As a very established company with an expertise in the fine details of selling tradelines, we'd like to lay out a few tips that will make your work easier for you. From a decade of experience and data, here is some of the best advice we have to offer.

While it may seem basic, even the most experienced sellers return to the same faults - or - continue to have the same high-level of success over time. It all depends on how they manage themselves, their orders, and their cards.

Based upon both the good and the bad, we've created some simple tips that should serve all sellers - regardless of company, level of experience, or number of cards.

Always Remember What You're Doing And Why

Even though selling tradelines is an easy task with no overhead costs and no sales required doesn't mean you shouldn't treat it as work. There are often times when sellers fall into the traps of greed, laziness, or forgetfulness. This usually happens because the tasks required to sell are very simple and the seller assumes they can handle it quickly or potentially earn much more without being organized.

Even though being a cardholder who adds AUs for extra cash may be only one of your many side-hustles, it's also a legitimate business. You're being paid for each transaction. You're also responsible to do your part in relation to each transaction - as is the tradeline company and the individual buyer of your authorized user tradeline.

Here are some things that you can't forget if you want to be successful at selling tradelines:

  • Attention to detail is required. Regardless of what tradeline company you use as a brokerage for selling your cards, always follow their instructions carefully. If they're a good company, they will have resources ready for you. Those resources exist for a reason. Don't overlook them.
  • Never assume something unless you absolutely have to. If you're in doubt about adding a user, an order, or have an issue with your bank it's in your best interest to check your resources or contact customer service before proceeding. Remember, the company, the buyer, and your payment are relying on you to be accurate and confident.
  • Don't get greedy. This is a big one. Don't sell a card with multiple companies at once and don't oversell a card(s) with more slots than recommended. There are many steps, rules, and requirements that are set in place for a very good reason which you may not understand fully.
  • Keep yourself organized by keeping a spreadsheet of your cards which includes the information for each sale. A Microsoft excel workbook is great because you can make a spreadsheet for each card with your order numbers, sale dates, add & removal dates, payments received, and other notes to always have ready for easy reference and record-keeping. Use it religiously!
  • Always remember that each individual has a job to do here. The buyer must furnish accurate information so the card will post for them as an authorized user once you add them, the tradeline company must acquire and screen the buyer while listing your card for you, and you must accurately add and remove the buyer as directed. When all three parts work together, everyone wins. Your part as the seller is one of the easiest, however, all parties are equally important.
  • Make a habit of adding and removing the authorized users as soon as you've been instructed to do so. Never prematurely. When adding, you want to be as timely as possible. When removing, you never want to execute until the date you've been told.

The points listed above are some of the most basic and obvious parts of selling tradelines. They are the foundation and the fundamentals. There are also many more things to take into consideration to making your life easier, more productive, and more lucrative in this industry.

You Can Always Become Better, Stronger, and Wiser

Let's take into consideration those who have a larger number of cards, or who desire to keep selling for as long as possible. If this is you, you don't want to miss out on this information even if you already are aware of it. These snippets of info will help you stay online and stay on point.

The following will help you take your successes to the next level:

  • Know and understand the limitations of each card and accept them for what they are. Not all cards are created equal. Some can sell for years, continually adding and removing users with seemingly no issues and no end in sight. Other cards may have more limitations or be less desirable. Don't worry if your Discover or Barclays brings in more money than your Bank Of America or Capital One card. This business is about quality, consistency, and the fact that every dollar counts. While not all cards perform the same, they're all a piece of your portfolio. Treat them with equal respect, care, and importance regardless of how much or how little the actual return is. Your income as a tradeline seller should be viewed as a whole, not card by card.
  • Do your research and plan ahead. We have many resources within our blog posts, and many tips, tricks, and pieces of advice to offer. The more you understand about how the business works as a whole the better. The same can be said for your understanding of individual card-issuing banks. You'll get a feeling over time for what's easy and what's a bit more challenging. At the end of the day, none of it is very complicated. Keeping notes for each card issuer within your excel workbook will help you be a better seller. It will also help you optimize and strategize more clearly.
  • While speaking of optimization and strategy, again, the tradeline company is doing most of the work for you. They are bringing traffic to their inventory where your cards are hosted while ensuring you have safe authorized users to add. They have rules and strategy set in place that you probably shouldn't stray away from. That doesn't mean you can't develop your own strategies to make your work better, cleaner, more functional, or improve your level of accuracy on each sale. Also, strategy and optimization is not limited to the cards you have but considering what cards will suit you best moving forward and how to get them.
  • If your inventory is large, explore strategic options for consolidation of credit lines, credit limit increases, and a general concept of how these can play a very strong role in your growth over time. Don't mentally limit yourself to the cards or the situation you have. There is always something that can be done - even if minor - to make your income stronger and more secure. Embrace this capability.
  • Always remember that referring a friend pays off, especially when you help them understand that this is a long-run income source. Help them out a bit so they too can become successful. Don't try and make referrals to reap the reward of a commission, do it because you have knowledge to share. It makes you more authoritative as a seller, boosts your confidence, and also helps you answer the tough questions that too often become barriers for many sellers. If you don't know much except that you add users and make money from it, you're not going to be convincing any of your friends to follow your lead. Go for bigger targets who hold stronger cards (or more cards). Show them your earnings. Show them your dashboard. Let them know that this is very real and very legitimate income for you and they too should consider it. Everyone likes making money, especially when it takes such a small amount of their actual time.
  • If and when you make an error, whatever it may be - analyze. Learn from the error and find a way to prevent it from happening again. If you lose a card, if you have a problem with your tradeline company, if a buyer provided incorrect information, understand that this is part of the game. Their is not a single business on this planet that comes without risk, or without occassional minor losses. These are often your biggest opportunities to strengthen your traits and habits as a seller. Don't let a bump in the road ruin your day. You've dealt with worse. We all have!.
  • Never forget that the reason you're in the position to be selling tradelines is because of your responsible credit decisions. If you didn't have cards with a great payment history, you wouldn't be getting paid for them and they wouldn't be of any use to other people who want to be added to them. Take pride in that, even if it doesn't seem like a big deal.
  • About the point above - it's a nice feeling to know you're responsible for your achievements no matter how small or large they are. As a tradeline seller, you're getting paid for something you probably never would have imagined when signing up for your first few credit cards. Be grateful that you're one of the people who has been a responsible user of credit, and also willing to push that factor to the limit where it works on your behalf to create an extra income stream.

If You Are Already A Seller, You've Got What It Takes So Stick With It

People from all types of backgrounds and age groups have been proven time and time again that selling tradelines is not rocket science. It's not like speed-skating, or painting life-like portraits. It doesn't require a specific skill. Anyone can do it, and all who do it can improve at their own pace and level of comfort.

What's our best overall tip for anyone selling tradelines? Stay focused on the long-run rather than the quick win. That single sentence alone can enhance your life in may ways, far beyond the subject of selling tradelines.