ebay & Beyond: Basics To Business Podcasts Reviewed By AuctionWally
While prying open my sleepy eyes this morning I was greeted by a Direct Message (DM) from my good friend Walt Kolenda aka AuctionWally. As I was downing my morning coffee I about sprayed my computer screen with said coffee when I read the link that Wally had sent me! Imagine my total surprise when I began reading Wally’s review of my weekly live internet radio program ebay & Beyond: Basics To Business (also available as a podcast on Talkshoe and iTunes).
Walt has been a contributor/writer for Examiner.com for some time and recently has been charged with reviewing podcasts. I am totally floored that he would chose our program to be one of the first podcasts he reviewed.
Wally’s article is glowing and complimentary! Thanks so much Walt for the great review and exposure. As we approach our second anniversary show next week, I truly appreciate the attention and review by one of my peers.
eCommerce Marketing Radio Network Takes It To The Next Level
Janaury 23, 2009
Sherman, NY- eCommerce Marketing Radio Network announces today the beginning of a new era in live talk radio! Beginning Saturday January 24th 2009 ebay & Beyond: Basics to Business the longest running independent live weekly interactive talk radio program for ecommerce sellers will be simulcast live on both Talkshoe.com and live video on Ustream.tv.
As a pioneer in ecommerce news radio, the next progression is to provide live video streaming for better listener, (and now viewer) interaction. Using the wonderful technology of the internet, ebay & Beyond will now be able to demonstrate visually the products, software and techniques to improve ecommerce.
Initially we will provide live streaming video of the program and in the very near future, provide live screen shots of software, products and services that will enhance the listeners understanding of these items.
ebay & Beyond: Basics to Business is heard every Saturday morning, 10 AM to Noon ET.
The Future Of The Small Ecommerce Seller
Volumes have been written regarding the future of e-commerce as it relates to the “little guy”. The explosion of the internet has made millionaires and even billionaires out of dot com entreprenuers. Men and women that had a dream, and the drive to develop and execute ideas. Establishing their businesses in garages, basements, living rooms and kitchens around the world, the one thing these people have in common is that most of them started out as a one or two person operation.
One of the most frequent questions I field in my ecommerce courses is ” Can the small seller still get in and make money on the internet or is it too late?” The answer in my mind is a resounding YES, however this answer comes with caveats.
The route that many of us “old timers” took back in the late 90’s and early in the new century has become much more crowded and even gridlocked as we have moved into the new century and beyond. Back in the day as the popular saying goes, there was very little competition. The number of available venues could literally be counted on one hand. Sites such as eBay (and a FEW others) allowed the Mom & Pop sellers to market to the world and build a worldwide business. As we moved into the new century, established businesses began to take notice of the internet and the trememdous opportunities it offered to commerce.
The small sellers began facing tremendous competition as traditional Brick and Mortar (B/M) businesses started to realize the internet was not a fad, but a viable and yes necessary marketplace.
Today the Mom & Pop, as well as small and medium sellers face tremendous competition from the corporate world. To be successful, the “little Guys” must be competitive in all aspects of ecommerce marketing. From price to shipping to service and selection, the small seller needs to do it better than the corporate competition.
eBay is changing direction from the small seller to corporate accounts. Yes eBay can still be used as an integral part of marketing, but certainly should not be the only venue or channel used. Amazon.com offers a great marketing channel for larger businesses with quantity of merchandise but does not really fit those with low quantity numbers or the onsey twosey seller. Overstock.com is offering a similar service but again is more focused towards quantity sellers.
Many new marketing channels are now working hard to attract disenchanted small ebay sellers who have been disadvantaged by the eBay search changes or don’t fit into the Amazon.com type model. In order to begin a new business on the internet, sellers will have to do their research. They need to know their product, the demand for the product, and the best venues from which to market from. Knowledge is power, and having the knowledge to make an intelligent decision on how best to market your items will provide the small seller the best opportunity to succeed.
eBay Strike Begins, Onlineauction.com Rummage Sale Features Over 6300 Items
While some unhappy sellers on the site have begun the second round of the boycott, again eBay says that the boycotters actions will not change the course the site has set. While I personally do not think that a boycott is the answer, certainly those participating are unhappy and looking for other venues to market their products. 
To that end, Onlineauction.com sellers have organized wht they are calling the “RUMMAGE SALE” which began on the same day, May 1st, as the eBay Boycott. The rummage sale is being conducted by the sellers to gain exposure to the Onlineauction.com site. I checked this morning while writing this and there are over 6300 items in the rummage sale category which the site set up just for this event. All items in the rummage sale start at $0.99 and are in auction format. To recognize and assist the sellers in their endeavor, Onlineauction.com has purchased and donated 2 new Dell laptop computers and placed them into the Rummage Sale. All proceeds from these items (the laptops) will be donated to St. Judes Hospital.
In full disclosure, Onlineauction.com is an advertiser on our radio program ebay & Beyond: Basics to Business, however that is certainly not the reason I am posting this. I am posting this to point out that all business owners, Brick and Mortar or virtual, must make the correct decision for their business. Like I said, I don’t believe the eBay boycott will be effective. What I do believe is that if a marketing channel does not fit your business model, then you as a business owner need to make the decision to either change your business or make a change.
And that’s my Final Value of the day.
-
Sponsors
New Page 1 -
-
Affiliates
-
Join Me on LinkedIn
