The key to being successful on eBay is getting people to your listings. If no one sees what you’re selling, no one’s going to buy it. And if they get there and don’t like what they see, they won’t stay around and buy. EBay PowerSeller Skip McGrath, of Skip http://McGrath.com, shares some simple techniques you can use to boost your traffic and your sales:



Increasing Your Traffic—Building Numbers

• Optimize Your Listings—90% of all eBay shoppers search by keyword, rather than browsing categories. So having a keyword-rich headline, or auction title, can make all the difference in helping people find you. McGrath suggests, “[Use] all the relevant keywords in the title, then if [you] have some space, use words like new, unique, one of a kind, rare, that sort of thing. The word should apply to what you’re selling.�

• Cross-Promote—The more you use your auctions to promote your eBay store, the more sales you get per listing. Most eBay users never click on the link that takes them from your auction to your store, so you can help yourself by putting a link to it in your written description. Tell your readers your eBay store carries this type of product and make the words “eBay store� a hyperlink to take them there. Says McGrath, “One of the big advantages of moving buyers from your auction to your store is that store listing fees and final value fees are a lot less than at auctions.�

Increasing Your Sales—Establishing Customer Trust

• Present a Professional Image—Presentation is especially important if you’re new to eBay. It takes time to build your feedback up to a level where your customers feel comfortable spending with you, particularly if you carry higher-end products. If you have a feedback of 30 or 40, buyers may be a little leery of trusting you with their money, so the image you create can make or break your sale. Having an attractive, professional store will go a long way towards establishing credibility.

• Brand Your Business—Branding is about consistency. Your customers should be able to recognize a particular look and associate that look with your business. The writing style, the layouts, the color schemes—everything should carry through in all of your venues. Branding results in repeat buyers and builds your customers’ confidence in you as a legitimate retailer.

About The Author:
Chris Malta and Robin Cowie of WorldwideBrands.com are the Writers and Hosts of The Entrepreneur Magazine EBiz and Product Sourcing Radio Shows. http://www.worldwidebrands.com/EMRinfo for more FREE eBiz info from Entrepreneur Magazine Radio!