Hearing that there are more than 1.2 million registered eBay users, that more than 25,000 members make five figure income as full time eBay entrepreneurs, and that more than 250,000 part timers make several thousand dollars a year of supplementary income from eBay enterprises would make anyone comment in disbelief with, “No Way”. But correct response to this is, “Yes, way.” In fact, it has also been reported that number one eBay entrepreneur makes over a million dollars a year. As Austin Powers would say, “Yeah, Baby.” Or should we say, “E-Baby.”

So what’s deal with eBay, anyway? There is a lot more to it than one would think. It can be simple for an occasional buyer, but it gets increasing complex as users/sellers become more entrenched at deeper levels of use. Here are 10 key ideas or themes for sellers to consider about this phenomenon called “eBay”.

1. What ‘s for sale? While some sellers are out scavengering garage sales and their own garages, others are purchasing quantities of items wholesale to put up for auction. One would think that right product is of paramount consideration, and most sellers agree that unusual or hard to find is best bet. However, this is not always true either. Timing, meaning right person at right time seeing your item, is where it is at. You have to be visible and be out there with a clear message or product that seems like a steal, or at least reasonably priced. With thousands and thousands of items for sale, there is no shortage of competition. However, good thing is that there are a lot of buyers out there that should enable sale of just about anything.

2. Communication and descriptive details about your product is a key in getting noticed. The description of your item and pictures to display it will get buyer’s attention. If a person is a serious seller, having an adequate digital camera is a must. Again, photos are extremely important.

3. The well written detailed description to accompany item is of great benefit. Being open and honest about item will demonstrate integrity as a seller and will keep people coming back. Being available to answer questions for prospective buyers and remembering to be courteous and helpful follows along with never-to-be forgotten premise of “the customer is always right.”

4. With customer feedback being a key element in ratings statistics that will promote you or haunt you during your eBay career, it is important for a seller to be professional and kindly in all business dealings. People like and appreciate personal attention. Take time to give it. Being positive, accommodating and helpful is a winning combination for good customer relations.

In this article I’m going to take a look at just one of those similarities: both direct mail packages and web sites lose almost all of their readers before ‘task’ is completed. Both media struggle with conversion rates that typically hover around 2% rate.

Most of us throw out or recycle direct mail pieces almost every day. And most of us know how many of our site visitors leave before buying, signing up, registering or completing some other task.

Now for difference. Direct mail copywriters work extremely hard to minimize number of readers they lose, at every stage.

How hard do you work to keep and convert your readers?

Here are three tips taken from world of direct marketing:

>> Make a promise

First, your homepage should make it very clear what you do. As in statement, “We sell printer cartridges”.

But also make a promise. As in, “You’ll never run out of printer cartridges again”.

The statement is about you. And it’s useful in letting people know they are in ‘right place’.