How to Use eBay to Grow Your Other Businesses

Today, I thought I would share this little insight with you.

The trouble with running so many sites, is not getting the time to get round everything that needs doing. This week, I mentioned that I am selling a web site on eBay, and today I've added a few more items for sale. While I was setting up the auctions, I realised that my eBay 'About Me' page is looking somewhat tired. So, I decided to 'spruce it up' a little.

Nothing fancy, but I'm happier with it now. It's a simple design that tells potential eBay buyers a little more about me. It gives them my contact details, which can add credibility when trying to sell anything. I've also manged to add in an affiliate link to eBay Secrets, links to some of my other web sites, and a subscription form to help me build my mailing list. It's a great resource for maximising the marketing scope of the power that is eBay.

Here's more information on doing the same for your business:

How to Use eBay to Grow Your Other Businesses

Most of the people who make money from eBay don’t actually make all of that money on eBay. There are all sorts of ways you can use eBay to give your existing businesses a helping hand.

The Supply Side

If you have any leftover stock or used items from another business you run, then why not sell them on eBay? You can make this a regular thing, using it to get rid of things that won’t sell for the premium you ask for in a shop, or items that are no longer in demand in the town or city where your business is based.

You can really make a lot of money this way, if you know what you’re doing. You will, of course, already be an expert in the items you’re selling, as you use them in your business, and you’ll know that the items are of high enough quality to be sellable. This is a whole new market for your old inventory!

Not only that, of course, but remember that your good eBay reputation will make you a great buyer! If there’s ever anything you want to get for your business, the chances are you’ll be able to get it on eBay for a discount.

The Sales Side

Here, though, is where the true power of eBay lies. eBay give you an ‘About Me’ page, where you can write anything you like and link anywhere you like. This means that you can get traffic to your business’ website by linking to your website from your About Me page and linking to your About Me page from each auction.

To create an About Me page, just click on ‘Community’ on the toolbar, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click ‘Create an About Me page’. You then get the option to either enter your own HTML or let eBay guide you through the process. All you need to do is write a little about your website, link to it, and you’re done – you’ll notice that more people start to come to your site straight away.

There are thousands of people who swear by this technique to drive traffic from eBay to their website – with a little persuasive sales copy on your site, they say, you can sell directly to buyers, cutting out the eBay middleman. What’s more, all the traffic you’ll get will be targeted – because the people who click through were interested in your auction to begin with.

This can be a really powerful technique, especially if you’ve already got an e-commerce site. Even if you haven’t, you might find it worth your time to set up a website that does nothing but list your eBay inventory with a few dollars off each item, with a PayPal ‘Buy Now’ button for each item. Then simply make the link to your About Me page read ‘Visit my website for even more bargains!’, and you’re done.

Now that you’ve seen how to drive visitors to your website, maybe you’d like a little help getting your auction in front of buyers. That’s why our next email will show you the secrets of taming the eBay search engine.

If you want to take a look at my About Me page, simply click here.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

New articles added to self improvement web site

Today I've been browsing through eBay, to see what web sites are for sale. Occasionally, I will buy a domain or complete site from there, either to maintain myself, or to promote through the search engines and resell.

I've seen a few items that look interesting, but I'll keep you posted on those as and when I win the auctions.

My own auction still has not gone up in price, but I'm hoping it will soon. There are plenty of people watching it, so I'm expecting a few bids at the last minute. It's possible that someone has set it up in their auction sniper too, but as long as it sells, I'm not worried.

Also, today, I've added a few new articles to my self help web site, Brainsense.com. The site has been built using XSitePro. It's been a great project to work on, and will be a huge self improvement resource when it's complete. I'm including many great self improvement articles, covering topics such as resolving panic attacks, time management, and stress relief. I'll also be adding lots of great resources like self improvement ebooks covering similar topics.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

Blogging as a free internet marketing method

Blogging has been around for years, although it's only just recently that it has been considered as a great internet marketing tool. Blogging has also become a popular 'buzz' word on the internet. Many teenagers have resorted to blogging as an outlet for their emotions, a little online nook where they can blurt out whatever just bugs them or whatever makes them feel elated. The reason blogging is so popular is that you can set one up without knowing anything about web design or FTP, and you can have one hosted and working for free.

Savvy marketers have discovered that blogging is one of the best free internet marketing methods.

So, what exactly is blogging?

Blog is the widely used term that refers to web log. Basically, a blog is an online journal. A blog could be set up for little or no cost at all, and can be used just for the fun of it, or for business reasons as an internet marketing tool.

Blogging for your internet business is one surefire way to boost the visibility of your products and services. Here are a few ways to boost your internet advertising with the help of a blog:

1. Make your clients or customers aware of your latest product releases or changes on your websites. Your new products and affiliate websites could also be announced through your blog.

2. Keep track of your business objectives and plans through open writing. Your blog content can be easily stored through archives. What could be better than searchable information that could be easily accessed by anyone browsing the web, right?

3. Air your opinions, advice or reviews on specific services or products that are related to your business. Publishing is a very easy process with blogging.

4. Include links that will fetch back links and subsequently improve your ranking on search engines. This could be better executed through putting well-written articles in your blog and on your website. Affiliate links could also be included in your blog to earn additional income.

5. se comments and feedback options on your blog to collect responses from your blog readers. Ask them what they like and dislike about your products or services to help you create the type of product thay are looking for. You can learn and improve your products and services through the feedback from your readers.

6. Network easily with other bloggers. When other bloggers notice that you have something good in your blog, they will put you in their favorite lists that will automatically link you to their blogs.

So, how do you set up a blog? The easiest way, if you are an absolute novice, is to setup a blog on Blogger.com. All you need to do is create an account and username, fill in some of your details, choose a blog template and you're done. It really is as simple as that. Once your blog is live, write some interesting posts to get the ball rolling, then let all your clients, friends or associates know that the blog is there.

Remember to keep updating your blog though, to keep it fresh. The more content you continue to add, the more your visitors will want to return to see what you're writing about next.

Happy blogging!

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

Chad Thomas's Followup Generator

I just found this great tool! Chad Thomas's Followup Generator

It allows you to show different versions of your sales page when visitors come looking to purchase. They say that you need about 7 contacts to get someone to open their wallet.

This cool tool allows you to write up to 9 sales messages, and each time your visitor returns to the site, they'll be shown the next one. If they still haven't purchased after the last message is shown, it reverts back to the original sales letter, and they miss out.

Just imagine what you can do with that.....

Have different sales letters with different prices or special discounts if they purchase right now? Or perhaps throw in additional bonuses if they order today.

It's a fantastic tool. You've got to take a look.

Followup Generator

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

Introducing myself

I thought I would add some more information about myself on here, before I start blabbing on about the sites I operate and what I do.

First off, I'm not some internet 'guru'. I don't make millions on the web, but I do ok. I use everyday tools to create, promote and maintain my sites, and you can easily do the same, if you are not already.

The aim of this blog is to give everyone who is thinking of starting an internet business the motivation and the inspiration to get going. You can read as much information on the theory of how to do it, but until you start putting it into practice, nothing will happen.

If you have an idea for a new internet business, get yourself a domain name to match it. Then get some hosting. You can get both for about $25.00 from Doteasy.com. You can register the domain there and get free hosting. It's a great way to get your internet business started.

Some of the sites that I currently operate include:

www.miniaffiliatesites.com
Ebook explaining how to use your own content to pre-sell someone else's products. Instead of using the default affiliate codes that most products offer, create your own content to become unique.

www.ebayhotitems.com
Who hasn't heard of eBay? It seems that everyone and their dog is selling something on eBay. This ebook shows you how to become a powerseller to maximise your eBay profits.

www.firstdateidea.com
Ideally aimed at the thirty-something man who is either too busy to find new dates, or has separated and wants to get 'back on the dating scene'. It offers over 100 ideas of where to take your date.

www.trafficforwords.com
One of the most powerful way to promote a web site is to promote your own articles all over the internet. Traffic For Words shows you how to do it right to get huge visibility for your site.

Following on from the eBay Hot Items ebook, I then had a eBay selling course created, which you can get for free from www.auctionsprofits.com.

I don't want to go on and on about all the sites I operate. I'll be introducing them all here at some stage, but if you want to see all my sites, visit www.swiftdeal.co.uk and follow the links

My latest project is www.pokerhabits.com. You will be able to learn all the best playing strategies for Texas Holdem Poker from the new ebook I'll be launching very soon. I'm hoping it will be released before the end of November, but I'll keep you posted about it as it happens.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal

I finally did it !

So, today's the day that I finally start my own blog.

Everyone else has been doing it for ages, but I just haven't had the time to get one going. I'll use this blog to report search engine results from marketing and promotions that I do, so that you can follow my efforts.

I'll also keep you posted as to new projects I'm starting and what they will be about.

But, to get started right away, I want to tell you that I'm selling one of my ebook web sites in its entirety. I won't fill up my first post with all the unnecessary details, but the site for sale is:
www.instanttrafficsurge.com.

The site is up for sale on eBay right now (auction ends November 15th 2005), and the winning bidder will get the domain name, the rights to use the sales letter and all graphics, plus the rights to republish the ebook as their own. And there is no reserve with a starting price of just $1.00 !!

If you want to take a look at the auction and place a bid, go to:
Ebook website for sale

That's all for now.

Regards
Roger Mayne
Swiftdeal