| As if you haven't already heard, millions upon millions of | | | | of supply and demand. For more information, be sure |
| people of people buy and sell on eBay every single | | | | to check out eBay by going to the site below! |
| day. Some only make a few sales here and there. | | | | SECRET STRATEGY #9 - "BULK LIST" YOUR |
| Others have figured out what it takes to become | | | | AUCTIONS |
| "Powersellers." Powersellers are the very small | | | | Once you decide on which products you want to sell |
| minority of eBay sellers that do at least $2,000 per | | | | large quantities of, it's best to bulk list them with auction |
| month in sales on eBay and maintain a 99% positive | | | | management software. Auction management |
| feedback rating. Powersellers are the ones that really | | | | software makes it extremely easily to list your |
| know what they're doing and if you really want to be | | | | auctions at the right time so that you make the most |
| successful on eBay then follow the secrets they | | | | money. They also make it simple to copy listings, make |
| revealed to me. | | | | changes and manage everything including payments |
| So, what are the secrets, tips and tricks that will cause | | | | and feedback. They are an incredible timesaver and |
| you to become a Powerseller as well? | | | | extraordinary powerful because they allow you to list |
| Well, I'll be completely honest with you... I may be well | | | | your auctions at your leisure and schedule them to be |
| on my way but I'm not a Powerseller yet. However, | | | | posted on the day and at the time of your choice. Of |
| one thing that I know from creating several successful | | | | course, the professional versions of these programs |
| businesses is that if you want to become the best at | | | | cost money but almost all of them have free versions |
| something, you need to copy those that are already | | | | that you should start with. |
| successful, ask them to mentor you and ask questions | | | | Andale: |
| and take notes. And now I am going to take what | | | | Blackthorne: |
| they taught me and pass it on to you. | | | | Mpire: |
| This is part two of a four part article series. You will | | | | SECRET STRATEGY #10 - KNOW HOW YOUR |
| find links to the other parts of this article series at the | | | | BUYERS WILL FIND YOU! |
| end of this article. | | | | Every Powerseller I interviewed said that this is the |
| SECRET STRATEGY #6 - TAKE THE HENRY | | | | most critical aspect of any auction listing. Why? |
| FORD APPROACH | | | | Because the buyer must first be able to even come |
| Every single Powerseller that I spoke with had a | | | | across your listing. Powersellers use titles with |
| systematic approach to dealing with everything from | | | | keywords and no fat. Many sellers don't understand |
| posting listings to packaging and shipping items. For | | | | that while it is important for the title to be catchy, it is |
| example, with regards to packaging and shipping, more | | | | more important to be seen in the first place. |
| than a few Powersellers told me that have their | | | | How do you get seen? Well, 93% of all eBay |
| computer set up on the far left of a workbench, then | | | | purchases begin with the buyer searching for a |
| down the line to the right was a printer, then their | | | | particular keyword in the title and the more specific |
| products and then packing materials. They simply work | | | | you can be the better. For example, the most |
| their way down the line from left to right. The same | | | | searched keyword on eBay as of this writing is |
| thing goes with orders. Personally, most of the | | | | "Xbox" and the second is "Xbox 360". So if you are |
| products that I sell are informational so I have my | | | | selling an Xbox 360 then include "Xbox 360" in the title. |
| customers place an order and my autoresponder | | | | This way, everyone that searches for "Xbox" or |
| automatically sends them their product. Takes me | | | | "Xbox 360" will find your listing. If you only had "Xbox" |
| nothing to do this. Basically, you want to set up a | | | | in your title, then people searching for "Xbox 360" |
| system that does not change and which you could | | | | would not even find your listing. |
| practically do in your sleep. | | | | Furthermore, include as many valid keywords in the |
| SECRET STRATEGY #7 - USE THE RIGHT | | | | title as you can like "Brand New Xbox 360 Premium |
| PHOTOS | | | | Sports Package Video Game System". Use words |
| One of the things that I love to do on eBay is search | | | | that sell like "rare," "antique," "popular," and "free" but |
| for things that I know that I want to buy for myself. | | | | use them sparingly. It is more important to have |
| However, what I do is that I look for the auction listings | | | | keywords in your listing. And resist the temptation to |
| where the seller doesn't really know what they are | | | | use words like "L@@K", "WOW" and "MUST SEE" |
| doing. A lot of sellers use the bad photos and post | | | | because they waste valuable title space. Instead, be |
| them in their listings. A bad photo can cost you bidders. | | | | "search engine savvy" and realize that keywords in |
| Few bidders = less money. So, make sure that your | | | | the headline are found by the eBay search engine. As |
| photos look good and effectively represent your | | | | of this writing, over 59,000 listings included "L@@K" in |
| product and ask yourself if the photo would make you | | | | their titles and, while I didn't check them all, those that I |
| want to buy the product. If you don't know anything | | | | did check were selling for about 10% less than their |
| about taking photos, ask a family member of friend to | | | | competition. |
| help you out. | | | | SECRET STRATEGY #11 - WRITE DETAILED AND |
| Also, check out your competition and see how the | | | | ACCURATE "SALES PAGES" FOR YOUR |
| sellers with the highest bids take their photos. Many | | | | DESCRIPTION |
| Powersellers that I spoke to said that the best | | | | Let me ask you a question. Without reading a |
| backdrop that they use for their photos is a light blue | | | | description and the items being identical, would you buy |
| backdrop because it catches the buyer's attention as | | | | the item with the longer description or the shorter |
| they are browsing eBay without being distracting or | | | | description? Of course you're going to buy the one |
| repulsive. And be sure that the photo is well cropped. | | | | with the longer description because sellers that go into |
| This is one of the biggest mistakes that sellers make | | | | more detail are believed to be more honest. Therefore, |
| for two reasons: 1) the buyer cannot easily see the | | | | you want to make sure that you give a detailed and |
| product when they're browsing because the photo is | | | | accurate description that answers just about every |
| all "dead space" and 2) larger photos (large file size) | | | | conceivable question that a buyer could ask. Also, be |
| take much longer to download. This is why it's critical | | | | sure to ask yourself (or better yet, ask someone else) |
| to use an image optimizer, use as few photos as | | | | whether you would bid on the item after reading the |
| possible and make them as small as possible while still | | | | description. |
| forwarding your listing. Remember that most Internet | | | | It's also critically important to have a description that |
| users still use slow connections (although you should | | | | acts more as a sales page when you have a product |
| not worry about this if you are selling items to buyers | | | | that people might not specifically be looking for. When |
| that you are relatively sure have fast Internet | | | | a person is looking for a particular product like a video |
| connections like high-tech computer items or plasma | | | | game then they will generally enter the particular video |
| screen TVs.) | | | | game into the search engine such as "Madden |
| SECRET STRATEGY #8 - DON'T SELL AN ITEM | | | | football". For these items, you don't really have to "sell" |
| JUST ONCE, SELL IT A THOUSAND TIMES | | | | the product because people already want it. In this |
| It takes just as much time to post a listing for one item | | | | case, you simply have to describe the product... "for |
| as it does to post a listing for 10,000 items. In fact, it | | | | Sony Playstation" and "brand new". |
| takes much less time. For example, you could go to an | | | | For other products, you have to be more descriptive |
| auction and find one item to sell or you could take the | | | | such as "beautiful Icelandic helmet" and for |
| same amount of time to find a product that you could | | | | informational products such as books and programs, |
| sell a thousand times. A few years ago, I made really | | | | you need to create more of a sales page as the |
| good money on eBay selling sporting tickets but they | | | | buyer might only be looking for "how to make money |
| were a pain is the ass to post. Date. Location. Section | | | | on eBay". In this case, you need to sell the person on |
| number. Row number. Hell, some people even asked | | | | the benefits of your product over your competition. If |
| for seat numbers. It was ridiculous! Dutch auctions are | | | | writing sales letters intimidates you, I suggest that you |
| the perfect solution to this problem because eBay will | | | | buy a book or creating sales letters or hire a |
| allow you to sell up to 10,000 items per auction listing | | | | copywriter. Personally, I use a wonderful program the |
| (this also works for Fixed Price listings). | | | | Marlon Sanders created called Push Button Sales |
| Dutch auctions also help with your "assembly line." | | | | Letters. This program takes you step by step through |
| Think about it. Is it easier to package 100 items that are | | | | creating powerful sales letters in no time. Check it out! |
| exactly the same size and weight or 100 items that | | | | Marlon Sanders Push Button Sales Letters: |
| are all different sizes and weights? Now, you might be | | | | Finally, always have a "call to action". A "call to action" |
| thinking "We'll then, all of my auctions are going to be | | | | is a simple statement in the auction telling the buyer |
| Dutch auctions!" Not so fast! There are drawbacks to | | | | what you actually want them to do like "place a bid |
| Dutch auctions. First, eBay listings fees are calculated | | | | now!" You might be thinking that the buyer already |
| as the sum total of all the items be sold in the listing. | | | | knows what to do and that's true. But just because |
| For example, let say that you are selling 1,000 $1 items. | | | | someone knows what to do doesn't mean that they |
| Then eBay will say that your listing has a $1,000 value | | | | will do it. People in the United States now know more |
| and the original listing fee will reflect this value even if | | | | than ever that they should eat healthy but obesity is at |
| you only sell one item (although they only charge up to | | | | an all-time high. Having a simple "call to action" can |
| $4.20 per listing so there is not a ton of risk.) | | | | increase bids by 40% or more. |
| Even more importantly though, in Dutch auctions, the | | | | Well, that's it! Armed with these secret eBay |
| final sales price is determined by the bid of the lowest | | | | strategies, you too should be well on your way to |
| winning bidder. For example, let's say that you have | | | | making a very substantial income on eBay. However, |
| ten items with winning bidders. The highest bidder bids | | | | should you wish to obtain even more information about |
| $50 and the lowest bidder only bids $25. In this case, | | | | how to make money on eBay and the rest of the |
| every winning bidder will receive the item for $25. So, | | | | Internet, please visit our eBay store for some fabulous |
| as you can see, you need to be very careful when | | | | informational products. |
| using Dutch auctions as you need to know the balance | | | | |