If you’re looking for a simple way to make some fast cash, WITHOUT any startup costs, then you’ll love selling online. You don’t need a blog or e-commerce shop, just a smartphone, and my 7 easy steps to set you on the right path to maximizing your profits.

You probably have a bunch of stuff lying around your house right now that you could list online and start making money fast! Check out How to Declutter Without Losing Your Mind to help you get started.

I’ve been selling new and used products online for over 20 years, and have learned a lot through trial and error. So, to save you time and frustration, I have compiled my ultimate tips to get you started selling online and maximizing your profits FAST.

Use the right selling platform

There are so many places online to sell things, that the options can get overwhelming. I have a few well-known, longstanding sites that I prefer, depending on what products I’m listing. Plus, they all have user friendly apps so you don’t even need a desktop to get started!

eBay

Wow. You can buy and sell almost anything on eBay! It’s been around since 1995 and has a lot of protections in place for both the buyer and seller.

eBay gets over 2 million viewers a day!

This is a great place to list vintage housewares, clothing, electronics, and gently used baby items.

You can create auction listings or a fixed price, ‘Buy it now’ listing. There are pros and cons to each, but when you’re listing your items it typically makes suggestions for you. However, you have the ultimate control, so do what’s best for each situation.

Poshmark

This is a great website to list high-end brand clothing and handbags. People love to pay less than retail, but I found that they are still willing to pay enough to line my pockets nicely.

On Poshmark, you set your prices and when an item sells, you will be emailed a prepaid shipping label (the buyer pays the shipping costs). All you have to do it package it up and send it off—so easy!

For all sales under $15, Poshmark takes a flat commission of $2.95. For sales of $15 or more, you receive 80% of the sale price.

Sign up for an account today with the referral code: ElleOnPurpose and get a FREE $10 Poshmark credit! Yay!

Facebook or Craigslist

If you have an especially heavy or fragile item, or just don’t want to deal with shipping then Facebook marketplace or craigslist are two great options.

Both give you exposure to a huge audience, and you don’t have to pay fees or commissions.

However, I’ve never been comfortable with giving strangers my address, so proceed with caution.

Always meet in a public place, and take a friend or family member with you when you can. If you have to go alone, make sure you communicate with a friend or family member so they know where you are going, and will sound an alarm if you don’t let them know you’re alright.

I may seem paranoid, but I just like to be safe and thorough.

Look it over

Always look an item over several times to make sure all the pieces are there, note any wash wear or scuffs, and make sure there aren’t any holes or stains. These aren’t always deal breakers for a buyer, but it is absolutely vital that you disclose them!

When selling clothing, don’t forget to look at the hems and upper inseam (the crotch area). Those two places get the most wear and tear.

Do a little pricing research

Always take the time to do a quick search to see what similar items are selling for, and price yours accordingly. eBay is great for this, as you can refine your search to only include completed listings.

Sometimes I am surprised at how high similar items are selling for, and I would have missed out on a considerable amount of profit if I had priced my items without checking first.

Take really great pictures

This is a big one if you want to sell your items online and maximize your profits! Make sure you take clear photos against a simple background. Do not post photos that are out of focus, cluttered, or contain anything you aren’t including in the sale.

Always try to take photos in bright, natural light. And avoid using your camera flash.

This doesn’t mean you need to go out and buy a new DSLR camera, as most smartphones these days have acceptable cameras.

Write an honest and thorough item description

Take the time to list actual item measurements, any scuffs or wear, and the overall condition of your items. There’s nothing worse than a disappointed customer to refund or a bad review.

By being thorough and providing buyers with lots of pictures, you will not only give them the peace of mind to place a bid or click the buy it now button, but you can typically command a higher price for your items.

Package it carefully

I don’t know about you, but I hate letting people down. So, when it comes to packaging the items I sell online, I go the extra mile to package everything carefully.

If you’re shipping fragile items be sure to use quality packaging materials and the proper sized box.

Always use quality tape! Cheap and flimsy tape can easily break when in transit.

Tyvek or poly bags are your friends! For shipping things like clothing these bags are the best because they are tear and puncture resistant. Plus, the adhesive closures stay put.

There’s nothing worse than an item arriving at its destination damaged. Not only do you risk receiving a bad review, but you will be the one to lose out on the money from the sale.

Ship quickly!

We live in the age of superfast shipping. Thanks to Amazon prime, people are not accustomed to waiting more for a few days to receive their purchases.

With this in mind, make sure you package and send sold items within 24-48 hours. And always communicate the ship date and tracking information to your buyer.

Also, NEVER EVER ship anything without a means of tracking it! This will not only give your buyer peace of mind, but it will protect you as well. It isn’t very often, but packages do get lost or damaged in transit.

Unfortunately, not everyone in this world is honest, so by having proof that you sent the package you will be able to protect yourself from any shenanigans.

Don’t forget to click over and learn How to Declutter Without Losing Your Mind, so you can start selling your unused stuff and make some fast money

And there you have it! Selling your stuff online is a fast and easy way to make a lot of money. And now that you have the tools to do it, there’s nothing stopping you.

Do you have more questions? Comment below and let me know!