5 Conversion Boosting Tactics to Boost Your Holiday Sales on eBay
By Lisa Suttora | November 9, 2008
Everyone talks about driving traffic to your eBay listings, but very few people talk about what to do when those buyers get there!
What do you DO with those visitors to turn them into sales!
On Tuesday, November 4th, I was a guest on eBay Radio’s “The PowerSeller Hour” with Griff.
In this radio segment I shared 5 conversion boosting tactics that will turn your visitors into sales!
You can listen to the replay of this radio segment here and learn some top strategies that you can implement TODAY and start getting results with this week.
It doesn’t matter if you’re just getting started selling on eBay or if you’re an experienced PowerSeller.
These 5 Conversion Boosting Tactics will work for you!
We’ve tested these techniques over and over again at WhatDoISell and they work. In fact not only can you use them for your eBay business, you can use these same tactics in any of the ecommerce platforms.
… Whether you sell from your own website, on Amazon, on the hot new marketplace Bonazle, in the explodingly popular hand-crafted (and some vintage) marketplace Etsy and of course, eBay!
Don’t waste all that good traffic that comes to your eBay listings. It doesn’t do you any good to work hard to drive throngs of buyers to your product pages if they don’t convert to sales when they get there!
The formula for selling success online that we teach at WhatDoISell is “PPWTCI” ==>
Products People Want + Traffic + Conversion = Income.
Start converting more of your holiday browsers to buyers today by listening to this 10 minute conversion boosting audio!
Topics: Seasonal Selling, eBay Selling Strategies | No Comments »
Cyber Monday is Less Than Two Months Away!
By Lisa Suttora | October 5, 2008
Cyber Monday, one of the BIGGEST holiday selling days of the season is just two months away.
Are you ready for holiday sales?
Last holiday season, WhatDoISell.com Community Members sold thousands of products on eBay, Amazon, eCrater, Etsy, and from their independent websites.
How did they do it?
With strategies they learned in the WhatDoISell.com Holiday Selling Center!
As an online retailer, the holidays are your most IMPORTANT selling season of the year!
And with only three months to make those holiday sales - time is of the essence.
That’s why each year we open the WhatDoISell Holiday Selling Center with one mission in mind - to SkyRocket Your Holiday Sales!!!
Right now you can have 7 days immediate access to the Holiday Selling Center and WhatDoISell.com for only $1:
- Access to the WDIS Holiday Selling Center
- Access to our 17 Business Building Modules
- Access to more than 400 hours of audio and video training
- I’ll even grant you access to our Private Members Only Discussion Forum! With a top group of highly active community members and over 12,000+ business posts, the WDIS Discussion Forum is a goldmine in and of itself.
This is an opportunity for you to do three things:
1. Start making some money this holiday season.
2. Learn how to sell things the right way!
3. Take a look at how WhatDoISell.com can improve your business and your life.
Click here to take advantage of your opportunity to make money this holiday season.
Topics: Seasonal Selling | No Comments »
NRF Survey: Buyers Rank Amazon & eBay As Their Top Two Favorite Online Shopping Destinations
By Lisa Suttora | October 2, 2008
STORES Magazine, a publication of the National Retail Federation, just published their Top 50 list of shoppers’ favorite online retailers.
Postioned firmly at the top?
#1 Amazon
#2 eBay
The report shows that even though shoppers have grown cautious about their spending in the last year, online retail sales remain a bright spot.
Forrester Research retail analyst Sucharita Mulpuru reported that e-commerce sales totaled $174.5 billion in 2007, up almost 21 percent from the year before.
What does this mean for you as a home based online retailer?
Five Important Things-
1. While brick and mortar sales are slowing, online sales are GROWING! A fact that we’ve been talking about all year at WhatDoISell.com.
People are still shopping. And they like to shop online. With only about 6% of all retail sales happening online, there is tremendous growth still to come for Internet retailers.
2. Amazon & eBay are STILL the place to sell. Amazon has been growing like CRAZY this year. And eBay, even though it’s certainly had it’s problems in 2008- is still heavily favored by buyers.
BTW, eBay used to rank #1 in this survey. But don’t let the slip in ranking get you down.
A #2 ranking is still MASSIVE. And if you have a product line that translates well to the Amazon marketplace, you can now sell on the #1 AND #2 selling sites on the Internet.
3. No matter what the state of the economy is, people will still continue to shop. There will always be birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, new seasons, wants and needs.
Don’t let the economy become your excuse for not starting or growing your business. You have to decide if you are in the game? If you’re in the game, then stay focused on doing what you need to do to make it work.
4. If you don’t want to be in the game - then that’s another story.
But know this - if you get out of the game, someone else who wants to be in the game will take your place on the in Internet retail. And they will become the one who become the next success story in your category!
Not because you couldn’t do it. But because you didn’t persist during these economic times.
5. IF you do stick with it, YOU will be the one that others see as the success story in the coming years. The one that others strive to be like. The one who inspires others to start.
There is opportunity in Internet retail here. Now. On Amazon. On eBay. There are buyers. They are shopping.
Are you in the game?
Topics: Amazon Selling Strategies, Entrepreneurial Skills, eBay Selling Strategies | 1 Comment »
eBay Listings Have Disappeared from Google, Yahoo, AND Live Search - What Happened?
By Lisa Suttora | October 2, 2008
First, eBay listings turn up missing in Google.
Now they are all but non-existent in Yahoo and Live (MSN) search!
This problem was first reported to me by several of our WhatDoISell.com members who saw a drop in their Google search traffic (some up to 70%) in mid-Sept.
Now, upon further investigation - I’m finding eBay listings almost non-existent in YAHOO and LIVE (Microsoft Search) natural search results.
For the past two weeks, I’ve been doing searches every day for eBay listings on Google, Yahoo, Live - and they are almost non-existent.
I search both popular keywords and niche specific keywords. And the results are the same every time…
Two months ago if you did a Google search for a product, there would be several search results on the front page of Google. Now, you are lucky if you find one eBay listing buried on page six.
For example:
I did a search in Google for Nintendo Wii. A hot product yes? No eBay listings AT ALL in Google natural search results. Nothing! I quit looking after page 6.
There aren’t even any PPC ads in GOOGLE for eBay.com under those keywords.
Yet an eBay.com search returns 38,000+ products with the keywords Nintendo Wii.
Do the same search in Yahoo. There is an eBay PPC ad in the TOP sponsored search box.
But no natural search results.
Until page SIX:
“eBay Store - Thumbmonkey Video Games: Nintendo Wii: Need For Speed … Thumbmonkey Video Games: Nintendo Wii - Need For Speed Carbon, Super”
Now do the same search at http://live.com
The FIRST sponsored AD is an eBay ad.
But no natural search results for eBay stores, eBay listings etc. until page EIGHT:
Nintendo Wii - Game console: items on eBay.com
Find Nintendo Wii - Game console and a huge selection of other items on eBay.com. About Nintendo Wii - Game console: Featuring a compact design that makes it a natural addition to … product.ebay.com/Nintendo-Wii-Game-console_W0QQfvcsZ1452QQsoprZ56833153 ·
You can try this with other keywords too - American Girl Doll, Coach Handbag, I’ve even tested products that are listed on eBay’s home page - but they are nowhere to be found in the search engines.
So this begs the question - where have all the eBay listings gone in the search engine’s natural search results?
Is it Google, MSN & Yahoo? Or is it eBay?
Do eBay pages no longer meet the search engine algorithms for all THREE major search engines? I doubt it.
Are eBay listings being disadvantaged in the Search Engines?
Why does eBay have more sponsored Ads on Yahoo & MSN but not Google?
Competition, cheaper ad costs?
Has eBay been “slapped” by the search engines?
I DID find that eBay HAS ramped up their PPC ads for some keywords on Google in the past week or so.
And they are currently running a special with Microsoft Live Search Cashback program.
Two months ago, eBay listings and eBay stores dominated the search engines.
Now they are barely visible in those all important first pages.
How about your listings? Have you noticed a drop in search engine traffic from Google, Yahoo, Live Search (Please Microsoft change the name!).
Check your eBay Store Traffic Reports compared to last month - and let me know if your traffic is down.
Topics: eBay 2008 Changes | No Comments »
Is Google the Bermuda Triangle for eBay Listings?
By Lisa Suttora | September 30, 2008
Something’s wrong.
eBay listings seem to be missing from Google.
Now mind you, I have no hard data on this from either eBay or Google.
But I do have two weeks of late nights spent at my computer searching for eBay listings on Google.
And answering questions from people who are no longer finding their eBay listings in Google. And talking to our WhatDoISell.com members about this issue in our Discussion Forum.
Something’s amiss.
Ever since our members started reporting a loss of visibility in Google search results (around Sept 16th) I’ve been checking random product listings every day.
It used to be that the first several listings on Google(in natural search) for any given product were all eBay search results.
They are virtually gone now. We’re seeing people’s Google traffic to their eBay store drop from 70% to 10% overall.
Tonight, I went through some of the products that eBay has featured in the eBay.com home page and only found a few related eBay sponsored ads on Google.
Even the shopping results that Google displays with multiple shopping sites are frequently not including eBay products.
Even newcomer Bonanzle is getting more air time!
It’s very odd - at first I thought it might be some sort of re-indexing issue due to the 9/16 eBay Search changes - but it shouldn’t be taking this long.
Something is going on… I’ve never seen anything like this. Even when eBay & Google were fighting in Boston at eBay Live ‘07 - there was not a significant drop in search visibility for eBay listings.
I’m having to dig to page 3 to find some eBay listings.
Google is like the Bermuda triangle for eBay listings these days.
Or is it just that eBay listings aren’t being allowed to show up to the party?
Are your eBay listings being displayed in Google search? Is this disappearance category specific?
Share your feedback in the comments below and let’s see if we can’t unravel this mystery!
Topics: eBay 2008 Changes | 2 Comments »
eBay’s Pulse is Beating Again
By Lisa Suttora | September 25, 2008
Last week I got quite a shock when I went to scout some niche information on eBay Pulse. It was gone!
And in it’s place was… well… a not useful new version of eBay Pulse. Generic. “Internet driven”. No ability to drill down in product categories. A shell of it’s former self.
I couldn’t believe it! eBay Pulse has long been a great tool for sellers who are investigating niche markets to sell in.
eBay Pulse is one of the many trending tools use at WhatDoISell.com to help people get niche and product ideas by drilling down into specific product categories. Imagine my disappointment to see that this useful product trends tool was gone.
Well, I wasn’t the only one! The public outcry about the replacement about this “new and improved” version of eBay Pulse was loud! Many people relied on this useful, free tool to aid them in their business.
That’s why I’m happy to announce that Dennis Goedegebuure, eBay marketing tools program manager has just posted a new announcment to let everyone know that he’s heard their feedback about the new version of eBay Pulse and is making the both the new version and the original version of eBay Pulse available!
Apparenly a hybrid version of the two will be rolled out in 2009, but for now the old eBay Pulse is beating again and sellers can continue to use this valuable tool to build their business.
Want to know the top product trends for 2008 and beyond? Click here for our FREE 44-page special report “Product Trends for 2008″. Learn what trends are driving product sales this year!
Topics: Trends | No Comments »
Forget eBay Best Match (for now)… and Befriend GOOGLE!
By Lisa Suttora | September 23, 2008
Want to get more buyers to your eBay listings?
Then it’s time to STOP chasing eBay’s Best Match and START focusing ON becoming GOOGLE friendly.
There’s no doubt about it - Best Match is important to the sell-through rate of your products on eBay.
So why forgo the pursuit of a good Best Match ranking right now?
For three IMPORTANT reasons - Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Marketing Strategies | No Comments »
August 2008: eBay Announces More Major Changes
By Lisa Suttora | August 23, 2008
Wednesday morning, eBay announced several major changes to occur on the site over the next few months.
There are major changes to Fixed Price listings, Media category listings, eBay Express, Shipping Charges and much, much, more.
I have a complimentary audio recording for you of a class that I just recorded on Wednesday night regarding these changes.
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But before you download this FREE class, please read BELOW to find out what the class is about.
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Within 7 hours of Wednesday’s announcement I was on the phone with the Members of WhatDoISell.com for an IN DEPTH 3 hour class to:
==> Explain the new policies
==> Clear up misinformation running rampant in public forums
and most importantly…
==> To share new strategies on how to make these policies work for all eBay businesses (both large and small)
==> I also answered 43 excellent questions that came in from our members about these changes.
To give you an idea of the complexity of these changes, I covered the entire 12 foot surface of my desk with FAQ pages and notes detailing the changes.
I also spent 2.5 hours in a meeting with eBay on Wednesday morning clarifying these policies.
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I’m now making a copy of the recording of this LIVE event available to you for FREE.
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To listen to the complimentary recording of this class, click here.
All I ask from you in exchange for this 3 Hour WhatDoISell.com EXCLUSIVE Audio Training Intensive(tm) is that you tell me your #1 question about selling online.
*** You’ll want to listen to the recording multiple times. There is A LOT of information in this class. ***
It’s 3 hours of business coaching and strategies. And a lot of minute details about the policy changes.
==> Click here to access your complimentary copy of the class <===
Topics: eBay 2008 Changes | 3 Comments »
Want to Make a Bundle on Amazon This Holiday Season?
By Lisa Suttora | July 26, 2008
With the release this week of the stellar Q3 Amazon.com earnings report (Amazon earned an amazing $158 million dollars in the quarter ending June 30) - came some other good news. A strong percentage of Amazon’s sales are coming from 3rd Party Sellers. Independant business owners who use Amazon as their selling platform to connect with millions of customers worldwide.
Despite daily reports of a sputtering economy, Amazon made money. And a LOT of it. With gas prices climbing, free time at a premium and an unsatiable consumer hunger for value, variety and selection Amazon’s quarterly report shows that people are still spending.
And spending a lot on Amazon.
With the holidays fast approaching, now is the time to try selling on Amazon. Especially if you sell in the toy category.
But if you’re going to participate in the holiday selling season on Amazon. You have just under two months to qualify. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: ebay | No Comments »
Important Change Affecting Your Custom eBay Listing Templates
By Lisa Suttora | July 26, 2008
At eBay Live 2008 it was announced that eBay would be redesigning the View Item page ( AKA the listing description page) for release this Fall. The new View Item page will incorporate many design improvements based on buyer input as to how they use the View Item page, what they like about it and what they don’t like.
One of the key changes that was originally announced and would have affected hundreds of thousands of eBay sellers with custom designed listing templates was that the View Item page would be moving to a 710 pixel fixed width.
This meant that if your template width was wider than 710 pixels, it would no longer fit correctly on the new eBay View Item page.
This has been devastating news for sellers who have spent hundreds of dollars on template design and branding or who have spent many hours creating their own templates.
Topics: eBay 2008 Changes | 4 Comments »