eBay Tips Newsletter March 2010
1. REMINDER: Major Changes Coming to eBay's Fee Structure  On March 30th, eBay is making some big changes to their pricing structure -- and if you're not prepared for them, you could find yourself paying way more on your Final Value Fees. Not only that -- you could also see your listings get lost in eBay's search results to boot!So if you don't want your business to suffer you need to be prepared. Here's the rundown of what's going to happen... eBay is dropping their insertion fees for auction items listed under $1. (Which is why they've been promoting this change as a switch to "their lowest insertion fees ever.") However, the Final Value Fees in most categories will go up significantly -- and so will the insertion fees for your fixed-price listings (unless you're an eBay Store owner) . For example, currently the Final Value Fee for an auction item that sells for $25 to $50 is 3.5%. Once the changes kick in, the FVF will be 8.75%. If you're Top-Rated Seller, you will enjoy a 20% discount off your Final Value Fees... but you're still going to end up paying more. Major changes are also happening on the "Buy it Now" front. eBay is doing away with the old "Store Inventory Format" and replacing all those listings with the 30-Day Fixed Price format. The good news is, these means all your non-auction listings will now be included in eBay's search results. The bad news is, you're going to be paying a lot more on your insertion fees and for those listings -- unless you're an eBay Store owner. Currently it costs $0.35 to list a 30-day Fixed Price Format. Once the changes kick in on March 30th, here's what those insertion fees will look like:
However, there's more possible fallout you need to consider. When these changes go into effect, the search results are going to be swamped with all the new 30-Day Fixed Price Format listings. (In fact, we're seeing signs of it happening now.) And as a result, YOUR listings might get lost in the flood. In order to compensate for this, you might want to create a listing surge of your own. If you have a lot of extra inventory you haven't been listing on eBay, now might be the perfect time to get it up there. That way your items won't get buried by the flood of new 30-Day FPFs and you will still get those important click-throughs and sales that will keep your listings near the top of the search results. You can choose a new store tier right now, and not get charged for it until April. So if you want to be meet the coming changes head on, we encourage you to choose a new tier and list as many items as 30-Day FPFs as you reasonably can, in order to stay visible to your market in the weeks ahead. To learn more about eBay's store tiers and discover which one is right for you, click here. And if you'd like to know more about the fee changes, click here. Are you concerned about the coming changes? Have you already begun to feel their impact? Are you preparing to do business differently? Send us a message and share your thoughts with us! 2. A Shipping Strategy to Give You a Competitive Edge (Plus a GREAT Free Gift for You!) The competition on eBay will get crazier than ever after the March 30th changes. It's important to remember that one of the biggest ways to remain visible in the search results is to be listed as a Top-Rated Seller. And one of the ways to do that is to consistently deliver top-notch service to your customers and offer them a compelling reason to return to your eBay store and buy from you again. Today we're going to discuss an often-overlooked selling strategy that never fails to yield great results: include promotional materials in the packages you send your customers to increase your branding and sell them on the value of doing more business with you. The thing is, most buyers who do business on eBay don't think very much about the seller they're buying an item from -- their focus is on the item itself. But when the item arrives, if you include a professional business card and a thank-you flyer that maybe offers them a discount on their next purchase from you, they will be far more likely to remember the name of your business and consider buying from you again. And to make that easy for you, we have arranged for one of our partners, VistaPrint.com, to send you 250 free custom-printed business cards, which you can personalize however you want. To claim your 250 complimentary business cards from VistaPrint, click here now. In the article below, Melissa Crowe, the VP of VistaPrint.com, gives you ten great tips on how you can make the most of this underrated but extremely powerful marketing tool... So please make sure you read it! 3. 10 Tips on How to Use a Business Card to Make More Sales A guest article from Melissa Crowe, VP of VistaPrint.com  Don't underestimate the power of the business card and what it can do for you. A business card is you when you can't be there, and portrays the personality and image of your company. A well-crafted card can make your company memorable.The following 10 tips will explain how to design a business card that will serve as an effective sales and marketing tool, while properly conveying your company's Unique Selling Proposition. 1) Customize and Create Anyone can hand out a cookie cutter business card, but the business that expresses its message and personality through its card will have the edge on the competition. Put on your creative thinking cap and customize every detail of your card according to the audience you are marketing to and the services you are marketing. Unlike the old days, cards can now easily be customized online so you won't have to leave your home or office. 2) Avoid Flimsy Cards A thin, flimsy card signals that you put little thought and even less effort into it. Use high-quality cards with a glossy or matte finish for a sharp look that will call your audience to action. You can also use vertical business cards to stand out among your competitors. 3) Use the Back of Your Card It's important to leverage your business card as much as possible, so use all available space including the back. While the backside content should be secondary in importance to contact information, options include coupons, calendars, appointment cards, product information, or customer testimonials. Don't waste that important marketing space. 4) Add a Face to the Name Adding your photo to a business card can be a great way to build professional relationships, especially if you're in an industry where the personal touch is important. Trust is a key to a lasting and profitable business relationship, and giving your organization a face can help this along. 5) Don't Forget the Basics It may seem obvious, but some people fail to list all necessary information on their business cards. The basic elements of a business card include name, title, company name and web address, and all contact information including fax number. Try not to list more than one phone number on your card, as too much information causes confusion. Lead with your company's name and space permitting, include a clear, concise positioning statement or tagline. 6) Colorful Cards The color of your card should be tailored to the type of business you represent and your target audience. And of course it should reflect the look and feel of your website. Make sure your cards are full-color to cast a bright, eye-catching image. Avoid using hard-to-read yellow business cards. 7) Different Cards for Different Folks If you sell to several distinct niches, consider creating more than one business card design. For example, a floral business could tailor one card to target the wedding industry and another for the funeral industry. The small amount of money spent developing the additional cards will be well spent. 8) Font Size Matters Never use font smaller than 8 points on your business card. Cards that have their readers reaching for eyeglasses will only cause frustration. While it's great to be stylish, avoid using an ultra-fancy font that's on the verge of being illegible. Make sure the print on your card blends properly with its background color and design. 9) Brag About Yourself Proudly list any awards, degrees, or notable achievements on your card. Credibility boosters like these can only enhance your contact's interest in doing business with you. 10) Don't Break the Bank Business cards are worth every penny, but you don't have to spend a chunk of your marketing budget on them. Search for free business card offers and enlist the services of a company that can produce high-quality yet affordable cards. If you're a small- or home-business owner, work with a company that allows card orders in small-business-friendly quantities. No matter your budget, these simple tips will help you to create business cards that put you and your business on the profitable road to customer retention and acquisition. If you haven't already claimed your 250 complimentary business cards from VistaPrint, click here to do so now.
|
Register Now To Receive the Bidding Frenzy Newsletter Every Month
Enter your name and email address in the boxes below to subscribe to Bidding Frenzy. Stay on top of the latest changes at eBay... and learn from our experts how to take advantage of them to improve your eBay business
- With a FREE Bidding Frenzy subscription, you'll always have the most current selling techniques at your fingertips
- You're under NO obligation, and you can unsubscribe at any time, no questions asked
