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It’s their game, so we play by their rules right?

Before I go too far though, let’s set the stage…

eBay is and will continue to be a FANTASTIC opportunity. I’m ramping up my eBay business in 2008 and plan on doing very well this year on eBay. The fact is the SHOPPERS are on eBay (currently 84 million active users) and if you want to sell just about ANYTHING online or start a successful business online eBay is THE BEST OPPORTUNITY around.

Finding profitable products to sell on eBay will continue to be a large part of what I teach and encourage my readers to do.

That being said…

One of the common sentiments at eBay Live 2008 (even among eBay employees) was, “WOW - there have been a LOT of changes lately!”

These changes are affecting those of us who like to “use” eBay as a marketing tool. These are the strategies that allow us to grow mailing lists, filter traffic to our websites, grow loyal repeat business for our websites etc.

Creative marketers (like us) need to stay up to date on all the new rules so here’s a quick summary.

As of July 1, 2008 eBay is making a concerted effort to discourage and disallow all strategies that lead eBay shoppers away from eBay.

This includes ending the following strategies:

- no more email addresses in your auction (after Sept 1st)
- no more links or references to any outside websites ANYWHERE,
even on your “about me” page

These are some of the ideas that made the last version of my book sold at SilentSalesMachine.com so popular.

IF (it’s a big “if”) eBay actually starts enforcing these new policies they will be VERY busy slapping the hands of literally tens of thousands of eBay sellers over the next few months. My advice is stay compliant.

Let’s assume that eBay is “serious” about these new policies and that only the “risk takers” will dare to continue to push the envelope with the old tactics.

What creative marketing ideas are left for those that want to stay compliant on eBay?

eBay is clamping down, but there are still some great opportunities!

RECOMMENDATION: If you haven’t read my book at silent sales machine (newly updated) yet you need to. You’ll understand the “game” and the opportunity that the 84 million shoppers on eBay represent to ANYONE doing business online.

Here are a couple examples of ideas that WILL STILL WORK after all the dust settles from the new changes:

- putting video in your auctions can get you great “off eBay”
exposure
- you can still link to external pics from your auctions (and do some
creative things on that “external” page)
- cross promotions from one auction to another auction containing
info products on CD can generate MASSIVE lead lists quickly on
eBay

© eBay expert - Jim Cockrum of Silent Sales Machine & Founder of My Silent Team