How Will You Ride The eBay Digital Storm?
| by Paula Brett |
The furore still hasn’t died down…..
The eBay `digital thang’ is being discussed far and wide, on blogs, forums, newsletters, emails — how to get round it, over it, under it.
At the risk of sounding a sanctimonious prig – I have to say that I strongly suspect all those that are trying to think of ways to cheat the system could be in for a fall.
If you have traded on eBay any length time you will know that eBay’s word is law. I’m amazed at the creativity of many people thinking of weird and wonderful ways to carry on sending download links to customers — sending letters with download links, sending customers to a thank you page with the opportunity to download the item and get a refund on postage and countless other wily ruses.
Of course, there will always be those that try to list their digital products and avoid sending them by snail mail, but these people will get reported and banned eventually, without a doubt.
If you’re serious about using eBay to build your business my advice would be to stick to the eBay rules and plough your creativity and energy into transforming your products into amazing-looking multi-media items – great quality and higher value. If you’re on the Powerseller chase, then there’s no reason why you still can’t pursue this – in fact I suspect you’ll make it a damn site quicker selling physical products at a higher price than you will selling 1.97 products.
As I said in my earlier post, I really am excited – I think this could be a fabulous opportunity. I’m already working on one of my products and turning it into a multi-media extravaganza – it’ll be twice, probably three times, the product that it was originally – a product that any customer would be delighted to have delivered to their door.
Whilst I’ve got pages and pages of notes and ideas about what I’m going to do with my product, I haven’t actually got to the techy burning of CDs, designing covers and compilation part of it all yet. I was planning to do a bit more research in the next couple of days but now I can relax a little about that aspect of it all.
Why?
Well, Dave Nicholson of Planet Divinity has come up with the perfect package. Many of you will know Dave and his amazing graphics work and I’m sure a good number of you will have had your own designs and graphics done by Dave’s talented team. I personally wouldn’t go anywhere else for my graphics and that’s why I’m really excited about his new package.
I really can concentrate on the content of my product now rather than all the `other’ stuff, because I know, when I’m ready for all that, Dave’s Digital Media Solution will walk me through all the rest.
- How to arrange everything on my CD or DVD for optimum effect
- How to make a simple but effective menu system to guide my customers through
- How to integrate my autoresponder, so I can still add my customers to my `digital mailing list
- And templates, template, templates, so I can create product after product quickly and professionally
- And loads more!
This really is a first class package of tools and I would urge you to take a look at what’s on offer.
Dave’s offering a special introductory price at the moment, for all those that want to get in on this on the ground floor. I suspect that once the realisation sets in with all those unprepared eBay sellers dropping by the wayside and searching for just this kind of solution, he’ll quite rightly up the price to it’s true value – so make sure you take your business seriously and move with the times and get shipping your CDs and DVDs.
Here’s the link again so you can check it out and see what you think – it might be just the solution you’re looking for
www.PaulaBrett.com/Recommends/Digital_Media.php
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14 Responses to “How Will You Ride The eBay Digital Storm?”
By ww.bkroads.com
on Mar 31, 2008 | | Reply
YGG!
http://groups.google.com/group/feebay-refugees/topics?start=
By Pat Graham
on Mar 31, 2008 | | Reply
Nice report, Paula…full of good advice and a very cool link to a valuable piece of software.
Pat
ghost-writer@charter.net
By Omar Martin
on Mar 31, 2008 | | Reply
Paula,
As usual your comments hit the mark dead center! I agree that many will make some cunning attempts at baffling the ebay staff by continuing to deliver products digitally in some sort or another. In my opinion, thats just a bad move.
My business is too important to me and generates me way too much money to put at risk with silly little shortcuts that will eventually turn into ‘long cuts’ (Yeah I made that word up but it fits! . . right?)
Anyway, Dave’s ‘Digital Delivery Solution’ is an excellent recourse for us all. I have already downloaded and taken a look at it. I must say, the ideas are just running ramped in my head!
I am also creating an ebook myself that will serve as a training resource for those that are a bit intimidated with the whole ‘physical item production’ thing. I’ve been doing it for years and the process is not that hard plus the financial potential and benefits far out way that of digital delivery.
Thanks again for keeping us informed!
Omar Martin
http://www.omar-martin.com
By Patrick Donovan
on Mar 31, 2008 | | Reply
“…a product that any customer would be delighted to have delivered to their door.”
Paula,
Are you sure about that? Where is your market study supporting such… speculation? While you may achieve some short-term gain, you, John Thornhill, and others are making a very costly mistake.
eBay does not define the needs of the marketplace. And it is the marketplace you must listen and respond to.
If the marketplace had communicated an overwhelming desire for “multimedia CDs”, you, John, and others would have already been there. But you weren’t “there” because the market isn’t “there”. And just because eBay establishes a different set of rules for their site does not change the needs and preferences of the customer.
I took note of the title of this web page, “No More Digital Items on eBay, Increase Your Profits”. A very misleading statement. Try saying, “No More Digital Items in eBay Search Results”. But you CAN’T. Because it isn’t true.
For more comments visit http://daypenny.com.
Thank you, Paula, for the opportunity to post a comment.
Patrick Donovan
Aka Scott Ryan
Day Penny
By Rich
on Mar 31, 2008 | | Reply
I have been selling on ebay for many years. I was just starting to get into ebooks digital download when ebay powers to be changed the rules.
That is not a problem for me as I know how to copy files to a CD or DVD, how to make it a multimedia experience for the buyer to enjoy the CD. I have also snail mailed many items all over the world. I do my own printing of mailing labels, I ship UPS, FedX, DHL, and USPS.
But for those who do not know how to transfer files, use a prnter to print out mailing details, paste a label to a box, stick a stamp on an envelope and mail it from a post office, you are in for a learning experience.
I have and will always use eBay to generate many streams of income. Ebooks is just another stream.
By Books999
on Mar 31, 2008 | | Reply
WonderFull!
Thank You very much for this Information.
I already have Digital Library from Planet Divinity and I will certainly pleased with the high quality of work they offer.
Also As Far as I concern have a lot of Ebooks, which I will JUST put on the web!
if you get any of those from there you will find out how to Put and Advertise ALL your Ebooks Absolutely FREE, without paying ANY Ebay FEES.
As far as what’s happening with Ebay, you just need to create a new kind of product and make sure you ship this ASAP to keep getting Positive FEEDBACK.
http://www.Income-page.co.uk
By admin
on Mar 31, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hi Pat, thanks for your comment. I agree, it’s a nice piece of kit and a great price
Omar, thanks for your comments. I have no doubt that if the ebook and training resource that you are creating on the subject is anything like the product you sent me to review the other day, your customers will be delighted.
By admin
on Mar 31, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Hi Scott
Thank you for taking the time to post a comment.
“Are you sure about that? Where is your market study supporting such… speculation?”
No, I have done no such studies on my product with regard to changing it into a physical item. However, I do, of course have the data that show that it sold incredibly well as a digital item. Surely, if I wish to carry on trading on eBay I would be a fool not to try and create an expanded and enhanced product – the demand was there for the downloadable so I intend to be positive about it and not abandon that part of my business.
People on eBay don’t necessarily search for a product by which medium it will be delivered. Many people have come across eBooks and other digital items quite by chance, just by searching for the subject of the problem they are looking to solve or the hobby they are interested in. Of course, there have always been people who say “oh, no, I don’t want that, it’s a digital item”, the same way as many will not want to wait for a tangible item.
The classified ads section of eBay, with regard to digital products, seems to be hazy, with ebay themselves issuing conflicting information. Can you add PayPal buttons and actually sell something from that page, or do you need to redirect interested buyers to a webpage or ‘phone number?
Many eBayers like the relative `safety’ of buying on eBay and the feedback system features, which are not involved in the classified ads arena.
I know, from reading your interesting piece on your blog that you have issues with eBay, as do many. I have to say that my experience has not been quite so bad as a buyer, nor as a seller. Yes, I’ve had my wrist slapped if I break their rules but then that’s to be expected. Most eBook sellers on eBay see it for what it is — a cheap way of advertising and generating an income outside of eBay.
Like your wife, I also sold physical books on eBay, for about 3 years. Of course there are idiot customers around that drive you crazy. But then again, having worked in a high street store for a while when I was a student, these kind of people show up there too.
Who knows if the CD route will work. Many won’t even bother to try. Thousands of people make a good living from mail order, so to say the market isn’t there is not entirely true either.
For myself, I’m giving it a go cos it floats my boat and I think I can make is successful – I did it once with physical books and I didn’t know half of the stuff I know now, back then
Again, thanks for sharing your point of view.
Best wishes
Paula Brett
By admin
on Mar 31, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
Rich, thank you for posting.
“I have and will always use eBay to generate many streams of income. Ebooks is just another stream.”
This is the key, nail and head spring to mind
Paula
By John Thornhill
on Mar 31, 2008 | | Reply
This post is in response to Scott?
Those are interesting comments and time will tell if this works. But let me tell you that I have no intentions of taking this policy change lying down.
You seem to think because the digital delivery method is gone no one will buy. I think I spent about $6,000 on information last year that arrived to my home in *Physical* form.
People will still buy because they crave *information* and you seem to forget that.
Am I happy about the policy change? No!
Will I make the policy change work for me? You bet! I will make it work for me and thousands of others who want to learn from me.
So keep watching me Scott, keep checking my feedback. I know a lot of people are waiting for me to fall …
… but they will be disappointed.
By Clive Praed
on Mar 31, 2008 | | Reply
Personally, I don’t think it will make much difference.
I’ve been selling e-Books on eBay for 2 years and only make about one sale a week so 99 cents here or there won’t matter.
I, for one won’t bang my head against a brick wall trying to sell CDs – it’s hard enough trying to convince people that e-Books can be of any help to them.
Also, as for eBay being a ’stream’- yeah, right.
I’ve never had anyone from eBay visit my websites. Why would they? The people on eBay will only spend $1 so websites are out of bounds for them.
By admin
on Mar 31, 2008 | Follow me on Twitter | Reply
LOL! You just love being a Grumpy Old Chef, don’t you?
By Gail Goodman
on Mar 31, 2008 | | Reply
I just finished writing my second ebook but even before this ebay foolishness I decided to make it as a short report because of the topic.Now if my typist will finish it I will list it on ebay. It was a shame when ebooks became so cheap. The quickness of delivery is a major feature,but a quality product will make up for those sales lost and you can charge more but it will be extra work, especially for those that had the luxury of finally having a successful ebook business. Ebay is not serving its customers by eliminating digital delivery. The above website is a free site I get to use to sell a liquid complete multiformula it has nothing to do with ebooks. The short report will only sell in the USA because of the information it contains. Paula great blog Best Gail Goodman
By Andy Lawrence
on Apr 8, 2008 | | Reply
Response to Clive Praed:
I’m sorry you haven’t done so well from selling ebooks on ebay Clive, but to be honest it’s you and many like you that will make the market so much hotter, the ones that haven’t done so well will not make the effort to evolve and thus leave more space for those that take the niche seriously and will therefore reward the trend setters and go- getters.
Great post Paula, interesting read as usual.
Andy