Have You Got eBay PowerSeller Potential? by Darren Yates
What exactly is a PowerSeller?
PowerSellers are the eBay members that have made it, you can recognize them by the ‘PowerSeller’ badge next to their name. You’ve probably seen these people across eBay as you go about your usual business – to succeed on eBay, you need to think the way they do.
How do you get Awarded PowerSeller Status? eBay decides who can be a PowerSeller and who can’t, and they have strict rules. To get in at the minimum PowerSeller level, you must have a feedback rating of at least 100 (minimum 98% positive) and sell at least $1,000 worth of items every month for three months in a row.
There are different levels of PowerSeller membership as you sell items of greater value:
$1,000 is bronze
$3,000 is silver
$10,000 is gold
$25,000 is platinum
$125,000 is titanium
If PowerSellers ever fail to meet the required amount of sales, or their feedback falls below 98% positive, then they lose their PowerSeller status. Essentially the only eBay users that get to be PowerSellers on eBay are the users that have been successful for a while and are on track to stay successful.
The Marketplace and the Shop.
This is the most important part of understanding how PowerSellers think. They don’t see what they’re doing as being some random bazaar, or a hobby – instead, they see themselves as a business.
For example, if you run a stall in a marketplace, the chances are that you have a general area of business, but you mostly just sell whatever you can get your hands on that week. If your dodgy buddy got his hands on a job lot of something at a discount, then that’s what you’ll be selling. This might be fun – and when you have a good week, you’ll have a really good week – but it’s no way to run a real business in the long-term.
PowerSellers think far more like shops. They sell the same things again and again, every week – regular stock for regular customers. They do ‘boring’ business things like keep inventories and budgets. They know what they’re going to be selling, how much they buy it for and how much they expect to sell for. Just like a real shop, there can be hard times sometimes, but their income is stable and their business can grow slowly.
The best advice I can give you on thinking like a PowerSeller is this: don’t take long-term risks for short-term gain. Look after your reputation, manage your selling properly, provide good customer service and the rewards will come to you in due course. And you’ll get a little badge next to your name that makes people trust you more!
One option that you may of missed is - What can eBay do for any other businesses you have. Millions of people visit eBay every day – why keep everything separate when you’re starting to tap into that kind of power?
In fact $14 out of every $100 spent online is spent at eBay!
Darren Yates has learned of a guy, Brandon Dupsky, that makes $22,000 a DAY! on eBay selling everyday stuff. Do you think you could too? -
http://www.how-to-make-money-online.inf/eBay-millionaire/ Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com
Blogging for the Niche Marketer by Paul Duxbury
The whole concept of Blogging first appeared in the 1990’s when it emerged as a way to make comment on a webpage. It was an opportunity for visitors to make their opinions known. For something which started as a way to make one or two comments on a webpage it has evolved into something which enables people to talk about their own views and experiences at great length.
Understandably internet marketers and others have seen the potential in this new online environment and they have tapped into the blog’s potential.
So how can you easily make use of “blogging” as an Internet marketing tool.
1.First and foremost blogging is easy! The easiest way to get your thoughts or information onto the internet is through blogging. No particular skills are necessary beyond the ability to type and construct an intelligible posting. It’s like having a virtual notepad on which you can write your ideas, experiences, new products, and encourage your readers to take up your offers and your products.
2. Blogging is Real. Nowadays advertising pervades so many different aspects of our lives to such an extent that we filter much of it out. However, in blogs, we perceive that real people are sharing their real-life experiences, without being tainted by paid advertising. It feels as if reading blogs about products is like talking to people about their first-hand experience. Many of us want to buy a tried and tested product with real testimonials.
3. Blogging is free. Because blogging is yet to be proven as a mainstream online advertising media, most sites see it as something to augment current marketing tools and thus offer it for free. Any opportunity for free webspace is definitely a bonus especially to businesses that are starting up.
4. Blogging can build credibility. As you get more and more comfortable with writing about your particular products or niche, your readers come to recognise that they can depend on your posts. As this starts to happen they are more likely to start to take up your recommendations. As such, you start to be perceived as an expert on your niche and as a consequence, your blog gets more visitors and other bloggers may start linking to your blogs.
5. Blogging can help to build your market. You might like to consider some of the following ways to build your market through blogging:
By using subscription.
A relatively easy way to get your readers e-mail is to encourage them to subscribe to your blog. Keep some exclusive information for your subscribers to entice readers to subscribe and give you their e-mail address. Ensure that you treat their email address in a responsible manner in using it, because the last thing you want is a comment on your blog that you are a spammer.
Get to understand your visitors.
Conduct a simple survey for your visitors to understand their profile and advertising preferences. Ask them to give you feedback on a post, a link, or a trial that you shared. In this way, it is like interviewing your readers without the commitment and intrusion of a face-to-face interview.
Joining blog networks
XA network of blogs maybe a collection of blog sites that share the same niche, interest, readership base etc. Visitors find credibility and convenience in clicking one link to several real bloggers about a subject.
By using RSS.
RSS is the fastest growing technology on the Internet today. As such, having RSS feeds to your blog is definitely another means of generating awareness for your readership base. Having a variety of feeds can add interest to your blog site.
Give your business a boost by effectively using blogging as an Internet marketing tool.
Paul Duxbury is a successful online marketer who has recently launched
http://www.web-success.co.uk the first port of call to those new to Internet Marketing. In 2006 he will launch the
http://www.informembership.com Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com
Google vs eBay, or Google vs YahooBay? by Sramana Mitra
The media is full of stories and analysis on Google’s announcement of GoogleBase, a user-database, that predict thet Google is taking sure steps towards eBay’s turf.
eBay is slowly and surely falling prey to its supremely powerful, but easy to copy and rather narrow core business model of facilitating B:C and C:C e-commerce. Needless to say, Google’s entry into their turf will be a big blow. Google will, no doubt, hit eBay where there is a low-hanging fruit waiting to be picked: eBay’s sordid user interface. In the 10 years of its existence, eBay has not bothered to address this glaring weakness. Google does clean User Experiences very well, and my bet would be that they will cream eBay on this topic. Also interesting is their introduction of a user-generated database, which will enable applications such as Yahoo! Stores easily, too. Potent combination.
I said once before, that Yahoo should acquire eBay. eBay’s market cap is $52 Billion, whereas Yahoo’s is $50 Billion. It would roughly be a merger of equals, but I believe Yahoo’s future is far more promising than eBay’s. Hence, judging by futures, Yahoo ought to acquire eBay.
Product Search and Search Engine Marketing are key areas that, as industries, need to reside together. Amazon realized it, and launched A9, their very own search engine. However, Search is a competitive business, and an overnight search giant will not be created at this stage of the game. I don’t recommend, therefore, that eBay also follows suit.
However, at least 5 different properties that Yahoo has could tremendously leverage eBay: Small Business, Stores, Search, Shopping, and Overture. Finally, as Yahoo unfolds its content and personalization strategies, there will be a tremendous further opportunity to build value on top of their existing framework.
Not the least, but last, Meg Whitman has indicated that she wants out. Terry Semel, however, is dedicated and focused.
Then?
Silicon Valley Entrepreneur and Strategy Consultant Sramana Mitra writes about Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy, Emerging Technology, Market Moves, and sundry other topics in her Blog "Sramana Mitra on Strategy". Read more of her writings at
http://www.sramanamitra.com.
Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com
The rules of linking from your Ebay auctions by Jason James
Because ebay is such a busy place of merchandise sales with many various ebay stores and markets selling thousands of items, there must be a few rules that are set in place to insure that everyone is playing fair. Ebay auctions are a gift for us to make easy money without having the overhead or the stress of running other types of businesses so it is ideal that we all adhere to their policies.
Very few other issues will get ebay sellers arguing about the rules no more than the rules on linking to and from your ebay auctions. Ebay has some very firm rules when it comes to liking and it would be wise of you to follow them to insure that your ebay auctions stay online and profitable.
Below are the following links that you may use in your ebay auction description:
1. On your ebay auction, you may have one link to an additional web page for information. This web page is to be used exclusively for further information about whatever ebay item that you are selling from you ebay auction.
2. Your ebay auction may have links to more photo images of the merchandise that you are selling on ebay.
3. If you want your customer to click on a link from your ebay auction that opens up to separate window to send you an email, then that is ok. In fact this little ebay auction email window may increase inquiries of your ebay selling item.
4. Ebay auction links that connects to your other ebay auctions or any of your other ebay auctions stores is also permissible.
5. You may have one link that links to your ebay About Me page. This is in addition to the link next to your user ID that ebay provides for your ebay auction.
6. Ebay authorizes you to have links to your vendors' websites that help you with your auctions. Ebay considers any type of listing services, payment providers, and software programs to be 3rd party vendors.
In addition to the above Ebay linking rules that are authorized for your Ebay auctions there are also links that are not allowed with ebay.
1. You cannot have any links that link to other websites that offers to sell, trade, or purchase merchandise outside of Ebay. This should be obvious but many new sellers to Ebay auctions break this rule.
2. Links to any other websites that encourages ebay bidders to place their bids outside of ebay are not authorized in your ebay auctions
3. Your ebay auction cannot have links that link to outside websites that offers to sell merchandise that is considered illegal at ebay. 4. Links that connect to websites that solicit ebay user Ids and passwords is also unauthorized to have within your ebay auction.
When it comes to linking from your About Me page the ebay rules are pretty much the same overall with your ebay auction. Because ebay gives you this page to self promote your business, then linking to your website from it is allowed.
On the other hand, you need to be sure that the link does connect to other trading sites or to website businesses that sell the same product or merchandise at the same price or lower price than what is advertised on ebay.
Jason James website 'The Auction Resource Network' reveals his inside secrets and sources that help him pocket over $10,000 a month on eBay.
Claim your FREE 'Top 10 eBay Selling Secrets' eBook:
http://www.auctionresourcenetwork.com
Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com
Make Money Online with RSS Data Transfer by Peter Tarrida del Marmol
Copyright 2005 Peter Tarrida del Marmol
RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site
Summary. It also has been referred to as a "pull" technology rather than a "push" technology. And, in fact, this feature is what makes RSS so popular in terms of today's Internet usage.
It's probably hard to argue that anyone who uses the Internet today hasn't heard of spam. If they have an email inbox it is probably full of it.
Spam, for the uninitiated, is the receipt of unwanted emails from people whom you did not request to receive information. Spam represents the "push" technology. That is, people "push" their email message at your inbox, whether you have asked to receive the email or not.
And that aspect of "push" technology is what many have come to believe is the death of email. It's arguable that email will still be around for quite a long time, even though there are still people who continue the illegal spam process. In fact, companies are making millions now just providing everyday users as well as huge corporations, solutions claiming to solve their spam problem.
RSS, on the other hand, can be said to be the exact opposite of the email "push" technology. Because you cannot "push" your message to subscribers. In fact, the only way that people can subscribe to an RSS feed is to do so voluntarily. And, at the same time, they can unsubscribe whenever they want.
That's why it's called a "pull" technology. Because subscribers "pull" information into their readers and, if the content isn't what they expect, they can unsubscribe whenever they'd like. So, unlike the email "push" technology, there is no one using RSS that is experiencing an inbox full of spam. All they have to do is to unsubscribe and they will never receive another message from the person who provided the feed.
RSS has become a popular way to make money on line too. And that is due in part to the popularity of the RSS "pull" technology. Here's one way of monetizing a website using RSS feeds.
Imagine setting up a static one page web site - a minisite if you will. Now, add either Google Adsense code or the new Yahoo version of the Google Adsense style ads that, when clicked by a visitor - you earn cash.
This gives you a nice starting point and, if you optimize your web page properly, there is a good chance you will get a high ranking in the search engines. And, the more people who see your page, the more likelihood they will click on one of the links on your web page and you'll earn revenue from the click.
But RSS provides an even greater potential. Because by adding an RSS feed to that same web page, you turn a static web page that only contains the information you placed on it, into a dynamic ever changing web page that others will likely come back more than once to read.
After all, once someone has read a one page web site, what incentive is there for them to come back? Plenty, if you use RSS feeds on your web page. It is possible to add 5, 10 or 15 feeds on your once static web page and now, you've got a page that automatically updates itself and provides something that people will want to come back to read time and time again.
You can easily convert any web page into a dynamic web page using free RSS creator software. One of the most popular free versions is called Carp and you can download it at this web link: http://www.geckotribe.com/rss/carp/.
Once you've set this program up on your website and added the proper code to your website, then you will need to collect RSS feeds that relate to the topic of your web page.
Let's say that the topic of your web page is flower gardens. You could go to Google News and get their RSS feed code, place it into the appropriate position in your Carp coding you put on your web page and then adjust the code as follows: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=flower+gardens&ie=UTF-8&output=rss
You can also get a similar feed from Topix.net and you'd adjust the code like this: http://rss.topix.net/search/?q=flower+gardens&xml=1
Now, once you have uploaded your web page, your site will automatically pull in fresh information from Google and Topix about flower gardens. Simply follow this illustration for any web page you'd like to monetize and watch your search engine ranking soar and also your bank account!
About the Author
Peter Tarrida del Mármol is a spanish internet marketer. To learn more about making money online go to: http://www.auctionearnings.com
FC + RSS = SEO by Larry Westfall
No, this is not the new math. It is the formula for getting your web site recognized by the search engine spider.
The formula is Fresh Content + Really Simple Syndication = Search Engine Optimization. This is an easy way to get the search engine spiders to come and visit your site on a regular basis, see that "updates" have been made, and get you ranked higher in the directories.
It isn't that difficult to write a 300 - 500 word article about your favorite subject matter. What works for me is to set aside a couple of hours a week and knock out 5 - 7 articles at one time to use during the upcoming week. The articles are all different but are similar, so writing them in one sitting is a bit easier. Writing your own content is still the best method but article submission sites can help you out when you have "writer's block".
Getting fresh content can be easy with the many article submission sites available on the Internet. All you have to do is search for articles related to your site, copy them and add them to your site. Ensure that you credit the author by leaving the resource box, along with a live link, intact. You can grab many articles at one sitting and save them for later updates. Add some content to your site on a regular basis - preferably daily. You will be amazed at how quick your new site gets indexed and happy with the rankings of your current site as it goes higher and higher.
RSS is an XML formatted style for syndicating content. Users that have RSS readers can then pick up your content and read it at their leisure. Your content will then be all over the Internet giving you maximum exposure.
One additional tip is to add a news aggregator to your site. This will put current news headlines and snippets of the articles on your site. Again, this adds fresh content, making the search engine spiders happy.
So, a few simple adjustments to your web site can bring more visitors, happy spiders and fame and fortune to the authors of the original articles.
About the Author
Larry Westfall is the owner of http://www.keyword-article.com
Ebay - The Power Of Words by Jay Bauder
It is a known fact that a business could never be successful without the aid of advertising. In fact, it is considered as the lifeblood of almost all kinds of businesses. That's why sellers and entrepreneur wannabes on eBay understand the impact of an effective advertising technique on their items listing.
Basically, the sale of an item on eBay is dependent on the so-called eBay keyword program. This program asserts the fact that the probability of an item to be sold is based on the keyword used by the seller.
The eBay keyword program suggests that the maximum number of keywords to be used in an eBay ad is 100, the least is 50. This is because the essence of the description of the product or the ability of the ad to promote the item against a thousand similar items is lessened.
This does not necessarily mean that the sellers will also limit the amount of keywords that they will use. The eBay keyword program further suggests that the number of keywords should be congruent to the identity of the product. That is, it should be very specific even down to the last details of the product.
For example, one seller may make his or her descriptive title and ad using the word "mobile phones". Then, another seller posts the same item but used the words "Sony Ericsson mobile phones". And lastly, another seller does the same but used the words "Sony Ericsson k700i". Applying the keyword principle, the third seller will most likely gain more exposure than the other two, such that when a person search for a Sony Ericsson k700i, that person will most likely be lead to the third seller's listing.
Choosing the best category for the product is another effective advertising technique.
There are those online shoppers who search items on the category first. The reason behind this is that they don't have any specific product in mind. For example, a buyer may be looking for a mobile phone but doesn't know what brand to have. So, it's a must that the seller places his or her item in a category that is active or is frequented by most buyers.
But the most important advertising technique of all when selling an item on eBay is to create a sales pitch that comes from the heart. Clich? As it may seem but, in reality, it is the basic concept of selling. A good seller believes in the product that he or she is selling, other wise, he will have a hard time convincing people if he personally doesn't accept it as true.
About the Author
Jay is the web owner of http://www.the-lowest-prices.com Online Shoppping, a website that provides information and resources on online shopping malls and discounts. You can visit his website at: Online Deals
Ebay Shipping - 10 Tips To Start Right by Mason Hipp
There are about as many different ways to ship ebay items as there are ebay sellers. That being said, there are many eBay sellers who don't ship using the correct packaging or the least expensive service. These 10 tips are written to help sellers get started shipping their ebay items correctly.
1) Always Pack the Item Properly The biggest mistake you can make when shipping an item is to go lightly on the packaging and send an unprotected item. Buyers will instantly leave negative feedback if the item arrives damaged due to bad padding. Make sure you look into the proper packaging for the item you are shipping - a book is different then a china doll, and both require proper materials.
2) Never Pay For Packing Materials Right behind improper packing is over paying for shipping materials. There are far too many sources of free boxes and free padding to need to buy them. I have been a powerseller on ebay for 4 years and not once have I paid for packing materials. EBay and USPS offer free boxes, UPS offers free shipping labels. Local retailers will generally have old boxes lying around also - this is perfect for those large items.
3) Ship Promptly After the Auction Closes So you've just spent $400 on the newest game console - purchased it from an eBay Seller. Do you want to wait a week just for the seller to ship the item? Neither do your customers. Always ship the item as soon as possible after the auction is closed.
4) Box the Product Before the eBay auction is Over It is a good habit to get into packaging your items before the auction is finished. This makes it exceedingly easy to ship within a day of the buyer paying. Shipping quickly will grab good feedback more than anything else.
5) Use UPS Ground Shipping for Large Items It is generally the best to use UPS ground for anything that weighs more than 10lbs. It is very inexpensive to ship large items with UPS. Though slower than USPS, it is far more cost effective on larger freight.
6) Use USPS Priority Mail for Sending Small Items Anything less than 10lbs is best shipped with priority mail. Priority mail is very fast, and very inexpensive for small things. Shipping with priority mail is also very good for your buyer, as it will get them their item quickly and effectively.
7) USPS Media mail is Best for Shipping Media Items If you are shipping a book, cd, dvd, or any other item that fits in the media category - it is probably best to ship with media mail. This is a very cheap service, and is great for the items it is meant for. If your item is expensive, however, it may be better to use priority mail to please your buyer.
8) Include a Thank You Note in Each Package This is one of the most overlooked methods of creating return customers. You need to ship the package anyhow, why not attempt to get another eBay purchase out of each customer? Almost all of the big players on eBay use this tactic.
9) Use Paypal to Print Shipping Labels Printing eBay shipping labels from Paypal is one of the easiest and most time saving features available to new sellers. Larger eBay sellers might want to look into further automation, but for everything under 50 packages per week - electronic labels from Paypal are the way to go.
10) eBay Shipping Takes Getting Used To - Don't Quit Not everyone gets into a rhythm immediately. Shipping on eBay can be a trying task - but keep going and you'll soon be rewarded with happy customers and efficient practices. It is important to learn and rethink and establish you're own personal best practices. With time, anyone can ship like a PowerSeller.
About the Author
Mason Hipp has been an eBay Powerseller for over 5 years. During the last two years he has dedicated most of his time to
helping people learn to sell on ebay. More information can be found at his website.
Click here to learn more about eBay Shipping.
