How Can A New Auction Compete Against Ebay?

scottceci · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Kapolei, HI

Hi Jim

If you have a few minutes, take a look at my new auction site and I would appreciate any tips on marketing my idea, and how to build traffic.

I started a new auction, but figure I have to offer something different from ebay or any of the other established alternative sites, in order to break into the market. Here is what I am offering members:

1. Co-op where the member are Part Owners of their own auction.

2. Profit Sharing- I expanded on the Affiliate Program of giving credits for recruiting referrals, and applied a MLM pay system with downlines, to the auction business. I had a custom pay system built that will allow members to earn sales commissions & credits from the selling fees their downlines of referrals produce.

3. A way to build Retirement income.

4. Medical & Dental Insurance

Currently I am posting in as many free forums as I can find, joining blogs groups of ex-ebayer's, and places like myspace, facebook, PSU etc...

I have a guy working on optimizing the site, and submitting to the search engines.

I decided to go with this type of pay system, to attract members and go for word-of-mouth advertising, and this way I can pay the members that recruit and advertise for me.

Whenever I mention MLM, it seems to scare everyone off, so I have taken that out of my posts, and just say I have expanded on the Affiliate Program and members can earn sales commissions & credits.

Curious to hear what suggestions you have. thanks Scott

www.ProfitSharingAuction.com
_________________
Scott Christenson, Ret. SMSgt
92-1089H Palahia St.
Kapolei, HI 96707
808-352-6067
support@profitsharingauction.com

jcrawford · Joined: 15 Dec 2001 Posts: 185 Location: Omaha

Hi Scott,

I don't have a lot of experience marketing auction sites,
but I have had some success at the local level.

Encourage your affiliate sellers to put their local
area in their ads, and their meta tags.
For example, "Omaha auction seller", etc.

Tell your team how to help you.
_________________
Jim Crawford
"ingenious creativity"
www.CrawfordDirect.com
www.OmahaFineDining.com

scottceci · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Kapolei, HI

Thanks Jim, what do you think of my profit sharing plan?
_________________
Scott Christenson, Ret. SMSgt
92-1089H Palahia St.
Kapolei, HI 96707
808-352-6067
support@profitsharingauction.com

jcrawford · Joined: 15 Dec 2001 Posts: 185 Location: Omaha

I would say to not advertise mlm. Profit sharing sounds much better. We all know downlines are a bad thing.
_________________
Jim Crawford
"ingenious creativity"
www.CrawfordDirect.com
www.OmahaFineDining.com

ebuyerfb · Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Posts: 3

Niche sites do better than sites that try to do everything.

Also your name isn't going to work. It needs to be 2 - 3 syllables and must be short.

eBay, Google, Amazon, Yahoo, and Bing all have very short names.

lorenamtzm · Joined: 11 Aug 2009 Posts: 6

Niche sites works perfectly if you already have a prospects users database. If you are an 'expert' in your field and are able to promote it yourself between them.
A good online segmented promotion and mkting campaign. Your prices could be great and business idea too but if you users do not visit they won't know.
Social promotion and PPRR.

Foothill Web Design · Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 5

There's a difference between a coop and an affiliate program. Make sure you're clear on what you're offering customers. Most important is to bring the buyers. Everything else can take care of itself. Encouraging members to bring new members on board only works if there are sales to be made.
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Foothill Web Design: Ecommerce Websites and Hosting

Magpie · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 26 Location: The Beach

IMO auctions sites are dead. People do not want to search and deal with sites like ebay.com anymore.

Have you thought of classifieds?
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