How Are You Going to Retain Your New Customers?

With 2008 coming to an end, now is the time to focus on ways to improve & increase your business in the coming year.

Hopefully you acquired many new customers in 2008. Customers who were delighted with their purchase and the shopping experience. Customers who were excited to tell their friends about your business.

Did you know that your satisfied customers are your best prospects for future sales?

How are you going to take advantage of that and continue the relationship?

Using email marketing in the form of a newsletter is one way to engage and retain your customer. Since your buyers are innundated with email, you need to know the right ways to maintain contact and ask for their business. It's a delicate balance and a mis-step could result in the loss of customers and sales.

What is the right approach to email marketing? What 6 points should you keep in mind to respect your buyer and promote your business? What are 3 types of content that your customer will perceive as valuable?

On Jan 9 & 15, 2009 you are invited to join us for a free, 2-part informative podcast training on 'Using Email Marketing (newsletters) to Retain Customers and Increase Sales.' Greg Bala of Sales in a Click will be our guest.

Part I is Fri Jan 9 at 2:00pm EST (11am Pacific) and Part II is Thu Jan 15 at 11:00am EST (8am Pacific). To listen, click on The Savvy Seller's Tips From the Top' podcast home page. The chat room will be open and your questions and comments are welcome. Greg may even have a special offer for those who listen in live.

To learn more about 'Sales in a Click' you can listen to Greg Bala this Tue Dec 30 at 3:00pm EST (noon Pacific) on an OSI RockStar podcast. To listen to the OSI podcast, sign up here.

Happy New Year to all!

Holiday Gift Ideas for eBay Sellers

Are family & friends having a hard time figuring out what to give you as a gift? Or are you looking to treat yourself to something special this holiday season?

If you're an eBay seller, the perfect choice may be a gift that will help your business grow & prosper! Consider a subscription to a research or product-sourcing site or the purchase of a specialized training or training materials.

What about a subscription to Terapeak for more advanced research opportunities?

Or, for information on how to find a niche or grow your business beyond eBay you may be interested in these membership sites: What Do I Sell? or OSI Rock Stars.

To find wholesale or drop-ship suppliers perhaps WorldWide Brands: The Product Sourcing Experts is right for you.

If you want to set your eBay store up correctly and learn specific techniques for getting increased online exposure, then you'll definitely want this comprehensive training: a 7-cd set containing over 25 hours of personal coaching from the leading expert in eBay Stores - Janelle Elms.

For valuable and timely information about the changes on eBay and the best strategies for dealing with them, then RocketPlace, a site with events, education and advice for eBay sellers at all levels would be perfect.

For individual, personalized training, treat yourself to a class with an Education Specialist Trained by eBay located near you.

If you're an eBay seller, you've been dealing with a huge number of changes on the site. No doubt the changes have caused you to re-think & revise your business model.

Why not invest in yourself and your business this holiday season?

Things & Other Stuff, Advanced WordPress & TaTango

Tired of listening to Christmas carols while you work?

Then tune into these (free) trainings!

Meet Cliff Aliperti
Tuesday Dec 9 - NOON EST
Join Cliff Aliperti of Things and Other Stuff as he tells all on The Savvy Seller's 'Tips From the Top' podcast!

Advanced WordPress (Part II) with Scott Pooler

Tuesday Dec 9 - 9:00PM EST/6:00PM Pacific

Join Scott Pooler, CEO of iBusinessLogic, as he trains us even further on how to use WordPress! Advanced WordPress - Part I was so popular and jammed full of info that we scheduled a Part II.

Listen to this free training on The Savvy Seller's 'Tips From the Top' podcast series. The chat room opens a few minutes early and we'd love to have you join us there while you listen in. Don't forget .... more great info is shared in the chat room after the formal recording is over!

TaTango

Wednesday Dec 10 - 3:00PM EST/Noon Pacific

Come meet Derek Johnson, 22 year old genius, CEO and co-founder of TaTango - an easy to use free tool to connect to your community. Join us for this FREE webinar by signing up at http://www.askabouttools.com/. Webinar sponsored by OSI Rock Stars.

Holiday Tips, WordPress & Video!

Mark your calendars!

Three great trainings are scheduled for this week - 2 webinars and 1 podcast. All the trainings are FREE but space is limited so register now!

2009: The Year of the Video
Wed Dec 3 (3:00PM EST/ Noon PST)

Internet Video is becoming increasingly more important for online sellers. eBay sellers added video to their listings during the past year and Amazon sellers will be able to use video in 2009.

Meanwhile, YouTube is the #2 search engine on the internet. If you don't have a video on YouTube, your chances of being found through search is increasingly slim. More importantly, after the first of the year, there are going to be changes in the search algorithms on Google that will make video even more critical.

This 'Year of the Video' webinar will be taught by my colleague Cindy Shebley of CloverCity and is sponsored by Janelle Elms' OSI Rock Stars. Join Cindy as she shows you how to get the jump on your competition by using video in your business. To save your spot at this FREE webinar, register now at http://www.successwithcindy.com/.


Advanced WordPress with Scott Pooler of iBusinessLogic
Thu Dec 4 (11:00am EST/ 8:00am PST)

Scott Pooler, CEO of iBusinessLogic, is our 'Tips From the Top' podcast guest this week.

WordPress is no longer just a blogging tool or platform. With the controls available in the “Manage Pages” feature, a complete, multi-page website, with many levels of site navigation can be easily developed and managed.

Join Scott as he shows us how WordPress, a Content Management Site (CMS), can be used for increased visibility and success in your online business! The podcast starts at 11am EST. Join us by going to our 'Tips From the Top' home page and clicking the 'Join In' button. The chat room will be open so you can ask your questions and participate in the conversation!

Holiday Tips

Thu Dec 4 (5:00pm EST/ 2:00pm PST)

Join Michael Kaiser, Executive Director for the National Cyber Security Alliance, as he shares tips on being safe online this holiday season. This timely webinar is sponsored by Janelle Elms' OSI Rock Stars. To save your spot, register now at www.AskMichaelKaiser.com.

The Customer LifeCycle - Are You Maximizing All 5 Stages?

Most of us will acquire new customers this holiday season, making it the perfect time to look at how we're going to retain them in the coming year.

The article below (reprinted with the appropriate credits) gives an excellent roadmap of a customer's journey.

"We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It's our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better."
- Jeff Bezos

The 5 Faces of Your Customer
By Wendy Montes de Oca

One of the most profound business books I ever read was Permission Marketing by Seth Godin. The ideas in the book were very innovative at the time. The Internet and e-mail marketing were still young, and, like the Wild Wild West, most marketers and business owners were still trying to "wrangle it in" and figure out how to leverage the Web's possibilities... and, more important, turn those possibilities into profits.

In a nutshell, the book explained "how to turn strangers into friends and friends into customers." The principle behind this is to first understand the difference between cold (or interruption) marketing - like those annoying phone calls you always seem to get during dinner asking you to subscribe to the local newspaper... and permission marketing - where the prospect is actually giving you permission to contact them by "opting in" to receive your messages.

To help you get the most out of your Internet marketing, I have expanded on Mr. Godin's "stranger/friend/customer" concept and added two key components: multi-buyer and advocate. And I'll show you how you can leverage each of these segments to help grow your business.

Leveraging Your Customers Throughout Their Life Cycle

You may think that a customer is someone who buys from you - period. But that's a very limited view. From the instant you "meet" your customer... until he's become a VIP buyer who's spent hundreds or thousands of dollars with your company... you should be interacting with him in different ways.

Treating him properly every step of the way will create a true win/win situation. Your customer will continue to enjoy satisfying experiences with your company, and your company will enjoy the positive effect this relationship will have on its bottom line.

Here are the five stages a customer can go through during his life cycle, and how you can make the most of each one...

Stage 1: Stranger

The stranger or "prospect" doesn't know you. Your job is to get her attention. You have only a few seconds to get her to react - whether it's by asking her to click on your ad or open your e-mail message. Which means that your copy for the ad headline or e-mail subject line is critical.

Once you've captured her attention, your #1 goal is to have this stranger "opt in" to receive your messages, giving you a chance to continue to bond with her. This is also the time to start to build trust. Show your creditability. And explain what you can do for her (fill a desire, answer a need).

Stage 2: Friend

The friend has demonstrated an interest in your initial promotion and has opted in to receive more information from you. This gives you an outstanding opportunity to introduce him to your philosophy, your company, and your mission, and to re-enforce how you can help him.

During this stage, it's best to send a series of introduction e-mails (anywhere from 5 to 7) and withhold your new friends from your general mailing list. You don't want them (the newest names on your list) to start receiving promotional messages BEFORE they receive some of your editorial messages.

We send six introductory e-mails to new Early to Rise subscribers. Each e-mail is a special issue of ETR that's composed of articles that present our core philosophies. This gives our new subscribers a chance to "warm up" to our expert contributors, the format of our newsletter, and the topics we typically address. Only after they are warmed up do we start sending them ETR as usual - including our promotional e-mails.

Stage 3: Customer/Client

The customer (or client) is someone who has bought into your philosophy and purchased a product (or service) from you.

Many companies make the mistake of ending the customer relationship at this point. But after reading this article, you'll know better... you'll know that getting the customer is only the beginning. Keeping him is another story.

You don't want to put all your eggs into one acquisition basket while having few or no retention efforts. Good retention strategies entail ongoing communication (both promotional and editorial), outstanding customer service, quality products, and fulfilling your promises. Of course there will always be things outside of your control (like losing customers to market conditions). But the idea is to be proactive and not reactive. Keep the "80/20 rule" in mind - which states that 80 percent of your sales come from 20 percent of your customers.

Stage 4: Multi-Buyer

The multi-buyer is a customer who is tied into your brand and demonstrates product loyalty with your company.

Multi-buyers have purchased several products from you, and are not afraid to spend money. These folks are your best list to roll out new products to or test higher price points. If you are thinking about creating a "VIP" or "Lifetime" product, you're going to want to advertise to this list. Multi-buyers will have a high lifetime value (LTV) for you, and will likely purchase cross-channel. In other words, they will buy from you no matter how you contact them - whether via banner ads, e-mail marketing, direct mail, or telemarketing.

Stage 5: Advocate

This segment of your customer database is your holy grail. Your list of advocates is made up of the most satisfied and loyal of your customers - and contains your best "unpaid" employees.

Advocates will do your advertising for you by telling friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances about your products and services. And in today's Net-based environment, advocates are a major force in getting your name in the blogsphere and social communities... and spreading your marketing message virally.

So how do you create advocates? Well, advocates are not created, they're cultivated over time. The advocate must, of course, believe in your products and services. But for this special group, the customer experience goes deeper... to an emotional level. The advocate feels personally touched by your service, product, or guru. Because of you, her life is changed - and she's busting at the seams to help others as she has been helped.

Your advocates are people you want testimonials from. People you can invite to be in BETA test or focus groups. And people to get feedback from to help develop future products. Even better, this group can help you make more money in the future.

At ETR, some of our best JV (joint venture) partnerships have been with our advocates - people who understand our core values, respect our business, and have a company or product that's synergistic to our own.

You want to treat these folks like the VIPs they are and invite them to special events or let them be the first to receive discounted offers. You may even consider creating affiliate marketing or referral programs to "formalize" this group's verbal recommendations.

Always keep in mind that the effort does not stop at the sale. Since it costs more to obtain new leads than to retain existing customers - now, more than ever - you have to know how to optimize the five stages of the customer life cycle.

[Ed. Note: Treating your customers right - no matter where they are in their life cycle - will ensure that your business prospers.

This article appears courtesy of Early To Rise, an e-zine dedicated to making money, improving your health and quality of life. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com.

Happy Anniversary to 'Tips From the Top!'

The Savvy Seller 'Tips From the Top' podcast series recently celebrated its 6-month Anniversary!

During the past 6 months, we've interviewed over 30 experts from the eCommerce world who shared valuable tips & information on the tools & techniques that led to their success. We've also offered several very popular mini-training series including 'How to Blog with WordPress' and 'Branding & Marketing for Your Online Business.'

Many thanks to those of you who participated as speakers or supported it by listening live or downloading the podcasts!

'Tips From the Top' has received wonderful feedback & many positive comments. Our enthusiastic listeners have made the chat room a great place to network during the recording and the download numbers are ever-increasing!

So to celebrate, we invite you to enjoy some 'virtual' anniversary cake!

Please join us in December when we'll be talking with Cliff Aliperti of 'Things and Other Stuff' (Dec 9, noon EST) and offering a training on Advanced WordPress with Scott Pooler of iBusinessLogic (Dec 4, 11:00am EST). Coming in January are more guest interviews as well as a mini-training series on 'How To Squidoo.'

If there's someone you'd like to have us interview or a training topic you'd like us to address, please take our survey and let us know: Click Here to take survey

If you're new to the series, the podcasts are FREE & you can find the archived sessions on our Podcast Home Page or you can subscribe to the series on iTunes or other feeds.


The podcasts are recorded on the TalkShoe platform. When you click on our Home Page you can sign up for a FREE TalkShoe account if you'd like to have a user name (otherwise you'll be known as 'guest').

After you Sign In, we welcome you to Follow the Series or click on the green box to hear the most recent podcast recording.


You can live stream or download the previous podcasts.



Even further down, you can leave us a comment .... and we would LOVE to hear what you have to say!!

Holiday Note to eBay Buyers

Dear eBay Buyer,

Let me begin by thanking you for making your holiday purchases on eBay. Hopefully all were from ME!

No doubt the site looks different since your last visit, hence the purpose of this note.

While the changes on the site were meant to 'delight' you (the buyer), most of them did not come with a 'user manual' so we appreciate your persistence and, in fact, We (the sellers) are 'delighted' you found our items.

One change on the site has to do with the 'F-word' - FEEDBACK. (and yes, many sellers regard Feedback as the 'F-word').

This note will serve as your 'Buyer's Guide To eBay Feedback.' It involves a short lesson that will re-define a few words in your vocabulary and correct some previously held math concepts - so please bear with us and read carefully.

For your buying confidence & security, eBay Feedback allows you to see how your seller has performed during past transactions. This feedback was left by buyers who previously purchased an item from the seller. You will see general feedback (positive, negative or neutral) and comments.

You, too, will have the opportunity to rate your seller. Read on!

You will also see a box with yellow stars just to the right of the seller's Positive, Negative or Neutral rating. While you can 'mouse over' the stars for information, you'll find everything you need to know right here.

The stars refer to DSR's or Detailed Seller Ratings. These are additional ways in which the buyer can evaluate a seller. DSR's rate:

• How accurately the seller described the item
• How well the seller communicated
• How quickly the seller shipped the item
• How reasonable the shipping & handling fees were.

Now that you've purchased an item from me (and once again I thank you profusely), you can rate our transaction.

HERE'S THE TRICKY PART:

Remember how the DSR's are on a 5 star scale?

I'll bet you think 5 stars = excellent; 4 stars = very good, 3 stars = good; 2 stars = poor & 3 stars = fail. Right?

Wrong!! Here's where the vocabulary lesson comes in.

5 Stars = very (very accurate, very satisfied, very quickly, very reasonable)
4 Stars - accurate, satisfied, quickly, reasonable

While I won't bore you with details, suffice it to say eBay uses the DSR scores to advantage (or disadvantage) sellers in various ways.

Now here's the math lesson:

If a seller's DSR scores are below 4.3, they FAIL. Fail to get any advantages.

Bet you thought a '3' or below would be a failing grade! NOT! In the world of eBay, anything less than a 4.3 in DSR's is failing.

With this vocabulary & 'new' math lesson now completed, I once again want to thank you for purchasing from ME and taking the time to read this note.

Without getting on my virtual knees and begging, I encourage you to rate our transaction with 5 STARS. Any less and you may not find us here again. Enough said.

Your eBay Seller

Winter Shipping Tip

Through Twitter I've had the pleasure to come in contact with tjwindart - both Mr & Mrs!

I learned that 'Mr' tjwindart (or @Trent_T as he's known on Twitter) has alot of experience on the road.

That's why I paid particular attention to an eBay Guide that I believe was written by 'Mrs' tjwindart. It's called 'Extra Care in Shipping During the Winter Months.'

Since winter is fast approaching I thought I'd share the info with you. Here is the Guide.

Do You Really Know What Your Buyers Think?

Most online sellers know that 'exceeding expectations' leads to happy buyers & happy buyers become repeat customers.

Did you know there's a wonderful opportunity to 'exceed expectations' & promote branding that many sellers overlook? It's in the packaging!

Don't underestimate how a bit of thought & some inexpensive techniques can improve the buyer's experience. eBay sellers who are concerned about shipping DSR's may want to consider this as they look to maintain or raise their scores.

Earlier this week in our 'Tips From the Top' podcast, JoAnn Hines - the Packaging Diva - stated that "a buyer's perception of a transaction is out of the seller's control," but if the packaging is memorable and easy-to-use it can play a significant role in increasing customer satisfaction.

For example, if your package is hard to open and the buyer becomes frustrated or angry, those negative feelings transfer over into what the buyer feels about YOU. Their perception of the transaction will be negative and may be reflected in their rating!

Here are a few of JoAnn's tips:

• put a label outside the package with a cheery message (i.e. 'open quickly for a great surprise inside!')


• use colored bubble wrap that matches your brand
  
• when including an extra, say that it's 'our gift to you' since people are looking for value

Many online sellers already include an extra 'goody' in their packages. Earlier this week I read an interesting blog post by LULUNASTAMPS about 'Snowman Soup'. As she suggested, 'Snowman Soup' would make an excellent & memorable 'gift with purchase' this holiday season.

Curious about the 'goodies' that sellers put in their packages, I posed the question on Twitter and received numerous responses. Among them were replies from @myauctionsource, @rainmanesq, @ebayandbeyond, @OldWorldLimited, @TekGems, and @redINKdiary!

Some 'extras' relate to the product that was sold while others promote the seller's brand. Some 'goodies' serve to move out slow-moving product & others were purchased specifically as 'thank-you' gifts.

Here are a few ideas from those who responded:

• a pack of gum included with sports card orders to evoke nostalgia


• a magnet with the seller's website logo on it


• iPod cases labelled with 'Compliments of ...."


• a novelty item or pin


• a small jar of cream


• a piece of costume jewelry


• a hand-written thank you note


• stickers included with scrapbook orders


• candy canes included with holiday orders


• ballpoint pens with business logo & web url


• a frisbee with business logo


• bookmark with business logo


• dog biscuits


• postcard with website info

If you include something special or unusual in YOUR packages, please let us know about it!

All the best -
The Savvy Seller

Who Do You Want to Be? And What Does That Have To Do With A Package?

As an online seller you've put alot of thought into developing your brand ... at least I hope you have!

In our recent 'Branding & Marketing' podcast training series, we heard Debbie Levitt (CEO of As Was) explain that branding should invoke an emotional reaction to your product or service.

In addition, your brand should

• deliver your message clearly
• confirm your credibility
• motivate your buyers and
• create customer loyalty.

Does YOUR brand do all that?

And there's more ....
Your product packaging is part of your brand! Did you know that you can tailor your packaging to give the right message to your target audience?

To show you how to achieve this, we're delighted to have JoAnn Hines, the Packaging Diva, as our 'Tips From the Top' podcast guest on Thu Nov 20 at noon EST (9:00AM Pacific).

JoAnn has more than 30 years of expertise in the packaging industry. She has been interviewed on TV and radio, traveled to China as a packaging summit guide, worked with the Small Business Administration (SBA), and spoken at the White House (twice). Her advice and articles appear in virtually every packaging industry publication, numerous business and international publications and on many website portals. She is the founder of Women in Packaging, Packaging Horizons Magazine, Packaging Career Hotline, Packaging Coach, Packaging Diva and Packaging University.

Join me, The Savvy Seller, as I talk to The Packaging Diva on Thu Nov 20th at noon EST! Click here to listen to the podcast live and please join us in the chat room as well!

Branding & Marketing Training - Part 2

Be sure to join us this Tues, Nov 18 at noon EST (9am Pacific) for Part II of our 'Branding and Marketing' mini-training with Debbie Levitt, CEO of As Was.

To listen live, go to The Savvy Seller's 'Tips From the Top' podcast series and click on the large purple 'Join In' button. The chat room will be open and you're welcome to join us there and ask Debbie your questions during the call.

We recorded Part I so if you missed it you can click here to download it or listen from your computer.

Debbie has recently launched a new site called RocketPlace Community which includes events, education and advice for eBay sellers at all levels. I think I can persuade her to tell us more about this exciting new venture during our call!

Debbie recently recorded a very timely and helpful video about eBay Holiday 2008 Strategies and some of the eBay changes coming in 2009. It's on her new site but you can catch a peek at the video here:

'How To Blog with WordPress' UPDATE

Many thanks to Dany Byrne of Ghostleg Media for an extremely informative and very popular 3-part training on How to Blog with WordPress.

You can continue Dany's WordPress training with a webinar this coming Tuesday, Nov 18 at 3pm EST (noon Pacific) hosted by Janelle Elms of OSI Rock Stars.

Dany and Janelle will be taking us on a special, backstage sneak peek at WordPress 2.7’s new Dashboard and Plugin features. Dany has installed a beta copy of WordPress 2.7 on her web site just for this webinar. This is an amazing opportunity to get a look at all the new goodies - and I'm sure you're going to be delighted with what you see!

To join this free OSI Rock Stars webinar, sign up here.

In her 3 'How To Blog with WordPress' podcasts Dany covered a great amount of information including:

5 Questions to Answer Before You Begin Blogging
Which Wordpress is right for you?
Themes, Plug-Ins & SEO
The Art of Blog Writing
Profitable Blogging
How to make your blog your own
What to look for in a theme
Template do’s and dont’s
How to optimize your blog for the best search engine rankings
Plug-ins and customizations
Blog subscribers and RSS feeds
... And quite a bit more

If you missed the live trainings, you can download them from The Savvy Seller's 'Tips From the Top' podcast series.

Training Updates - Blogging With WordPress & Branding and Marketing

Yesterday's podcast training on 'Marketing and Branding Your Business' was packed with great information from our guest, As Was CEO Debbie Levitt. Part 2 of this training is next Tuesday, Nov 11 at noon. If you missed the podcast, you can listen to the recorded version or download it from Here.

Tomorrow is Part 2 of our 'Blogging with WordPress' training with Dany Byrne of Ghostleg Media .

This week we'll cover:
* how to make your blog your own
* what to look for in a theme
* template do's and dont's
* how to optimize your blog for the best search engine rankings
* plug-ins and customizations
* blog subscribers and RSS feeds

Last week Dany offered a generous 'Special Discount' only to those who listened in 'live.' She has another 'Special Discount' offer up her sleeve for those who listen 'live' to tomorrow's training. Mark your calendars so you don't miss out!

Part 2 of 'How To Blog with WordPress' is tomorrow, Thursday Nov 6 at 2:00PM EST. You can listen live by clicking here.

Branding & Marketing Tips with Debbie Levitt, CEO of As Was

Our 'Tips From the Top' podcast series is offering a free, 2-part training on 'Branding and Marketing' with guest expert Debbie Levitt, CEO of As Was.

As Was is a full-service consulting firm specializing in eBay and online sales, business creation and operations management, marketing and custom website development. The company has a long track record of proven success with its many clients.

As Was President Debbie Levitt is a recognized expert on eBay, online and offline marketing, online selling, virtual companies, website trends and usability, domain names and associated legal issues. She has been interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Business Startups Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine's "Making Money on eBay" live internet radio show.

Please mark your calendars and join The Savvy Seller and As Was CEO Debbie Levitt for this free, 'Branding & Marketing' training series. Part 1 is Tuesday Nov 4 at noon EST & Part 2 is Tuesday Nov 11 (noon EST). Each podcast will last approximately 20-30 minutes. Join Debbie and learn valuable, practical tips and techniques for using branding to better position and promote your business.

You can listen to the trainings 'LIVE' by clicking HERE at noon EST on Nov 4 and Nov 11. The Podcast Chat Room will be open and your questions are welcome. If you have any questions for Debbie, please join us live or dm your questions to me on Twitter (twitter ID = thesavvyseller) before the shows!

To be sure that you don't miss a single word, sign up with Talkshoe (it's free) and 'Follow' our 'Tips From the Top' podcast series.

WordPress.com & WordPress.org - What's the Difference?

Are you confused about the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?

If you're thinking about writing a blog, it's important to know what the differences are and how to decide which one to use.

Blog and WordPress guru, Dany Byrne of Ghostleg Media has written an informative eBook that will help you make the right choice.

It's free to download, just click HERE!

Missed the 'Secret Discount?' How To Catch the Next One!

Yesterday's 'Tips From the Top' podcast on 'How To Blog with WordPress'(Part 1) was a huge success!

Many thanks to Dany Byrne of Ghostleg Media who presented an information-packed training. At least one listener had an 'AHA' moment after Dany explained the difference between wordpress.com & wordpress.org. Thanks also to those who joined us in the Chat Room and asked some great questions!

During the training, Dany generously offered a 'Secret Discount' which was available only to those who listened in 'live.' The 'Secret Discount' expired last night but Dany will be offering a different one next week during Part 2! Don't miss it - Thursday, Nov 6 at 2:00pm EST.

For your listening convenience, we did make a recording of yesterday's 'How To Blog with WordPress' Part 1 training and you can listen to it on your computer or download it HERE.

How to Blog With WordPress - Get Savvy!

Our 'Tips From the Top' podcast series is offering a free, 3-part training on 'How To Blog with WordPress' with Blog and WordPress expert Dany Byrne. Dany's company, Ghostleg Media, provides multi-media training and services for internet entrepreneurs.

In this 3-part series Dany will cover:

* 5 Questions to Answer Before You Begin Blogging
* Which Wordpress is right for you?
* Themes, Plug-Ins & SEO
* The Art of Blog Writing
* Profitable Blogging

Dany's training highlights some of the material covered in her brand new, information-packed eBook, 'How To Blog with WordPress'.

Please mark your calendars and join The Savvy Seller and Dany Byrne for this free, 'How To Blog with WordPress' training series. Part 1 is Thursday Oct 30 at 2:00pm EST, Part 2 is Nov 6 (2:00pm EST) & Part 3 is Nov 13 (2:00pm EST). Each podcast will last approximately 20-30 minutes.

You can listen to the trainings 'LIVE' by clicking HERE at 2:00pm EST on Oct 30, Nov 6 & Nov 13. The Podcast Chat Room will be open and your questions are welcome. If you have any questions for Dany, please join us live or dm your questions to me on Twitter (twitter ID = thesavvyseller) before the shows!

To be sure that you don't miss a single word, sign up with Talkshoe (it's free) and 'Follow' our 'Tips From the Top' podcast series.

Meet Randy Smythe

Yesterday as part of our 'Tips From the Top' podcast series, I had the pleasure of speaking with Randy Smythe - consultant, eCommerce entrepreneur, blogger and 'Giant Squid.'

Randy has his finger on the pulse of the world of eCommerce, social networking, Web 2.0, online marketing, Google, Amazon, Squidoo, Bonanzle and eBay. During this podcast he shared his thoughts on all these topics and more!

Formerly one of ebay's top Powersellers, Randy has a unique perspective on running an online business. From his start as an 'accidental entrepreneur' to his current success as an eCommerce entrepreneur, Randy shared numerous tips for small internet sellers including:

* what your business should focus on first
* how to find products to sell
* the importance of deciding what you want out of your business

You can listen to the complete interview HERE!

Randy Smythe of My Blog Utopia

Join me, The Savvy Seller, on Monday, Oct 27 at noon EST (9am Pacific) as I interview Randy Smythe on today's 'Tips From the Top' podcast.

Randy is a consultant, eCommerce entrepreneur, blogger & 'Giant Squid'.

You can join us in the Chat Room by clicking on the 'Talkshoe Live - Join In' button on this page or call in with your comments or questions (1-724-444-7444 / show ID # = 19245 / PIN = 1#). The Chat Room opens 15 minutes prior to the show (11:45am EST / 8:45am Pacific).

We'll be talking about all things ecommerce so be sure to tune in!

Blogging with WordPress, Brand Your Business & How-To Squidoo!

The Savvy Seller is delighted to announce a series of FREE Trainings as part of our 'Tips From the Top' podcast series!

Each topic will be covered in a series of 2 or 3 podcasts. The speakers, all experts in their field, will focus on concrete 'how-to' steps and provide top tips for success.

The first 3 topics to be covered are:

* How To Blog with WordPress
* Branding Your Business
* Squidoo 101

First up is 'How To Blog with WordPress' with Blogging and WordPress expert Dany Byrne. Dany's company, Ghostleg Media, provides multi-media training and services for internet entrepreneurs.

In this 3-part series Dany covers:

* 5 Questions to Answer Before You Begin Blogging
* Which Wordpress is right for you?
* Themes, Plug-Ins & SEO
* The Art of Blog Writing
* Profitable Blogging

Dany's training will cover some of the material in her brand new, information-packed eBook, 'How To Blog with WordPress' which was released earlier this week.

Mark your calendars and join Dany Byrne for our 'How To Blog with WordPress' 3-part training series on Thu Oct 30, Nov 6 & Nov 13 at 2pm EST.

You can listen to the podcast 'live' by clicking here at 2pm EST on Oct 30, Nov 6 & Nov 13. The Podcast Chat Room will be open and your questions are welcome. If you have any questions for Dany, please join us when we are live or dm your questions to me on Twitter (twitter ID = thesavvyseller) before the shows!

Also coming up in the series:

'How To Create and Promote Your Brand' with Debbie Levitt, CEO of As Was

AND

'Squidoo 101' with Stephanie Daugherty, a Giant Squid who has created 195 lenses from scratch .... including my personal favorite!

John Gilmore & My Auction Source

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take a look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with John Gilmore of My Auction Source.

John is an eBay Powerseller who also lists on Amazon, iOffer and Bonanzle. He brings a unique perspective to online selling as he is also the owner of a brick and mortar store.

In this podcast John talks about scaling your business, the effect of being stubborn & the fact that you don't have to have the lowest priced items to be successful. Also hear his tips on using Endicia and working with Channel Advisor.

You can listen HERE!

10 Things I Learned the Hard Way

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take a look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with Charlene Anderson, Purveyor of All Things Creative.

Charlene is an artist whose work has been featured in major textile, jewelry and bead magazines and exhibited in shows & galleries across the US. She is also an experienced online seller who learned many things by trial and error.

In this podcast , Charlene shares 10 unique tips to help you avoid the mistakes she made!

Find out:

* how to choose a business name when you're a woman
* what to watch out for when going into business with a friend
* how not to choose what to sell
* finding suppliers and dealing with 'the big guys'
* how to get the best deal when working with a supplier
* how to save money when you spend it
* the importance of having an inventory system
* why customer service counts
* when to start developing your brand
* how to approach your branding & design

Google Apps, Small Business & Bootstrap Academy

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take a look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with Steve Kennedy of Bootstrap Academy.

Steve has been an eBay seller since 1998 and is currently an Education Specialist Trained by eBay. His area of expertise is in starting and running a business using no or low cost online resources. That is the focus of his new venture - Bootstrap Academy.

In this podcast, Steve talks (in plain English) about many of the Google Apps features such as gmail, google calendar, google talk, google doc and google sites. He shares numerous tips on how businesses and non-profits can use them to increase efficiency and become more productive.

You can listen to Steve's tips and tricks here.

Don't Let the Fear of the Unknown Stop You

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take a look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with Amy Hallowell of aandbdiscount.

Amy is an entrepreneur whose full-time business is selling online using both eBay and Amazon. Amy is also an Education Specialist Trained by eBay.

Amy has been selling on eBay full-time since 2006 and is an established powerseller. She is a true success story for those who question whether it's possible to have a full-time income from selling online.

While Amy shares many tips in this podcast, you'll want to hear her thoughts on not letting the fear of the unknown stop you.

You can listen to Amy's words of wisdom here.

Brooklyn Books and More!

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take a look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with Jennifer Stevens of Brooklyn Books and More.

Jennifer is an eBay Certified Business Consultant, and an eBay Trading Assistant. She sells on eBay as well as on Amazon, half.com, alibris and other book sites.

In this podcast, Jennifer shares tips on customer service, communication and using loss leaders. And you'll definitely want to hear about one of her 'creative' sourcing techniques and how successful it's been for her!

You can listen right here.

Twitter: Mystery of the 140 Characters

I regularly post on a social networking site called Twitter. If you want the whole truth, I'm probably addicted to checking 'tweets.' Does that make me a 'twitter-holic'? But I digress.

Twitter is a free micro-blogging site where you can share thoughts and ideas with others using a maximum of 140 characters. That's it - 140 characters!

You can read more about Twitter here, find all sorts of associated applications here and get a start on Twitter vocabulary terms here.

So, why 140 characters? I don't know! I haven't found a definitive answer anywhere online.

This piqued my curiousity so I posed the question on Twitter and got a couple of interesting answers. One very plausible response came from the CEO of As Was and another great explanation came from the Insatiable Geisha.

Both said their replies were speculation. Does anyone really know? Would you care to venture a guess? I'd love to hear from you!

And if you hold the key the TRUE meaning of the 140 characters, please clue me in!

The Savvy Seller is Having an UnSavvy Moment :-(

Recently, when checking completed listings on eBay, I found something new. What a surprise (lol)!

As you may know, by looking at the 'Completed Listings' pages on the eBay site, you can check to see which items have and have not sold during the past two weeks.

Up until recently when you checked the Completed Listings, the prices would either be in bold green (meaning the item sold for that price) or in red (meaning the item didn't sell).

A couple of weeks ago, prices in BLACK started showing up. At first I thought it was something quirky to my computer but those prices in black are still there!

What do prices in black mean?

Unfortunately there hasn't been a consistent pattern that I can find. In most cases, it looks like the item didn't sell - so why is it not in red? Once in a while an item in black did sell - so why is it not in bold green? Does the format (auction, BIN, etc) make a difference?

If you are in the know, can you help The Savvy Seller become 'savvy' again??

eBay and Beyond Radio & The Savvy Seller

Join me - The Savvy Seller - today on Dave White's radio show - eBay and Beyond: Business to Basics!

The show starts at 10am EST and I'll be talking with Dave around 11am EST.

Tune in here and come visit the chat room too!

See you soon!

Meet Dave White of eBay and Beyond Radio

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take a look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with Dave White.

As host of the highly regarded news and live talk radio program eBay and Beyond: Basics to Business, Dave has his finger on the pulse of eBay and online selling. In addition to the radio program, Dave is a blogger and founder of the 'eCommerce Marketing Radio Network.'

This podcast covers a multitude of information about
- the recent changes on eBay
- the value of selling on multiple sites
- using social networking to increase visibility
- how to determine what's working
- the 'must have' personality trait to be a successful entrepreneur
- the importance of research
- who should be on your support team and
- what to know when turning your online selling from a hobby into a business.

On a more personal note Dave explains how, 10 years ago, he decided to quit his full-time job as a paramedic to sell full-time on eBay and the track his career has taken since then.

Lots of great info in this podcast and you can listen to it all right here!

You’re No One If You’re Not On Twitter – the Twitter song

By now many of you know I'm on the social networking site called Twitter (http://twitter.com/thesavvyseller).

Just found out that there's a Twitter song. Enjoy!

You’re No One If You’re Not On Twitter – the Twitter song

Posted using ShareThis

Multi-Channel Selling and a Windmill

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take a look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with Richard Kuipers.

Richard is a 'Professional Online Seller' and blogger. He is a Silver level eBay Powerseller but also sells on his own website, Amazon, uBid, eBid, Bluejay and iOffer. Earlier this year Richard left his full-time job to sell online full-time.

Listen to the many tips and techniques Richard shares - including how to work with a dropshipper, how to buy on eBay and then resell the item there plus how to best handle questions from a potential buyer. And, of course, why his business is called 'Windmill Trading!'

You can listen here!

If You Live In Or Near Kansas -

A convention for eBay / eCommerce sellers is being held in Kansas on Oct 3 & 4, 2008.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Joyce Banbury, conference organizer, about the event. This Kansas Jubilee is the first of what will be other annual events held around the country.

There will be numerous workshops on both days on topics of interest to eBay and eCommerce sellers. The speakers are well-known experts in the eBay community and include Jim Griffith from eBay and Jason Minor from PayPal.

For all the details, be sure to listen here.

Meet Bobbi Miller of Seacoast Bargains

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take a look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with Bobbi Miller. Bobbie is an eBay Powerseller and an Education Specialist Trained by eBay.

Bobbi's eBay store is called Seacoast Bargains. She carries the 'Life is Good' product line as well as antiques and collectibles.

Bobbi works full-time as a Medical Social Worker and sells on eBay part-time. She shares her tips on the importance of having a business plan and setting goals - both of which have allowed her to achieve and maintain Powerseller status.

Click here to learn how Bobbi follows her dream and keeps the 'fun' in her business!

John Lawson, colderICE & 3rd Power Outlet

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take a look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with John Lawson, founder and CEO of 3rd Power Outlet.

John is a multi-tasking entrepreneur who is a platinum eBay PowerSeller, Education Specialist Trained by eBay, blogger , podcast host, eCommerce expert and the first African-American member of PeSA (Professional eBay Sellers Association).

In this interview John answers listener questions, explains how negative comments can help your business and shares his thoughts on free shipping, Best Match and how to handle the recent changes on ebay.

You can listen to John's informative interview here but if you want to hear him live, you can find him at the RocketPlace conference in Las Vegas later this month where he will be a speaker.

You can learn more about John's business (and vote for it) at Startup Nation's Home-Based 100 Competition.

Don't miss John Lawson's 'Tips From the Top' interview !

Back To School Time For eBay Sellers

Last week was a busy one for eBay sellers trying to keep up with yet another round of changes on the site.

This is the 'Back to School' season and eBay Sellers have several opportunities to attend trainings that will help them understand the latest changes and learn how to incorporate them successfully into their business.

If you missed the round of webinars eBay presented last week, don't despair. There are other options for you!

#1 -The RocketPlace Conference which will be held in Las Vegas from Sept 10-12, 2008. RocketPlace is a conference for eBay sellers at all levels which is focused on helping them, whether eBay is a new, old, small or major channel for their sales.

Some of the featured speakers include Marcia Collier - author of eBay for Dummies, Todd Lutwak - Senior Director of Seller Development at eBay and Jay Berkowitz of Ten Golden Rules.

For additional information on the schedule, speakers, events and registration go to RocketPlace.

#2 - The YABIE JUBILEE will be held Oct 3 & 4, 2008 in Hays, Kansas. The YABIE JUBILEE is for eBay sellers and buyers. A number of workshops are offered on topics such as 'Marketing on eBay,' 'Creating a Brand with eBay Stores,' 'TurboLister,' 'Giving Works' and more.

Both eBay and PayPal staff including Jason Minor (PayPal) and Jim (Griff) Griffith (eBay) will also be presenting workshops and representatives from the USPS and the Small Business Development Center will be offering trainings.

For additional information on the YABIE JUBILEE go to YABIE.

#3 - If you're not able to attend either of the conferences, all is not lost!

You can contact an Education Specialist Trained by eBay in your local area. Education Specialists offer a variety of private and group trainings and classes such as 'The Basics of Selling on eBay,' 'Beyond the Basics,', 'eBay Stores,' and 'Giving Works.' Use the Education Specialist directory to find one near you!

Top 5 Items for Back to School

Having spent the last couple of weeks surrounded by frenzied parents in 'Back To School' mode, I learned first-hand what's in demand.

Here are the Top 5 results from my unofficial survey:

1. Lunch Boxes - Hello Kitty is definitely popular with the young ladies who lunch set!

2. Rolling Backpacks - according to 'parents who know' these are best for giving backs a break.

3. Notebook - Binder combo - gives you the best of both worlds!

4. Word Lock Combination Lock - uses 4 or 5 letters as a password (instead of numbers) for those who are number-challenged!

5. Leapfrog Pentop Computer - cool little tool that scans what kids write on paper and helps them with math, spelling and more!

What's popular for 'Back To School' in your house?

Purveyor of All Things Creative

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take a look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with Charlene Anderson, Purveyor of All Things Creative.

Charlene is a weaver, knitter, spinner and jewelry maker with a beautiful eBay store called Purveyor of All Things Creative where she sells jewelry and bead making tools. Charlene has created one of a kind artwork that's been featured in major textile, jewelry and bead magazines and exhibited in shows and galleries across the US.

In this interview Charlene tells us how she got started on eBay (selling videos), what auction tools she uses and offers useful tips on how to choose products to sell (consumable items), how to save time and money when shipping and why her revenues are 6% higher this June than last.

While the current Olympics are taking place in Beijing, Charlene has an interesting eBay related story about her trip to the Sydney Olympics in 2000!

Listen here!

Curious About Auction Watchers

My eBay auction for the Shelley China Coffee Pot with the floral pattern ends tonight.

The pattern name remains a mystery but over 25% of the people who have looked at the auction are currently watching it. So far, that's 23 watchers.

This made me curious about 'watchers' in general.
*What is the maximum number of watchers you've ever had for an item?
*How many watch only to see what your item sells for before they list theirs?
*What percentage of watchers actually come back to bid?

Stephanie Inge - Texas State of Mind

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take a look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with the amazing Stephanie Inge - professional eBay Instructor, Education Specialist Trained by eBay, eBay Trading Assistant, Business Consultant and Founder of the largest and most active eBay Sellers Group - eBaybes & eMales.

Stephanie has been featured in numerous publications, including The Washington Post, The Dallas Morning News, The eBay Success Chronicles, Entrepreneur Magazine's "How To Sell Clothing, Shoes and Accessories on eBay," and eBay PowerSeller Million Dollar Ideas. She has also been featured on CBS 11 News and NBC 5 News.

In this podcast, Stephanie talks about how she got started with eBay and suggests 3 tools that will help make your auctions stand out.

Listen Here!

Shelley Dainty Coffee Pot Pattern Mystery

I have spent the past two weeks trying to find the pattern name of a Shelley fine bone china coffee pot.

Having had no success, I went ahead and listed the coffee pot on eBay yesterday.

Here is the listing with photos. This coffee pot is a beautiful piece and the floral pattern is so pretty.

Any help identifying the pattern will be greatly appreciated!!

Flip For a Great Cause

Just wanted to let you know that right NOW you have a chance to bid on a Flip Video Ultra CamCorder (2 GB 60 Min) that's being auctioned on eBay for a great cause.

Yours truly won this Flip camera in an OSI Rock Star contest. Since I already have a Flip camera (and LOVE it!), I decided to auction this one on eBay and donate the proceeds to JanieRuth's Chipin Fund.

JanieRuth as you may recall from my previous blog post on the Traveling Lab Coat, suffered a severe head injury while in Chicago attending this year's eBay Live. Prior to her injury, JanieRuth and I made some fun videos so it was most appropriate that the proceeds from the sale of this Flip Video camera go to help cover some of the major expenses her family has incurred.

My colleague and fellow Rock Star Cindy Shebley has listed the camera for me.

Click here to bid on this brand new Flip Video camera.

Or, watch the progress & easily bid by clicking on the green 'View and Bid' button in the box below.

The Traveling Lab Coat is Fabulous and Funky!

There were many highlights of eBay Live in Chicago this year. For me, one of them was meeting the Fabulous and Funky Janieruth Reding.

I initially 'met' Janieruth in the forums on OSI Rock Stars and got to know her better when she was a guest on my podcast series this past May. Spending time with Janieruth at the ES day prior to Live and during the first day of Live was truly amazing. Janieruth is a bundle of energy and spunk, a sharp lady with a loving family. I was fortunate to meet and have lunch with Janieruth's daughter, Regan, the first day of Live.

Unfortunately, Janieruth had a terrible accident on day #2 of Live. She fell off a banister while visiting a local museum, sustained a major head injury and was rushed to the hospital where she remained for weeks. You can follow her progress on this site.

A very special charity auction is now in progress to benefit both Janieruth and the Alabama Head Injury Foundation (Janiruth is from AL). My colleague CJ Jacinto has worked hard to put this auction together and is doing it in the 'Traveling Lab Coat' tradition. You can learn more about the Traveling Lab Coat in the auction listing.

Please consider becoming part of the 'Traveling Lab Coat' tradition.

The Dynamic Duo - Marcia and Harvey!

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take a look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with the dynamic duo of Marcia Cooper and Harvey Levine of GeneralEnterprises.

Marcia and Harvey are eBay powersellers, Trading Assistants and Education Specialists Trained by eBay. They maintain two eBay stores - one for unusual items and collectibles (listen to the podcast for great stories about older medical equipment) and the other store is for their newest enterprise selling event tickets!

Marsha and Harvey's motto is 'we practice what we preach' and now you can get an insider's scoop on their tips for both buyers and seller!

For some fascinating stories, listen in here!

The Online Auction Princess

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take another look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with Donna Bond, - the Online Auction Princess - eBay entrepreneur and Education Specialist Trained by eBay.

Donna is winner of the 2007 eBay Education Specialist Excellence Award & has been featured in 'Entrepreneur Magazine' as well as The eBay Success Chronicles and eBay's Secrets Revealed.

This lively interview showcases Donna's sparkling personality as she tells us about her eBay career and gives an exclusive 'scoop' on her future plans!

Don't miss the excellent tips Donna has for sellers as well as a super important strategy for Education Specialists!

You can listen to Donna's interview here.

Buy Services Not Just 'Things' on eBay

People think of eBay when they're looking to buy 'things' but most aren't aware that the site is a great place to purchase 'services.'

On eBay, under the category of 'Specialty Services' are sub-categories such as Advice & Instruction, Artistic Services, eBay Auction Services, Graphic and Logo Design, Printing & Personalization and more - over 11,000 listings!

Among the wide variety offered you can find:
*All sorts of items printed or personalized (great for gifts)
*one of a kind (OOAK) custom designed clothing
*original songs written just for you
*custom web design or logo creation
*a denture/dental online consultation by an expert denturist!!

You may be surprised to learn that you can also purchase personalized training to teach you how to sell on eBay or make your online business more profitable. If this type of service is of interest to you, look for in-person classes in your area offered by an Education Specialist Trained by eBay.

For online training or consultation, you'll want to hire a Certified Education Specialist. Currently there are only 32 in the world. These are individuals who have attained the highest level in the eBay Education Specialist program.

Learn To Sell on eBay - Training / Consultation Service

An eBay & eCommerce Entrepreneur and a Giant Squid

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take another look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with Stephanie Daugherty of Katiyana's Collectibles.

Stephanie's journey takes her from buying Pokemon cards on eBay to successfully selling custom, hand-made doll and bear clothes on multiple eCommerce sites. A true multi-tasker, Stephanie is a mom, accountant, online vendor and a Giant Squid with over 200 squidoo lenses and squidoo lens designing business!!

Listen here to see how Stephanie does it all!

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Janelle Elms, OSI Rock Stars & eBay

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take another look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with Janelle Elms, eBay expert, author, entrepreneur and Visionaire of OSI Rock Stars.

You may know Janelle Elms from the popular workshops she offers at eBay Live, from her Online Success Institute newsletters or from her OSI Rock Stars site. However in this interview, Janelle not only shares eBay stories, she gives us insight into what makes her tick. Find out who she considers to be her mentors, why she started OSI Rock Stars, what happens behind the scenes and what she does for fun.

Meet the fascinating and dynamic 'Janelle Elms' in this exclusive interview! You can listen right here.

What do As Was & RocketPlace Have in Common? Debbie Levitt!

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take another look into the world of successful eBay/eCommerce entrepreneurs with Debbie Levitt, CEO of As Was - eBay's first Certified Service Provider.

As Was is a full service consulting firm specializing in eBay and online sales, business creation and operations management, marketing, and custom website development.

Debbie taught a number of classes at eBay Live this year but before leaving for Chicago, she spent a bit of time talking to us about her life, her company and her upcoming RocketPlace Conference. We even get to hear how her company got its name!!

Be sure to catch Debbie's tips on making your eBay listings work for you. This is a podcast you won't want to miss!! Listen here.

What Do Dandelions and Patience Have in Common? Sharon Ware!

Today, in our 'Tips from the Top' podcast series, we take another look into the world of successful eBay entrepreneurs with Sharon Ware, Founder of Dandelion Consulting.

Sharon is a Certified Education Specialist/Business Consultant, entrepreneur and eBay Store owner.

Sharon's business, Dandelion Consulting offers a variety of business services such as web design, digital photography and computer services, all designed to help clients grow their businesses. In addition, Sharon also teaches the official eBay classes.

Sharon shares a fun eBay store as well as two excellent tips for eBay and online sellers. She also tell us why she is known as 'The Queen of Patience.'

You can listen to this great interview here:

What Did You Think of eBay Live?

If you have any thoughts on this year's eBay Live, I'd love to hear them!!

While much more subdued and less extravagant than last year's Live in Boston, there were a few highlights. While I'm still putting my thoughts together, here are a few pictures .....

Janelle Elms and Uncle Griff:


The Savvy Seller (Marlene Gavens) and author Jeffrey Gitomer:


Sharon Ware (Dandelion Consulting) and Uncle Griff (Jim Griffith):



Grannie Annie:


Cindy Shebley (CloverCity Sells) and Joyce Banbury:

Who's On Your 'Must See' List at eBay Live???

eBay Live is being held this coming week in Chicago (June 19-21).

If you're fortunate enough to be going, What's on your list of things you 'must see' and 'must do?'

I was recently going through the schedule and picked out a few of my 'must see' speaker favorites. Here they are:

Seth Godin - author of The Dip and Meatball Sundae. Seth is a marketing genius who is creative, innovative and inspiring.

Andy Sernovitz - the word-of-mouth marketing guru. I heard him speak to the eBay Education Specialists last year and will definitely be back to hear more of his words of wisdom.

Jay Berkowitz - CEO of Ten Golden Rules. I heard Jay speak in Orlando, FL this winter and was blown away by his knowledge of internet marketing. He is full of the most valuable information on web 2.0 and how it can help your eBay business. You may even catch a glimpse of my website on one of his slides!!

Janelle Elms - all round eBay guru and visionaire of OSI Rock Stars (a comprehensive site with essential educational information for all eBay sellers). Janelle is a dynamic speaker who will be offering workshops on eBay Stores and TurboLister.

Debbie Levitt - CEO of As Was, the very first eBay Certified Service Provider. As Was is a full service consulting firm specializing in eBay and online sales, business creation and operations management, marketing, and custom website development. In addition to As Was, Debbie holds an amazing conference, twice a year, called RocketPlace. I attended the first one in Orlando this past February and recommend it highly. The next RocketPlace conference will be in Las Vegas in September. You can hear lots more about it on my podcast interview with Debbie last week. Debbie is speaking several times at eBay Live - Thurs at 11:30am on 'Attracting More Customers with Marketing and Merchandising' and again on Thurs at 3:00pm on 'How To Stop Breaking the Most Commonly Broken eBay Rules' and again on Fri & Sat on 'eBay Strategies That Can Increase Your Profitability.' If you can't make any of Debbie's classes you can meet her at the As Was booth. Tell her The Savvy Seller sent you!!

eBay Live gives you the best opportunity to learn how to improve your eBay business. Take advantage of as much as you can - the classes, meeting with the providers on the Solutions floor, checking the eBay bookstore and gift shop and any networking activities you can get to.

Be sure not to miss out on the 'Spot the Rock Star' contest. Not only will you get to meet over 30 successful eBay business owners who are willing to share their tips and techniques for success, but you'll have the chance to win great prizes like a Flip Video camera! Click on the banner below for details.


I'm one of the Rock Stars so be sure to look for me!!!