New ebay seller Analytics tool coming soon

I assume you have all seen the new seller tools adverts on ebay at the moment you sign in?

I want to mention here in particular the Analytic tool where by you can see how your listings are performing in all aspects from visits to clicks click through rate and even see how your competitors fair up with same products.

In short thank you ebay at long last now we can analyse the performance of our listings by capturing critical data that will help us identify what needs to be done to increase our chances of making and improving sales.

Its no secret that top sellers use software of some kind to determine how to improve their online business and keep them moving forward by making and increasing sales on a consistent basis

Analytic tools help cut out the list it and hope for the. Best outcome and help produce a more consistent level of sales by showing you what’s working against what’s not helping you make the right choices each and every time.

Read up as much as you can by going to ebay help menu and typing Analytic tool and keep reading until it becomes second nature

Use it or lose it

New Item Condition Requirement from eBay

Hi everyone just to let you all know there are some policy changes on the way thought I should start listing them here keep you on your toes and in line with eBay policy.

eBay is introducing a more descriptive set of values for item condition in some categories. See the look-up table below for the new values and definitions by category. Make sure to check for subcategory exceptions within your selling categories.

The green tab labeled “Automatic mapping” are categories and subcategories that will be automatically mapped for you if you had previously specified a value for your listings.

Make sure you are compliant or your listings could be affected keep ahead of the game become eBay aware sign up for news and updates its what all the top pros do it keeps them hassle free.

You can see further instructions here http://pages.ebay.com/sellerinformation/news/itemconditionlookup.html

Tags: eBay, eBay workshops, learn to sell on eBay, Marketing, Sales

Business Link eBay trading workshop Allerton Court Hotel Northallerton

Thank you all for coming along to the basics eBay trading workshop laid out by business Link yorkshire excellent attendance excellent audience.

Overall the workshop went down a treat with lots of interesting relevant questions and in particular about postage.

Shipping your items and shipping them well gives you the opportunity to promote your business and build a customer base for repeat orders.

Include business cards or compliment slips with a special message of thanks and inform your clients that new items are added weekly and if they add you as a favourite seller they will automatically get notification when you add new products.

Postage materials should be immaculate crushed and trampled boxes or wornout reused jiffy bags do not create a good impression I am all for recycling but there are limitations.

Certainly use shredded paper instead of bubble wrap, boxes maybe even be turned the boxes inside out keep it clean items that are perishable by rain should be wrapped or packed in waterproof material give your item extra consideration when posting.

Also don’t forget to ship using trackable online facilities to protect yourselves from claw backs should the goods get lost in the post only do this with costly items.

On the eBay site there are excellent tips for postage and packaging you will find a host of very excellent information to help you or you can click on the link and go there now http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/pay/packing.html

I will be adding some new videos to the website soon so sign up for notifications and remember I am her to support you stay in touch.

John

Tags: Business Link Yorkshire, eBay, eBay workshops, learn to sell on eBay, Marketing, Sales

Business Link Yorkshire & Humber eBay Event At The Briar Court Hotel Huddersfield July 2010

First of all thank you all so much for turning up it was a pleasure delivering the eBay trading workshop to such an attentive and excellent audience and on behalf of Business Link Yorkshire and Humber who continue to provide and organise these events to very high standards just for you.

Once again we were full to the brim with plenty of questions flying in which is good shows that you are all keen to succeed on eBay and why not I wish you all luck and good fortune.

Postage was certainly high on the agenda today and as a reminder don’t forget that if your item is not sent with the ability to be tracked on-line you will be responsible should it go missing so expensive items should be trackable keep this in mind.

And if you are shipping items abroad make sure that these are tracked right through to delivery and not just within the UK.

Once again I would like to remind you that the title is the single most important item on your listing so no spelling errors here otherwise it will make it difficult if not impossible for your items to be found.

reasearch reasearch and reasearch again and again, don’t be a I can’t be done with it hit and hope for the best person on eBay you wont get far be professional and business like go through all the techniques you learnt here at the eBay trading workshop keep in touch for support and you will go far.

Take a look at my interview with the BBC about eBay its very interesting http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7895264.stm

Its been a pleasure serving you today hopefully we shall see you all soon.

Bye for now.

John

Tags: Business Link Yorkshire, eBay, eBay workshops, learn to sell on eBay, Marketing, Sales

Blue Orchid eBay Trading Workshop Dukinfield Town Hall Tameside Dukinfield

What an absolute stunning venue the the town hall building was in Dukinfield Tameside one of the best venues I have been to when delivering the eBay workshop.

The facilities and the hospitality were nothing short of brilliant well done and thank you to the team at Tameside.

The Blue Orchid eBay trading workshopm also went down a treat and I have to say what a fantastic audience you all were thank you for your attention.

Once again the same question comes up again regarding what to sell and where to purchase items for re-sale one thing I would advise is take a look at http://pulse.ebay.co.uk where you will see what the most popular searched items are or you could try http://watchcount.com which is pretty much the same thing.

You could purchase items on ebay take a look at wholesale categories scan the yellow pages for local manufacturers or maybe even google but do avoid all the nonsense about website links on the web these cost money and are a waste of time.

For collectibles you could go to boot sales, garage sales, jumble sales antique road shows or fairs.

Local auctions are pretty good just pop it into google and you will find a whole host of auctions in you region these are my favourites but remember do your homework first Research on ebay get yourself a price then go and buy to profit leave no stone unturned.

Also why not pop into local retailers see if they would like you to sell end of lines for them get an agreed commission structure in place when you sell the items you take out your fees pass on the rest to your client then ship the goods and everyones a winner and you wont have to risk your money this is what we do and it works very well for us.

That’s all for now but to look in now and then for further tips and tricks.

Take care speak soon John

Tags: Blue Orchid, eBay, eBay workshops, learn to sell on eBay, Manchester, Marketing, Sales

Business Link eBay workshop Doncaster at the Keepmoat stadium home of Doncaster Rovers FC

What an amazing turnout yet again over full an excellent event and very positive once again.

There were one or two delegates who expected an advanced session but as described on business links notes it’s an entry-level workshop first steps the most important one

We are exploring the possibility of putting on an advanced workshop as a natural progression from the entry-level workshop watch this space.

But first get some sales under your belts get used to listing items professionally communicate with clients build confidence and momentum when the basics become second nature your ready for the shop.

Most eBayers fail to make a success of their own business because they stop wanting to learn they feel they know all they need to know and that’s the end of it don’t fall into this trap each day I ask myself what else can I learn today always looking for something new get yourselves into this habit it will pay dividends in the future.

Again many of you are asking about getting stock for re-sale first you need to decide on what you want to sell then make it your mission to look for manufacturers and wholesalers you don’t have to travel out far and wide most of the times you can find suppliers on your own doorstep why not use the yellow pages you will be surprised what you can find in them.

You could also walk into retailers armed with business cards and ask if they have unwanted stock they want to clear out if you have done your reasearch and completed listing reasearch on eBay you will know what to pay when using this method of sourcing.

Or how about leaflet dropping your local area for collectibles used clothing second hand goods etc local auctions are another good source just pop auctions in your local area into google search and you will find a host of auction houses you could go along to they are fun and can be very profitable too.

Still my advice for starters is start with low-cost items just until you get used to the selling process then unleash your new-found power on the eBay community to great and lasting success.

Keep an eye out for the eBay shops workshop from Business Link Yorkshire and until we meet again take care and happy selling to you all.

John

Business Link Ebay workshop, Holdsworth House Hotel Halifax

First off thank you all for coming along to the Business Link eBay workshop at the Holdsworth House Hotel in Halifax and thank you for your kind and positive words I appreciate that.

The eBay workshop was once again pretty much full to the brim just as all of Business Links eBay workshops are, just goes to show how popular this subject is amongst many small businesses just like yourselves.

eBay can be an excellent sales tool for your business but you have to work very hard at it of course now you have the basics under your belt and me supporting you free for 3 months I would expect that you should begin to build your eBay business NOW.

Lets start by listing on the 7 day 5 day and 3 day auction format so that we can begin to build momentum without putting yourselves under too much pressure.

Just create 2-3 listings  on Sundays and list on a 7 day auction format then 2-3 on Tuesdays  list for 5 days then 2-3 on Thursdays list for 3 days so all will end on Sundays where most bids occur.

And don’t forget start with low-cost items so that you don’t make expensive mistakes and if you are unsure about anything please stop and contact me by email I will respond ASAP.

Take care for now

John

Tags: Business Link Yorkshire, eBay, eBay workshops, learn to sell on eBay, Marketing, Sales

EX-Cell eBay trading workshop project for ex offenders as a pilot scheme at Hulme in Manchester

The pilot scheme eBay workshop run for ex offenders on behalf of EX-Cell appears to have been a resounding success.

David and Ormond who ran the event and John who leads the small but enthusiastic group did a fantastic job of organising the event and thanks to Ormond for putting himself out making and supplying lunch after being let down by his caterers well done Ormond need my food.

There were plenty of positive relevent questions going around regarding the eBay workshop meaning that you are all keen to learn and build your futures using the power of eBay.

Your level of understanding both computers and eBay were excellent and we now need to put to good use what you have learnt on the day.

Selling on eBay can be very lucrative for you all I will only be happy knowing that you are all selling and building your wealth.

I hope that we can continue our new-found partnership and remember you have 6 months of free ongoing support use it.

Good luck and may the force be with you always.

Tags: eBay, eBay workshops, learn to sell on eBay, Manchester, Marketing, Sales

Business link eBay trading workshop Thirsk race course Thirsk Yorkshire 03/06/2010

Thank you all for attending the ebay trading workshop run by Business Link Yorkshire and once again the turnout was fantastic a full house.

Excellent questions all round and very relevant to the workshop just remember to put into practice what you have learnt.

Watch out for seller news as ebay are always offering free listing days and other freebies especially coming into the summer.

Just a quick reminder to start with small items walk before you run get used to the selling process for a couple of weeks then start.

One of our workshop clients has now gone from zero to £400 in just 8 weeks buying and selling items from boot sales she has now quit from her part time job and concentrating on her business full time.

What she is selling is second hand items she started selling household wares and has continued selling the same

You can all reach this level quickly all you need is enthusiasm because you now have the know how.

Use it or lose it good luck let’s get ebaying

Until next time

Tags: Business Link Yorkshire, eBay, eBay workshops, learn to sell on eBay, Marketing, Sales

Business Link eBay Trading Workshop Carlton Park Hotel Rotherham 18/05/10

Thanks to all the delegates who attended the business Link Yorkshire eBay trading workshop at the Carlton Park Hotel in Rotherham.

The venue was nice and comfortable and staff were very accommodating and thanks to you all for your kind words and excellent feedback about the workshop.

We had a good mix of businesses at the venue some were quite unusual but all good for selling on eBay, amongst you were manufacturers, artists and importers all excellent and should do well on eBay.

There were quite a large number of you asking about opening an eBay shop I would like to remind you all again start selling first so that you understand the mechanics of the listing and best match once you have sold a few then by all means open an eBay shop.

Advanced Courses

Also there where a high number of you asking about advanced eBay courses to attend if you make you interest known at Business Link yorkshire they may well put some on I do know that they were interested so watch this space.

Stock

And on a final note don’t forget to miss spell some words that lead you to some real gems see if you can make profit go to car boot sales and garage sales which are a good starting point for stock start by selling low value items when you sell around 30 items you are on the way.

Support

Your support lasts up to 3 months and is for free so take advantage but above all make sure you put into practice what you learnt I will be watching you

Good Luck for now keep in touch

John

Tags: Blue Orchid, Business Link Yorkshire, eBay, eBay workshops, learn to sell on eBay, Manchester, Marketing, Sales