Only in final minutes of your presentation, do you mention that you offer a service where you create eBay listings for clients and manage auction for a 5% commission.

Be sure to leave time in your presentation to answer audience questions. And provide a business card or flyer to everyone in audience.

Pitfalls to Avoid

Do not be tempted to find a short cut around doing speeches to small audiences. These 'show and tell' presentations are center piece of project. Doing speeches eliminates all marketing expenses, and introduces your services to customers most likely to want to use your services.

Do be selective about type of items you list. You really don't have time to list items that are not likely to get bids, or that sell for lower prices.

Do realize that you are offering a service - you are helping people sell things in ways they may not be able to do on their own. Your skill in writing an eBay listing, and your knowledge of when and how to place it are what your clients are paying you for.

Do be honest and above board. If you are asked why someone should pay you 5% instead of doing listing themselves, answer honestly. Say, "People who feel comfortable with technology involved, and who know how eBay works, and have time to write a good listing, and time to get it on eBay and follow auction, might want to do it themselves. We offer our services to people who want someone to take care of everything. And since we only get paid a commission if item is sold, it gives us an incentive to do a good job."

Growth Potential & Expansion Opportunities

It's amazing what speaking to small informal audiences where you showcase your computer and presentation skills can lead to.

As you develop your speaking and eBay skills, you might be able to offer similar auction services to larger business - especially those with higher end products.

Competition

There's nothing to stop others from trying to do same thing - but most people won't approach it from angle of providing show and tell presentations to small audiences. The key to success here is to develop an entertaining presentation and do it in front of audiences likely to have items they want sold on eBay.

The other big competition will be from people who feel comfortable listing their own items on eBay. They will tell their friends that they can do listings for them. But usually, it will be easier for those who know about your services to let you take care of it all.

Additional Notes: Before you get involved in this, learn about eBay. Visit eBay every day and print out eBay listings that have lots of bids on them. Keep these in a notebook for reference when you write your own eBay listings.

Jason James is a 10 year Internet marketing veteran and an eBay Power Seller of 4 years. His website "The Auction Resource Network" reveals his inside secrets, tips, and sources that help him pocket over $10,000 per month on eBay.

When you call media contact, you may get an operator or even person in charge of Public Relations with media themselves. It works best if media person answers. They are much more knowledgeable about departments of company and will give you a phone number or extension of person you need to contact.

If operator answers, you will have a little more work to do. They usually have a list of names and extensions. State that you previously talked to someone in media, but can't remember their extension; and that although you do not need to talk to them at moment, you would like to send them information they requested. This will put operator at ease, and then you can ask for email address so that you can forward information

The operators do screen calls and although they do not like to put calls through, they usually have no problem giving out email addresses. The email address usually shows first initial and last name of person you need to contact, for example jjames@abc.com. Wait a day or two, call back and say that you are sending correspondence to Mr. James in Liquidation Department, and ask for correct spelling of his first name so that you get it right. This usually works and you are on your way!

Jason James is a 10 year Internet marketing veteran and an eBay Power Seller of 4 years. His website "The Auction Resource Network" reveals his inside secrets, tips, and sources that help him pocket over $10,000 per month on eBay.