How To Promote My Ebay Store
Whats a store without customers? Whether its brick-and-mortar or the virtual world
, a store is half of the story and the customer the other half. Together they complete the transaction. Setting up the store is the relatively easy part; the customer is the real challenge.
The most important thing that you can do to promote an eBay store is to understand the buyers perspective. Put yourself in the buyers shoes and plan the promotional activities from there.
Within The Store
Create eye-catching titles for the products. Even if the product is really good but the title doesnt catch the buyers eye, it will not draw them in. Use relevant keywords; try to maximize the character limit.
Use clear pictures. No one likes to buy something without seeing it first, especially for items such as clothing and jewelry. Pictures greatly increase its chances of selling.
Pay attention to your listing appearance; the text should be easy to read and the colors should be pleasing to the eye.
Write the most accurate description of the product so that its easier for shoppers to locate the item they are looking for; also upon receipt of the item, the buyer is not surprised by anything.
By using appropriate keywords associated with the images used in listings, you are maximizing opportunities to be found when a customer types in a keyword.
Use eBays Me page to post information about yourself and your auctions, so that other site visitors can learn more about you, your photos, some of your current auctions and your feedback profile. This page allows potential buyers to judge what sort of person they are dealing with. Its also more interesting to buy from a person you know something about rather than an impersonal, faceless seller.
Entice buyers with cross-promotions. It is easier to sell to an existing customer than a new one; and if the buyer is buying a product, say a necklace, its easier to sell an accompanying ring or earring or a bracelet. EBay allows the store owner to place a small box at the bottom of their item page that shows the other items in the store currently available. This box also shows up on the bid confirm screen after a bid has been successfully placed. This box can be customized.
Run sales and auctions to generate interest and news about your store. Make the store link prominent in the listings.
Provide a link to the store with every auction you hold.
Good Ideas
Take full advantage of all promotional activities that eBay offers and keep up to date with layout changes and customizations to keep your site fresh and interesting.
Use eBays automation systems, which give feedback, relist items, send emails, and automatically keep track of the stores inventory. A professionally run store leaves a better impression and also leaves the owner with more time.
Encourage more clicks on your link with vibrant words.
Include a simple and catchy email signature on all outgoing emails, which encourage people to click on your link.
Set up an auto responder with your email signature for your customer inquiries.
Sift through the numerous free tools available for better auctions.
Sell on international eBay sites to reach a wider range of customers.
By listing in two categories, reach additional buyers and generate more interest.
View and study traffic reports that give valuable insights into customer behavior visiting your store.
On Your Own
Blog, tweet, or use any means of social networking to subtly tell others about your store.
If you have other websites, link them to the eBay store. This promotes both businesses and offers more choice to customers.
Try advertising on search engines via their sponsored results slots, which are usually reasonably priced.
Join a WebRing/site that is connected to the things you sell in your store. Just remember that all such links must go on your About Me page, else they run the risk of other displaying pages being shut down by eBay.
Promote your eBay store logo wherever you can: on a tote bag/T-shirt/bumper sticker. Print business cards, flyers and other professional business collateral and hand these out to prospective customers.
Keep track of peak sale periods, seasons, and holidays. This will help promote relevant items.
Take active part in forum discussions so that you can inform others about your store.
Be in touch with past buyers via emails/newsletter/any other medium of your choosing to inform them about promotions and special deals. Be sure to get their permission before emailing them promotions.
To keep the store in the news, write about it and its activities regularly.
Once you make a sale, encourage buyers to leave good feedback about you.
Attracting the customers attention is half the battle; converting it into a sale is the main concern. Not everyone will be a purchaser, but each one is a potential buyer and definitely an opinion holder. Use every opportunity and tool to promote your store, and make their purchase process a pleasant one.
by: Jane M Dawson
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