a short article with tips to improve auction performance
The buyer is in front of your auction, and they've read the description. They must be interested, but how do you push them over the line to place a bid on your item? Here are some tips.
Improve your picture: In all that description writing, you might have missed the vital importance of your item's picture. A picture with bad lighting or an intrusive background looks unprofessional and won't inspire anyone want to buy from you.
Add an About Me page: You'll be surprised how much you can reassure bidders just by creating an About Me page and putting a little bit about yourself on your business on there. It gives your business a personal touch. You can also have a few special offers there for people look at the page, and let people subscribe to your mailing list so that you can email them updates and maybe special offers.
Use SquareTrade: Signing up at SquareTrade and displaying their logo on your auctions shows that you are committed to have them resolve any disputes that arise. You always see this on PowerSellers auctions - it makes you look more professional and committed to customer service.
Write terms and conditions: Have the details of things like shipping times and prices, your refund policy, and any other business practices you might have clearly visible on all your auctions. This helps build confidence with buyers and helps prevent confusion.
Use your feedback to your advantage: Copy and paste a selection of the feedback comments you're most proud of to each item's description page, instead of making bidders go and look for it. If you have 100% positive feedback, be sure to write that on every auction as well.
Add NR to your titles: If you have extra space in a title, put 'NR' (no reserve) on the end. Bidders prefer auctions that don't have a reserve price, and doing this lets them see that yours don't.
Benefits not features: Make sure your description focuses on the benefits that your item can give to the customer, not just its features. This is a classic sales technique. If you have trouble with this, remember: 'cheap' is a feature, 'save money' is a benefit. A benefit answers "what's in it for me?" for the buyer.
List more items: If you want more people to respond to your items, then list more items! You might find you have better luck listing items at the same time, instead of one-by-one. There's no need to use a Dutch auction - you can just keep two or three auctions going at once for an item you have more than one of in stock.
Accept unusual payment methods: To reach those last few buyers, accept payment methods that many sellers don't, like checks. Not everyone likes or uses PayPal.
Buy some upgrades: Upgrades such as bold, highlight, etc. can help your auction stand out more and improve responses. In competitive markets, these upgrades may be worth the price.
