Online seller

Advances in technology has changed everyday life for all of us. One of the biggest revelations is that we now no longer need to leave our homes to buy the things we need or want. Online shopping is now part of our everyday lives, so why not become an online seller? 

You might sell handmade goods on Etsy or second-hand clothing on eBay. You might also buy items in bulk and sell for profit on Amazon. No matter what it is, you’ll want to engage with customers for them to want to buy your products. 

You might set up your own website or social media account to use as a platform to showcase and sell your items. Or you could use one of the online selling services that’s already out there. A big part of the job is setting your own prices as well as packaging and posting them to your customers. 

In this type of job, you’re your own boss. You decide how much work you need to put in, how often you work and where you work from. It’s likely you’d work from your own home or a studio space, so self-motivation is key.  

Your tasks might include:

• registering as a business and setting up an online service where you can sell your items

• creating a business plan to work towards 

• pricing your items and dealing with online cash transfers 

• keeping tax records and making sure it’s paid on time 

• photographing the items you’re selling to advertise to customers 

• wrriting copy for your items to describe what they are 

• advertising yourself on different social media platforms to attract customers 

• packaging and posting items to make sure they reach customers safely 

• keeping track of accounts to work out expenses, profits and other costs

• responding to customer queries and feedback, including processing returns if necessary 

• Business Gateway has information and advice to start up and run a business

• Ebay's tips on how to start selling on their website

• My World of Work has information on how to be self-employed and what it involves