| This month I have encountered two small | | | | listings. Choosing a User ID which is within |
| problems which have affected my eBay | | | | eBay policy will save you a lot of time in |
| business. If I had spent a little more time | | | | the future.2) About Me Page:- Do you have an |
| thinking about the design of my auction | | | | About Me page? If not you should get one as |
| listings, these problems could have easily | | | | it is one of the best promotion tools you |
| been avoided and I would have had more time | | | | have on eBay. If you do have one you really |
| to spend on other things instead of editing | | | | should link to it in your auctions as from |
| tiny mistakes in nearly 100 listings. There | | | | the About Me page has much fewer restrictions |
| have been many similar occasions in the past | | | | than your other eBay pages (for example you |
| where a little more forward planning would | | | | can link to your own website). If you want |
| have avoided me redesigning all my eBay | | | | to promote yourself on eBay the About Me page |
| auction listings. Therefore, my advice to | | | | is the best way to do it and the best way to |
| you in this issue is to think carefully about | | | | increase traffic to your About Me page is |
| the design of your auction listings. More | | | | promote it fully.3) Ebay Store:- If you have |
| time spent on your listing now can mean MUCH | | | | an eBay store then it is essential that you |
| less time spent redesigning them in the | | | | provide a link to it within your auction |
| future.Now the two actual problems I | | | | listings. Many customers who view your |
| encountered this month were the down to my | | | | auctions will not know that you have an eBay |
| PayPal address and my eBay ID. The first | | | | store or if they do they may not know exactly |
| problem was that for some reason the Pay Now | | | | what one is. If you want to maximise your |
| button in eBay was not working for all | | | | sales potential you need to make as many |
| customers. This led to me getting many | | | | customers aware of your eBay store as |
| emails from buyers saying the Pay Now button | | | | possible. Putting a simple sentence at the |
| is not working, or worse many people sending | | | | top of your auction listings such as "Can't |
| payments to one of my email addresses that | | | | wait for this auction to end? Then Click |
| was not registered with PayPal. The end | | | | Here to purchase it right now from my eBay |
| result was me having to explain and solve the | | | | store" will give your eBay store maximum |
| problem via multiple emails to multiple | | | | exposure in your eBay auctions.4) Email |
| customers. So how could I have avoided this | | | | Addresses:- Make sure that all relevant email |
| problem? Well in my actual eBay listing and | | | | addresses are included in your auction |
| Payment Policy I made no reference to my | | | | listing. Your PayPal email address must be |
| PayPal email address but included all my | | | | in here to avoid similar problems to the ones |
| other email addresses. I overlooked | | | | I experienced. All the email addresses you |
| including my PayPal email address in the | | | | wish to be contacted on should also be |
| listings simply because I assumed that the | | | | included as well. For example I include my |
| Pay Now button would work at all times. | | | | PayPal email , my delivery enquiries email, |
| Obviously not. I have now amended all | | | | and my general enquiries email. Even if you |
| listings to include my PayPal email address | | | | only have one email address which is the same |
| and thankfully since then I have had no | | | | as the one associated with your "Contact the |
| PayPal payments sent to the wrong email | | | | Seller" you should still include an email |
| address.So now all seems fine and dandy with | | | | link in your auction description simply |
| my eBay listings when 2 days ago I received | | | | because it makes it easier for the |
| an email stating that I needed to change my | | | | customer.5) Ebay Store Custom Pages:- If you |
| User ID because the previous one made | | | | have an eBay store you are allowed to design |
| reference to this website. Now on eBay you | | | | custom pages for whatever purpose you see |
| can get away with this type of User ID for a | | | | fit. If these custom pages are in any way |
| while but sooner or later eBay will catch you | | | | relevant to the auction then you should |
| out and make you change it. I knew this so | | | | include a link to them too.6) Images:- Have |
| really I should have chose a more sensible | | | | you put in all the images you want to use to |
| User ID instead of trying to get a little | | | | promote your auction. If not make sure they |
| extra traffic to my website. So how does | | | | are all included. What about your eBay |
| this affect my listings? Well in every | | | | store? If you have one then a store logo is |
| listing I include a link to my eBay feedback | | | | a great way to promote your store, make you |
| and eBay About Me page which now needs to be | | | | look more professional, and hopefully |
| changed. So that means more fun for me as I | | | | increase traffic and sales.These are just a |
| will have edit all my eBay listings yet | | | | few of the many things you should consider |
| again.So you may be wandering OK but what's | | | | before listing an item on eBay. I am sure |
| the point of this story. Well you (and | | | | you can think of many more. These rules are |
| hopefully me as well) can learn from my | | | | especially applicable to ebook sellers on |
| mistakes. These two examples illustrate how | | | | eBay because you will be constantly re-using |
| just a LITTLE forward planning would have | | | | the same auction listing to sell an ebook |
| saved a LOT of time for me and can do for you | | | | because you have an infinite supply. Getting |
| too. I will give you a few things to think | | | | the listing as close to perfect now will save |
| about when designing your auction listings | | | | you a LOT of time in the future. Good |
| but you may think of more.1) Ebay ID:- When | | | | luck!!!Tom Parker (Owner and Creator of The |
| choosing an eBay ID you need to think about | | | | Ebook Cavern) |
| using one that both reflects your line of | | | | |
| business and also sticks to eBay policy. I | | | | |
| know that it may be tempting to use | | | | |
| **yourwebsitename** as a User ID but that is | | | | |
| a violation of eBay policy and they will make | | | | |
| you change it eventually. If you have to | | | | free to use any of my articles on this |
| change your User ID then you have to change | | | | website but if you do please include my |
| every Feedback and About Me link in all your | | | | signature (name and website) from above. |