Marketing Tactics for eBay Auction Ads

Ya know, I sort of giggle when I look at an ad on eBay that's just a black and white description of item or product that's up for bid. It wasn't long ago at all that I would have done exact same thing, but once I understood some traditional marketing techniques, not just been exposed to them; everything looked totally different.

It's been a few years now and I can't imagine how I got by in a "sales" career beforehand. I had been a fairly successful salesman in mortgage business, or term public uses; Mortgage Broker. A commission only job with no promised monthly salary. My income was totally based upon my sales success or "lack of", each month. How was I able to eat without knowing how to write ad copy or how to use "hook", or how to effectively use a "take away" move..?

Simple answer: Born for it.

If you're like me, in that you enjoy selling something that you, yourself are sold on, then eBay is where you need to be and learning traditional marketing techniques is way to have any type of success. There is no other way for, us po folk(not millionaires), to reach such a huge amount of potential buyers for ANY type of item at all. One hundred twenty five million users! Whoa. At this point, they have daily new user sign ups in excess of one hundred thousand people...100,000 each day!

THE PRODUCT IS NOT WHAT YOU ARE SELLING!!!

Things are much more technical than that. Here's a short list of different focuses:

1. Gallery picture is to grab attention only. It's not about looking nice and neat or pretty or professional; it's about human instinct, power of basic colors, and their contrast with each other. It's about getting noticed on a page of 25 items in a list! We all just browse lists...there is no reading lists word for word! Of course I know that there are exceptions, but majority are predictable.

2. The title is not for describing item! Don't think for a minute that you will get noticed by enough people to make real money if they don't see you when they search. The bottom line is that most purchases are result of a search at top of ebay page. Knowing this, you'd think that search would be checking entire ad text for matches, ...not! There is a specific checkbox to choose this option right next to search area, but most don't "check" it, so normally search is only checking title. Think about that. Now do you understand why some of those auction titles sounded so stupid..? You got it! They are smart ones. There's a real art to creating a title that sounds somewhat normal while being keyword rich.

3. Feedback must remain clean, if not perfect! It's an opinion and mine will not sway. There's an inherent communication problem on internet already. Why would you do anything at all to place more doubt in a prospective buyer's head..? Well, one bad comment can ruin whole record for, at least 10 more sales because they're structured like this blog, backwards! The bad comment will be there until you fill page again with positive comments! Just keep it perfect at all costs or don't get upset when they bypass your item for someone else's.
   
   

Essential Marketing Element - Win The Trust of Customer for Long Term Benefits by Arun Tibrewal (www.arun.info)

Medicine is an analytical science dealing with human life and B - Schools teach their Marketing potential professional everything but Medicine. Marketing then is more than selling a product. It encompasses a gamut of facets be it pushing or promoting a product or pulling in potential customer. Engineering is a skill and a science, Medicine is a skill a science and an art whereas Marketing is all of these and more - it is about macro scenario and about felt needs and desires which are ever changing and whimsical to say least. The enlightened and successful Marketing professional comprehends this, operates on multiple platforms, and utilizes what is taught and B - Schools and more!

Marketing encompasses a wide range of analytical tools and measures and tactical warfare. To illustrate - a marketing professional will not be limited to conducting an in- depth customer analysis, market segmentation, market quantification - he would go beyond to include competitive analysis and reactions, target segment selection, market positioning and more. It utilizes Advertising to convey a message to market Sales are yet another tactical tool of marketing which ensures that customer’s expectations are met and ensures attaining a sustainable strategic advantage.

Effective Marketing is cornerstone of any successful enterprise - be if marketing of Products or services. The strategy should be unique, subtle, relevant, and simple to appreciate while at same time being appealing to customer. The Potential customer should witness a vetting of his curiosity and interest - and have him coming back for more. Once Market positioning has been achieved let product speak for itself. The unique selling point of any product should rest with product and not in Brand Ambassador. The Brand Ambassador is a potent double edged weapon for it is laced with dealing with predictably imperfect human being for if his spotless virgin image gets tarnished Marketing would have to use great tact and timing in dissociating product form celebrity.