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Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
9 Tips for Small Business Success on eBay/ Trademe
This article came from Mashable
But so many of the ideas and concets apply to selling on trademe as well
1. Don’t Just Sell – Educate
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Stand out from competitors by becoming a resource — and not just a retailer. Create an email newsletter, blog post or Facebook Fan Page targeting your customers and fellow enthusiasts.
Provide useful information and resources to people engaging in [your chosen field] as a job or a hobby.
Matt Mickiewicz, 99designs
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2. Positive Reviews!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To succeed on eBay, focus on getting as many positive reviews as possible because that’s what brings the new customers’ confidence in your product as well as in you as a seller.
Personally reach out to each one of your [customers] and ask for a review. Another thing you should do is help [to make] the buying decision easier with good pics, well-written descriptions and detailed shipping and payment options.
Devesh Dwivedi, BreakingThe9to5Jail.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Service Can Always Add to Your Unique Value Proposition
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If competitors are selling the same or very similar products, focus on what can differentiate yourself: service. One of the greatest complaints people have about purchasing things online (especially eBay) is ambiguity and difficulty [making] contact.
Make yourself accessible and your company personal. Add a unique “voice” to your copy to create more rapport and get back to people quickly.
Kent Healy, The Uncommon Life
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Tell Great Stories to Differentiate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I believe the saying goes, “Your customers don’t want a drill, they want to hang something on the wall.” There’s nothing all that interesting about an auto part, but a father/son fixing up an old vehicle together, or a grandpa restoring an old truck before his granddaughter turns 16 is compelling.
Stories resonate. Appeal to the feelings people will get from the experience, not the part itself.
Ryan Stephens, Ryan Stephens Marketing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Branch Out All Over
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would recommend that you branch out to other ecommerce platforms in order to expand your business. Don’t just list your products on eBay, post other ones on Craigslist, Amazon and, when the time is right, create your own site.
Make sure when you’re posting to put in your utmost effort. If your listing looks genuine, has high-quality pictures and all the information, buyers will pay more.
Benjamin Lang, EpicLaunch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Show Your Expertise With Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share videos about the products you sell and tips that you can offer to potential buyers. People like to know who they’re buying from, especially with online stores.
It also gives you a chance to share your knowledge and build trust at the same time.
Ashley Bodi, Business Beware
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Stand Out from the Crowd
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you know the product you are selling well and have a good customer base already, try creating some YouTube testimonials and learning videos about the item you are selling.
Be the “expert,” not just another store front.
Jerry Piscitelli, Portopong LLC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. More Info Creates Trust
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The scary part about buying online is that you never know exactly what you are getting. Give more information about the product than they’d be able to get anywhere else.
Provide transparent reviews, more pictures, 360-degree tours, technical information and all the info they’d ever want to know before making a purchase. Being this type of resource will make your retailer a trusted source online.
Matt Wilson, Under30CEO.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Instead of Customers Coming to You, Go to Them
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By monitoring relevant keywords and setting up alerts through platforms like Hootsuite, Google Alerts and SocialMention, you can find potential customers who have a need for the products you are selling. By monitoring who is talking about restoring cars, you have the opportunity to add to the conversation, direct them to your store and hopefully make a sale.
Natalie MacNeil, Imaginarius
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But so many of the ideas and concets apply to selling on trademe as well
1. Don’t Just Sell – Educate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stand out from competitors by becoming a resource — and not just a retailer. Create an email newsletter, blog post or Facebook Fan Page targeting your customers and fellow enthusiasts.
Provide useful information and resources to people engaging in [your chosen field] as a job or a hobby.
Matt Mickiewicz, 99designs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Positive Reviews!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To succeed on eBay, focus on getting as many positive reviews as possible because that’s what brings the new customers’ confidence in your product as well as in you as a seller.
Personally reach out to each one of your [customers] and ask for a review. Another thing you should do is help [to make] the buying decision easier with good pics, well-written descriptions and detailed shipping and payment options.
Devesh Dwivedi, BreakingThe9to5Jail.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Service Can Always Add to Your Unique Value Proposition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If competitors are selling the same or very similar products, focus on what can differentiate yourself: service. One of the greatest complaints people have about purchasing things online (especially eBay) is ambiguity and difficulty [making] contact.
Make yourself accessible and your company personal. Add a unique “voice” to your copy to create more rapport and get back to people quickly.
Kent Healy, The Uncommon Life
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Tell Great Stories to Differentiate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I believe the saying goes, “Your customers don’t want a drill, they want to hang something on the wall.” There’s nothing all that interesting about an auto part, but a father/son fixing up an old vehicle together, or a grandpa restoring an old truck before his granddaughter turns 16 is compelling.
Stories resonate. Appeal to the feelings people will get from the experience, not the part itself.
Ryan Stephens, Ryan Stephens Marketing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Branch Out All Over
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would recommend that you branch out to other ecommerce platforms in order to expand your business. Don’t just list your products on eBay, post other ones on Craigslist, Amazon and, when the time is right, create your own site.
Make sure when you’re posting to put in your utmost effort. If your listing looks genuine, has high-quality pictures and all the information, buyers will pay more.
Benjamin Lang, EpicLaunch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Show Your Expertise With Video
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share videos about the products you sell and tips that you can offer to potential buyers. People like to know who they’re buying from, especially with online stores.
It also gives you a chance to share your knowledge and build trust at the same time.
Ashley Bodi, Business Beware
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Stand Out from the Crowd
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you know the product you are selling well and have a good customer base already, try creating some YouTube testimonials and learning videos about the item you are selling.
Be the “expert,” not just another store front.
Jerry Piscitelli, Portopong LLC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. More Info Creates Trust
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The scary part about buying online is that you never know exactly what you are getting. Give more information about the product than they’d be able to get anywhere else.
Provide transparent reviews, more pictures, 360-degree tours, technical information and all the info they’d ever want to know before making a purchase. Being this type of resource will make your retailer a trusted source online.
Matt Wilson, Under30CEO.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Instead of Customers Coming to You, Go to Them
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By monitoring relevant keywords and setting up alerts through platforms like Hootsuite, Google Alerts and SocialMention, you can find potential customers who have a need for the products you are selling. By monitoring who is talking about restoring cars, you have the opportunity to add to the conversation, direct them to your store and hopefully make a sale.
Natalie MacNeil, Imaginarius
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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