In business, it is often a rarity when competitors get together and share their common problems and even more rare for them to share strategies on how to increase success, but at this event the networking and took center stage. Ecommerce merchants openly discussing ways to work more efficently and profitably.

Great Line-Up

With a list of presenters such as Tood Lutwack eBay’s Senior Director of Seller Development, Scott Wingo CEO of Channeladvisor, Jay Berkowitz author of Ten Golden Rules of Internet Marketing, Brent Leary, John “ColderIce” Lawson, Michael Ober Senior Director of Yahoo Small Business, Randy Smythe from Buy.com and many more (see the entire list of speakers here) conference goers had the opportunity for face to face talks with those that can make a difference in the industry.

Much of the 2 day event was centered on social media networking and how it can impact business. Other topics included shipping solutions, marketing venues that can boost exposure and a great open forum Q & A with the experts for the final session.

While there certainly was an intense focus on business, this event had a huge additional benefit and that was the money raised for the Amercian Cancer Society by attendees participating in a Casino night event with all proceeds going to the charity.

While there are hundreds of conferences for internet marketers to choose from, the PeSA/ECMTA event is one that should be high on your list of choices.

Special thanks to Netspray.com for sponsoring ebay & Beyond: Basics To Business at this event, and Warrantyfeed.com, Sharsboutique and Onlineauction.com for sponsoring segments of our live broadcasts.

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Small Business Trends Radio Top 100

Sometimes when you least expect it, life throws you a very special moment. When I began this adventure of radio broadcasts for ecommerce sellers, my hope was to bring honesty and transparency to those interested in doing business on the internet. I felt the need to tell the individuals and businesses the real truths and pitfalls of doing business online. 

My target audience was and is those interested in using new or established venues such as Amazon, Bonanzle, eBay,  Etsy, Onlineauction or even their own website to start or grow their businesses. No hype, just the real truths, good and bad.

While checking my email yesterday, I opened one of the many Google Alerts I get on a daily basis and what a surprise! Anita  Campbell host of Small Business Trends Radio had chosen ebay & Beyond: Basics To Business as one of the Top 100 Podcasts for Small Business owners in 2009! What an honor!

With the growing number of podcasters today, to be grouped among the best of the best with the likes of CNN Money, The WSJ, Businessweek, eBay Radio, Marlene Gavens, Tips From The Top, Walt Kolenda of  The Auction Wally Show is such an honor.

Thank you!

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While listening to the eBay Radio PowerSeller Hour yesterday, Brian Burke Director of Seller Reputation & Policies was Griff’s guest. Brian and Griff spent a fair amount of time discussing the “possible” changes to the Feedback and DSR system on eBay. (Please note that Brian’s comments I am referring to actually are in the first portion of Segment 2 which is labeled as the interview with Richard Brewer-Hay)

The reason I quoted the word possible is because they could not officially say there were going to be changes. They could not even officially say that eBay was considering changes. What Brian could say is users should be “very very very patient”. What appears to be very clear is that eBay is looking at ways to improve the Feedback and DSR system even though they can’t state that there will in fact be changes made.

While I often have been less than positive about the Feedback and DSR’s the recent announced policy change for negative feedback on international sales if certain stipulations are met gives me some glimmer of hope. I do know that a research study is soon to be undertaken (next week) regarding Feedback and DSR’s amongst other topics. It is my sincerest hope that this will lead to testing and eventual changes that sellers and many staffers within eBay know need to be made.

Just in case some of you may think I am getting soft in my old age, fear not! In it’s current state, I still do not believe eBay is a venue for small volume or unique item sellers to start their ecommerce business. I also believe that eBay changes of late have disadvantaged these sellers especially in auction format sales.

I do continue to profess that eBay is a viable venue for large volume sellers in specific categories as long as their business model is able to adapt to that of eBay’s.

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When I began the eBay & Beyond: Basics To Business radio program on February 4, 2007 on a little AM radio station in Jamestown NY, I was in nearly uncharted territory. Back then, there were less than a handfull of live talk radio programs for those selling on the internet. Of course there was and is eBay Radio which focuses specifically on eBay, but other than that, I could find no other live call in programs either on terrestrial or internet radio anywhere in the country that discussed ecommerce on a multi venue level.

Just 2 short years ago, podcasting was still an infant. There were a few podcasts on ecommerce marketing and even fewer promoting products, bloggers or businesses. Today, podcasting and vidcasting have exploded into the forefront of ecommerce marketing.

With the plethura of podcasts and live programs on the internet today, I am humbled and honored to have achieved a spot on the Top 100 list on Talkshoe.com. I wanted to take this time to thank all of my loyal listeners the continue to listen to my rants and comments on ecommerce every Saturday morning. You are the best!

Many ecommerce marketers are discovering the benefits of live streaming on the internet and podcasts to promote their products or services. Producing live streams, podcasts or vidcasts has become very cost effective and realistically can be done with little more than a headset and webcam.

For those that wish to be a bit more professional, for less than $1000 you can set up a mini studio right in your home or office with a soundboard, microphones computer interface and a digital video camera.

Since the inception of the ebay & Beyond: Basics To Business radio program, many other friends and colleagues have begun their own programs. It is refreshing to see the increase in these programs and the differing viewpoints and ideas generated. 

Please take a minute when you get time and check out other programs I listen to including:

Agents of Revenue with John “ColderIce” Lawson and Scott Pooler.

Brainstorming Bonanzle with Walt Kolenda and Mitzi Swisher

The Auction Wally Show with Walt Kolenda and Mitzi Swisher

Tips From The Top with Marlene Gavens The Savvy Seller

The PowerSelling Mom with Danna Crawford

In the coming weeks I will explore in depth the steps in podcasting and vidcasting for your business.

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I listened into the eBay Radio program today specifically to learn more about the holiday shopping advertising campaign. Greg Fant eBay’s VP of Marketing and Buyer Experience was one of Griff’s guests.

While discussing the current advertising campaign which includes online coupons, radio advertising in large markets, and Microsoft Live Search Cashback, Greg said the target buyers are those not currently using eBay. He also said Great Deals is the mantra that eBay is banking on to draw buyers for the holiday season. Fant also said that while the advertising campaign was geared towards the hot items for the holidays, eBay would be working hard to get these buyers to look at the unique items available on the site.

While this might be the intention, one has to wonder how eBay is going to accomplish this. With all of the attention in advertising being focused on the GREAT DEALS on new items at incredible prices, no attention is being directed towards the unique item seller. With pages like the one in this article being thrust upon buyers, it is very easy to note that all the products here are NEW consumables. How are these types of promotions going to drive traffic to the unique and collectible sellers? The answer is, it will not.

I actually called into the program. Yep I called eBay Radio. I asked Greg with all the focus on the new items at great prices, how will this benefit the unique item seller? Griff and Lee did not even understand the question! Greg did, but his answer was the promotions probably won’t help now but that eBay has to try and develop a balance in bringing attention to both the new and unique items on the site.

Please note that I said “develop”. This in my mind means that eBay currently does not have a plan in place. While this is very good news for the Big Box sellers of new retail items at below Wal-Mart prices, the vast majority of sellers will not be able to compete in this arena.

One thing Griff asked Greg was whether auctions were going to be phased out. Greg’s answer was no, auctions are going to stay at eBay. While this is good news to the many auction fans, with the limited exposure eBay is giving auctions, one has to wonder why? eBay’s heart just doesn’t seem to be in it!

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However, I did listen this week as I have been out of the loop so to speak for several days, my attention having been diverted by other projects. So, as I was trying in vain to catch up on the internet marketing world, I was listening to the program this week and I was right, another episode of cheerleading and pep rally for eBay. Ok, so as I was about ready to turn off the program, the PowerSeller Hour program came on and the first guest was Skip McGrath, author, speaker and ecommerce seller. I know Skip, he has been on our program ebay & Beyond: Basics to Business on a couple of occassions so I thought I would just hang around to listen to his take on the current state of affairs at eBay.

Skip McGrath On The eBay PowerSeller Hour

So while listening to the interview near it’s conclusion, I was not expecting much more than Skip promoting his website and services which is fine. That is what he pays for (these interview are really not interviews but paid segments that the interviewees pay for). Anyway, at about the 10 minute 30 second mark in the interview Griff asks Skip what he would change about the feedback or rating system if he could. Skip responds (I am paraphrasing here) and says eBay has come to a point where maybe there needs to be 2 doors to enter eBay. (Like maybe 2 seperate sites? Hmmm sounds very familiar) One door for the old eBay and one for the new eBay. Griff then says Skip, you are a very smart man,,, stay tuned.

Is eBay really thinking of seperating the site? I don’t know but it sure sounded like it to me. Many people including this author have been calling for this for years. I know this was tried before with eBay Express and certainly was a dismal failure, but I think eBay might very well be thinking of resurrecting some sort of dual portal site that maybe, just maybe would be better thought out and promoted.

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I know this is shameless self promotion, but I just worked all day to create my first YouTube video and just had to share.

The newest trend in marketing online is Social Media Marketing and so I thought I would try it!

Thanks

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Remember, tune in every Saturday to our live weekly call in program streaming on the internet at www.basicstobusiness.com for the latest news, trends, tips and tricks to take your internet business to the next level!

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