| Internet auction sites give buyers a "virtual" flea | | | | to be no key turn solution to this matter. I looked at |
| market with new and used merchandise from around | | | | some semi-professional components, but merely |
| the world; they give sellers a global storefront from | | | | suited for some specific tasks as for instance to |
| which to market their goods. But the online auction | | | | allow administrators to start an auction for some of |
| business can be risky business. | | | | his stuff. That's nice but there is no interaction, no |
| Despite complaints of fraud, online auctions remain a | | | | community building, no traffic. Just maybe some |
| fun, efficient, and relatively safe way to shop -- if | | | | bidders on your one or two items. Also there were |
| you act prudently. Here's how: | | | | some issues regarding support and some not so clean |
| Become familiar with the auction site. Never assume | | | | Ajax programming. |
| that the rules of one auction site apply to another. If | | | | I sure wondered where all the developers have |
| the site offers a step-by-step tutorial on the bidding | | | | gone? ... |
| process, take it. It may save you frustration and | | | | Yet since last week I noticed the new Auction |
| disappointment later. | | | | component ( by the guys at The Factory ( )! I must |
| Try to determine the relative value of an item | | | | say I'm impressed! They managed to design an "eBay |
| before you bid. Be sceptical if the price sounds too | | | | in the box" kind of component. Not only the users |
| low to be realistic. "Brick-and-mortar" stores and price | | | | can create Auctions, but there are nice features as |
| comparison sites may be good for reality checks. | | | | Auction watchlist (so you can keep track of |
| Consider whether the item comes with a warranty, | | | | interesting auctions - getting updates on the |
| and whether follow-up service is available if you need | | | | evolution), Proxy bidding (so you can specify a |
| it. Many sellers don't have the expertise or facilities to | | | | maximal bid and the system will bid in your behalf to |
| provide services for the goods they sell. If this is the | | | | that amount) and other nifty features. |
| case with your seller, be sure you're willing to forfeit | | | | So you want to create your own eBay, or maybe |
| that protection before placing a bid. | | | | the next Sotherby's? Well, now you can do it using |
| Find out who pays for shipping and delivery. | | | | Joomla. |
| Generally, sellers specify the cost of shipping and give | | | | How? |
| buyers the option for express delivery at an | | | | Together with some old partners from |
| additional cost. If you're uncertain about shipping | | | | SEO-Executive Inc, I started setting up several Sites |
| costs, check with the seller before you bid. | | | | using based on Joomla, installing Auction Factory as |
| Protect your identity. Never provide your Social | | | | an Auctions platform on these. |
| Security number or driver's license number to a seller. | | | | Why Joomla? Fist because it has a rarely seen |
| Don't provide your credit card number or bank | | | | versatility. You have Templates (free and commercial |
| account information until you check out the seller and | | | | - and I must salute all Templates from |
| the online payment or escrow service, if you're using | | | | Rockettemplate- very professional), Content items, |
| one, and ensure their legitimacy. Examine the online | | | | Articles, Banners, RSS (again I must give the thumbs |
| payment and escrow service's privacy policy and | | | | up to The Factory Team - RSSFactory-FREE- is by |
| security measures. Never disclose financial or personal | | | | far the best Aggregator - free or commercial!), |
| information unless you know why it's being collected, | | | | Community builder- Joomlapolis did a great, great |
| how it will be used, and how it will be safeguarded. | | | | work releasing this piece of Jewel! Also Galleries |
| So you think you want to run an auction site? | | | | (Zoom Media galley is my favorite). So in short: you |
| Creating auction sites is not for the faint-hearted, it's | | | | got it all. |
| recommended to use a professional Web design | | | | So we started putting Auction Sites together. We |
| company to create and support your endeavour. | | | | started some niche auction sites (Mobile phones, |
| Don't ever think you can do this alone - unless you | | | | Domain names, Turnkey websites), and some wide |
| want to start a niche auction site. For such narrow | | | | range (Anything goes). |
| markets you can start smaller and make it up to the | | | | We must say we were impressed by the easiness of |
| top. | | | | Joomla and Auction Factory - both go so smooth - |
| Should you use a design company or build your own? | | | | installation, administration. |
| You can certainly save thousands of dollars by using | | | | There is one trick with Joomla: SEO is easy with |
| an "out of the box" package, or employing your own | | | | Joomla - meta tags are easy to set up, page titles |
| in-house IT skills. But these savings may be small | | | | are dynamic, but if you want to get the best out of |
| compared with the turnover of a successful site -- | | | | it - you must enable SEF, and use a SEF Extension |
| or, more seriously, the cost of getting it wrong. Use | | | | (Joomla's own code SEF is rubbish). We used mostly |
| for starters a small niche to test. Testing never fails | | | | ARTIO Sef , but OpenSef is also a very good |
| to provide you with information and experience that | | | | extension. Auction factory has a plugin for both |
| you never get anywhere else | | | | OpenSef and ARTIO Sef, so there were nice URLs |
| Creating an auction site is nothing compared to | | | | like /auction/nokia-8010-new-in-package.html or |
| running one, and you may wish to read before what | | | | auction/used-armchair-urgent.html |
| such a site needs. Popular ways of getting a site | | | | These URLS are very important for a startup site |
| started include: | | | | AND for one established. The chances of getting a |
| * setting a price at which a bid automatically wins. | | | | higher position into Google or similar engines is at |
| * featuring selected items on other auction sites, | | | | least doubled! |
| drawing visitors to your site by including your URL. | | | | The sites we set up got pretty soon (right to the |
| To deal with bogus bids and timewasters: | | | | next Pagerank update) a PR 3, and we are hoping |
| * impose rigorous payment terms and stick to them. | | | | for a dramatic increase in the next Google Pagerank |
| * vet all winning bids by telephone or email. | | | | update. Here are some SEO pointers, maybe you |
| * require bidders to log in with personal details. | | | | could use them too. |
| * run private auctions to accredited bidders. | | | | As a Auctions site administrator you must keep an |
| * blacklist offenders. | | | | eye on all the transactions. Don't worry, there will not |
| * check suspicious bids. | | | | be so many at beginning, and when you got too |
| * automatically deny a second highest bid when | | | | many, just use the internal Reporting system from |
| highest is suspicious. | | | | the Auction component. That's how users will alert |
| Since I am strongly in the Joomla developing and | | | | you regarding some of the dubious auctions. |
| Web site building, I wondered if Joomla is up to the | | | | In an following article I will give you guys more details |
| Task of being set up as an Auction Site. I searched | | | | on setting up the site and what you have to keep in |
| for some solutions few months ago. There seemed | | | | mind regarding all these issues. |