Like many people I’ve used eBay to sell unwanted items to raise cash.  Nothing major, just a few things here and there that I could get a few bucks for and free up some room in my garage or basement.

I’m really not a huge fan of eBay these days because it seems there is less and less room for small scale guys like me.  I’m not a power-seller and I don’t want to be.  I just want to unload a few things I don’t need instead of throwing them away.

Anyway, most of my transactions have been pretty smooth.  I sold a large lot of old VHS tapes and a couple smaller lots of books, and a few other random items. 

The last item I auctioned off was a Linksys wireless router.  I had picked it up on Amazon for $48 when I first bought my laptop so I could be free to roam the house and not be chained down to the desk.  I used it for about six months and everything worked perfectly.  Then I switched internet providers and I no longer needed the router because FIOS gave me one to use for free.

So rather than have an unused router sitting around collecting dust I figured I’d just pack it up back in the box and sell it.  After all it was barely used and looked as good as new.  I had the original box and everything else that came with it. 

I auctioned it off on eBay but all I got was a lousy $14.  The seller sent me $22 (eight bucks for shipping) but after mailing it off and paying paypal and ebay fees all that was left was about $12. 

“Oh well,”  I thought.  “I wasn’t using it anyway and $12 is better than nothing.”

After a few days I received an email from the seller complaining that I ripped her off and sold her a router that didn’t work.  I wouldn’t say she was nasty about it but there was certainly the implication that I knowingly sold her damaged goods. 

I responded as nicely as possible that the router was working perfectly when I boxed it up and mailed it and is she sure she’s using it right?  I suggested reseting the router back to default settings as that might clear up any problems. 

She then wrote back that she tried everything and it doesn’t work and she wants a refund.  She’ll mail the router back to me but I need to pay the return shipping.

Three Scenarios

I start thinking about what went wrong here and came up with a few ideas.

1. The router is fine and she doesn’t know what she’s doing.  If she sends it back I can always resell it and hope for a better outcome.

2. The router was damaged in shipping and is useless.  I’d be paying for a worthless piece of trash that I couldn’t resell.

3. I’m being scammed.  Maybe her router broke and she concocted this scheme to get one for nothing.  She could send back her broken one and I’d probably never know the difference.  It seems like a lot of trouble to scam such a small amount, but people are crazy.

The first scenario is the only one in which I could come out ahead.  The other two result in me getting stuck with a broken router.  Since the odds were against me I decided to cut my losses.  I sent her a $22 refund and told her to toss the broken router since I couldn’t resell it anyway.

Could it all have been a scam?  Maybe.  But probably not.  And either way I decided it didn’t make sense to pay another $8 shipping and throw good money after bad to reaquire a broken router that is useless and unsellable.

In the end I got nothing for my router.  Oh well.  At least I gained a little extra room in the basement!

What would you have done in my situation?

In today’s post I’m going to tell you about my experiences with Aweber’s autoresponder/email marketing service.

What is Aweber?

Aweber is a popular email list management and autoresponder tool used by bloggers, business owners, and internet marketers. It allows you to build a list of subscribers, send out an email newsletter, and create an unlimited number of email marketing campaigns using autoresponders so you can send out a series of messages automatically while you lay in the sun sipping cocktails.

I use Aweber on this blog and on another site I own, and I have several ideas on how I can make money with Aweber in the future (I smell a new series of posts in the near future).

Why did I choose Aweber?

I first signed up with Aweber a couple of years ago when I was running a site selling Private Label Rights articles with a little ghostwriting mixed in.  I needed a way to keep in touch with customers and prospects…to announce new article packs were available, to offer discounts, and to just to remind them I existed.

When I first realized I need a list management/email newsletter tool I went to various online marketing forums and dug through old threads to see what users had to say. I posted questions asking which was the best option available and why. And then I signed up to a bunch of newsletters to see which service people were actually using.

It didn’t take me long to realize Aweber was the way to go…

• Delivery rates are higher than other providers. What’s the point of having a list of subscribers if they never get your emails?
• Aweber’s double opt-in requirement offers protection against CAN-SPAM complaints.
• Tons of features and templates to customize your newsletter.
• Awesome training tools including a knowledge base system and live webinar tutorials.
• Killer support including real people by phone, email, and live chat.
• Integration with Twitter and Facebook so all blog posts can be automatically posted on both sites.

How I’ve used Aweber so far

As I mentioned above, I first signed up with Aweber so I can keep in touch with people who purchased my PLR article packages. I haven’t updated that site in ages and it has suffered mightily from lack of attention. I might go back and start releasing new packs and building it up again, but right now I just don’t have the time.

I also created a new Aweber list so I can build a database of subsribers to this blog.  Notice the big box on top of my navbars asking for your name and email?  That’s an Aweber web form designed to attract subscribers. Actually, you might see 2 different boxes if you visit often. I’m split-testing (one of the cool features I told you about) a couple of different options to see which gets better results.

When you subscribe using that box you’ll automatically receive email updates whenever I post a new article on this blog.

Now I know what you bloggers are thinking…why not just use Feedburner? They offer email subscriptions and they are free.

Well actually I DO offer Feedburner email subscriptions as an option. But emailing new blog posts is about all Feedburner is good at and I need more than that. With Aweber I can also send off “broadcast messages” which are basically one off emails to subscribers only. In the future I plan to hold contests, giveaways, and other cool stuff strictly for email subscribers.  I can also offer premium content and free reports to subscribers so they know how much I value them.  (I also need to create some kind of free report to entice people to subscribe.)

What do I plan to do with Aweber next?

The same thing we do every night Pinky…try to take over the world!

Just kidding…right now I want to concentrate on building up this blog and making it a “go to” place for people looking for personal finance advice. Along with that I want to build up a list of loyal subscribers. So that’s number one on my list.

But I have other plans to make money with Aweber…

1. I’m thinking of offering a series of short reports for sale. They would be priced cheap so everyone could afford them but contain enough useful information that they’d be worth many times what I’d charge. By overdelivering I could build a customer base and use Aweber to announce new reports.

2. I’m going to create a couple of short email courses where the main site would basically be a signup page for the free course. In addition to lots of great content there would be some affiliate links mixed in so I could cover the costs of hosting and hopefully make a little profit. The course would be delivered via email autoresponder so once I set it up it would be on autopilot. That’s passive income baby!

To learn more about how YOU can make money with Aweber click here right now.

This morning I came across an ingenious little site called Fiverr that lets people buy and sell simple services for just $5.

Here’s how it works…

You sign up for a free Fiverr account.  Then you can post a gig for a small service that you are willing to offer.  If someone orders your gig you are notified and asked to accept it, and once you complete the work you receive $4 in your account (Fiverr keeps $1 for itself) which you can withdraw via Paypal.  You can also buy gigs if you find a service that you can use.

What kind of services are being offered?  Just about anything!  I spent a short time browsing through the listings and found all sorts of stuff…

• One guy offered to analyze your Fantasy Baseball team and offer suggestions.
• Another one offers to send you a surprising list of Canadians.  I’m not sure what that means. 
• There is even a woman offering to write a message on her cleavage and send you a picture of it. 

Now many of these are just plain silly, but if you use your imagination you can think of many legitimate ways to make extra money on Fiverr…

1.  Several posts offer to promote web sites through social media sites like Reddit, Digg, StumbleUpon, Delicious, etc.   I bet a lot of struggling webmasters would take you up on an offer like that.

2.  One guy is willing to write a review of your book on Amazon.  Reviews help build buzz and can make your book standout from the crowd.   This is especially helpful if you’re a small timer selling your own book on Amazon.

3.  A few were offering proofreading and translating services that may come in handy.

4.  There’s one guy offering to visit your web site or blog and click on your AdSense ads 200 tims for $5.  He obviously doesn’t understand Google’s terms of service because if you take him up on that offer you will quickly find your AdSense account banned.

I can think of a few legitimate ways to use Fiverr to outsource some simple tasks for promoting this blog and I’m going to give it a shot.  I’ll write again soon with a new post detailing my experiences. 

Can you think of any simple ways to make a few extra bucks using Fiverr?  The key is to offer something others will be willing to pay for but that you can do quickly.

Are you looking for a business opportunity that doesn’t require a lot of start up capital but has plenty of room for growth? 

Have you considered picking up dog poop? 

Don’t laugh…I’m serious!  Dog waste removal is a growing market that is still largely untapped.  There’s still time for you to get in on the ground floor and build a profitable business for yourself.  And all you really need to get started is a shovel and some plastic bags.

According to The Humane Society of the United States, thirty-nine percent of US households own at least one dog.  That’s a lot of poop that needs to be cleaned up.  Smart people like you can really clean up by picking up after other people’s pets.

Here are some tips to help you get your pooper scooper business started:

1. The first thing you should do is call your town and find out about business licenses and regulations regarding the removal of waste.  It’s important to make sure you don’t inadvertently break any laws.

2.  Start small.  Ideally you want to have a whole bunch of clients all in one neighborhood so you can limit fuel costs and commuting time.

3.  Promoting your business is absolutely essential if you want to be successful.  Most dog owners probably don’t even know that poop-scooping services are available so you’ll have to get the word out.  Try making flyers and posting them around your neighborhood.  Ask local veterinarians and animal shelters if you can post a flyer in their offices.  And once you land a few clients you can start asking for referrals.  You might even want to offer a discount to clients who bring you business.

4.  Try to map out a schedule and stick to it.  Especially if you are starting your business part-time, you’ll need to manage your time efficiently.  Set certain days as “pickup” days and leave the rest of the time to administrative duties and promotion to bring in new business.

5.  Check out your competitors to see what kind of prices they charge.  Prices will vary from one region to the next so you’ll want to be sure your rates are competitive.

6.  Provide an excellent service.  If you do a crappy job you won’t be invited back.  But if you do good work you can build long term relationships with customers and also reap the benefits of referrals.

Running your own pooper scooper business may not be the most glamorous way to make money but it can be very profitable if you’re willing to get your hands dirty (no pun intended).

This post is part of my continuing series on ways to make money.  To receive free updates so you don’t miss future posts you can subscribe to my RSS feed.

I’m guessing you’ve never even thought about starting a vending machine business before.  And I don’t blame you. It hardly seems like it would be profitable.  After all, how much money can you make selling nickel gumballs and 50-cent bags of chips?

But what if I told you that those innocuous machines you see wherever you go are not just profitable…they may be an absolute gold mine sitting right under your nose.  The vending machine business is a multi-billion dollar industry and it’s only getting bigger.

Just think about it.  People are always on the go and strapped for time.  You may be out running errands and you get hungry or thirsty and need a little something to hold you over until dinner.  In the corner of your eye you spot a snack machine with your favorite corn chips.  Your stomach growls.  In a heartbeat you’re firing quarters into the machine as you lick your lips in anticipation.

This exact same scene plays itself out over and over again all around the world.  And all that loose change adds up for the vending machine’s owner who quietly laughs himself to the bank.

photo credit: David Gallagher

If you’re considering starting your own vending machine business the first thing you need to do is sit down and plan everything carefully.  You don’t want to jump in and start buying up machines before you even have a business plan.

Scout out at least 20-30 potential locations within a reasonable driving distance.  That may seem like a lot but keep in mind that not all of them will work out.  It’s better to keep your options open.  And remember you’ll have to make frequent trips to restock and cash out the machines.  You don’t want to waste all of your profits on gas driving from one location to another.

You’ll want to find high-traffic areas for your vending machines.  There’s no point installing a machine down a dead end or deserted alley that no one walks down.  Per unit profit margins are low in the vending machine business so you need high volume if you really want to make money.

Also keep an eye on the competition.  A location that already has one soda machine probably doesn’t need another one.  But a snack or gumball machine might be a perfect fit.

Buying a Vending Machine

Before you can start making money with a vending machine business you have to actually acquire a machine or two. Prices on new machines can vary from a couple hundred dollars for a small candy or gumball machine to several thousand for larger soda, snack, or coffee dispensing models.  But rather than pay full price for a brand new model you should consider purchasing an older one for a fraction of the cost.  Check out the classified section of your local newspaper to find a deal on a used vending machine.

photo credit: dolescum

Or even better, try Craigslist.  I ran a quick search for “vending machines” and there were dozens of used machines in my local area alone.  Prices were very reasonable and if you don’t mind haggling a bit you can really get a good deal.

The next step is to start contacting businesses in the locations you’ve scouted out.  This can be a bit challenging and you’ll need some people skills to work out a deal.  Most businesses will expect to receive a commission on the sales your vending machines generate so you’ll need to factor that in when calculating the prices you will charge.

For example, you may be planning to sell a bag of chips for only 50 cents.  But if you have to give up a commission of 10 percent you’ll need to increase your price to at least 55 cents to cover it.

Once you reach an agreement you’ll want to get your machine set up pronto.  The sooner it’s installed the sooner it will start making you money.  Visit each of your vending machines at least once every two weeks to refill it and collect money.

Tips for a Successful Vending Machine Business

Start small with just one or two machines.  Once you’re up and running you can use your profits to buy new machines and expand.  The last thing you need is a bunch of expensive vending machines sitting in your garage with nowhere to put them.

Expect vandalism and work it into your financial projections.  You can limit vandalism a bit by choosing high traffic locations in well lit areas but you can never truly eliminate it.

To learn more about running a successful vending machine business  download My Vending Secrets by Chris Robertson.  I haven’t read it myself, but Chris has been making money with vending machines for 11 years so he obviously knows what he talking about.

This post is part of an ongoing series of posts about making money.  To check out the rest of the series go to ways to make money.

And don’t forget to subscribe to my free RSS feed so you won’t miss future installments.

Did you know you can actually earn money by selling your photos online?  Its true.  Thousands of professional and amateur photographers are able to sell their pictures on the web every day.  And you don’t need any fancy equipment either.  A decent digital camera and an eye for getting a good shot is all you need.  One day your photo could be on a major website or on the cover of a magazine!

Not long ago if a publisher needed a photo they usually had to hire a freelancer to get the shot they needed.  This could get very expensive and they had to wait for the photographer to come back with a suitable shot.

But thanks to the internet publishers of all sizes can simply go online and get the photo they need in just a few minutes, and for a fraction of the cost.

This is great news for photographers! Even complete amateurs can sell their photos to stock photo websites and earn a commission each time a publishers uses them.  You won’t get rich from selling your photos online but you can earn a nice, semi-passive income.

Here are 10 websites that will pay you cash for your photos:

1. Photo Stock Plus

PhotoStockPlus is a well known site with an outstanding reputation among photographers.  They let you set your own prices and you keep 85% of all sales.  You can host your own private gallery on a professional subdomain plus you can categorize and tag your photos with keywords to make it easier for buyers to find them.  You can even apply for assignments that are posted by photo buyers looking for a particular image.  They accept virtually all photo submissions.

http://www.photostockplus.com/sell_stock.php

2.  Shutterpoint

Another well known site good for amateurs. Just upload your pictures, set your prices, and you’re ready to go.  Like PhotoStockPlus, you also get your own storefront on a professional subdomain and you earn 85% on each sale.  Plus you can earn commissions for referring new photographers or photo buyers.

http://www.shutterpoint.com/Sell-Photos.cfm

3.  Shutterfly

This site also gives you your own storefront to sell your pictures.  Plus you can sell non-digital prints, as well as mugs, mouse pads, magnets, playing cards, and other items with your photos on them.

http://www.shutterfly.com/selling_photos_online/professional_photography.jsp

4.  ShutterStock

There’s no membership fee for this one but you don’ have a storefront or domain, and you can’t set your own prices.  You get paid a flat 25 cents each time one of your photos is downloaded.  They also have strict guidelines as to what kind of photos they accept so you may have difficulty getting your pictures accepted.

http://submit.shutterstock.com

5.  iStockPhoto

Accepts photos,illustrations, logos, audio, video, and flash files.  Free to join, though you have to submit 3 samples to be considered for membership.  You keep a flat 20% of all earnings, ranging from about 30 cents for small photos to $20 for complex video files.

http://www.istockphoto.com/sell-stock-photos.php

6.   Fotolia

Free to join…earn 30% to 60% on each sale.  You are paid in the form of credits which can be used to purchase images or converted into cash payment via paypal.

http://us.fotolia.com/Info/Contributors

7. Stock Photo Spot

You can get paid twice at this site.  First you’ll earn between 10 cents to $2 for each picture you upload (I suspect most photos will fall closer to 10 cents than $2).  Then get paid another 20 cents each time someone downloads it.  There’s no limit to how many photos you can submit but they only want stock type photos.  Snapshots and tourist pictures are rarely accepted.  I suggest browsing their database to see what kind of photos they are looking for.

http://www.stockphotospot.com/photographer_signup.php

8.  Image Vortex

Free to join and you can set your own prices.  And the prices here are much higher than the cheapo $1 sites.   The average is about $15 to $30 per photo and you get to keep 70%.

https://www.imagevortex.com/members/register.htm?occupation=photographer

9.   Shutter Farm

You receive 50 cents per image credit sold.  But you get to decide how many credits each photo is worth, so in a way you do get to set your own prices.  The downside here is that they only pay quarterly.

http://www.shutterfarm.com//info/artistsinfo.php

10. Big Stock Photo

Earn between 50 cents and $3 for each photo downloaded.  This site has a neat feature called “Photos We Need” with examples of what they are looking for.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com/forphotographer.html

If selling pictures online isn’t quite for you, don’t worry.  Check out my list of ways to make money and find one that fits you better.