quote:Originally posted by chuckiii3:
If you have an eBay store, supplement it by listing some auctions as well. Each auction will let customers know that you HAVE a store and provides a link to it in the auction listing.
If you decide to do some auctions, having them end on a Sunday evening is almost always best for many eBay sellers.
Another option is to cross-promote your store with another eBay seller. Check the eBay "help" center for how to do this.
Good luck!
I don't find Sunday to be the best on all of my IDs.
My best is Tuesday, Wednesday and lately Thursday has been kickin bootie as far as sales.
Cross promote yourself in your ads. If you sell clothing...note that you have a matching belt, piece of jewelry, shoes whatever to match and use a link back to your store or eBay search seller items.
It's all trial and error.
I'd also highly advise using Sellathon (the paid subscription) for a month to see how your customers are finding you (key words, times, time zones etc)..then move forward with that knowledge.
Cross promote only with a seller you trust. I cross promote my selling IDs with one another...can't get much sweeter than supporting all of your selling IDs.
ETSY is great. Lots of handmade items.
Open a free ecrater store. Open a myspace and have loads of online sellers as your friends so you can network. Blog. Open a blujay store, Yahoo auctions are free.
Market yourself...there's too many persons online that are selling similar items...stand out in the crowd.
Use free websites such as geocities, freewebs, etc to build web pages (most are drag and drop design) to build up marketing back to your items or build your own website to sell items.
Don't give eBay any extra money for items that are proven to not work....i.e., frivilous extra's such as bolding, sub-title (the words aren't in search features with eBay)featured if it's not a large ticket hard to find item etc. eBay will gladly nickel and dime you for everything you sign up for.
You have to KNOW your market and you have to market yourself...daily!
Some great places I hang out for knowledge:
http://www.otwa.com/
http://community.tuliptools.com/index.php
http://pages.ebay.com/community/boards/index.html
I personally like The eBay Stores Community Help Board.
From the link for the eBay Community Forums find your specialty on the right hand side and read, read, absorb and learn.
If you have time...peruse your category to find the most successful sellers and watch them for a month to see what techniques they used to become successful.
Good Luck,
Donna