Hi Folks!

ALOT of stuff going on for eBay sellers on eBay in recent months. Below is Jim Cockrum’s (author of the Silent Sales Machine) take on what’s going on and what you as an eBay seller can still accomplish while following eBay’s newest rules.

Here he is …

Is eBay Putting The Brakes On Our Creativity?
by Jim Cockrum

It’s their game, so we play by their rules right? Before I go too far though, let’s set the stage…

eBay is and will continue to be a FANTASTIC opportunity. I’m ramping up my eBay business in 2008 and plan on doing very well this year on eBay. The fact is the SHOPPERS are on eBay (currently 84 million active users) and if you want to sell just about ANYTHING online or
start a successful business online eBay is THE BEST PLACE to begin.

Finding profitable products to sell on eBay will continue to be a large part of what I teach and encourage my readers to do.

That being said…

One of the common sentiments at eBay Live 2008 (even among eBay employees) was, “WOW – there have been a LOT of changes lately!”

These changes are affecting those of us who like to “use” eBay as a marketing tool. These are the strategies that allow us to grow mailing lists, filter traffic to our websites, grow loyal repeat business for our websites etc.

Creative marketers (like us) need to stay up to date on all the new rules so here’s a quick summary.

As of July 1, 2008 eBay is making a concerted effort to discourage and dissallow all strategies that lead eBay shoppers away from eBay.

This includes ending the following strategies:

* no more email addresses in your auction (after Sept 1st)

* no more links or references to any outside websites ANYWHERE..even on your “about me” page

These are some of the ideas that made the last version of my book sold at SilentSalesMachine.com so popular.

IF (it’s a big “if”) eBay actually starts enforcing these new policies they will be VERY busy slapping the hands of literally tens of thousands of eBay sellers over the next few months. My advice is stay compliant.

Let’s assume that eBay is “serious” about these new policies and that only the “risk takers” will dare to continue to push the envelope with the old tactics.

What creative marketing ideas are left for those that want to stay compliant on eBay?

eBay is clamping down, but there are still some great opportunities!

DISCLAIMER: If you haven’t read my book at http://www.silentsalesmachine.com yet you need to. You’ll understand the “game” and the opportunity that the 84 million shoppers on eBay represent to ANYONE doing business online.

Here are a couple examples of ideas that WILL STILL WORK after all the dust settles from the new changes:

* putting video in your auctions can get you great “off eBay” exposure

* you can still link to external pics from your auctions (and do some creative things on that “external” page)

*cross promotions from one auction to another auction containing info products on CD can generate MASSIVE lead lists quickly on eBay

… I could go on.

I’ve just recorded a 15 minute audio that goes into detail on the new opportunities that eBay is giving all “creative marketers” like us in spite of the new policy changes.

To listen to the audio of eBay marketing tips THAT WORK NOW you need to either buy
http://www.silentsalesmachine.com, or join http://www.MySilentTeam.com (where you’ll also get the “Silent Sales Machine” book for free in the bonus pool).

BOTTOM LINE:

Now IS NOT the time to throw in the towel on eBay. That time may come and I’ll be the first to admit it (because I’ll leave myself), but for now it’s just a matter of shifting strategies a bit and the opportunity is still HUGE.

Leave your thoughts on my most recent blog post here:

http://www.jimcockrum.com/blog (look for the June 23rd, 2008 post)

Jim Cockrum
Top Selling Author: http://www.SilentSalesMachine.com

Tags: ebay, online auctions, jim cockrum, silent sales machine, my silent team