Using forums to increase Ebay store traffic
One of the reasons Ebay has grown to the giant that it is today is because of the large number of buyers that search and shop on Ebay. Its common knowledge that people search the internet, then come to Ebay to buy. For most of us, how else can you advertise a product, and have that advertisement generate hundreds or thousands of "impressions" (people seeing your listing), and with luck then have many many views and sales?
Ebay is a search engine, much like Google, but Ebay only searches its own listings. There are ways to ensure you rate well in the Ebay engine to ensure as many people see you listing. But why not help general MORE traffic and impressions for your listings without people actually having to search for your products on Ebay?
Is there a place where you know people who might be interested in your products or niche regually go to find information or talk about thier hobby or interests? Do you tihnk you would get more traffic to your listings if you were to advertise to them?
But that cost money right?? Not always. If you keep it simple you can increase traffic to your webstore just by posting on forums relating to your niche, and including a link to your webstore in your "signature" with hypertext (the blue text website users actually see) that would entice somebody to check out the link. Every time you post, there is then an advert for your webstore.
The key to making the most out of forum links is to make sure you come accross as an expert or somebody of respect. People will thne be more inclined to check out your links and when they find you have products of interest to them, they have already developed trust from reading what yuo have written in the forum. You are an expert, therefore you products must be good.
But always try to be diplomatic, you don't want to upset a possible customer! You also don't want to be seen to be doing nothing but promoting your own products. You want to be seen to be giving free advice and really helpfull. Shopping on the internet is a lot to do with trust, and building your forum cred will really help boost your sales.
Your Ebay store is a website and business like any other. The more you do to boost traffic the more you will see increased returns. Whats more posting on forums can be fun too!
