Thursday, January 29, 2009

Interesting Article on Older Internet Users

Not that I couldn't have told them the same thing, but it was nice to hear someone elses perspective on how the "older generation" is getting along with online commerce. 

InformationWeek (who bills themselves as the market's foremost multimedia brand) published an article on Jan. 29 about a survey that claims Baby-Boomers are in places just as active online as Gen. Y (18-32) and Gen. Xers (33-44). The survey claims that 80% of Gen. X users shop online, compared with just 71% of Gen. Yers. 

Here is a closer look at the survey itself: "Generations Online in 2009"
The study was conducted by the Pew Center's Research and American Life Project. Read more of, "Older Internet Users Embrace E-commerce". 

And as always, leave me some feedback. Did you like this post? Were there things you wish I'd added? Thanks and be good! 

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Inauguration of the 44th President Barack Obama

To all those who have waited so long, celebrate. For those who work to build a brighter stronger America, thank you.

Congratulations President Obama!

Recent E-commerce News

E-commerce news for the week.

eBay bans paper-billing. No longer will the sellers on eBay be able to accept (a) Money Orders, (b) Cash or, (c) Check payments.

There is an on-going debate in the blogosphere whether or not video or text is king in the blog.
Steve Rubel
 - Forget video, here is why text is still king
- Why video is worth experimenting with on your Blog
Darren Rowse
- My Mum doesn't get YouTube

Also: New York State vs Amazon has passed the first round with NYS winning their charge that a sales tax should be enforced on goods sold out of New York. 


netSpray.com

Monday, January 19, 2009

Making Your Photos Work for You: E-Commerce Sellers Guide


The quality, type, and number of photos placed in an online listing can make or break a deal. 

Quality is important: people want to know that the item that they are considering buying is coming from a considerate home. What way to better show that consideration - for the item and the buyer - than to take quality photo (ie, well lit, well thoughtout, well cropped). Realize that the photos you present to the buying community are often all that they have to familiarize themselves with the item. 

Type of photos taken say something: if the photos you take are not informative, they really don't take into consideration the needs of the potential buyers. You must have an attitude that the buyer has never seen this item. Taking the type of photos that your buyers need is about considering any scratches or blemishes, plus all the good qualities, and any unique information or characters, photos of name brands, and don't forget to put in some photos that excite buyers! 

Number of photos: this last one may be limited by the contract that you have with the site that you are selling on. But, bigger purchases generally require more photos. For clothing, I tend to suggest that a range of five to eleven photos is responsible - remember buyers know only what you present of your items. Electronics, antique - toys/collectibles, these things can be sold with fewer photos generally, but think of the difference and the security that you'll give your buyers if you go above and beyond by adding two more photos of the items you are selling? 

 --Your buyers will appreciate it, and they will reward you too.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Ecommerce Link Drop

 Best articles from this week. 

 here with a link drop

Seller Tools: Five Ways to Sell your Digital Goods Online

The Internet offers self-published artists considerable opportunities for marketing and selling their digital goods online.


Taking lessons from two marketing disciplines, online retailers and their web designers can build a well structured Internet store organized into themes or categories that will make it easy for shoppers and search engines alike to find important information and product pages.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Let's Investigate - Google Base / Google Products

In the last post I talked about how alternative sites have benefited from using Google's services. So, today I'll share some things I found about those services.

Google products is really looking nice these day. [ Example page ] 
I, personally, hadn't ventured off sites like eBay, Amazon, or even Overstock too much. Yahoo Auction and many of the other smaller sites just haven't enticed me. I do enjoy buying at Half.com, but they are an eBay sister store. And craigslist is interesting, but I haven't ever bought there either.

netSpray.com

Google Base is said to have been a real boost in the findability of the alternative sites this past year according to Ina over at Auction Bytes. From what I can tell of it, Google allows anyone with an account to load items onto Google Base.

Everything from jobs to products finds it's way onto the list. I decided to take a closer look....

In listing my items, I had to enter the title; quantity; type; condition; and brand. Product type, condition and brand are all optional categories. While quantity, price and price type are not optional. It's neat. They let you choose (a) fixed price, (b) negotiable, and (c) minimum price as the price type.

All this is followed by a description area that has the
bold, italics, and different fonts to choose from. It's nice. Then you load a photo. And, like with other sell on sites, you select the payment types you'll receive. You may choose Google Checkout (which I'll write about that next time) and/or traditional services such as cash, check, money order.

netSpray.com

Then to end it - you choose how long the item will be for sale. There is a maximum number of 30 days for this feature. *Here is something really neat that I forgot to mention before; the title area is indefinate. Really I held down a key and the page just kept going. So, Google doesn't restrict the title size. THATS fun.

There are some restrictions to the type of photo file, including the size:
see here. It is rather generous upon second look - they allow up to 15 photo files with a 20 megabyte limit. That is really nice too. As many of you sellers know - it's the photos that sells the product. Very good Google.

Okay so, once you have you item through the process - you can go to your Google Base Dashboard. It offers you a look at the

Item title Item type Country Status Modified Expires Impr. Clicks Page views

Here you also can update - didn't mention it earlier, but google base let's you update - the country you are targeting with your product. The item takes a little time to publish as they review to help keep out spam. Here is a link to their program policies and editorial guidelines. Each of which are presumably well enforced, so don't get any ideas you overly creative types.

netSpray.com

All-in-all, I'd say Google base was a snap. And now, we'll wait to see how well it help sell a 1976 Vintage Hanna Barbara Yogi Bear Comic Book.
Click here to see my item on Google Base.

Love to know about your experience with Google Base, Google selling or any other online alternative. Till next time!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

It Pays to Google for Alternative Online Selling Sites

Auction Bytes, in a recent article explore and explain some of the truths surrounding alternatives. In an article titled eBay Alternatives Pick up Stream thanks to Google Ina Steiner discusses eCrater, Amazon, among other alternatives.

With the rise of interest in alternative sites that work, Steiner gets the job done. One thing she mentions is how Google visibility has helped popularize sites like Ruby Lane, Wensy, and netSpray.

Another interesting game changer mentioned is the evolution to a more multi-channel mindset. Merchants have been increasingly driven to try multiple sites, multiple sales channels to help them in their online buying and selling.

If you haven't read it, I suggest it.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Online Sales Sites Round-Up


 Okay, so I'm a bit OCD maybe, but of these sites I think I've probably found something you? are interested in? Would love to know which site suits you best? And/or which sites I've overlooked? ;)

Ruby Lane
Atomic Mall
Bonanzle
Bidtopia
Oodle
CQ out
SOUQ
Trade Me
Online Auction
Buy it Sell it
Auction Quest
One Way
netSpray
Oztion
Waggle Pop
Tazbar
eCrater
Wensy
ebid
iOffer
ePier
Kijiji