Expert: Suzanne Wells - 8/25/2009

Question
Hi


I recently discovered your writing and am enjoying your articles very much.  Do you happen to know how I can find the best online ad space for my French vintage items?  I am looking for something low cost and effective (of course).  I am currently experimenting with the eBay advertising and Google adwords.  I've tried Facebook.  The online antique malls are too pricey.  Nothing has hit the spot yet.  Is there maybe a way to find blogs that take advertising?


Regards from Provence!
Jill
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/The-French-Wall


Answer
Jill, there are almost unlimited ways to promote your store on the internet without paying anything. Here are the most effective:

Facebook. You say you have tried it, but what exactly did you do there? I wrote this article giving exact instructions on how to use the site for marketing:  http://tinyurl.com/nmxskx

Twitter. Again, I wrote an article about exactly how to use Twitter for marketing. http://tinyurl.com/dn8okq

Use the Google AdWord Keyword Tool - it is free. This article tells you how. http://tinyurl.com/my7er4

I try to list new items every day (or most days), in different categories. Offering a variety of items helps you appeal to a larger group of potential buyers. For example, if you have 8 pairs of Levis jeans in a size 10, don't list them all on the same day. Stagger your listings and mix things up. You don't want to compete with yourself by listing 10 of the same item. You've got enough competition on eBay.

Use your store link in your signature on every email you send to every single person, period. It can be to your child's teacher, your aunt, or someone from an online group. People will click on your link and check you out. (Don't send spam emails soliciting people to visit your store. Just include your link in what you normally do. Spam is a surefire way to turn people off.)

Study your eBay traffic reports and determine where traffic is coming from and concentrate on those sources. For example, if you see hits from Twitter and Facebook on your traffic reports (under finding methods / referring domains), you will know those marketing efforts are working.

Use your store name in feedback you leave for others. Some sellers don't feel comfortable doing this. But, it is the same as your business name printed on a receipt or on a business card on a bulletin board. It is another way to get your store name in front of people. When other buyers or sellers are viewing your customers' feedback pages, they will see your store name and may click over to see what you sell.

Get on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Yahoo Groups, and other social networking sites. Participate in groups on these sites. Join groups that have nothing to do with eBay selling, but that relate to your product line. For example, if you sell baby products, join mom's groups, parenting groups, etc. If you sell books, join reading clubs or book discussion groups. If you sell cooking products, join cooking groups. You'll still want to participate in eBay focused groups for selling support, but you need to expose yourself and your store to other groups as well.

Write articles that relate to your product line for article repository sites . You can write articles for eHow, Suite 101, eZine, Associated Content, and Bukisa. For example, you can write about French wine, culture, etc.

Submit your store items to Google Store Connector.

Leave comments on blogs that deal with the type of items you sell or your niche. Look for blogs about French wine, French art, French cooking, learning to speak French, etc. (You can find blogs to comment on at Technorati.) Leave comments and use your eBay store as your URL.

This option isn't free, but really inexpensive. Give out business cards to your friends, neighbors, church friends, family, and include them in your orders. Ask others to pass them around for you. Leave your cards around at doctor's offices, in dressing rooms, on public bulletin boards, in grocery carts. Include your name, store name, email, and eBay ID. I get my business cards from Vista Print. Many small business owners use Vista Print for business cards as they are affordable, easy to create online, and shipped quickly.

You will need to give all of these strategies time to work. Promote your store in 3-5 places on line every single day. Allow 3-6 months to see any changes. It takes time and patience.