At the risk of sounding like
I'm repeating myself... here's more proof that online sellers are
positioned than most businesses.
More Online Spending News
For the five days beginning with December 1 (Cyber Monday), the kick-off to the heaviest part of the online shopping season, sales totaled $3.74 billion, up 9% versus the same period a year ago.
If you're selling online, count your lucky stars - reports indicated that retail spending was down
as much as 5% last month.
Oh, OH.. and the news keeps
getting better:
Overall, shoppers experienced an average of three problems during their last trip to
a mall. The most common problems included a lack of anything unique, too many stores carrying the same products, difficulty finding a parking spot, and a too-limited range of stores.
More than 80% of shoppers say they had at least one problem during their last visit to a mall, and four-fifths of these problems are related to mall diversity and “excitement,” according to a study by the Baker Retailing Initiative at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Verde Group.
Online sellers are the best positioned to make it through these tough times.
Part yourself on the back, you are at the right place at the right time.
How many buyers
are you missing?
Americans viewed a record 13.5
billion online videos during the month of October - with nearly 40% of them
on YouTube - representing a 45% increase in video watching vs. a year ago, according to October data from the comScore Video Metrix service.
More than 147 million US internet users watched an average of 92 videos per viewer in October. Google Sites attracted a record 100 million online video viewers - or more than two out of every three internet users who watched video during the month.
If you haven't embraced the potential of video make your 2009 New Year Resolution to learn how to use video to promote your business!
If you are wondering where
to start - I have a complete tutorial that covers everything from
setting the stage, lighting, sound and even what to say and where to
distribute it for maximum views. It's the four part CD series that Dany
from Ghostleg Media and I put together. You can find more details
here: http://www.ghostleg.com/usingvideo.htm
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 Steve Gehrke from
www.stevegehrke.com gives his favorite marketing tip
using Selling Manager Pro.
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 Create A
Quick Holiday Greeting To Email Your Customers
To see the video
click on this link
My video tip of the week is about keeping in touch with customers by sending
them a greeting card. I know there are some do-it-yourselfers out
there who enjoy making their own greetings.
I don't know about you, but
I like to keep things simple. So, let me show you an easy way to send
a customized greeting card using Photoshop Elements and a little help
from iStock
Photos.
There is so much talent on
the web, that for a couple of bucks you can have a professional
looking card in a few quick steps.
And, if you make a video -
I'm offering a chance to win a Free copy of Starting An eBay
Business For Dummies - see below for details.
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
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
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:
(PS: I've added an audio player let me know what you think)
Watching your inventory will increase your profits!
http://clovercitysells.blogspot.com/2008/12/watching-your-inventory-will-increase.html#links
Should you find a partner or outsource?
http://websellerscircle.com/find-partner-outsource/
Starting An Online Business Part Two
http://websellerscircle.com/starting-online-business-part/
Ready To Start An Honest Online Business?
http://websellerscircle.com/ready-start-honest-online-business/
Want to improve your
SEO and win a free prize?
Send me the new Holiday
Card email creations you made using the demo above and I'll post
them on my blog with a link back to your store. Email me at: cindy@clovercitysells.com
- put "email card contest" in the
subject line and be sure to include your store or website URL.
The contest rules:
Send them by Friday December 19th to be eligible. All entries will
be posted before the next newsletter. I'll let my newsletter
subscribers vote on the best entry in the next edition.
The person with the
highest vote count wins a copy of the book Starting an eBay Business
for Dummies by Marsha Collier.
I look forward to
seeing 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
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