posted on June 21, 2002 08:11:48 AM
There has to be a better way. My storefront just is not getting the traffic I want through the Auctionwatch gallery icon. I have spoken with a buddy of mine selling the same stuff I do through his ebay store, and he does the same volume at auction, but, %400 percent more from his ebay store than I get at Auctionwatch. We have the same product, the same prices, and the same quantity of inventory. In fact, since mine sells so slowly at the store my inventory is rapidly growing beyond his. There must be a better link or promotion than that little gallery icon. I can see that my coustomers are not finding my store that way because I have asked them.
posted on June 21, 2002 09:07:30 AM
We have only had a eBay store front a couple of months, but have had very good success with it. We do promote it with along with every auction. I don't leave promotion up to eBay or any other outside source; it is my store, and my responsibility to promote it, and we do.
Speaking of that, what is your friend doing that you aren't? I should think that would give you a clue as how to promote your store.
Below or above our Auction Ad, is a separate frame, promoting items in our store which are similar or complement the specific auction item, and there are fast moving slides of these items running in the store promotion frame.
posted on June 21, 2002 09:25:07 AM
The reason he is doing better than you is that eBay promotes THEIR stores and doesn't let us promote AW stores. That's a given. No where in our description can we say we have an AW store, but if they click on the gallery or happen to make an image larger that takes you to the gallery and then they can see your store items, but not until then.
I would suggest if you think you can do better then I would take an eBay store but soon they are coming out with a fix pricing and maybe that will help.
posted on June 21, 2002 09:29:26 AM
Another thing is. The Gallery Icon is way below the auction description and maybe buyers don't go down that far. It can't be insterted any higher or it will go against eBays rules. Here is a way you can get them to your gallery. Make you 1st image one that has to be enlarged. Then in your description say. Please click on image for a better view and that should take you to the gallery. It's worth a try. How much is an eBay store? Would you benefit from it and if so try it. I never looked into it so I don't know.
posted on June 21, 2002 09:40:48 AM
Check out this web site. I used their html code in my auctions to link to my gallery (ihula is my ebay name, so you can look at one of my auctions to see what I mean). I use the "click HERE to view my other auctions" (or something like that) and it takes them to my gallery. I have to admit though that I currently don't have any items in my gallery that aren't also listed on ebay, so I don't know how much it has helped.
http://www.eobcards.com/tutorial3.htm
posted on June 21, 2002 02:16:35 PM
Well, people are giving me good advice. Seems most folks think that adding my own HTML into my description that promotes my store is the best method. I have thought of this as well, and think I will look into it further. This leads me to another question though, one poster suggests using the "enlarge picture" to get buyers into my gallery and hopefully my store. But, I can't seem to get my photos to do that. I always upload them 500 pix wide and around 50k in size. Is there a special option I need to engage to get the "enlarge picture" option. It seems like a very good idea to get the extra traffic.
posted on June 21, 2002 05:06:01 PM
Here is the auction number that you enlarge the picture to take you into the enlarged picture. The numbers are there if you right click but I don't know what they mean. Maybe one of the computer savey people can help. 886589106
posted on June 21, 2002 05:34:30 PM
I had an Ebay store and closed it (reasons for which can be discussed elsewhere). For my Auctionwatch store I do three things:
First, use your storefront template. This makes a big icon right at the top of the auction that is a html link. Second, I include a click here or on the icon (easy to do with the new html editor). Finally, in my WBN I tell people they can reduce their shipping if they purchase additional items in my storefront. I am also trying to work the storefront on to more search engines by keywords, etc. GOOD LUCK!
posted on June 21, 2002 06:05:23 PM
Yes, these are good ideas. I did add the search engine words this morning, we will see how that will do. Also, I was thinking of using the my storefront logo as a "Click Here" type of button. That would be a bit irritating on my storefront but, it might just do the trick. I wonder if there is a way (I bet there is) to keep my logo the same at my store (I am rather fond of my logo), and add a "click here" button in that upper left hand space on my auctions. Does anyone know if it is against Ebay rules to put a "see my auctionwatch gallery" type of link in that logo space?
posted on June 21, 2002 06:17:56 PM
I think there is something about a double click rule. I don't know. I really think you need to read eBays rules about linking to a web page. Then if there is something you don't understand come back here and ask.
If you come in here and ask what to do and if it is wrong then who is at fault. I guess we all have our own ideas how to do things and it is difficult to explain. It's like life, everyone does it different but the end result is the same. I myself don't like the idea about a store or webpage because I haven't the merchandise to list that much so I just depend on the auction.
posted on June 21, 2002 06:26:38 PM
Yes, I did take the time today to read Ebays policies on links and what they call "sign posts." Seems there really are no restrictions other than the fact that you cannot link to anything other than other Ebay auctions. Obviously this is the reason Auctionwatch is set up with the gallery the way they are. As for size, location, type of button or link, there seems to be no written restriction I can find. But, of course the operative phrase here is "That I can find."
posted on June 22, 2002 05:56:37 AM
Here are the SIZE RULES, etc:
Links Policy
Summary: The eBay item page can only be used to describe, promote and facilitate the sale of the listed eBay item - it cannot refer to or promote the seller's individual web site, off eBay sales or other businesses. The eBay About Me page is a place where the seller can promote their individual web site or business.
The eBay Item page can contain no URLs or links to, or promotional information about, any off eBay web page, including web sites of the seller or any third party.
There are 2 exceptions to this general rule - the eBay item page may contain a link to information related specifically to that item that:
Gives acknowledgement to a company that provided services related to that listing (such as counters, auction management tools, or payment and mediation services). This acknowledgement may contain both a logo (88x33 pixels) and up to 10 words of text (HTML font size 3) but only one of those may be clickable.
Points interested buyers to another Internet page that contains only more information (such as pictures, product specifications or detailed terms and conditions) about eBay items listed by that seller.
Links from the eBay Item page that interfere in any way with the eBay bidding process, or solicit any eBay user information, are not allowed. Links from the eBay Item page to pages that promote off eBay sales in any way are forbidden, though such pages may generally themselves contain discrete links to other commercial web pages.
The eBay About Me page may be used to describe the seller's business, and may contain URLs or links to the seller's individual web site. It may not specifically promote off eBay sales or sales of items prohibited on eBay, nor may it contain links to commercial web sites where goods from multiple sellers are aggregated by a common search engine.
posted on June 22, 2002 07:07:29 AM
Well, ya Tom, but you see that's the thing. There is a size restriction and single click rule on the further information link, but there is no restriction placed on the link allowed for other Ebay auctions. At least, that's how the terms are written. Now, possibly the terms are written badly, but that is how they read.
According to what I am reading here, it seems Auctionwatch could add a much larger and more prominent link to attract attention to the gallery.
posted on June 22, 2002 07:19:07 AM
Well that may be, I just don't know. But, you have to admit the way these rules are written, the size restrictions only refer to the "further information link" and not the gallery icon. Thus, if Ebay is pulling adds for oversized gallery links based on these rules, seems somebody is getting a raw deal.
posted on June 22, 2002 07:34:12 AM
I didn’t realize you weren’t talking about an “eBay Store.” That in itself may be the problem. That is why we went to an “eBay Store” so we could promote the heck out of it; with all of eBay’s restrictions about linking to “outside” entities, we decided if we were going to try the “store front” concept with eBay, it would have to be an eBay Store Front – personally, I wouldn’t spend the time trying to promote a store on eBay outside of an eBay store.
I don’t necessarily agree with eBay restrictions on outside Web Sites, or promotion, but it is their playground, they make the rules, and I haven’t found, over the years, that it does much good to fight “city hall;” so I joined them.
“IF” I had an outside “store front” I’d promote it just as I do our free standing web sites and that is through SubmitWolf programs. I would treat such a "store front,” just as another web site, and use Media Tags, major search engine promotion, etc. I use 2 of the SubmitWolf programs, and have for years, and they have helped us firmly establish 3 major free standing web sites, and we are working on 2 more now. http://www.submitwolf.com
From Submit Wolf we use their “SubmitWolf Pro” and their “Classify98”. You can pay others to do your promotion, but no one will promote your site like you, yourself. Promoters can promise you the world, but it is costly, and since what they don’t tell you is that it has to be done consistently, over and over and over – so it is FAR better to have your own submit programs and do it yourself. We promote various areas of our sites, almost daily. Day in, day out, week in, and week out.
posted on June 22, 2002 07:53:29 AMJoesarahh you say, "Am I not seeing something?" If you don't abide by eBays rules or Terms, for a better word, you won't be seeing your auctions. Although eBay doesn't police their auctions they depend on word of mouth from other sellers. It might take them awhile, or maybe another seller is selling the same product as you but evidentually they will find out. Do you want to take that chance? Now Ihula is a power seller and I think there is a little more leeway with them, I don't know for sure. Correct me if I am wrong. But, all the debate over AW storefront I doubt if AW will make their gallery icon any bigger. They know what they can get away with and if eBay bans AW I am in big trouble. Another thing to think about is if you have a website you have to pay them to use it why not just get an eBay store.
posted on June 22, 2002 07:55:01 AM
Yes JWPC, the broblem is that we don't have an Ebay store. This much we know. I think you right, outside promotion may be the best methode and I am looking into various options. For us however, I manufacture the product that we sell, (well sell painted historical war game figures) thus, I need no more traffic than it takes to move as much product as I can make. It would be easy to outstrip my ability to paint new miniatures. So, we are mostly concerned with on ebay promotions which led me to this thread (which has bee very helpful by the way) I am however considering moving to an Ebay storefront. The issue is more that I am in love with the great management software offered here at Auctionwatch.
Thus, I am thinking I might move to Chanel Advisor and open an Ebay store in conjuction with them since they seem to offer no stores of their own. That would give me the management software (I assume) and the Ebay store. Has anybody out there used Chanel Advisor? I used Andale before and just did not like it.
[ edited by Joesarahh on Jun 22, 2002 07:55 AM ]
