As the online auction business model continues to evolve into a more commercialized corporate market, it is time for online auction sellers to have sixteen years of control of their business, before it’s too late.

In this article, we’ll highlight some effective steps you can take to regain control of your own business.

Why is controlling sixteen so important?

There are three megatrends that have the potential to hurt online auction sellers:

1. Increased expenses on all services serving online auction sellers. eBay recently raised their fees, Yahoo Auctions recently started charging fees for posting auctions with them. The United States Postal Service recently increased its postal rates. Auction management services are raising their fees. Free photo hosting services now charge fees for hosting photos on their sites. Payment processing services have also increased their fees. It’s a post-dot-com crash reality that most services that used to be free are no longer free. Wherever you look, expenses increase. Taken cumulatively, they can consume the earnings that used to be there. This fact alone is reason enough to consider developing your own online presence in addition to online auctions.
2. Restrictive eBay Policies. The online auction community is in turmoil over eBay’s recent strengthening of its linking policies. These rules basically remove a seller’s ability to advertise their site and / or develop click-through traffic from eBay. Link rules were just a precursor to the new “eBay Stores,” eBay’s way of providing idealistic e-commerce havens for its community. The new eBay stores allow eBay sellers to set up online storefronts, which, of course, have their own fee schedule. These windows have been opened to mixed reviews. There really is no comparison between having an eBay store and having your own online store. An eBay store is like having an open store within a gated community. The only traffic you are likely to get is from other eBay members. Having your own website with an online store is like opening a store on Main Street. You have all the traffic you can create, and more importantly, you have the freedom to decide exactly how you run your business. You see, in the gated community there are many rules, rules designed to benefit the community at large.
3. Corporate and institutional participation in online auctions. This is a growing trend. Many large corporations are taking advantage of the eBay auction concept to sell off unwanted or invaded merchandise to the masses. Even the US Postal Service is participating in eBay auctions! They use eBay to liquidate items that were undeliverable or lost in the mail. Police departments are selling seized goods on eBay. Corporations are jumping on the eBay bandwagon and creating a hyper-competitive environment for some of the “smaller sellers.” Basic economics dictates that the greater the supply of goods, the lower the price of those goods.

This triple whammy of higher spending, a restrictive sales environment, and increased competition will have the effect of squeezing sellers, unless they take steps to prevent their demise.

What are some steps you can take to avoid being the victim of an online auction?

1. Start “thinking outside the auction” today. That is, develop an attitude that the online auction goldmine could end tomorrow, so TODAY you will take the right steps to secure your future. This is especially important for sellers who depend 100% on their income from online auctions!
2. Start making plans today to build your presence online, away from online auctions. Developing your own website is only the first step towards online success. Getting traffic to your site is actually the key that many people ignore, much to their dismay. Developing traffic takes time and knowledge.
3. Create, manage and maintain a customer list. Every self-respecting marketer will tell you that your customer list is EVERYTHING. Maintaining your customer list and staying in touch with your customers is one way to increase your sales. (Even if you sell items that are not related to what your customer initially bought!) Much of the sale has to do with breaking down that trust barrier. Once you have established a successful relationship with a client, most of your battle will be won. The worst thing would be to drop the ball and not carefully but consistently contact that customer again, always affirming the original purchase and informing them of new opportunities.
4. Find the tools you need to take your business to the next level. This step will require some research, but it will be worth it. Today, you can find software that will dramatically simplify your life, from autoresponders (email autoresponders) to bulk email programs (that help you send bulk email to your customer list) to email delivery programs. search engines. (which help you increase your search engine positioning) If you are in any type of business that requires continuous education of your clients, a Newsletter program (which not only sends your Newsletter, but also manages unsubscriptions automatically) would be a great benefit. Having a Newsletter is one of the best ways to stay in constant contact with your customers and keep them informed about new trends in your industry and new products that have debuted.
5. Learn. Learn and learn a little more! When I first went online a few years ago, the whole internet intimidated me. I knew I wanted to bring my collectible toy business to eBay and I had some theoretical knowledge about it, but I had never done it before. As I was launching into books and websites related to what I needed to know, I came to a very profound discovery. It’s all there! Everything you could want to know about how to make your business successful on the Internet is available on the Internet! Some of the information was free, some of the information cost money, and some of it was downright expensive. But one thing was always certain: everything was there. Even more importantly, I discovered that there are all kinds of people who are willing to help you with any kind of problem or obstacle you may face, you will find them on the corresponding Message Boards. Everything you need to know to be successful is there, waiting to be discovered!

You will only lose in your online business if you don’t follow the steps of

• learning
• evidence
• implement and
• getting better

As the three megatrends of rising costs, restrictive policies and corporate participation in online auctions continue to invade the once safe world of the online auction seller, the people who take the steps outlined above will be the winners in the business world. online.