to buy. It's a good tool to let you know what is in demand, and if you happen to find the actual products listed and list them, you may have a sweet sale.

Here is a good selling tip: Many of the products in demand, are not available in all countries. For example, you may skip over the non-English books in your local shops, but some of them will bring hundreds of dollars. I remember a seller years ago that sold Pampers baby diapers from the US to several countries in Europe for hefty profits.

Here are links to Pre-Order lists in various countries:

Canada: https://secure.amazon.ca/exec/panama/seller-admin/download/preorder-report/

France: https://secure.amazon.fr/exec/panama/seller-admin/download/preorder-report/

Germany: https://secure.amazon.de/exec/panama/seller-admin/download/preorder-report/

United Kingdom: https://secure.amazon.co.uk/exec/panama/seller-admin/download/preorder-report/

United States: https://secure.amazon.com/exec/panama/seller-admin/download/preorder-report/

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3. Do you sell NON-media items on Amazon?

Selling on 'the River' explained many of the basics of selling on Amazon.com. Since then, lots of things have changed, including Amazon. I am currently working on an advanced version of Selling on 'the River.' I'm looking for a few successful non-media sellers to interview and make part of the new book. I'm interested in what challenges you face, and how you've overcome them.

It's a chance for some promotion and maybe some increased business. (No offense to the media sellers, but I'm well-covered in that area already.)

If your Amazon sales are a large percentage of your business, and you'd like to talk, please contact me via email at: steve (at) multichannelsurfer.com.

I'll try to respond to everyone, but please understand, I work alone, and it can take a little time. I look forward to hearing from you!

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4. Recent Finds...

Before I go, I thought I'd share a few of the items I've found poking around my town thrift shops and garage sales.

In one store, I had a pretty dry run and I went to stand in the checkout line. While there, I was looking around the store for anything I'd missed. I noticed a set of books in a slipcase and went to take a look. It was an extremely nice set of 13 Lemony Snicket books called: A Complete Wreck (A Series of Unfortunate Events). I got them for $30 and I'll list the set soon for just under $100.

On the same visit, I found another boxed set of three books by Shel Silverstein. He wrote, what I believe may be, my wife's favorite childhood book, Where the Sidewalk Ends. That book is included along with two others by Mr. Silverstein in: The Poems and Drawings of Shel Silverstein Box Set (Where the Sidewalk Ends / A Light in the Attic / Falling Up).

I picked up the set for $12 and it's in pristine condition. It should go for between $80 - $100 once listed.

The lesson for me is, don't get stuck looking in the same old places. Look in places other people may have missed, and you may find some real treasures.

The last "find" came from an garage sale near my home. I went hoping to find a bunch of used books, but found none worth taking home. Before I left though, I decided to take one walk through the sale. There was a box with a bunch of old magazines which I avoided. I have a weakness for stacks of magazines, thinking I will sell them one at time for huge profits. There are literally stacks of them in my garage still waiting to be sold.

In this box at the sale were 98 Down Beat magazines from 1944-1948. The price was $.10 per issue.

Being a music lover, I couldn't resist all the articles on jazz, be-bop, and WWII. I asked how much they'd take for the whole box and I was pretty surprised when the guy said, "How 'bout $5 ?" I gladly paid up.

They are in great condition too. I'll list them on eBay in lots, simply because I know I'll never list them individually. I've found some similar that have sold for $5 and up - per issue! So I'm pretty sure I will make a profit on my $5 investment.

Thanks again for reading!  Keep selling!

Steve

When I was a kid, for some reason I've now forgotten I sold candy bars. Once I'd sold enough that I had a little profit, I bought one for myself and promptly ate it. That's where I learned the term "eating the profits." Now that I'm selling books on Amazon, I keep buying books to sell, only to start reading them when I get home. I'm reading two books simultaneously right now. Eating the profits again.
Maybe I'd be better off selling things I wouldn't use - like hair-care products, or exercise equipment.

On to the newsletter...

In This Issue

1. Make More Money - Lose the Fuzzy Slippers
2. Reader Spotlight: Meet Andrea, a Real-Life Etsy.com Seller!
   
3. Just Added: Two New eBooks for Under $10
4. Recently Found...
   

1. Lose the fuzzy slippers.

A lot of readers write to me and say how they dream of working from home. They want to get rid of their "real job" and work in their fuzzy slippers all day. The fuzzy slippers are almost a symbol of working from home. No boss. No office politics. No commute. Pure heaven right?

The fact is, even when working from home, if you fail to treat it seriously you will fail. You will be as successful as you picture yourself. If every day is "casual Friday," there is a good chance your business is casual through and through.

I have personally noticed that my attitude toward my work is affected by my dress and grooming. There were days when I would grab a cup of coffee and sit at my desk while still in my pajamas. Other days, I dressed in khakis and a dressy-casual shirt, plus shoes (and socks). Guess what? My attitude was totally different and I was much more productive on the days where I dressed for work. It matters. You must think your work is important.

If our attitude is too casual while working from home we will not be as productive and we won't make as much money. The way we think about what we do can move us forward, or keep us stuck in a rut. In the book The Magic of Thinking Big, David Schwartz tells this old story:

There's an old story often told about the job attitudes of three brick layers. When asked, "What are you doing?" the first bricklayer replied, "Laying brick." The second answered, "Making $20.50 an hour." And the third said, "Me? Why, I'm building the world's greatest cathedral."

What do you think happened to those bricklayers? The first two lacked vision. They also lacked job respect. They likely remained bricklayers. The third bricklayer though, probably moved upward and onward. He may have become a foreman, or even begun his own company. The way he thought about his work and his job mattered.

I think it's interesting to watch my Facebook friends' comments as the week draws to a close. Comments declaring "TGIF!!!" and "Only one more day till the weekend!!" are common. - But that's how I feel about Mondays! If you are counting the days till each weekend - you're probably miserable. Either change what you're doing or change how you think about what you're doing. The bricklayers all had the same job, but one worked with purpose and moved on.

Recently my doctor asked me, "Do you feel depressed in the mornings, having to face another day?"
I told her I absolutely did not, "I wake up feeling like each day is a blank slate, full of possibilities." (Of course the attention deficit disorder helped me forget about a lot of the things that would have otherwise made me depressed - but that's beside the point.)

Even when I've had jobs I hated, I found ways to be like that third bricklayer in the example above. That's how I eventually felt like I could work from home. Am I wealthy beyond my wildest dreams? Of course not. But am I moving forward with a purpose - improving my business?
Absolutely.

The way you think about your job matters, especially if you work for yourself. Just buying and selling things will not make you successful. That's just a job. How you think about your work will move you forward. Have job respect for your work-at-home job. The right attitude will change the way you work, the way you feel about your work, and the quality of your work...and the profits will follow.

Then you can break out the fuzzy slippers (and I will nominate you for "What Not to Wear.")

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2. Reader Spotlight: Meet a Real-Life Etsy.com Seller!

You've read a lot about selling on Amazon on this site, and we've also covered selling on eBay and places such as Bonanzle. Each has it's strong points, but if you want to sell handmade products, you may want to try Etsy.com. I recently spoke with Andrea Harrington, a very creative young lady who sells her artwork on Etsy.

Could you tell my readers a little about yourself and your artwork?

Andrea: "I'm 18 years old. I'm a web designer, graphic artist, and all-around dabbler in various arts and crafts. I've always loved drawing, and about two and a half years ago I drew a picture I really liked and I called it Drunken Ballerina. She really stuck with me, so I kept drawing tall, slender girls in stark black and white, usually in mysterious or compromising situations. I definitely have an affection for the maudlin. But I also like to think there's some grace and dignity that shows through in my art."

Where do you get inspiration for your art?

Andrea: "I get my inspiration from old school fairy tale illustrations, especially those of Kay Nielsen. I'm also inspired by flapper girls, Tim Burton, Edgar Allen Poe, art nouveau girls, and even pin-ups. A lot of my art comes from my own childhood and life experiences, but I think the only one who could see the symbolism in my art is me."

Do you sell your own creations exclusively?

Andrea: "I started my Etsy shop to sell things my little sisters and I created. At the time we were making little felt toys. After some encouragement from friends and family I decided to put prints of my artwork up. I mostly sell my art now, but I still have some items up that my sisters made and I also post "guest artist" items from people I know."

How did you choose Etsy? Did you try any of the other marketplaces?

Andrea: "I found Etsy through a woman I babysat for. I had looked into selling on Ebay, but found the process a bit overwhelming. When I looked at Etsy, I really was drawn to the simple setup and straightforward fees, which were extremely reasonable. I also liked that it was a site specifically for handmade and vintage items."

Have you found pros and cons with Etsy?

Andrea: "Etsy has been a great experience. The best part is how easy it is to use. I had no experience selling art or using online marketplaces and lacked the confidence to put up an item for auction. Etsy continues to be the easiest way to make money I've every experienced. It's affordable and flexible. I set my own prices, I can create custom orders, communicate with my customers through Etsy conversations, and create shipping profiles. There are very few rules or regulations to limit you on Etsy. I honestly can't think of any cons. It's a great place to dive into online selling."

Do you have any advice for others who are in a position to create their own products?

Andrea: "I've had a lot of success selling my art on Etsy. I've sold to people as far as Australia and Denmark. I had no idea I'd have this many fans of my art, and it's so encouraging. The extra money I bring in is a great little bonus as well. If anyone has a skill they think they can profit from, don't be intimidated. There's no age or experience requirement. It's quick and easy to sell online, especially through Etsy, and the benefits are almost immediate. What do you have to lose?"

Visit Andrea's Etsy Shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/godigo

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3. Just Added: Two New eBooks for Under $10

There are a few sites available to online sellers that cost nothing to use, and can make a big difference in your bottom line.

If you've wanted to try selling products as an affiliate, there are some proven strategies using Squidoo and Craigslist. Take a look at The Craigslist Cash Cow and Squidoo Basics and learn how to turn them into revenue streams for yourself.

(For members of the Multichannel Surf Club - both of these titles will be available to you for free later this week!)

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4. Recently Found

While scouting this week I found a few good books and CDs - but as usual, some stand out more than others. My favorites this week were picked up within 50 miles from my home, one at a library for $5 and the other at a thrift store for $2.

	Julius Shulman: Architecture and its Photography Sale Price: $499.99 Average Rating:

	Handbook of Ground Water Development Sale Price: $195.19 You save: $39.81 (17%)

You can find the same kinds of books (and more) right in your local stores. I explain exactly how I do it in Amazon - The Quick & Dirty Guide. Click here to get your copy.

Thanks again for reading!

Steve Share

I write this issue with a slight feeling of guilt over the fact that many of my friends and loved ones are freezing back east.  But I will get over that. A big 'thank you' to everyone that bought the Quick & Dirty Guide so far. I was happy to hear that some of you are already putting it to good use to start the new year. This issue discusses a couple of questions I find interesting, and also a couple of recent Amazon gems.

On to the newsletter...

In This Issue

1. What is a customer?
2. Setting Goals for 2010
   
3. Recent Sales and Finds...

1. What is a customer?

I'll bet most of us have been shopping when nature called. One morning recently, I was scouting for books in a nearby town and I needed to use a restroom. Most of the thrift stores I visit do not have public facilities, so I went out to the sidewalk to see if I could spot a place that I could make a "pitstop." (And yes, I went before I left the house.)

I found a pretty nice little coffee /pastry shop and it was nearly empty. They had case with a great looking pastries - and I thought I'd grab one on the way out. (After washing my hands of course.) I saw a men's room in the back, and I discreetly walked toward it. About then, a lady popped in from the kitchen and asked, "May I  help you?" I told her I needed to use the restroom and she said, "I'm sorry, it's just for customers."

Okay, I still had to go - so no stopping for a pastry, and certainly no coffee at that point. To keep this story short - the same thing happened again at the next place - and it got me thinking.

The first place would have had a sale, and lost it. In my mind, I was a customer, but I had more urgent business to attend to. I suppose I could have tried to plead my case, but that's a little demeaning.

And why should I have to beg? I was dressed neatly, clean-shaved, and wasn't going to leave the restroom a mess. I was also pretty sure the lady I spoke to was the owner, not just some kid afraid of breaking the rules.

So here is the question. At what point do you consider a person a "customer?" Do they have to make a purchase? Do they just have to walk in the door (or visit your website)? What if they make a purchase - and don't use the restroom - are they still a "customer" when they return the next time? Or must they make another purchase to reset their status as a customer?

When people look at our listings on eBay, Bonanzle, Etsy, Amazon or wherever - do we welcome them as customers? Even if they haven't made a purchase yet? If they do not feel welcomed, how do we make them feel? Do we brush off some requests with "that's not our policy" or "we don't do that sort of thing."

If visitors come to our store (real or virtual) and ask for something, we should consider them a potential customer and try to help. Even if they don't make a purchase this time, they will remember how we made them feel. In the future many will choose us over our competition.

A lot of the readers of this newsletter have purchased products from me. Some just read, and ask an occasional question. Can you imagine me turning someone away because they've never made a purchase from me? It's just silly.

The lady who refused the use of her restroom did so at a very crucial time for me. I agree it wasn't her problem. She actually didn't do anything wrong. But she also didn't do anything right for a new "customer." Now, when I have a choice to make when buying a pastry in that neighborhood - where do you think I'll go?

If your business isn't doing so well - consider how you respond to people who walk through your door or visit your website. Consider every single person a customer and treat them accordingly - even if they don't buy anything on that visit. That sort of mindset will earn you a lot over time. (I can eat a LOT of pastries.)

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2. Setting Goals for 2010

With my new found focus in life, I've set a couple of simple goals for the next year. Actually, it boils down to one goal for myself. "Do what you're good at."

eCommerce newbies try to learn everything about everything. I know because I used to do that too. Sometimes desperation drives people to just suck in all the information they can in the hopes that something will stick and begin to make money for them. Unfortunately, it just results in a tremendous amount of noise in their heads.

Recently people have asked me to do work that I know I'm just not good at. Could I do it? Yes. Would I be sorry I ever took the job. Yes. So I've learned to say no. That has kept me happier and focused on the things that I am good at - jobs I can quickly turn into dollars.

I've finally realized I am not an internet marketing wizard, or an expert at search engine optimization. I almost always lose money with Adwords, and I'm not a joint venture guru.

But I'm good at selling on Amazon, and eBay. I'm focusing on that.
I'm also good at writing ebooks in plain English that help other people begin earning money online. So I'm focusing on that.

That isn't much is it? But all you need to do is master a few things and you can put a nice little business model together. Will I be wildly rich? It's doubtful. But I can have a legitimate, sustainable business that lets me spend time with my family. Meanwhile, I can poke around with some of the other things I mentioned in my spare time. But it's fun because I don't have to make everything work.

Figure out what you're good at, then do it. People will pay you for your experience. Don't discount it and assume you have to start from scratch. Be creative.

Will I know if I've reached that goal at the end of the year? I suppose if my family and I are happy, and my bank balance is in the black (further in the black than now) I will consider my goal met.

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3. Recent Sales and Finds

In case you need some inspiration for your book sales - I have a couple to share from the past week. First, I sold one book that I've had on the shelf for over a year. I found a hand-numbered facsimile copy of The Links in a thrift store for $4 in absolutely perfect condition. It sold this week for $125 to a happy buyer. More recently I was at the Goodwill Outlet on a rainy day and found Dungeons and Dragons Rules Cyclopedia. It was in a huge bin that was about to go out to the dump. I bought a big box of books that day and figured I paid about $.35 for it. Oh - it sold for $99.97.
I always worry that those books won't pop up anymore. But yesterday I went to the very smallest thrift store in my area and for $1 I bought Introduction to Animal Behavior. The lowest current price on Amazon is $95, and my copy is in Like New condition - so $100+ isn't out of the question.

At another thrift store I was about to leave because they raised the price of their hardcover books to $2. Then I saw a two-volume set in a slipcover that looked interesting. It's called The Gentleman's Companion and I got it for $2. I paid that exorbitant price because I'd looked it up on my cell phone at www.bookfinder.com and found it listed all over the place for near $200. In fact, the current low price for the exact copy I have is $199.

This is the kind of thing I talked about in Amazon - The Quick & Dirty Guide. You just have to know where to look and don't give up. I find new things sometimes at places I've visited just the day before! I found a copy of the Hungarian version of KARDOK by Lugosi Jozsef yesterday. It's so rare I can't even find a price for it. If you can help out with that one, I'd be much obliged.

Thanks for reading - Keep in touch!

Steve

(Can you tell when I started taking my ADD medication?) This chart is a day or so behind by the way.

After my sales recently skyrocketed, lots of folks wanted to know the formula. They asked how I find, choose and list, and price books on Amazon. A lot of people asked...

Besides that, with the economy in the shape it is, a lot of people are really scrambling to find extra income. The problem is they can't build a website, don't have time to grow a blog or an email list, and not much to invest in schemes.

Well, I definitely have figured a few things out over the last few years. The "formula" doesn't just apply to books though, it applies to most anything you sell on Amazon. Even so, books and other media products seem to be the favorites - they certainly are for me.

You can see from the screenshot above that I was really neglecting my Amazon sales up until about two months ago. I was building websites for other people, consulting, and a variety of other things to get along. Since last Spring, I have been only selling about 3 items a month on Amazon.

Then as I got more focused, I nailed down what it takes to make it on Amazon and kicked things into gear. Over the past month, instead of 3 sales, I've sold over 257 items! All this was accomplished in a window of less than 90 days - and I'm PUMPED about it!

Besides that, I'm only spending about a day and a half on Amazon-related work per week - and most of it is shopping, which I happen to love.

Anyway, let me cut to the chase - after I got all the questions about selling on Amazon I decided to sit down and bang out an ebook that explained just what I did to go from (practically) $0 - $2000 per month in Amazon sales.

It's called Amazon - The Quick & Dirty Guide. The Scoop on Finding, Listing, and Selling Books (and other stuff)

Order Now!   Only $17

I basically pictured you, sitting here in my office with me talking about what it takes to get this thing off the ground. Then I just wrote everything down.

This ebook is nearly 40 pages and explains:

• Where you can find LOTS of profitable books, CDs, and DVDs consistently
• How to find thrift stores wherever you go
• How to choose what to buy and what to leave on the shelf
• How to use Amazon's Sales Rank to determine the likelihood of a sale
• What to do if you find products with no barcodes or ISBNs
• How to improve your chances of a sale
• Why you should charge a little more than your competition - and still beat them to the sale
• How to clean and repair books, CDs, and DVDs to pull higher prices

There's a bunch more. I say it's "quick and dirty" because I didn't spend a bunch of time on a website or fancy graphics. It's pretty much just "meaty" stuff that will help you make money.

Oh and in case you're thinking my sales went up just because of Christmas - they took a dip for about three days over the holiday. Now though, they're back as strong as ever. Every day getting better.

I'm not charging an arm and a leg for this new ebook. You can only get it here and the price is $17. I may offer it through ClickBank at some point, and I'll charge more, but for now that's the price.

As usual, if you're not happy with it, let me know and I'll refund your payment. But I think you're really going to like it. Of course I've known a lot of this for some time, but I wasn't all the parts together to make the sales hum.

So get the new year started right. Read this ebook and find out the formula for some additional income.

It's been a month since the last full newsletter - so this one is a little long. I've been super busy with Amazon - I'll explain more below. Also, I am introducing a new section called "Reader Spotlight" where I will feature one reader and their business. Hopefully it will be encouraging to everyone. Also - You will get an email from me this week with a special invitation. Please watch for it Tuesday morning.

On to the newsletter...

In This Issue

1. Amazon FBA - 30 Days Later...
2. Profiting from Resale Rights products
   
3. READER SPOTLIGHT: Bags with a Purpose
4. Selling on 'the River' Now Available in Hard Copy

1. Amazon FBA - 30 Days Later...

Recently, I told you how my Amazon sales had taken off thanks to Amazon's FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) program. I'm going to be a little more candid this time, because I'm really excited about this. Hopefully, you grabbed Nathan Holmquist's ebook, Selling on Amazon's FBA Program last month when I told you about it - because the "free" window is now closed. Nathan has updated it, and he's charging for it again - but I have to tell you - it's worth it's weight in gold.

Even though I wrote Selling on 'the River', I have to admit, I was not really setting the world on fire with my Amazon sales. I was so busy with other things, I didn't relish the thought of packing and shipping books all week long. So, with 187 books in my garage, I quietly began to ignore the fact that I was selling less than five items a month on Amazon. Less than five per month - there, I said it. Embarrassing.

Then I read Nathan's book. (Oh, I also got on medication to help me with my Adult A.D.D.) Within a week I packed and shipped all the books to Amazon, they started selling. The first week I sold about five or six books. Then, I bought more books and shipped them to Amazon. I sold even more.

Then, I decided to try one of those "scanners." I ordered the AsellerTool scanner. Now, I've been going for a solid month, and I want to share the results.

Over the past 30 days, I have gone from five books per month, to 125 books sold. I could have done better, but I was busy building up inventory. I started pretty low. I now have over 600 books on Amazon, instead of 187. I try to spend less than a dollar per book, but that varies. So you have a rough idea of what my inventory costs.

Using the exact methods Nathan lays out in his ebook, my take from the 125 sales is $1128.37. That is after deductions for shipping my books to Amazon's warehouse. I use their UPS account, then they deduct it from my pay.

That was done in 30 days, totally part-time, with books from local thrift stores and one library sale. The scanner cost me only $60 for the month. AsellerTool has a rental program and I wanted to try it for a month before I committed. Believe me - I'm convinced.

If you didn't get Nathan's book before, and you want to sell anything on Amazon - I'm not just recommending it - I'm telling you - get his book.

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2. Profiting from Resale Rights Products

Recently I began offering a bunch of information products on this site for $10 or less. As you may know, I didn't create these products, but I have purchased the resale rights to be able to sell them.

Not only are these products valuable because of the information they contain, when you have the resale rights, you can also turn them around and make money with them yourself.

Not all ebooks come with the same rights. Some come with just simple resale rights, some come with master resale rights and then there are those that come with private label rights. Is there a big difference? Definitely!

Ebooks with master resale rights are a little more flexible as far as what you can do with them. Most ebooks with master resale rights allow you to put them up on your own sales page and set your own price. For each sale, instead of having to share a percentage with the person who created the ebook, you get the entire price of the ebook when it's sold. Also, you can set the price at whatever you want unless the master resale rights come with a provision that you can't set the price below a certain amount.

Finally, there are private label rights, which are the most flexible rights you can get. With private label rights, you can not only charge whatever you want for the ebook, but you can also make changes to it as you will be getting the source files with the ebook when you buy it. Most source files come in the form of either Word Docs or text files. With private label rights, the product virtually becomes yours. You can even turn it into a new product if you want. The choices are limited only by your imagination.

Generally, these products will come in a zipped file, inside you'll find

• the product
• an entire website that will be ready to go with a little tweaking
• a text file or PDF with the resale rights listed

Ebooks with just regular resale rights are basically just affiliate ebooks. You can't really do anything with them other than sell them. You can't change the price of the them or do anything with then really other than just put your affiliate link out there and hope you rack up a few sales. You are totally at the mercy of the person who created the ebook. They can change the price, change the content or just plain discontinue selling it and there's nothing you can do about it. So before you get too attached to these regular resale rights ebooks, keep these things in mind.

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3. READER SPOTLIGHT: Bags with a Purpose

I regularly communicate with readers on various topics. Recently, I had an email conversation with Dolores Lechlitner, who runs a fascinating business called Bags with a Purpose. I thought her story and bags she sells are pretty fascinating. I used to live in the same general area as Dolores, and the recreational vehicle industry is big there. Notice how she took advantage of her local connections.

How did you get the idea for your business?

I was looking for a niche product to sell on eBay and a website.  My sister-in-law mentioned she was in a group of business owners looking for a way to find more jobs for out hard hit economy.  We live in an area that has a lot of RV and motor home factories, and a lot of these closed due to the poor economy.  She also mentioned that they were thinking of using fabric from a factory that made RV products to make bags.  That would keep the fabric out of the landfill and keep people working.

When she mentioned this venture to me I was very excited as it sounded just like what I was looking for.  She also told me they were interested in someone selling them online.  I quickly told her I was that person.  I have always loved bags and purses, as many women do.  This sounded like the niche I was looking for.

This company started making bags, but I was not impressed with their quality, and they had decided to not sell any online. I gave up on them, but also had heard that the original company that made the bags was selling the rights to someone else.  I started searching online and finally found the website of the new company.

Great job! - once you tracked them down, what did you do next?

I sent them an email right away to see if I would be able to sell the bags online.  I got a quick reply and they were willing to talk to me about this opportunity.  So I made an appointment, jotted down some notes and went to see them.  They were very open to my ideas and gave me permission to sell their bags online.  I was very excited to say the least!

They bought the original companies machines and excess materials and supplies and hired some of the same workers. They also own the rights to the designs and name “The Original di Bag.”   The amazing thing is they have set up their business up in the small town where I live.  And I can stop in any time to talk to them or buy more bags.

The bags have been selling in local stores and they have been trying to expand to other areas.  They would like to continue to grow and be available in stores across the country and make a name for themselves.

I put the different styles of bags on eBay and Bonanzle until I could get a website up and running.  It took me a while before I finally got it finished.  I am now at  http://bagswithpurpose.com and hope to start growing my business.  I have a lot of ideas on how I want to expand this business into other areas.

How do you find buyers? What's your marketing plan?

I need to start advertising and spreading the word.  I am very excited and will keep working at it.  I am learning this as I go so it is taking me longer than I would like, but I will keep working at it.   I have had this dream of finding a product that I believe in and love for a long time.  It feels to good to finally have one!

What tips can you offer others who are struggling to turn their dream into reality?

It has been a struggle to get to this point with all of the other things I have going on.  But it is a dream I have had and now I have to put in the hard work to get it growing.  I believe once you find a product you believe in and like, the challenge is worthwhile.  I need to reach out to others and ask for help in the areas I am still learning.

I have read several ebooks on building your own website and finding a niche.  But I am a “hands on” learner so I will be learning a lot as I grow my website.  I appreciate the help that Steve has already given me.  And this opportunity to share my store with you.

Thanks again!
dee

Visit Bags with Purpose!

I would like to add this section to each newsletter, there are thousands of readers of this newsletter who are trying to get their online businesses up and running, just like you. If you'd like to be featured here in an upcoming newsletter, please let me know and maybe I can include you and your business!

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4. Selling on 'the River' Now Available in Hard Copy

Recently I mentioned that I was using CreateSpace to turn Selling on 'the River' into a real "ink and paper" book. It's finally done and available on Amazon.com.

CreateSpace does a beautiful job. The book is printed in color, and it's 74 pages. A lot of people asked about getting a hard copy. You can also get it through my CreateSpace eStore.

Thanks for reading!

Remember - Watch for my special announcement on Tuesday morning!

Steve