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Rob Noble Email: ByRobNoble@robnoble.com

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THE EBAY "POWERSELLER" SECRETS TO SAVE YOU FROM THE 3 P's Copyright 2003 Rob Noble

I'm just amazed that more people don't realise it! Ebay has a secret that makes it THE best market in world – offline or online! In fact it's THE best market EVER. Do I sound enthusiastic about Ebay?! I do! good - I love it.

Let me give you an example of why I love Ebay.

Years ago I set up my very first business to help me pay my way through college. It was a stall selling antiques (well more like rubbish!) in Camden market in London (yes, sorry I'm a Brit!).

When I started I didn't have a clue. I went through all junk I'd collected over years and put that as "stock". Then I went to a number of auctions, rooted about in boxes and bought some that looked "promising".

Then I rented my stall (5.30am to get a spare table) set up my "stuff" and waited. 9 hours later, after watching person after person perform 3 P's (Pick up, Put down and P*** off! - apologies for language but it IS official term amongst UK dealers) I began realising that my items only appeared promising to ME!

During this time of sitting stiffly, trying to disappear into my jacket both to keep warm and from sheer embarrassment, I noticed that certain dealers seemed to act like magnets. People didn't simply go to them to perform rites of 3 P's, they actually lingered, discussed and, joy of joys - reached into their wallets and bought!

Over weeks I ventured over to these stalls and hovered while I watched magnificent spectacle of customers parting with cash! Eventually even I couldn't help notice that certain items seemed to be selling more regularly than others, and, as some of dealers took pity on an earnest young man (I developed a helpless sort of pitiful look that worked a treat!) I began to learn business of buying items that people actually WANT to buy. And miracle of miracles came day when I actually made more profit than I was paying in rent for stall!

The absolute, sheer, magnificent beauty of Ebay is you don't have to go through all that. I don't think there can be any market, of any kind, where so much information is available to public. Because Ebay allows you to SEARCH COMPLETED AUCTIONS for free! And that is an advantage no other market allows. Everything you could possibly need to know is there, available to you just for time required to root it out.

Now imagine, if back then, at Camden market I had been allowed same advantage.

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Did your know that without a solid marketing strategy your home based or small business will struggle to find success.

You will need a marketing plan or strategy to introduce your business to consumer market. To create a buzz about your business and keep it in consumer minds. Buzz and familiarity will create demand for your goods.

And if this is successful...consumers will line up to purchase your goods or service, leading to P-R-O-F-I-T-S.

Simple enough?

You would be astonished at number of business owners who start a new business without a solid marketing plan in hand.

What follows are 10 tips to draft your own marketing plan quickly and easily. Adapt them to fit your business goals.

1. Research You must know who are your best customers for your business, what are their purchasing habits, their income level, education level, are they male, female, young, older, city dwellers, suburbanites, and who are your direct competitors.

2. Target Think of a unique angle or a niche to fill with your service. For example, there are hundreds of day care services in most communities. Here's an example, zero in on low income single moms with special needs children. Offering care they could not get for same price. Or you might decide to open your day care center earlier and close later in day than similar centers for parents who work long hours.

3. Details Write a detailed report of what you are offering. This will help guide you when you write classified ads or business sales letters.