Is it possible to tap social networks to sell more stuff?

Posted by Adam on July 21st, 2011

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Category selling-more-books

As I browse through the latest news every day I can’t help but see the insane popularity that social networks have risen to. Do you someone NOT on Facebook now? They recently announced they’ve now got over 750 MILLION active accounts. That’s crazy! How many of you don’t even use email anymore because everyone you know is on Facebook? Don’t even get me started about Twitter.

Has anyone used the popularity of a social network to sell things from your Amazon, Etsy or eBay store? It’s simple enough to setup a Facebook page and the more people “like” it the more people get notified of it’s existence. I can’t help to think it might be possible to have a Facebook-only storefront to have your Amazon product links or even just selling books yourself and ditching the big fees that come with selling on Amazon.

I’m curious. Is anyone doing this now? If so, comment below with your store link and let others know.

Adam

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  • Celiciat

    I have just started promoting my businesses this way, as just one more way to get it out there. I mention my Amazon “bookstore” several times a month and have seen some interest. Do not have my own website for selling books, yet, because I primarily do FBA now, but I do promote another business using Facebook. It is for health and beauty (anti-aging, and weight loss) products, and I get a lot of traffic from my few Facebook followers :) The link….in case anyone happens to want to check it out is http://www.livegreen.itworks.net. Warning: The products are not cheap, but well worth every penny. I was just doing Ebay and Amazon (primarily books and other media.) I tried these products instead of plastic surgery, and was so amazed by my results that I started selling them in addition to what I already do. I am a stay at home mom with 4 kids, so for me to add anything else to my life it HAD to be something I really believed in. I would love to hear how others are using social networks to amp up their bookselling business…since that is my primary source of income. My husband is a school teacher, and in just two years, my Amazon earnings have surpassed his paychecks each month!! But I would love to pick it up even more :)

  • Anonymous

    I agree with you. There’s no way I’d try to start selling books on my own.
    Sure, you’re not going to become a huge megaseller raking in hundreds of
    thousands of dollars a month but a few 10,000 is OK by me.

  • Anonymous

    Congrats on the success! I’ve also toyed around with the idea of selling
    other things besides books but simply don’t have very much time for research
    to devote to getting into that business. My book business runs on autopilot
    now and it would be hard for me find the time.

  • Rbbender

    I created a ‘sell you stuff for cash’ type site.  Put in ISBNs and UPCs and it programmatically gives the user an offer. (Not spamming here, it’s only for local people anyway, no shipping.)  I’ve used social networks to let people know what I’m doing.  It’s great for advertising and has increased my sourcing efforts.  People bring me books and games and I get to avoid some of the hassles of haggling with people.

    As a note on human nature, I’ve put up ads that say I will buy tons of your books for 25 cents a piece.  I would only get a couple bites.  With this site, it will produce a lot of 10 cent offers (like books with rank between 500000 and 1 million and selling for more that 1 cent).  People are bringing tons of books to me now.  These may not be the best books, but over time I can make $1 – $2 a pop which definitely adds up.  It’s funny, people will generally scoff at me if I would offer 10 cents a book but for some reason, it’s ok if the ‘computer’ offers it to them!

    The other thing I have done with social sites is tapping into a niche, like churches.  I found a source to get new christian books pretty cheap.  I will go to local church facebook sites and let them know some of the group bible study books I have.  They’ll buy them in bulk from me for a group.  It works pretty good and some folks contact me for my other christian books.  Other excess books I have, I will just have a garage sale and get rid of them for a quarter a piece. 

  • Anonymous

    Great tips! Thanks.

  • Melody

    There is an e-commerce site http://www.buyitsellit.com, or Highwire.com, that offers setting up your Facebook online store @ no charge. You are limited to 100 products and 50 categories. However, if you are only wanting to test the waters selling products, instead of just promoting them via Facebook, I think this would be a great starting place. 

  • Anonymous

    Thanks for the tip!

  • Laebooksetc

    What software do you use for this website?  I would love to be able to do this in my area!

  • Anonymous

    I use WordPress.