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eBay Tips - Uncovering the Strategies of a Successful eBay Seller

eBay expert Jim Cockrum analyzes a successful eBay seller's auctions to reveal strategies that you can use in your auctions as well

This special guest article by Jim Cockrum. Jim is one of the top sellers on eBay as well as being one of the most creative sellers. Best of all, he reveals some of his most creative strategies for eBay success in his eBay selling classics, "The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay," "Turn Auction Traffic Into Cash," and "A Part-Time Plan for Massive Success Using eBay and the Internet."

In this article, Jim critiques a highly successful eBay seller and reveals what that seller is doing to achieve such success. But as successful as that seller is, Jim finds that there is even more that seller could do to increase sales. See what he finds and discover how you can put the same strategies to work on your auctions that Jim reveals.

Working smarter not harder on eBay - BIG PAYOFF!

Use these simple key principles to earn thousands more on eBay while working LESS!

I'm frequently asked by the readers of this newsletter if I can give some advice to help improve their eBay business. In most cases the same key principles apply to everyone. For example, I really like to see sellers have at least one if not several products they are selling that are shielded from competition. One example of a 'shielded' product is an original information product. I give other step-by-step examples of this concept in my book 'The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay'.

Once you have a product that is shielded from competition there are several things you can do to maximize your profits without working any harder. I'm talking about automated income.

I've earned literally hundreds of thousands of dollars selling information products. This is an easy business once you know the basics.

To illustrate the simple yet powerful concept in practice on eBay I'd like to take a look at a REAL eBay account. I'll tell you what I think is going well in this account as well as what they could improve on to DRAMATICALLY INCREASE PROFITS while doing very little additional work. We all know I LOVE automated income!!

Here's the eBay ID I'd like to take a look at:

eBay ID - cattreeplans (CatTreePlans)

I don't know this guy but I can make a great example out of him!

To find his account on eBay simply go to eBay.com and click on the 'advanced search' link that appears beneath the search window on the ebay homepage. Next, under the 'Members' header click on 'Find a member' type in the ID 'cattreeplans' and his account should come up.

Bring up any of his current auctions and then return to this article as I pick apart his eBay business!

First, let's list the things I think 'cattreeplans' does very well:

KEY PRINCIPLE: You must have a good ebay name that advertises for you.

In this case I like the name, but it could be better. Remember the list of 'top eBay Powersellers' I sent you about a month ago? Many of them had GREAT eBay ID's (like restaurant.com). NOTE: Details on getting access to past issues of this newsletter are at the bottom of this newsletter.

KEY PRINCIPLE: Repeat Selling is the easy way to do eBay.

The seller 'cattreeplans' is selling the same item over and over again for the most part. The 'cat tree plans CD' is a proven seller for him so he keeps burning more copies, putting labels on them, and shipping them out to happy customers. This is a much easier model for eBay success than the approach that requires constantly finding unique items. By selling the same thing over and over again you sell more with far less effort.

KEY PRINCIPLE: Legally advertise your business every chance you get on eBay.

I love how 'cattreeplans' has superimposed his website name on top of his photos. This not only serves to protect those pictures from being 'stolen' and used by other people, but it is free advertising for his website!

We've been over this a thousand times before and I spend a lot of time on this concept in my book 'The Silent Sales Machine', but this is a HUGE opportunity that few people take advantage of. There are countless ways to advertise your business within your eBay auctions WITHOUT violating eBay policy.

Another example of this same concept can be found in the email address that 'cattreeplans' uses in his auctions. At the bottom of his auctions in big bold letters is says 'Questions? Email us at: sales@CatTreePlans.com'. See how he subtly mentions his website again? That's legal - nice touch!!

My suggestions for improvement:

KEY PRINCIPLE: EVRYONE should have a free newsletter.

As far as I can tell there is no newsletter or email address collection attempt going on with CatTreePlans.com. Shame on you - Bad Cat VERY Bad! ;0)

You should be getting the first name and email address of everyone who shows an interest in your business. You can do this in many ways, but it must be done.

Email advertising is virtually free and when done the right way you provide a great service to your customers and your business benefits in countless ways.

Using my eBay business as the catalyst I've grown my combined mailing lists to nearly 100,000 names in just over three years. I started with ZERO! No spam, no arm-twisting, just people signing up because they want my newsletter. Not to brag, but I'm doing very well now that my 0PT-IN customer lists are that large (and growing).

In 30 seconds I could brainstorm a list of 10 things that 'cattreeplans' could do with his mailing list to earn more money - without risking a dime or working more then a few more minutes. He doesn't even have to write articles.

KEY PRINCIPLE: Good looks count.

I give 'cattreeplans' a fairly high grade for a nice look and feel to his auctions. I love the 'verdana' font for marketing - it's what I use. A couple things stick out to me though that I need to address.

Try to ALWAYS use the same font, a consistent size and the same font color (dark letters on a light background) throughout your auctions. Use highlights (in red) sparingly and only on the text that you want to be sure the customer sees. Use a slightly larger font for REALLY important bits of information. Sound boring? Take a look at what the TOP eBay pro's are doing.

Guideline: You are trying to inform and sell - not entertain.

KEY PRINCIPLE: You can use popular physical products to draw attention to your auctions and then make your visitors aware of your high-profit information products within your auctions.

Don't rely on your unique item to bring in customers. You need a 'loss leader' product. Big chain stores do this all the time. They sell milk or coke products at break even or even at a loss to get customers in the door.

Here's one way to do this on eBay.

I'm not a cat person. I have no clue what cats lovers love.

BUT...

With about 30 seconds of research I could tell you what the MOST POPULAR items of interest are among cat lovers. This is powerful information.

Here's how to use this information on eBay:

Let's assume that the latest trend among cat lovers is 'giant catnip stuffed mice'. I'm going to head to the closest pet shop and buy 20 'giant catnip stuffed mice' at a decent negotiated price. Never mind that I pay $20 each for them when I could have shopped around and saved a few bucks. I'm not looking to make a profit on the 'stuffed mice'. The mice are my 'loss leader'.

<<'Loss Leader' - The strategy of offering a product or service at a considerable discount and loss of profit in order to attract future business.>>

Next, I put the stuffed mice up for sale on eBay - starting bid $1. I want TRAFFIC TO MY AUCTIONS! While those crazy cat lovers are bidding like mad over my 'stuffed mice' I subtly point out the fact that my other auctions offer an assortment of other items that will be of interest to cat lovers (i.e. Cat tree plans). You can even show pictures of your other auctions INSIDE all your auctions.

The happy ending?

I lose $2 on each 'giant catnip stuffed mouse' I sell, but I sell 30 copies of my $9.95 'Cat tree plans DVD' at a 90% profit.

Rinse and repeat...rinse and repeat...I've just added $20,000 to my annual income and only worked a few extra minutes for it.

This article is getting too long for a newsletter. I'm having fun with it though!

I've decided to put the full case study at the bottom of my resources page. Here's the remaining topics I'll cover:

KEY PRINCIPLE: Make the price RIGHT
KEY PRINCIPLE: Make the customer wonder how long the offer will last
KEY PRINCIPLE: Use autoresponders
KEY PRINCIPLE: Where's the eBook
KEY PRINCIPLE: Use keyword advertising for your auctions
KEY PRINCIPLE: Your own affiliate program

As a reminder, you get immediate lifetime access to my ever changing, ever improving 'resource page' with tons of my favorite resources and links to all past newsletter when you purchase my best selling eBook 'The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay'.

Sorry for the sales pitch, but my kids have to eat! ;-)

Jim Cockrum
Author-'The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay' and
'Turn Auction Traffic into Cash'
Editor-'Creative eBay Selling Newsletter'
The most popular free eBay success ezine on the web!

Click the links below to discover even more strategies that Jim has for you.

Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay

Turn Auction Traffic Into Cash

A Part-Time Plan for Massive Success Using eBay and the Internet

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