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| Holiday Selling Guide |
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Holiday Hotlist Discover this season's hottest items bound to be high demand (and some in short supply as we approach the holidays!) with the eBay 2009 Holiday Hotlist. We analyze recent buying trends and gather predictions from eBay industry experts to give eBay sellers the inside scoop on what buyers will be looking for this year. Take Advantage of eBay Holiday Promotions 'Tis the season to sell, sell, sell! So we're investing in advertising and promotions to encourage consumers to buy, buy, buy on eBay! Take a peek at how we're decking more than just our marketplace for the holidays so you can cash in! • New TV ad campaign: An exciting new national advertising campaign—including TV—launches right before the busy holiday season. Get a sneak peek now! • Internet marketing: Search here, search there. From the hottest tech to the truly unique—whatever gift holiday shoppers are hunting down, wherever they search on the web, all roads to the best deals will lead them to eBay. • eBay is coming to town: From November 10 through December 20, the eBay Mobile Boutique brings the eBay shopping experience to life in a town near you. See our schedule. • Coming soon! "The Inside Source"—Stay on top of what's hot from experts in their fields through eBay's new online resource launching just in time for the holidays. Get the scoop on the latest trends in fashion, home and technology. Come back to this page after October 29 for a sneak peek. • Direct incentives to buyers: We'll be continuing to entice and encourage buyers to do their holiday shopping on eBay with coupons, eBay Bucks and other incentives. And check out the special "holideals" shopping center at holiday.ebay.com. • Special deals for sellers: List in Fixed Price or Auction-style for just 5¢ (in the form of a credit) when you donate part of your sale through Giving Works. (Promotion ends November 12). • List 5 FREE! Remember there's no Insertion Fees on your first 5 listings every 30 days. Pay only if your item sells. Start listing now! Increase Your Chances for Success Follow these tips to create "the perfect listing" to encourage bidding and increase your final selling price. • Stimulate bidding with low auction start price: Getting that first bid is critical, as buyers are more likely to jump in if there are already bids on an item. Many successful sellers set a low opening bid to jumpstart bidding and increase their final selling price. • Maximize your item title: Your item title is critical in helping users find your items. Be sure to include accurate and relevant keywords that buyers will search for, unique or descriptive attributes, and always check your spelling. • Specify your item condition: Use condition tags in Item Specifics whenever they're available. • Describe your item in detail: A good description is concise, well organized, and easy to read. Create bold section headlines, bulleted lists, and be sure to include item style/type, brand, condition, estimated value, your return policy, and any other attributes a buyer might need. • Let buyers choose: Don't forget to recommend other great gift ideas in your listings to encourage additional sales. Sell MP3 players? Let buyers know you have headphones, too. It's a great way to advertise gifts under $25, as well. Stand out in search results The more visibility you get and the more you differentiate your item, the better your chances for a successful sale. Try these holiday tips from eBay's most successful sellers: • Add Photo Zoom: A new feature lets buyers roll over and magnify areas of your picture to get a closer look. It's a great way to show details such as watermarks and patterns, so buyers can be confident they're getting exactly what they want. Great photos reduce questions and help buyers make faster purchase decisions. To include zoom for your photos use the Picture Pack option with your listing and make sure to upload large, high-quality images—1,000 pixels or larger work best. Picture Pack is free in Collectibles, Art, Antiques, Pottery & Glass categories and with Premium and Anchor Stores subscriptions. • Use subtitles: Highlight unique features of your item: accessories, specifications, guarantees, specials, or shipping deals that set your item apart. • Promote free shipping: Free Shipping is a hot holiday service—the big "extra" to send your holiday sales right over the top. When you list the first item, simply check the Free shipping box in the shipping details section. A "FREE shipping" graphic will appear on your listing. • Sell for a cause: Buyers may be more willing to purchase and even pay more for items that benefit a nonprofit or are good for the environment. Check out our green gift list or support your favorite cause. With the minimum donation now lowered to $1 per listing, it's easier than ever to sell for a cause with eBay Giving Works. You even get a receipt for your tax-deductible donations! • Generate excitement: If you have a Store, use Markdown Manager to create special, limited-time holiday events! You can automate sales for specific listings and categories, apply discounts across all of your Fixed Price Listings or cut prices across your entire store. It's a great way to create a buzz with early bird specials or a post holiday clearance sale. Take advantage of holiday shipping tips Save time, money, and a trip to the post-office! • Order shipping supplies now: Buy supplies now on eBay to support other sellers and delight buyers with that extra touch such as tissue paper in holiday colors. Updating your packing slips and invoices with a holiday theme too spreads the holiday cheer and customer service. This can also be a great way to promote limited-time holiday events, a post holiday sale or other last minute gift ideas to keep customers returning. • Get free boxes: Ship your items safely and easily with free supplies from the U.S. Postal Service ®. They'll even deliver your supplies directly to you! • Pay postage and print shipping labels right from your computer: After the sale, you can print postage and labels on your home printer. The service is free; you pay only the cost of the shipping. • Schedule package pickup: Schedule a free package pick-up right from your home. • Offer combined shipping to encourage multiple purchases: Shipping discounts let you offer buyers savings on shipping when they purchase multiple items from you. Listings with shipping discounts appear to buyers with the message: "Save on shipping." • Offer rush shipping to attract last-minute shoppers: Everyone loves a quick shipper, especially during the holiday season. Tell buyers how often and quickly you ship, and be sure to offer rush shipping options. Providing shipping deadlines and options for last minute buyers can be a big competitive advantage such as shipping within 24 hours during the holidays. (See schedule below.) Plus upload tracking and delivery confirmation numbers to eBay to reduce questions and encourage high DSRs. Remember that holiday gift shoppers need to know that their packages will arrive in time.
Boost Your Business The holiday season is a great time to give your business on eBay a permanent boost by finding new customers and encouraging their loyalty! • Sell more and extend your holiday selling season: Try listing options such as Best Offer (This only works with Fixed Price items and is a best practice during the holiday for quick sales.), 1-day listings, or auction-style listings with Buy It Now to turn last-minute shoppers into holiday buyers. Remember your Buy It Now price must be at least 10% more than your auction start price. Include combined shipping rates to encourage multiple purchases and offer special promotions to repeat customers to thank them for their continued business. • Bring them back with great communication: The more customer-friendly your policies, the more you will be able to convert holiday shoppers into loyal customers. Display custom FAQ's on your Ask a question page and respond to emails quickly. Include extras or a handwritten note in the box to really surprise and delight your customers! • Open or spruce up your eBay Store: Run a holiday sale with Markdown Manager: There's no better time than the holidays to open an eBay Store or give your eBay Store a holiday make-over. Use Markdown Manager, a great eBay Stores feature that lets you set up temporary discounts on some or all of your listings, offer temporary free shipping, even promote your sale with email marketing. |
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