When my sons grew up, they started playing hockey when they were 6 years old. Each of them, in the first year of its existence, scored more goals than the other teams. How did they do it?
Have you ever seen a hockey game between two teams of 6 year olds? Washer for them like a magnet. Wherever they walk, they follow like a swarm of bees. The game is one mass of small children, who are all grouped around the puck, pushing and pushing each other. It looks like a rugby fight.
The result of this is that usually the puck jumps out of body mass, slides 10 or 15 feet across the ice and stops. After a few seconds, the mass of bodies falls on him, and the process begins again and again.
So, how did my sons score so many goals?
In these games it was not easy to score - if you could get a puck near the net. The goalkeeper was just one of the children, and he or she just waited in line to join the fight.
On the way to the rink for each game, I reminded my sons to steer clear of all other players. I would tell them when everyone gets into the puck around the puck, don't get close to them. Be different. Stay at a distance of 10-15 feet from everyone else, and when the puck jumps out, go, take it, roll into the net and shoot.
Many times my son's team won with a score of 12 to 0, and he scored all 12 goals. In fact, in one game the score ended from 9 to 1, and my son scored all 10 goals (at the age of 6, it’s pretty easy to turn around and go in the wrong direction from time to time).
The same advice can help you become more successful in your auction business - BE OTHER !!
As eBay and other auction sites grow, it becomes easier and easier to get lost in the crowd. Where previously there was 13 Elvis Presley, Blue Hawaii, available at any given time, now there are 78. It’s hard to find a Doric depression covered with a glass dish for dishes that appear once every 4-5 weeks, now looks to participants bidding. Not so long ago there were only a few sellers offering digital cameras. Now he sees as if everyone is taking action.
If you are going to survive and succeed on eBay, you need to stand out from the rest of the auction crowd. How do you do that?
1. Be more aware than your competition.
If you want to stand out, look for more knowledge. In fact, this applies to all areas of your life, not just your auction business.
There are all sorts of great sources of information floating around - both online and offline. All that is required is just a little time and effort, and you can get a lot of useful information.
If you sell pottery, it’s not difficult for you to become more aware of Rosemeade Ceramics than 99% of other people selling it. Let this knowledge be shown in your item descriptions, and soon you will have faithful following to bidders who are looking for your auctions.
The more knowledge you gain, the more successful you will be.
2. Look down the road
Obviously, we all want and need to make money this week, this month. But, to guarantee your continued success, it is just as important to constantly build your business for tomorrow.
Create a list and use it. At a minimum, on the About Me page (you have one, don't you?) Should have the opportunity for buyers and potential buyers to add their name to their list.
I collect aspirin banks. I also sell them a lot on eBay. Over time, I created a list of other aspirin tin collectors. Every two months or so, I send a newsletter with 1 or 2 comments about these small banks, as well as a brief description of what turned out to be on eBay and the prices they sold.
This is just one of 11 different customer lists I support. With a little thought, you can think of a way to use your list unobtrusively, which will benefit both you and your customers.
3. Hit your horn
Do not be shy. Look for ways to place your name in front of as many customers and potential customers as possible. You will find that this is probably the most profitable step you can take to insure your success.
If you sell antique toys, write a monthly or two-month newsletter about them (you create a list, remember?). If you offer a quality toy newsletter with toys, your name will be associated with them.
If I sold clothes used for children, I would work a little and come up with the three most effective ways to get stains from clothes. Then, with each package I sent, I would include this information along with my name, address, eBay user name, website address and a link in which they could add their name to my list.
If you were a young mother who was looking for good shopping on clothes for your children, would they remember me? Will you search my auctions in the future?
There are many ways you can promote yourself. Write articles for collectible newsletters, a quality newsletter and a website with valuable information, develop an email course, no matter what you sell, you have to come up with several different ways to put your name in front of your buyers and keep it there.
4. Follow the Golden Rule
The auction process should be fun - the win / win situation for both the buyer and the seller.
Unfortunately, too many sellers look at each of their auctions as separate battles that need to be won. They treat each aspirant as if he or she were an enemy.
It may seem that there is an unlimited offer of bidders, but no. Believe me, bidders do communicate among themselves. I communicate with several groups of bidders (several hundred people) with similar interests.
Be nasty or rude to one of them, and you not only lost one potential client in the future, you lost a few hundred. You can't do this too many times and stay in business.
Spend your business with the class. Have fun. Enjoy the people you are dealing with. Your life and their will will be enriched many times. Creating a good reputation takes time and work. Putting your name on in a bad light can dim or destroy this reputation forever.
Treat every customer with honesty, respect and friendship. Don't you want to be treated?
