Hi ,
Well, the official numbers
are starting to roll in. If you have any doubt about starting an
online retail business - this should be an eye opener for you!
Cyber Monday Second-Best Day Ever for Online Retail
Cyber Monday accounted for $846 million in online spending, up 15% from last year - and the second-highest amount spent in online retail since the $881 million spent on Green Monday 2007, according to comScore, writes Retailer Daily.
Moreover, e-commerce spending for the four-day period from Black Friday through Cyber Monday jumped 13%, as both weekend days and Monday each achieved double-digit gains, comScore said.
http://www.comscore.com/
... and shoppers ALSO
spent 7.2% MORE on their purchases.
To keep those sales
rolling in here are a few tips:
-
Send out a newsletter.
Remind customers you'll do the following:
- Offer overnight and express
shipping
- Offer to mail directly to the recipient
- Offer gift wrapping services (of
course you can charge extra)
-
Watch your inventory
closely - especially if you are multi-channel selling
-
If you are using
auctions - change the length from 7 to shorter 1 & 3 day times
-
Create a custom page
with a top ten best Christmas Gifts
For those who are new to
selling online this year - a quick heads up. The holiday selling
season extends beyond the Christmas holiday. Most years sales remain
brisk until February and beyond.
2009 the
Year of Internet Video
We had a great webinar about
the changes in Video in 2009. There are some really big changes
coming, including High Definition players and advanced tools for
sellers. Video is going to play a BIG roll in SEO rankings as well.
If you missed the live
broadcast - head on over to www.websellerscircle.com
- we'll have a link to the recording up in a few days. Add yourself to
the mailing list and we'll send you a special link to watch it.
The Marketing Minute
- A Fun New Video Series
Click
here to watch the video
During eBay Live, I
asked as many sellers as possible to give me their favorite
marketing tip. Over the next several weeks I'll let them tell you,
in their words, their favorite eBay marketing tip. Watch my blog,
YouTube, Twitter,
or your email inbox for the latest video.
This weeks guest
is Skip McGrath, author and eBay lecturer from www.skipmcgrath.com
EBAY RADIO GROUP - JUNE
2009 PARTY
Almost Live Get Together
Lee Mirabal, Jim Griffith and eBetsy from eBay radio has started a grass roots eBay get together in June 2009. Talk is that there will be experts, parties and cheap buffets. This will be an
excellent chance to network with other eBayers. And, there is talk that if we can get together at least a hundred people, the eBay contingent will come.
First line of business: choosing which city we want it in: Las Vegas or San Diego - so go to:
http://www.wsradio.com/RADIOGROUPJUNE/ and vote.
Send Lee an email if you are interested in attending. The link is on the page.
How To Put A
Border Around Your eBay Gallery Photo
To see the video
click on this link
One way to stand out from your competition and draw buyers into your
listings is to put a border around your gallery photo. Here's a quick
video that makes it simple.
I will show you how
to put a border around your gallery photos before you list them using
the batch edit command to do them all at once. If you don't have irfanview
software, it's free and very easy to download. Install a copy then
come back and watch this tutorial.
Go to: http://www.irfanview.net
If you want to take it a
step farther (this is a more advanced step - not necessary -
but will make your gallery photo unique from your other pictures).
To create a photo around the
gallery photo only - and still use the same image in your listing
without the border here's what you'll need to do:
-
Host your own photos -
use Photobucket or Inkfrog or your own website
-
Create the gallery only
photo with the border
- Make your eBay gallery photo size
80 pixels X 80 pixels including border
-
Use the 'self hosting'
tab when listing the item and put the unique gallery image URL in
the 'enter your web address line'
-
Use the same service to
host your other photos and insert them into your listings using
the HTML tab. (This not only gives you the unique Gallery - it
save you $)
Stand Out In A
Sea Of Free With Profitable Gallery Photos
A New CD Tutorial
With everyone’s gallery images now free, how will YOURS standout among the crowd? Join photography expert Cindy Shebley
and OSI Trainer
Janelle Elms as they give you some brilliant ideas on doing just that!
-
What's a good gallery
photo
-
Why it will become
your most valuable real estate on eBay
-
Simple steps to
improve your photos
-
Cindy's best lighting
tips
-
Basic equipment that
will make a difference
-
Step-by-step on how
to use Bling! It
-
How to add photos to
your listing
-
And, how to add
photos without paying extra in fees
-
How to make a text
only graphic for your gallery
Purchase the CD Rom now for $14.95
- click
here
The
PhotoShop Elements Class Has A Date & Time!
Thanks to everyone
who's sent me an email!
We've had so much interest in a Photo
Editing Class that Dany Byrne and I will be teaching an online series on
PhotoShop Elements.
This online class covers the basics of PhotoShop Elements. We'll help you get the most out of your camera and produce award winning pictures that you'll be proud to share!
This course will meet three times - January 10, 17 and 24th from 2:00 -3:30 pm Pacific Time.
We'll take you through, step-by-step the basic tools provided in PhotoShop Elements. The modules are designed to show you how to use the tools, allow you a week to get familiar with them, and then we'll move on to the next level
Learn To
Blog
Whether you are a new or
experienced blogger, you will find something to improve your blog
in this new book.
-
Learn the difference
between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
-
Find out how to
optimize your blog for top search engine rankings (SEO)
-
Learn how to earn
income from AdSense, Commission Junction, and affiliate sales
-
Discover which
Plug-Ins are 'Must Haves'
-
Learn how to
schedule "future posts" so you will never be
overwhelmed by the demand for constant updates
This e-Book is a perfect
guide to those ready to start a Wordpress Blog.
For more information or
to purchase Blogging
With Wordpress visit ghostlegpress.com
Buy
it now, Dany has tons of great bonuses, including a special
members only area including a webinar class for those who purchase
early.
More On The Local Scene
The December Monthly
eBay Success Meeting:
The next Seattle EBay Success Group meeting will be held
Wednesday morning, 12/10, It's
going to be a celebration - potluck!
at Lake Forest Park meeting room (near the food court by Third Place Books)
from 9:30 - 11:30 am.
Please let Carol know if you are joining us and what you'd like to
bring. Click here to
send her an RSVP email.
PS: Grita asked us to
bring clothing to donate to the thrift store she works at. They
give vouchers to clients who can't afford to pay for the items -
and this year they are running short on clothes. Clean out your
closets and bring them to the potluck!
Puget Sound Ebay Support Group Seabayer
SeaBay member Bud gave a shout out about the meeting Tuesday Dec
9th. in the evening. It's in Mountlake Terrace at moderator Joni's place.
We are having a cookie exchange. If you want to take part please bring a dozen cookies or candy and a few extra to munch on during the meeting. We will share our stash with each other and spread the cheer.
Topic: Hope everyone is Holding there OWN through the recession.
If you attend email Joni for address at jwright348@aol.com
Winter
Classes
January Schedule around
the Puget Sound:
eBay Basics
Sandpoint Education
Center
1/28 & 2/4/2009 - 6:30 -9:30pm
more
information
Oak
Harbor - 12th & 14th
more
information here
Digital Cameras
101
Sandpoint Education
Center
1/26/2009 - 6:30 -9:30 pm
more
information here
Internet/eBay
Photography
Sandpoint Education
Center
1/27/2009 - 6:30-8:30 pm
more
information here
An Introduction to
Buying & Selling Online
Renton Community Center
1/29/2009 6:00-9:00 pm
More
information here
Lynnwood Community
Center
1/30/2009 6:00 -9:00 pm
More
information here
Selling on Amazon
(online selling)
Skagit Valley Community
College
2/18 6:00 - 9:00 pm
more
information
Dany Byrne wanted to let
you know about some exciting new classes she'll be teaching this
March, at the Everett Community College:
NEW CLASSES BEGIN - March, 2009
Introduction to Blogging
Popular Publishing Class
You Tube Class
For more information
about her classes - visit her website at: http://www.dbyrneassociates.com
Have
you visited my blog lately?
If not, you've missed these articles:
A great chance for a little publicity
http://clovercitysells.blogspot.com/2008/12/great-chace-for-little-publicity.html#links
How Much Are You Willing To Pay For Success?
http://websellerscircle.com/pay-success/
Ready To Start An Honest Online Business?
http://websellerscircle.com/ready-start-honest-online-business/
Payments by Amazon
http://websellerscircle.com/payments-amazon/
Want to make an extra $1000 a month?
http://websellerscircle.com/100000-week-potential-income-stream/
Want to improve your
SEO?
One tried and true
method to improving your SEO is links to your site or store.
Because my site ranks pretty high in my field the requests for
links is constant. I usually ignore them, but recently I had a
group contact me for a link several times. I finally took a look
at their site and determined they'd be a good match. So, to make a
long story short - I told them "yes... but..."
Then I got to thinking,
If I going to say yes to perfect strangers, it would only be fair
to offer the same deal to all of you. So, here it is. If you want
a link I'll provide them in exchange for an interview. It can be
on your area of expertise - and it can be either written, spoken
or a webinar. I have all the technology we need. I'll promote the
interview on my blog, in this newsletter and put a link on my
site.
Send your interview
proposal to me at: cindy@clovercitysells.com
- I look forward to hearing them!
That's it for now,
Cindy Shebley
eBay Certified Business Consultant
author eBay Marketing Bible
www.clovercity.com
Copyright 2008 Cindy L.
Shebley Enterprises
| 