01.10.06
Use eBay not to sell, but to get leads
One of the most interesting things I learnt through my eBay experience is that you can sell pretty much anything you like online, including services. Throughout my university days, I would make some extra money by doing web design and web application programming.
The biggest challenge I came across was how to get the word out that I was providing this service. Cold calls worked to a certain extent, however during the days I was usually occupied with class and could maybe work in 2-3 hours of cold calls per week. Of course, this was also only limited to the few businesses in the small university town I was living in at the time for school.
So, I decided to try to sell web design on eBay.
Go search eBay right now for “web design”. You’ll soon see a huge list of design packages appear that others are selling. This isn’t a new idea you’re thinking? Just wait..
The difference between my ads, and my competitiors were I wasn’t selling anything. Think about it. Since when can you “buy” a website as a package. Everything is custom. I only used eBay to advertise myself and nothing more.
Within hours, I was getting calls from across North America asking if I could do changes to this site, redesign that site, could I provide a quote for this, or for that. You get the picture. The best part of all was that none of the transactions I completed as part of this business went through eBay! That means no final value fees!
Since then, I’ve even helped others advertise civil engineering services on eBay. I’m sure you can think of ways to advertise your own business too…
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This is a great idea but before anyone else trys this you should read Ebay’s rules first. I’m no expert on this, but I do know that Ebay does not allow affiliate links in your auction listings.
Where did I mention anything about an affiliate link? What I’m saying is that you don’t just have to use eBay to sell goods, and infact you don’t have to sell anything on it at all! I used eBay quite a lot simply to advertise my design services.
college cheapskate is a pussy, the idiot dosnt get the message. He admits that its a scam hes just letting you know that he found a loophole in the system and you have an oppertunity to make some new clients, before ebay cathces on.
I had my own online ebay business for a year selling womans handbags. I would have never in a million thought of this genius idea.
Hi I am a web designer and I have often thought about using ebay. Could you offer any specifics about how you did this that doesn’t violate ebays policy. Please feel free to email me directly.
Thanks!
Waila
Hi I am a web designer and I have often thought about using ebay. Could you offer any specifics about how you did this that doesn’t violate ebays policy. Please feel free to email me directly.
also ebay doesn’t allow account to be made from my country. Could I get around this some way?
Thanks!
I am afraid if ebay finds out (it would regard it as conducting a business transaction outside of ebay) and liable for immediate termination of your account (citing that conducting transactions outside of ebay is not safe, but really they receive no revenue from it)
We operated a flooring/decor showroom a few years back. We ran an ebay auction ad for “one box of PERGO laminate flooring in White Oak color, yada, yada…”
We never sold the one box but had many, many calls to purchase many, many boxes of flooring. The idea is to find a CATCH WORD OR PHRASE that is generic. At that time PERGO was to laminate flooring as COKE is to cola.
Get the idea? Ebay still gets their listing fees but you generate business from your own little company link.