If you are running an online business, it's a good idea to set some goals for yourself. You need to have something to focus on, rather than just the attitude that whatever happens, happens. When I first started selling on eBay 2 years ago, my goal was to net a whopping $10 a day. It was a real struggle, and it took a long time to reach that goal, but I kept focused on listing, and eventually I reached it.
For the past 6 months, my goal has been significantly higher than that. In May, I got the closest I had ever been (only $90 short). June stunk (as it did for most of us, I'm pretty sure). But then in July, I met my goal a week before the end of the month, and then had an amazing last week and ended the month at 1.5 times my goal!! I stayed focused on my listing and was determined - and it paid off in a big way!
For August, I chose to aim for somewhere in between my original goal and the crazy high number I hit in July. Again, I stayed focused on my listing and excellent customer service, and again, I am right on track to hit the crazy high number again! If I hit that number 3 months in a row, I'll raise it just a little bit and we'll see what happens.
But financial goals aren't the only goals that are important. I am currently working toward my goal of 1000 listings in my store. I am at a little under 800 right now. I was at about 825 last week, but I didn't have any time to list over the weekend. I'm pretty sure I have enough stuff right now to get me to my goal. Once I hit 700 listings, my sales took off! So I am extremely focused on hitting 1000, because if business boomed mid-summer at 700 listings, I can only imagine fall/holiday business at 1000 listings!
Hey! I think I'll have a giveaway here once I've hit 1000! I'm hoping to reach that goal before we start school on September 6. I need you all to help keep me focused so I can reach my goal on time. I don't know what the giveaway will be. Probably a pair of shoes, since that's who I am and what I do. I'll do a new giveaway post once I hit that point, but thought I'd mention it here for a little extra incentive.
Come join us on our proboards group and let us know what your sales goals are for this week!
Hi! I love your blog and it has been so helpful to me. I'm wondering if you have a post somewhere about how you go about meeting your goals. Do you have a listing schedule? Do you list every day with a goal of a certain amount to get listed every day? Do you shop a certain amount of days per week? I also have a goal of reaching 1000 items in my store and I'm not sure how to go about it and what are realistic goals to set daily. Right now I don't have much in my store but really want to pay my mortgage every month with what I make selling so am looking to ramp up the business a lot in the next couple months. Any advice? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteChristy
Just wrote one!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ebayundergroundblog.com/2011/08/how-i-get-stuff-done.html
It's great to have a goal like that! I've been evaluating my store and seeing where I want to be, I don't think 1000 is in the cards for me right now, but 250 might be my "do-able" number.
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