What Conference Will Replace eBayLive? Where Will You Go?
Now that eBayLive is a thing of the past, (yeah I know, 2010 if you believe in fairytales) where will eBay marketers, and for that matter all ecommerce merchants go to get the latest information and strategies? Where will you go to learn about the latest software and services available to your online business?
I know that there are a plethura of seminars and conferences, but the question is which one will step to the forefront for those that market on sites like Onlineauction, eBay, Amazon, eCrater or any other venue? Will there be an event that steps up and tries to fill the eBayLive void? I don’t believe we will see a company conference the likes of eBayLive in the near future. With it’s vast income, eBay could afford this type of an event. The eBayLive confernece was certainly not a profitable event and never was intended to be self sustaining.
Where Will You Go
While researching this post, I contacted PESA/ECMTA and was given the following information. The will be holding a 2 day event September 10-11 in Melbounre Australia, September 18-20 2008 ECMTA will be at the Inc 500/5000 Conference in Washington DC and finally ECMTA will conduct a 1 day event in San Francisco October 1, 2008. In addition, ECMTA advised me that they are planning on small regional events and larger Summits for 2009 but no dates or locations are available at this time.
Channeladvisor advised me that they are planning another Catalyst event for possibly April or May of 2009 but details are also not yet available.
AsWas’ RocketPlace event is scheduled for September 10-12, 2008 in Las Vegas. This event is focused on eBay marketing but also includes information ecommerce merchants can gain from no matter what venue they sell from. The keynote speaker will be Marsha Collier author of the eBay For Dummies series of books, and other presenters include Jay Berkowitz author of The Ten Golden Rules for Internet Marketing and John Lawson CEO of 3rd Power Outlet plus many other notables.
With the economy in recession, these events vying for your conference dollars are rethinking their positions. I believe there will be much smaller regional events planned for 2009 by the various providers but can’t help but wonder which conferences our readers and listeners will attend in 2009.
If you are planning on attending an event in 2009, let us know which one.
Listen in each week to ebay & Beyond: Basics to Business live every Saturday from 10 AM to Noon ET to hear the latest in ecommerce marketing news and strategies.
Marketing Strategies For the Holiday Season
Oh the weather outside is frightful,,,,,
Believe it or not there are only 121 days until Christmas. You will notice I did not say shopping days till Christmas because in internet marketing every day is a shopping day. How prepared are you for the shopping season as an internet marketer?
If you are not ready and ramped up for the season, you may be facing a frightful few months. Many internet sites have already begun their campaigns and the competition will be fierce.
Marketing For The Holidays
Depending on your niche, holiday season marketing can make or break your business year. Consumer electronics are always hot starting around Labor Day. The one downside is that some manufacturers roll out their new products just prior to the holidays to increase demand and limit supply. Those businesses that can secure the latest versions of a product line do very well during this time of year. Consumers will be looking for the best deals, plain and simple. Big Box consumer electronics ecommerce sites have the advantage of higher search results but there are a few things you can do to increase your sales and visibility. First, know your market, and know what your customers want. Research is the key! Make sure you are paying attention to your competition, because they certainly will be watching you. Secondly, whether you sell on eBay or Amazon, Onlineauction, Overstock or any other online venue get your products listed early and use a Fixed Price format. Buyers of holiday gifts do not want to wait for auction format items. Holiday shoppers do not want to run the risk of not being the high bidder.
Many buyers will be looking for their gifts now before the rush. According to an article by WorkZ.com, most online buyers EXPECT free shipping especially if buying more than one item from the same seller. Free shipping is another great way to attract customers, but if you use email campaigns to promote your sales be careful using Free in the subject line as this may trigger email spam filters.
eCommerce marketers might want to consider a value added type approach to attracting customers such as including a free gift with the sale. I have used this approach in years past and had great success while selling clothing.
Causal marketing, donating a portion of the sale to charity is another great way to attract buyers. If buyers know that part of their purchase will benefit their favorite charity, they are more likely to purchase.
The 2008 Holiday Shopping Outlook
While 2007 was a banner online shopping year, many experts are predicting a leveling off. The economy is the biggest fear among buyers. Mortgage failures, high oil prices and the concern over the presidential race are noted as the biggest reasons for this expected flat growth.
Be Customer Friendly
As you gear up for the holiday season, be customer friendly. Enable your customers. Accept all forms of payment (I know eBay is changing this but do what you can until late October). Communicate with your buyers often to ensure they receive their items and they are pleased. Treat any problems proactively, and professionally.
OLA-Radio August 14, 2008
OLA-Radio August 14, 2008
This weeks program focuses on keywords for listings to ensure search engine optimization.
WSJ Article About Problems with eBay Spurs Large Response From Readers
An article published yesterday by the Wall Street Journal references Scot Wingo’s eBay Strategies blog as to some of the main concerns voiced by sellers on the eBay site. Scot Wingo is the CEO of Channeladvisor.com an ecommerce marketing solution provider, focused on increasing business using multi-channel marketing. Scot has indepth insight into the ecommerce marketing world and in his blog, highlights 4 main concerns for eBay sellers.
Tremendous Reader Response
The WSJ article focuses on the reasons eBay seems to be losing popularity amongst sellers and why the sellers are seeking addiitonal marketing venues. In response to the article readers comments are decidedly anti-eBay. When I reviewed the comments at 12 Noon today there appeared to be well over 40 comments, some long, some very short, but nearly all seemed to voice concern and displeasure with the direction the eBay site has taken in the past 12-18 months.
Related Story
In a related story, Randy Smythe author of MyBlogUtopia.com an ecommerce business blog, writes yesterday regarding the continuing decline in eBay sellers according to information published on the Seller Dome website and blog.
As sellers that no longer fit into the eBay business model seek other venues to market their products, sites such as Bidtopia.com, Onlineauction.com and others are seeing an influx of new members. The major hurdle that these other venues face is traffic, or rather the lack there of. As online marketing sites such as Onlineauction work hard to increase traffic, the users of the sites are demanding more be done to promote the sites. As website executives as well as members work hard to draw attention to these other venues I fully expect that we will see a new leader in the online auction format in the next year.
eBamazon?????
As eBay seems intent on creating a site to rival Amazon, ecommerce marketers are asking themselves “Does the ecommerce world really need another Amazon?” I really don’t know the answer to that question though I do believe that competition is a good thing.
I do know that when a business forgets it’s roots, and what made it strong, the mighty oak falters and falls.
Just food for thought!
Listen to ebay & Beyond: Basics to Business each Saturday 10 AM to Noon ET at www.basicstobusiness.com
Auction Floor Announces Full Integration With OnlineAuction.com
eBay Appears to Continue to Move Away From Auctions
As eBay continues on what many consider to the be a move away from auctions both in the online and live format, many live auctioneers were left looking for a venue to integrate into their auctions so they could include online bidders. eBay announced in April that it would discontinue it’s live auctions.
Since 2006 eBay has been putting emphasis on fixed price selling and making changes to the site that seem to disadvantage auction sellers. According to eBay, buyers are looking for quicker transactions.
Auction Floor and Onlineauction Take On The Task
AuctionFloor.com issued the following press release today:
NEW YORK, N.Y. August 11th, 2008 — Auction Floor, Inc. (Other OTC:AFLO.PK - News) (Frankfurt:ZUI.F - News), a leading web-based technology provider to the auction industry, today announced that has entered into a services agreement with OnlineAuction.com, a fast-growing online auction site operating on the Internet. The Company, through its Auction Manager system, will enable a growing number of auctioneers and online sellers to rapidly upload their item listings for viewing on the OnlineAuction.com website, while powering OnlineAuction.com with the technology to introduce live auction bidding across its platform for online sellers and traditional auctioneers.
OnlineAuction.com (www.onlineauction.com) has over 16 million items listed, making it one of the world’s largest marketplaces for online auctions. “In the aftermath of the decision by eBay to withdraw from the live auction market segment (www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9919800-7.html) OnlineAuction.com is positioned to offer a terrific alternative at lower cost for both online sellers and traditional auctioneers” said OnlineAuction.com CEO Chris Fain.
“The opportunity for Auction Floor to integrate its trading platform with OnlineAuction.com, will enable our network of sellers to reach an active and growing audience of buyers. OnlineAuction.com has a highly experienced team in auction e-commerce, web marketing and a well timed value proposition for buyers and sellers.” noted Lou Sagar, CEO of Auction Floor
The Company’s AuctionManager, a proprietary auction management software solution, enables auction houses, consignors, and sellers to centralize their management for auction events from a single platform. The Company is marketing its network and product offering through multi-channel promotions, including print and web-based advertising. Please visit the Company’s website at www.auctionfloor.com.
August 9th, 2008 ebay & Beyond: Basics To Business
This week we discuss the recent policy changes on eBay, the onlineauction.com upgrades and the debut of Amazon checkout.
In addition we discuss marketing strategies, computer safety, and blogging.
[podcast]http://www.ecommerce-marketing-radio-network.com/Podcasts/08-09-08.mp3[/podcast]
OLA-Radio Premiere Is A Great Success
The premiere of OLA-Radio was a great success judging by the response of listeners. The chat board was full of users, and a number of questions were presented to guest Chris Fain, CEO of Onlineauction.com.
As Onlineauction.com gears up after the major relaunch of the site with new features and improved usability, members are ramping up thier listings and promoting the site as the true online auction venue. Fain discussed the improvements to the site that have been made and what is planned for the future. Fain outlined plans for webinars and other educational events aimed at improving sell thru rates, as well as advertising concepts on google and other venues. Chris said he realizes that the site is not where it needs to be, but with the recent and planned improvements, the site would become the premiere online auction venue.
Members Leading the Way
Fain said that he and the executives of OLA are extemely proud of the huge support the members are showing to the site. He thanked all the members for their support and help in defining bugs in the new release. Our members have provided the input we needed to ensure the improvements we have made meet their needs Fain said.
Members have conducted several site promotion sales over the past few months, and continue to promote the site with advertising in various venues, blogs and other websites.
Future Programs
The OLA-Radio program will air every Thursday evening 9-10 PM ET on the internet from www,ola-radio.com as part of the eCommerce Marketing Radio Network. Future programs will feature staff members of OLA as well as internet marketing experts and of course users of the site. The program will focus on how to improve sales results, better listings and ways to market the site.
Hosts Dave White and Sparky will lead the discussions and feature special auctions and spotlight memebers.
What Listeners Said
Several members and listeners have already written blogs regarding the program. Scott Pooler, author of the Trading Assistant Journal blog gives his take on the program and gives his insight on the site. OLA member Grouchow posted his comments on his blog as did member Callmemomo.
Glitches
While the program was a great success, it was not without glitches. About 10 minutes into the broadcast a power surge (severe thunderstorms were in the area) knocked the program off the internet for about 5 minutes. Dave & Sparky were able to get the program back up and the program continued without further problems.
Liquidity Services Inc Announces Q3 Financials
Liquidity Services Inc. parent company of Liquidation.com and GovLiquidation.com and other sites has released their Q3 financials. In the report, Liquidity Services shows a 35%+ growth.
“The Company’s ability to create liquid marketplaces for wholesale, surplus and salvage assets generates a continuous flow of goods from its corporate and government sellers. This flow of goods in turn attracts an increasing number of professional buyers to the marketplaces.”
Liquidation.com and Govliquidation.com provide internet sellers with opportunities to buy and sell products. Sellers on such sites as eBay and Onlineauction.com can find product for resale on both sites.
Feds Pass and Propose New Legislation Affecting eCommerce Sellers
IRS Rule Attached to Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 (Enacted)
The federal government continues to seek ways to generate income from internet sales. In an amendment attached very quietly to the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 (S.2636) which President Bush recently signed into law, third party credit card or transaction processing services will be required to report to the IRS those sellers conducting over 200 transactions or those who do over $10,000 worth of transactions per year.
Providers such as PayPal, Google Checkout, and others will be required to provide a 1099 to the seller and the IRS to provide the government with the ability to tax internet sellers. This law will take effect in January 1, 2011.
Organized Retail Crime Act of 2008 (Proposed)
In this proposed legislation HR.6491 would require online auction sites like eBay, Amazon, Onlineauction, Overstock.com and others to retain information about high-volume sellers and provide that information to retailers and to law enforcement officials in cases where police reports have been filed.
It is estimated by the National Retail Federation that organized retail crime costs retailers between 15 and 30 million dollars annually.
With the epidemic of shoplifting and other forms of retail theft, this measure will provide a means for law enforcement to cross check for items that may have been illeagally obtained.
Why Do We Do What We Do
Recently I have been asked why I began ebay & Beyond: Basics to Business Radio. What’s in it for me?
e-Commerce is changing daily. New sites are emerging, others are changing their ways. How is someone interested in becoming or increasing their presence on the internet supposed to keep up? Yes, there are other blogs, radio programs, even infomercials all designed to sell you something or be a cheerleading event for either a selling venue or list or some program that will turn your computer into an ATM machine. Simply list your stuff, and magically money will come pouring in. I was even foolish enough to work as a presenter for a software package that I thought really did want to help people start or grow their business. What a mistake! But I learned an important lesson.
ebay, Onlineauction, Etsy, eCrater, Amazon, Yahoo Stores, ChannelAdvisor, Kyozou, Infopia, MerchantAdvantage, Endicia, PayPal, GoogleCheckout, Hammertap, Terapeak, Shipwire, SalesAmigo and hundreds of other solution providers and venues,,,,,Which one is right for my business? How do I know? Where can I find the information? That is what our show is all about!
e-Commerce Is Still A Business
Business is hard. Plain and simple. In the early days, selling on the internet on venues such as eBay was much easier. There was much less competition, the mega-marts of the internet had not yet joined in. Many Mom & Pop type businesses grew rapidly. Life was good. But make no mistake, in my 11+ years selling on the internet, I have yet to wake up and find money pouring out of my computer! It takes a lot of hard work!
Then came the e-Commerce explosion! Larger businesses realized it was not just a fad. In order to reach the most amount of customers the internet was a must! Accompanying this explosion came the developers who built software and websites proclaiming their value in helping your business grow.
Why We Do What We Do
The purpose of our ebay & Beyond: Basics to Business radio program is to attempt to bring the truth about internet marketing to those that most need it. In todays economic climate, many individuals and small businesses are looking for the information they need to make the right decisions to help their businesses grow. We strive to bring our listeners the very latest information on e-Commerce. We do not focus on just one venue or software. Instead we invite guests to the program to better inform our listeners.
We try and bring our listeners the news regarding internet marketing without being a cheerleader. There are many marketing venues and making the right choice for your particular business model is important. Since we don’t sell anything, our program brings our listeners the opportunity to learn.
With knowledge comes power.
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