You may have seen a banner or two about auction soapies here on AW.
You may also recall the thread about silent visitor and his cast of characters -- Ma, Worm, Precious and eWoman -- here on AW last July.
I really liked that format.
In those listings the author tells a story in serialized form about. of the life and times of a small exurban family selling online.
This seller -- Silent_visitor on eBay and [email protected] on AU -- has garnered quite a following of folks who go from auction to auction seeking a new installment.
I like the format so much that I got him to call it "auction soapies" so people would know it was patterened after the radio and television soap operas that inspired it.
And like those serialized programs, my feeling is that the creative content of these auctions build a following and will enhance a sellers auction sales (Just as the soap operas enhanced the sale of laundry soap from the 20's until today). Of course they'll also build "audience" for the auction house on which they appear.
So, what I'm doing is encourging others to try their hand at this new concept. I've put up a page dedicated to the "soapies" as they appear on AU and I'm advertising that page and this concept on sites like honesty.com, OTWA, Auctionwatch, www.123pix.com and even remarQ.com. (and maybe a few more more -- boy I'd like someone to write something about Beanie characters.)
Typically, the seller will also have their own page which they promote in their auctions (regardless of site) that links to their auctions everywhere. A good idea anyway
Right now, silent_visitor (aka: [email protected]) is the only participant. I'm looking for more. The link to Ma's auctions on AU are under this seller's email name. Other sellers will get billing for their auctions on AU provided their offering works as an "auction soapie" as well.
Pat
PS: What works as an "auction soapie?" I'd tend to think good, clean jokes might even work or even comic strips. Certainly a good mystery or some other thing could do. What do you think?
