| The Online Seller | Vol. 4, Issue 24 |
I'm happy to announce that, starting Jan. 4, this publication will have a new home at TheOnlineSeller.com.
We'll have a brand new look, but you'll find the same, familiar style of helpful content. More importantly, having our own identity apart from Auctiva.com means we'll be able to provide you a broader, more independent view of e-commerce, and the opportunities and challenges sellers face, wherever you happen to sell.
Auctiva EDU will continue to deliver news and educational articles geared toward Auctiva customers, just as it has since we first brought you The Online Seller newsletter in 2008. However, going forward, most of what you see posted there will redirect to TheOnlineSeller.com.
We're still putting the final touches on the new site, but take a few minutes to bookmark it now. And be sure to "like" us on Facebook to get all our updates and be entered in our contest. The winner will be a featured seller in an upcoming issue of our newsletter, with a link to their store (which is great for SEO).
Thank you for making Auctiva EDU more successful than we imagined. Here's wishing you the very best of this holiday season. See you in the new year at TheOnlineSeller.com!
Sincerely,
Crista Souza—Editor
The Online Seller
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Lisa Suttora shares seven tips for measuring the success of your product line … Dennis L. Prince offers strategies for using incentives to increase sales … Brad and Debra Schepp take a peek at Google+ business pages … Auctiva team members star in Auctiva Storage Wars: the Video (Part 1) … Plus, top sellers share their best holiday selling tips, the latest industry news and more! |
Special Features: Auctiva Blog Expert Insight Auctiva User Profile Auctiva Commerce Spotlight Weird and Wacky Listings Feedback Forum |
Features
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Positioning your product line for profits and growth in the coming year
by Lisa Suttora
Measuring success: It's the only way to know what's working or not working in your business.
A year-end product line assessment will measure the success of your product line's performance over the previous year. Once you know where you stand, you'll be able to:
- Plan successfully for the coming year
- Spur creative, "out of the box" thinking and sourcing strategies in the year to come
- Avoid repeating costly mistakes
- Identify the areas of opportunity for next year
Offering Incentives to Perk Up Profits
Attract more business without sacrificing your bottom line.
by Dennis L. Prince
Is There Value in Google+ Pages?
Here's an early look at what could evolve into another important tool for merchants.
by Brad and Debra Schepp
Video: Auctiva Storage Wars, Part 1
The documentary that inspired the popular Auctiva EDU series
Holiday Tips from 'Seasoned' Sellers
Top strategies for keeping the seasonal frenzy under control
Need Last-Minute Holiday Inventory?
It's not too late to restock with profitable merchandise. Here's where to look.
Get Green to Help You Grow. Kabbage provides cash to online merchants selling on eBay, Amazon and Yahoo. By looking at your seller history, seller rating and transaction history, Kabbage looks at more than just your credit score. Get the cash you need today to source inventory, market your site, update your technology or anything you need to grow your business! Learn more at Kabbage.com.
News Stories
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Online marketplaces vying for last-minute buyers.
Last-minute holiday shoppers got a surprise gift from Amazon when the online retailer announced a two-day extension of its free Super Saver Shipping deadline for Christmas delivery. Read story.
Mobile Search Terms Reveal Buyer Motivations
Searches for 'Shopping,' 'Discount' balloon during busiest shopping days.
eBay Gives Big
Company honored for charitable donations in 2010.
Online Holiday Spending Sets New Record
'Cyber Week' sales reach $6 billion, comScore says.
USPS to Raise Priority, Express Rates
Prices set to increase an average of 3.2 percent in 2012.
November Proves Profitable for Online Sellers
Momentum may lead to a merry holiday, officials say.
eBay Acquires 'Recommendations Engine'
Hunch will expand eBay customers' ability to buy, sell.
Free Holiday Shipping Survival Guide! Stamps.com has released the Holiday Shipping Survival Guide for eBay sellers! The FREE, downloadable guide provides online sellers with best practices and industry data to optimize their shipping and increase sales during the 2011 holiday season. Download the free guide today!
Auctiva Blog
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The holidays are a time to spend time with family, spread that holiday cheer and make a few sales, aka bucks. I recently decided it would be a great time to post a few items we acquired at a local storage unit auction to start 2012 fresh and free of clutter. Read more.
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How were your Cyber Monday sales? Things were looking fairly grim for me over the Thanksgiving weekend, but when Monday hit, the sales started—and they haven't really stopped, since. Read more.
Expert Insight
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Got a burning question about any aspect of selling online? Post your question on our Facebook page, and we'll find an expert to answer it in an upcoming newsletter.
Please do not posts requests for Auctiva customer support. If you have account-related questions or need technical assistance, please file a support request.
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Kim Patton never knew puzzles could be so addictive, but they proved to be a fun pastime when the seller was recovering from back surgery—and they proved to be a sound business investment when she couldn't go back to work after the surgery.
"It just kind of took off," muses Patton, the owner of Patton Puzzle Pleasures on eBay. "Now it's grown so much, I can barely keep up." Read story.
Get Featured Here
Got a success story you want to share? Drop a line and tell us in 50 words or less about an outstanding e-commerce experience, and perhaps we'll feature your story in an upcoming issue of The Online Seller. Submit your story.
Auctiva Commerce Store Spotlight
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Buyers who use insulin pumps—or know someone who does—will find a great sidekick at MyPump*tastic.com, which strives to make "Type 1 a little fun."
The store offers affordable silicone medical bracelets for the Type 1 diabetic, as well as a large variety of insulin pump packs. The packs are geared toward children, but adults love them, too, and it stays accessible while looped around the waist with a strap.
Owner Lisa Dagen started making the pouches for her diabetic daughter because she couldn't find enough variety in the market. She began selling them online two years ago so others could also employ a more fashionable look while wearing their pumps.
"Being diabetic is hard for a child," Dagen explains. "I wanted to make it a little fun for them."
The belted packs range in design from butterflies to camouflage to brown suede, and there are three styles to choose from, including one with a window view. Dagen has a page on her site that is filled with testimonials from satisfied customers who love the design and quality of the packs.
Dagen believes her store fills the need "to give diabetics wearing an insulin pump a stylish way to wear and protect their insulin pump 24/7."
Visit MyPump*tastic.com.
Set up your own Auctiva Commerce Store and get complete freedom over your shop.
Weird and Wacky Listings
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Don't let the cold weather keep your hands from talking. Seriously, who uses their mouths anymore? With Mittenberry, you'll be able to keep your hands toasty warm and keep that all-important texting going even on the chilliest days. It's a good thing, too, because if your BFF doesn't hear you LOLing, he or she might flip.
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Ever wanted to own a piece of history that's truly larger than life? The seller can't prove it, but he's pretty sure this pair of giant horse statues are original Frontierland props from Walt Disney World. Just think, they'd make excellent statement pieces to adorn your front yard, or draw attention to your brick-and-mortar shop!
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Need friendly encouragement while you're at the computer? This mouse pad will do the trick. Not only does it send a happy vibe, it also wishes you luck with a two-finger peace sign. For a more masculine look, draw on a mustache and goatee, or whatever you wish. The possibilities are endless for those with a creative mind, a doodling hand and a need to not take their computers so seriously.
Feedback Forum
In response to "Giving Thanks to Your Customers," one reader writes: "We have been sending a personal hand-written thank you note with every item we sold. It only takes a couple of minutes, and we have received comments about our thank you notes." Read the entire thread, and post your response.
If you'd like to comment on this newsletter, any article contained within, or on topics you'd like to see us cover in the future, The Online Seller would love to hear from you. Send us your feedback.
Sent by Auctiva Corp.
360 6th St., Chico, CA 95928