Ebay Marketing

[Steven1976a]

We want to start selling our products through an ebay shop as we feel we are missing out on a lot of customers over there. We dont want to go through the manual submission of all our products and maintaining the store which will take a long time.

What I want to know is it possible to submit products from our websites database and set parimeters to build a whole store on ebay?

We would like to submit for example

The last 50 New products of Each of our catagories added to our database within the past 30 days. As each product expires the newest products are added as the old ones come off.

Any ebayers know if this is possible?

[bathgems]

I think you will have some trouble selling on eBay without product descriptions.

Your best bet is opening a store where you can park listings for longer time periods. That way you wont spend so much on listing fees on unsold merchandise.

Steve

[timmathews.com]

I have to agree with Bathgems on this one. Your best bet is to start with an ebay store, and list 10 different products with qty 10 each. If you have no luck selling after 30 days, list 10 different lots of 10. give this a shot until you start to sell, or flush the ebay idea down the bog.

[Steven1976a]

The products will have descriptions as I was hoping to send all the info such as,
Product Pictures,
stock codes,
prices,
names
descriptions

from our database by xml (i think) to create the ebay store.

[bj]

I do not believe Ebay is set up to accept this type of arrangement. However, I do know some (expensive) third party shopping cart solutions that have ebay posting built in to the shopping cart interface (I think, if I remember correctly, Verio is one, and there may be others.) Problem is they're all hosted solutions and, in my opinion, coded rather "old school" and missing a lot of good functionality compared to the bespoke carts that only do one thing and do it well.

[sofakingdabest1]

Start small, build it up.

[andersonweb]

Not to sound rude, but why not just contact Ebay and ask them if they have a way of accepting bulk postings? I've seen mention of Bulk editing in their FAQ's, so it may be possible. If you submit a request for a sales rep to contact you, they'll be able to accurately answer any of your questions.

[bugnbelle]

As the owner of a semi-sucessful ebay store (I tend to neglect as I get busy) I can tell you that it is not something that you can do and be successful at half heartedly.

First of all you need to spend time/money to develop your ebay image. If you want to do a store you will probably want to hire someone to do your storefront, create a listing template, and then create your ME page. If you already have a website design someone can basically copy that into a storefront. If you are clever enough you can probably figure out how to do it yourself

I also am not aware of any way to take your shopping cart and export to your ebay listings. If you download ebay's free software Turbolister you can quickly do mulitple listings then upload them, that is probably the most efficient way to list on ebay.

Most people on ebay see ebay as a way to drive traffic to their website. So you might think about the possibilities of this. You CANNOT put any website address or links in your listings, you can however put a link to your website on your ME page.

To have an effective eBay store you need to list a few items in the general auction listings to help drive people to your ebay store. A lot of people look at the auction listings as a loss leader but hope that people who want the item will go to the store and buy it rather than waiting for an auction to end. There is also a lot of potential in the ebay express, but again hoops you have to jump through to get your items on there.

Finally look carefully at the ebay fees before making the jump. They have raised the Final Value Fees in the stores considerably in the last 6 months making the economics of having an ebay store shift quite a bit.

HTH!
Tanya

[henrynelson]

There is a way, I think. I haven't tried it, because I built my listings a different way.

Here's what you can try: Ebay has a free listing generator program called Turbo Lister. Get it in the "seller's tools" section.

Do a single listing and save it as a template. Then, File>Import>CSV File and hook up to your database. You may have to generate a csv file from your xml first.

I wouldn't try the suggestion for listing 10 items in quantities of 10, you'll get hit with Dutch listing fees.

[craigmn3]

So you want to make a millionb while sitting on your couch..... If it were as easily as all that everyone would do it....oh wait they do.

Ebay has a lot of tools to help smooth the process along, and their Ebay Stores automatically renew the product. They have their act together. But you are going to have to enter all the information at least once.

All that comfort, exposure and convenience comes at a heft price though....ebay does like to nibble at your profit margin

[a8llison]

There's some inaccurate information in this thread.
Bugnbelle is right on the mark. So is Henrynelson. I would recommend starting small with Turbolister if a) you do not employ any technical staff and b) you have less than 1000 skus. If you do have a some resources and a lot of inventory then you could look at Blackthorne - eBay's upload program - or an auction listing tool.

eBay is not like other product distribution spots because there is a lot of management. Managing listings to go into the auction core (which ones, how often). Managing orders (payments, lots of questions, feedback). A simple upload won't get you there.

You might also do some preliminary research to make sure there's a market for your items on eBay. If you do not have brand names or strong keywords - eBay keywords, not overall web keywords - it might be a waste of time. A completed items search on eBay will show what's sold. Terapeak will show market numbers.

HTH

[bj]

Most people on ebay see ebay as a way to drive traffic to their website. So you might think about the possibilities of this. You CANNOT put any website address or links in your listings, you can however put a link to your website on your ME page.

Ebay TOS does not allow links but there is nothing in the TOS that says you can't have your url in text that isn't linked or in your store header image and not linked. People will then just be able to type it into the location bar themselves. Top ebay sellers use this trick.

BTW, bugnbelle, cute shop you have there . . . ;)

[mejess22]

Yes, a8llison is right on the mark. Start small, turbo lister is great. There is some great third party listing sites, also. I heard marketworks has great web site nad ebay integration. Or check out Vendio. Steven1976a is right, you can't ignore the amount of customers ebay gets everyday. A great way to drive cutomers to your website. Good luck!!

[henrynelson]

OK, more about Ebay:

I don't really use Ebay to sell a lot of product. I do use it to create brand awareness. People see the listing and learn about my brand.

Here's what you CAN'T do:

1. Direct clickable links to your web site.

2. Contact bidders and offer to sell them stuff directly, outside of Ebay.

Here's what you CAN do:

1. Use your logo prominently

2. Use your brand name prominently

3. Refer to your url by using it as your company name "Here's another great product by HenryNelson.com" (no link)

4. Use great photos and great copy describing your products

5. Start an Ebay store and set the options so people can subscribe to a Store Newsletter. Send newsletters out regularly.

6. Sell on Ebay with a low or no margin, you're generating leads here, not making profit

7. (very important) On every sale, put a catalog and a coupon in the box with the item

[kula]

What no one here is telling you:

jewelry is perhaps the most competitive category on ebay.

ebay buyers are looking for diamonds 30-50% below gray sheet and other items at similar discounts from the market indices.

you are 10 years late.

one more point - to get into the ebay game at this point, you will need 2 to 4 years of selling at a loss and kissing customer butt to get yourself a rating where you will be taken seriously, especially from a Bangkok location.

[Steven1976a]

Thanks for all the good feed back and we will look into the turbo lister and also the "File>Import>CSV File and hook up to your database."

As to being 10 years late I doubt it. Maybe we are 10 years early, maybe the people who have been selling for the past 10 years will be stuck in tradional methods which are time consuming. Maybe running an ebay store through our database (if possible) will be much more cost effective than people who have been selling for 10 years and editing products individually.

As for "ebay buyers are looking for diamonds 30-50% below ......." You may be right but this could be wrong.

We sell our jewelry to customers all over the world through our website direct from Bangkok so Im sure there is still a gap in Ebay after 10 years if its the right product at the right price.

[kula]

Originally Posted by Steven1976a

As to being 10 years late I doubt it. Maybe we are 10 years early, maybe the people who have been selling for the past 10 years will be stuck in tradional methods which are time consuming. Maybe running an ebay store through our database (if possible) will be much more cost effective than people who have been selling for 10 years and editing products individually.

As for "ebay buyers are looking for diamonds 30-50% below ......." You may be right but this could be wrong.

I started selling on ebay for one of my customers 13 years ago. He's a jeweler. I've managed jewelry sales on ebay ever since. Do you even know what the gray sheet is? as for turbolister, ebay API, scraping and injecting, i have done it all. for a real bulk listing and auction/store management tool take a look at www.kyozou.com.

as for editing products individually, selling on ebay is just SEO all over again, with the ebay search function as the target engine. your listing is the page which must be optimized. there is absolutely no substitute for "editing products individually."

nobody takes you at all seriously on ebay until you have at least a 100 rating, at least 97% positive. a little research (see www.hammertap.com) will show you that the bulk of ebay sales go to powersellers with at least 1000 rating. when the typical ebay customer sees you have no rating and are located in Bangkok, they won't even bid.

the key to ebay sales is rating, and you will go through 4 or 5 handles before you learn that rating means: 1. kissing customer ass 24/7, many times over the telephone (on your dime from Bangkok ha, ha); and 2. fighting every negative post to the death. you've never even heard of square trade, but you will learn that name well after giving up on your 2nd or 3rd handle.

the ebay operations i oversee now only market items where they can get a better markup than in their retail operations, because the cost of doing business on ebay on a continuing, successful basis approaches the cost of bricks, mortar and salespeople!

of course its always amusing to watch the eagerness and confidence of gremmies. and just as amusing to watch their discomfiture when they go belly up.

[billwhedon]

Originally Posted by kula

I started selling on ebay for one of my customers 13 years ago. He's a jeweler. I've managed jewelry sales on ebay ever since. Do you even know what the gray sheet is? as for turbolister, ebay API, scraping and injecting, i have done it all. for a real bulk listing and auction/store management tool take a look at www.kyozou.com.

as for editing products individually, selling on ebay is just SEO all over again, with the ebay search function as the target engine. your listing is the page which must be optimized. there is absolutely no substitute for "editing products individually."

nobody takes you at all seriously on ebay until you have at least a 100 rating, at least 97% positive. a little research (see www.hammertap.com) will show you that the bulk of ebay sales go to powersellers with at least 1000 rating. when the typical ebay customer sees you have no rating and are located in Bangkok, they won't even bid.

the key to ebay sales is rating, and you will go through 4 or 5 handles before you learn that rating means: 1. kissing customer ass 24/7, many times over the telephone (on your dime from Bangkok ha, ha); and 2. fighting every negative post to the death. you've never even heard of square trade, but you will learn that name well after giving up on your 2nd or 3rd handle.

the ebay operations i oversee now only market items where they can get a better markup than in their retail operations, because the cost of doing business on ebay on a continuing, successful basis approaches the cost of bricks, mortar and salespeople!

of course its always amusing to watch the eagerness and confidence of gremmies. and just as amusing to watch their discomfiture when they go belly up.

Gosh, don't'cha just love the sarcasm of someone poking at newbies instead of being positive and helpful? Could it be that our "gremmie" has some ideas that strike fear of competition in the heart of Mr. Highly-Experienced, prompting him to taunt rather than teach?

Most of the posts in this thread have been helpful and encouraging. Negativity posted twice only has the effect of leading me to believe the poster has another agenda.
Bill Whedon
B&T Enterprise Sales International, LLC
bt4you.com
got cement?

[DCnotPC]

I can understand the desire to get a piece of the eBay action... but as many have pointed out, there are many obstacles. Not barriers.... just challenges. The fees are a big one!
I have tried Froogle in the past with no success, but they are set up exactly as you want. Create a file and update it each month.
I don't know if there are any buyers though????
Any thoughts out there?
Dave

[bj]

Froogle is being "sidelined" and eventually discontinued. Google is doing something else, I forget what.

[DCnotPC]

Wonder what they are up to? I'll do some digging.

[DF]

I don't know of any other way of managing eBay listings other than through the 3rd party software previously mentioned.

I know of one person who utilized 3rd party software where the software/website that managed their eBay listings them prevented them from utilizing search engine optimization, so you'd want to double check that part first if you think you may want to move in that direction at some point.

Once you take the plunge and register with eBay, I know one site that has a lot of free marketing tools and also allows you to import and market your eBay listings for free in your local area as well as nationally. It's new, and there is a site for most every major metropolitan city in the US. www.freefornetworks.com - you can find the closest one to you.

Hope this helps and good luck.

[zinruss]

Originally Posted by henrynelson

OK, more about Ebay:

I don't really use Ebay to sell a lot of product. I do use it to create brand awareness. People see the listing and learn about my brand.

Here's what you CAN'T do:

1. Direct clickable links to your web site.

2. Contact bidders and offer to sell them stuff directly, outside of Ebay.

Here's what you CAN do:

1. Use your logo prominently

2. Use your brand name prominently

3. Refer to your url by using it as your company name "Here's another great product by HenryNelson.com" (no link)

4. Use great photos and great copy describing your products

5. Start an Ebay store and set the options so people can subscribe to a Store Newsletter. Send newsletters out regularly.

6. Sell on Ebay with a low or no margin, you're generating leads here, not making profit

7. (very important) On every sale, put a catalog and a coupon in the box with the item

You are 100% right. Brand awareness is the key here. Most of the time, ppl will purchase the product if they "believe" the product is popular. No offence bro, i am just sharing my personal point of view in this matter.

You have done a lot of good promoting method where ebay can't ban your account because you do not break the TOS. Logo and trademark is an indirect marketing method to remind others ppl regarding your brand.

Great job!

[Steven1976a]

"Gosh, don't'cha just love the sarcasm of someone poking at newbies instead of being positive and helpful? Could it be that our "gremmie" has some ideas that strike fear of competition in the heart of Mr. Highly-Experienced, prompting him to taunt rather than teach?"


Lets be grateful that kula never invented the wheel. Who knows if he did Ferraris would probably still have stone or wooden wheels.

[Steven1976a]

Kuala said

"as for editing products individually, selling on ebay is just SEO all over again, with the ebay search function as the target engine."

So basically what I am suggesting will work right? I want to send optimised info from our database to Ebay to generate a store set up with all the Optimised bits of info. Why do i need to repeat work if its already been done in my database?

As for the customer service part
"kissing customer ass 24/7, many times over the telephone (on your dime from Bangkok ha, ha)"

We dont sell to any customers in Thailand now. Our customers are all around the world from South America, North Amercia, Europe, Middle East, Japan, Australia.

Any calls to America are done around 8am in the morning our time. Evening time for Ebayers.

Europe I call my mum all the time in England and it works quite well. usually around 4pm-5pm which makes it 10am England Time.

Middle East - Call them around 2pm (10-11am their time)
Australia/Japan - Call them around 10am (2pm their time)

So i guess this answers your query about our time zone. ha ha

[a8llison]

"as for editing products individually, selling on ebay is just SEO all over again, with the ebay search function as the target engine."

Not to toot my own horn, but we built a company on optimizing sellers for eBay. Our sellers pull down over $2 million a month. It's more complex than SEO keywords.

First, web keywords are not the same as the top keywords within eBay. These vary by category. Second, you have a 55 character limit in the title so you may have to choose which keywords get you more pull and conversions. Third, you must run listings in the auction core to get traffic to your store and this is where the strategy of what to list becomes complex and expensive.

You do have one incredible advantage compared to other eBay jewelry sellers and that is your international experience. eBay US is growing slower than the rate of US ecommerce, but eBay international, especially China, is driving eBay's overall growth. Kudos to you for being able to hitch your wagon to the international train!

[Steven1976a]

Hi ALlison,

Do you have any further details of the services you provide for ebay?
We are looking for a solution which will run next to our new website which is under construction.

I tried to PM you but for some reason it was having problems sending.

Steve

[bugnbelle]

If you own an ebay store you get free statistics through omniture which can be useful. You can also pay for ebay market research (I have never paid for it) and get detailed information on key word search volume, etc. You can also subscribe to www.sellathon.com and get auction monitoring which will allow you to see what key words drove someone to your auction and how they go there. It can help you feel out the waters for your selling category.

Also, check out the ebay community boards there is probably one for your selling category. I have found so much useful information there.

As for feedback... YEP it matters. Especially if you are out of country. BUT you can buy and earn feedback that way. It's a quick way to break 100.

I've noticed that ebay is extremely well placed in the Search Engines. You can now write reviews and guides on ebay on just about any subject and I'm seeing those turn up with top 10 placement on some subjucts I've googled. There is a lot you can to do help people find your ebay listings.

Ebay is not an easy beast to figure out, I've been there for 3 years and it is a sharp learning curve. The items I sell are pretty unique in many ways, but it's so competitive also now that you have to really be smart about what you are doing. And the fees... definately check out the fees and run some numbers.

Good luck!

[Beaker]

Kuala said

of course its always amusing to watch the eagerness and confidence of gremmies. and just as amusing to watch their discomfiture when they go belly up.

Hey Just so you know you can there fast. I became a Powerseller on Ebay in 3 months because I had a great product. I may not have a 1000 rating but I have a great product and great feedback check me out at (moffetttrading) on Ebay.

As for the most part I agree with what every body is saying. I Do howeve wish someone Like CUBECART or XCART would get together with Ebay to develop a link between them. It would definately help my business on both fronts.

[/quote]

[Steven1976a]

I cut straight to the chase. I did a search for "xml ebay" on google.

Is there anyone out there who knows their xml? Is it or will ebay be open for sending xml feeds with our product information direct from our database so that we can create our optimized google ebay store?

Im really lazy and i only want to have to enter new products into our database once.