Expert: Suzie Eads - 10/27/2009

Question
I run a small idependent video production business and had been approached by someone in my area who had been something of a local celebrity here in NJ, had his own tv show for 17 years on the subject of casino gambling ("Cappy's Casino Corner"), and he still attracts large crowds to his class on the subject where he teaches a course at Adult Education in the local H.S. He asked me if I could put a DVD together for him from an extensive collection of his shows on VHS tape and market them for him on the Internet. I told him the first part would not be a problem, but marketing on the Internet was not my area of expertise. I'm familiar with buying on eBay but have heard how it has become something of a joke lately trying to sell anything there with all their new rules and regulations plus cost increases. Would you have any practical suggestions on how I can help him market his product on the Internet once I produce the DVDs?

Answer
This is pretty exciting!  I think it’s a great opportunity to be on the ground level of this project. Did the client tell you how he wanted this marketed?  If he is leaving the marketing up to you, I would probably handle this in a couple of ways.

The first thing I would do is create a website for "Cappy’s Casino Corner".  I would set up a shopping cart on the website so people could purchase his DVD directly from his website. Another way to market him would be create a blog, and a subscription “Tip of the Day” email.  After his website was up and running, I would set up accounts on Amazon, Half.com and eBay to sell his DVD’s.

I don’t know how internet savvy “Cappy” is, but it would also be a good idea to set up a Facebook page and Twitter account for him.  Poker is popular now, and if “Cappy” would Tweet, or market himself on Facebook, he would find his sales go up by doing this.

You are right about eBay becoming some what of a joke.  I have hopes that the higher ups at eBay  will realize that the core of eBay is the community, and not themselves.  If they don’t realize it soon, I hope the board of directors do!
Good luck on your marketing and creating a buzz with Cappy and his Casino Corner!