| s like ebay is at last embracing the fact that many | | | | 10. Facilitates useful 2-step marketing tool (i.e. sell a $1 |
| sellers want to offer digital products on eBay, and | | | | report on eBay for leads) |
| many buyers are interested in buying them. | | | | Until recently there was quite a bit of confusion for |
| If you've been selling digital products on eBay, you | | | | some people when it came to selling digital items on |
| will know that they haven't made it too easy for | | | | eBay, however eBay is now embracing the concept |
| you. | | | | of selling digital goods. |
| And yet, digital products are THE ideal product for | | | | Let's talk now about what eBay has created to help |
| eBay sellers. | | | | us sell digital products. |
| You can define digital products as having (almost) | | | | This is a massive step forward. |
| 100% profit, cost nothing to deliver, may not have | | | | It answers most of the questions sellers had about |
| any competition, is available in unlimited quantities, | | | | selling digital goods, removes most of the obstacles |
| costs nothing to re-stock and can sell very well. | | | | that were previously there, and indeed goes much |
| So many people are now selling digital products on | | | | further than most of had hoped. |
| eBay, that is now making it easier for us. | | | | You can now, for example, establish a download |
| They have produced a whole new section on the | | | | page where customers are automatically sent after |
| selling forms for us to complete. | | | | paying for a digital item through PayPal. This could be |
| If you're based in the UK, you too can list your digital | | | | quite a difficult task before, but now it's automatic. |
| products on You can take advantage of the new | | | | Also, if you have a web address where you host |
| digital goods listings process and offer your products | | | | your digital files for sale, eBay can provide your |
| to the vast US eBay market. Simply log in with your | | | | buyers (after they pay) with direct access to the |
| usual eBay ID and password. Now you're ready to us | | | | files they have purchased. All you do is to "Provide |
| the new selling forms. | | | | Web address for download" from the pull-down |
| First, however, just what are digital or downloadable | | | | menu when creating your auction. |
| products? | | | | This is all intimately linked to PayPal, as digital item |
| EBay defines a digital item as "a computer file or | | | | buyers and sellers want to be able to have the |
| special information that you can access online or have | | | | product delivered automatically and immediately after |
| delivered electronically." | | | | payment. You don't have to do this, you can still |
| Examples of digital items are a word processor or | | | | deliver by email if you wish. |
| pdf file (usually called ebooks), an image taken with a | | | | It seems to imply that digital goods will be allowed in |
| digital camera, an MP3 file of an original song, | | | | many categories now, instead of being restricted to |
| software, an original recipe etc. | | | | the one "information" category that they have |
| Here are some of the benefits of selling digital goods: | | | | hitherto required digital item sellers to use. Although |
| 1. No shipping cost for buyer or seller | | | | not clearly spelled out, the new policy does make |
| 2. Virtually NO competition | | | | reference to "multiple categories" being used for |
| 3. Swarms of customers if done right | | | | digital goods. Keep an eye out for clarification on that |
| 4. Very high profit margins | | | | matter. |
| 5. No restocking expense | | | | All of this is really good news. |
| 6. No boxes to pack | | | | If you sell digital items, or want to, the doors of |
| 7. No visits to the Post Office | | | | opportunity have been opened wide by eBay. I hope |
| 8. Immediate confirmed delivery to customers | | | | you can take advantage of it. I know I will! |
| 9. Sellers can grow a mailing list with every sale | | | | |