7 Ways to Promote Your Business on eBay

Many eBay users see the online auction site purely as a market to sell their items. However, if you adopt this attitude you are missing a great opportunity to promote and advertise your business to a wide audience. It does not matter if you are a one person part-time entrepreneur operating from a back bedroom or the proprietor of a "bricks and mortar" establishment you can use eBay to promote your business.

1. Offer relatively low-cost items for sale on eBay. Many people are happy to buy inexpensive items but there will be less interest in higher price items, especially from individuals or companies they have not dealt with before. The main purpose is not to make a big profit from the first sale but to establish a rapport with the new customer. When you send out the purchased item include a price list of the other items that you have for sale providing they are relevant, For instance someone buying fishing equipment might be interested in other fishing items you have on offer but are unlikely to be interested in horse riding equipment. If you are operating in a niche market this can be a cheap and effective way to get more sales.

2. Use the About Me page facility on eBay, ideally include a picture of yourself and or your business premises. Tell people how you place the emphasis on customer service and even include a few genuine testimonials if you have them.

3. If you have a shop or warehouse include in your package details of how people can find you, your opening times and importantly the telephone number, email address and web address if you have one.

4. You can also offer a free report or sample that people could request by emailing you. The purpose of this is so that you can legitimately collect their email address and adds it to your list. You can then email them with details of any special offers that you may have in the future.

5. In your listing make it plain that you welcome questions and comments because again this is a way of establishing contact. The important point is to make sure that you reply promptly and politely to any such questions and comments.

6. When you write your listing remember that whilst the main purpose may be to make a sale it can be more profitable to simply establish contact with people you can then convert into long-term customers.

7. Finally whatever you send out whether it be an item, sales literature or price list make sure it is presented well. If a customer buys one of your items on eBay get it out to them as quickly as you can. There are 3 things that will impress a customer and encourage them to buy from you again, the item being as described, fairly priced and promptly delivered