Auction eZine - Issue 13
________________________________________________ AuctionInsights Newsletter ________________________________________________ April 21, 2005 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Hi, Doug Feiring here from AuctionInsights On eBay, your reputation is everything therefore you should always be looking for ways to improve your reputation. One of the best ways to do that is to create an impressive and memorable "About Me" page. Authors Debra and Brad Shepp provide us an excerpt from their highly regarded (5 Stars on Amazon.com) book, "eBay Power Seller Secrets," on how to create an effective eBay About Me page. Sincerely, Doug http://www.auctioninsights.info http://AuctionLink.to -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- o FEATURED ARTICLE... All About Your eBay About Me Page By Debra and Brad Schepp authors of "eBay PowerSeller Secrets" There's probably nothing more important to your success on eBay -- as a buyer, or seller--than the image you project. Buyers want sellers to know they're trustworthy, and fair-minded. For sellers, the image they project can mean the difference between being a PowerSeller or struggling seller. Because About Me pages are especially important to sellers, we'll focus on them here. People tend to shop more with merchants they know and trust. While your every action on eBay contributes to your being a trustworthy business owner, you can help your customers get to know easily by creating an About Me page. You'll use this page to create a "face" that you want the eBay world to see, so get this up and running right from the start. If you already have one, you'll want to consider changing it to include some of the tips included here. Editing your About Me page is relatively simple. You can either edit the HTML code that's behind your current page, or you can create an entirely new one. It's a good idea to check it from time to time just to keep everything looking fresh and current. Include a picture on your About Me page. Show a little personality Yes, your eBay business is serious, but here's a good place to let a little bit of the real you show. Remember, this is about image, and you want your customers to feel that they've learned a little bit about the person behind the auctions when they've read your About Me page. So, put a picture of yourself on the page. Don't hesitate to include some of your family members, pets, products, hobbies, or favorite possessions in the photo. Everyone loves a picture, and you become real to your customers through a visual image in a way that words simply can't match. Have a little fun with the things you want customers to know about you. If you support a favorite cause, or if you have a special interest, tell the world about it. One seller included all of her pets as "employees" complete with descriptions of each one's job, personality, and special skills. The page was the subject of a discussion thread because it was so much fun to read. You don't have to go to quite this extreme, but reward your customers' curiosity by giving them something to smile about. Put your About Me page to work Have some fun, but all play and no work isn't your goal. Make your About Me page earn its way. Use it to
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describe your business and products. Explain why you are the person your customers should trust. Toot your horn about your expertise and even give them some information that will prove you know what you're doing.
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Your About Me page is also the place to clearly state your policies and terms. Be sure your customers know how you handle payments, shipping, and returns. That's not to say you won't have to deal with customers who will still laim not to know your terms, but at least you'll know you're doing everything you can to minimize misunderstandings. Link your About Me page to your web site Even if you just have a website for PR purposes, be sure to add a link to it from your About Me page. eBay does not permit you to link any of your auction listings to outside e-commerce sites, but you are allowed to include links to your favorite web sites within your About Me page. Just make your own web site one of your favorites. The About Me Discussion Board If you're new to About Me pages, or just want some pointers, stop by eBay's new About Me Discussion Board. Of course you'll find the "tips, tricks, and design suggestions" you would expect. You may also find some surprises though. For example, we found an interesting discussion about what NOT to put on your About Me page. Most suggestions there had to do with excluding personal information such as your home address or phone number. (Limit what's there to your business details.) Also, avoid music files and blinking graphics! Again, your About Me page should show some personality. There may be 135 million people worldwide using eBay, but transactions usually boil down to one seller and one buyer. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Brad and Debra Schepp have written about cutting-edge technologies for more than 20 years. They are the authors of ten books, and their work has been featured in publications such as Newsweek, The Chicago Tribune, and U.S. News and World Report. They have been online since 1984, and buying and selling on eBay since 1999. For more about Brad and Deb's work visit their website at http://www.bradanddeb.com This article was adapted from material originally presented in eBay PowerSeller Secrets, Insider Tips from eBay's Most Successful Sellers, copyright 2004, by The McGraw-Hill Companies. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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