The Importance of Outside Opinions (entrepreneurs)

April 9th, 2010 admin Posted in business |

By Erwin Pope

No matter how you are looking at things, if another person looks - he will see them differently. So, to be sure you are doing the right things on the right way, you should not only think systematically yourself, but also provide channels to get feedback and other opinions.

“The manager of one car-service company phoned all his daily customers after the working time to make sure they were satisfied with the service and to ask them if they could have done something better.” This is a very good example of how one company can be closer to its customers; but on the other side - it is very time-consuming and rather expensive. There is a proverb that we can use for better solution: “If Mohammed can’t come to the mountain, the mountain will come to Mohammed.” In order to gain as much feedback and opinions from your customers, you have to be sure that they can provide it easily the moment they decide.

You have probably made a nice-looking website to provide information, promote something, get the message out there or sell something. It is now time to think of some other usage for it - gaining feedback! Here are some ways to do that using live-support software:

Be sure to place a contact point on each of your web pages. It can include the “chat” button, the “leave a message” button or even a visible link to “contact us” - where you have all the other contact points written;

Provide visitors with incentives to give you their feedback. For example: We appreciate any of your comments and opinions and are glad to offer prizes for 10 of our visitors each month which gave us their feedback.

Place imbedded links in your website text to receive feedback on certain important issues. For example: We developed a new product line according to your requirements. We will be glad to chat with you to hear your opinion or new ideas;

Place the “chat” button on the e-mails you send. That way your customers can immediately reply to your message and you get the chance to ask additional questions you are interested in;

Make paper feedback cards which you can give together with your products or services and write on them your website address where they can interact with you and tell you their satisfaction, their ideas for improvement or simply chat with you on any issue.

56% of consumers feel respected when marketers attempt to understand their interests. So, make sure that as many people from outside the business can comment regularly on what you are doing well or badly and that way make them feel respected.

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Australia’s Online Shopping Craze

By Erwin Pope

Online Shopping

As everyone knows, the Internet is a great place to find bargains and great deals on any product you can name. Want heated socks? You’ll find them online. Discount books? No problem. Any and everything can now be purchased online, and most Internet shoppers know that buying online is usually much cheaper than visiting a physical store. Online shopping has become very secure, and there’s no reason to be afraid to buy online. With many differed verified and secured systems, it’s okay to use your credit card for your Internet purchases. Online shopping is quick, easy, and cheap, and everyone is getting involved. Even people who never buy anything online are realizing that sometimes there is no choice. Even event tickets to concert and sporting events can be found online - often after those venues have already sold completely out of tickets. If you can get tickets to the big game online and no where else, why not use the Internet to your best advantage?

A World Connected

The Internet has brought the entire world together. From the safety and relative comfort of your own home, you can browse online encyclopedias, libraries, visit museums and zoos around the world. You can shop in Paris, read about art in Egypt, and research anything that you desire - if you know how to use the Internet. A man living in Idaho can chat with a woman living in Beijing. People from all walks of life can get together in a virtual room and play games, have heated discussions or even date. The Internet has connected the entire world, and we are the ones who benefit. We can learn about anything, buy anything, talk to almost anyone, and all we need is Internet access.

How Are Things Down Under, Mate?

Australia has taken part in the online shopping boom in a big way. Australian-based and Australian-themed web sites filled with every product imaginable will pop up in any Internet search. Many of these sites, while easy to navigate and attractively laid out, have so much stuff on them that it can get confusing. Australian-based online shopping sites have become increasingly popular recently. Is it possible that Aussies like to shop online as much as the rest of us do?

It’s true that most of the time; you don’t know that you’re visiting a site from another country unless there’s another language (that you can’t read) on the site. It’s easy to tell “oh, this site is Japanese” or “this site much be German” because the language is strange and unfamiliar. But sites based in English-speaking countries, like Canada, England, and Australia are harder to discern from the pack. If everything’s printed in English, how do you know if that site comes from California or the Australian Outback? Most Australian online shopping sites don’t have helpful pictures of kangaroos and wallabes to tell you “hey, we’re from Down Under!” So chances are that you’ve already been exposed to an Australian online shopping site and you didn’t even know it! Australian online shopping sites are all over the place. They pop up in searches and they’re being linked to all over the place. Unless something blatantly tells you “this is Australian,” chances are that you won’t even know the difference.

Shopping With the Aussies

A culture that has been immortalized in film, books, and restaurants, many countries are fascinated with Australia. A wild, rugged, and infinitely interesting land, Australia has a culture, a language, and a style all its own. The recent online shopping boom in Australia has brought more Aussie-made and Aussie-related products into America and other countries. But Australian online shopping isn’t all kangaroo figurines and boomerangs. Australian products are great, and that’s why they’re becoming so popular. Online shopping in Australia is huge right now, and sites for shopping abound.

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Your Guide to eBay Strategies

By Erwin Pope

Of course, what we need to make a better living is to make money. There are a lot of things you can venture out along the digital world. When you are online, there is a plethora of ways to get your pocket full of money, but of course, you need to do it they way it’s meant to be. They all say it’s hard, we know that, here are some probable things to keep you on track in making money particularly in eBay.

What are the basics of selling on eBay and what does it mean to “run your business like a business?” Let’s take a look:

Set up and organize your business like a professional business -because it is. If you take shortcuts and try to operate on the cheap, you will never be taken seriously. The internet is still a scary place for some folks. Take the time to brand you business create a look and feel that your customers can relate to and one that creates a sense of confidence.

Invest in Automation early. Whether you use an online system such as Vendio, Mpire or eBay’s Selling Manager or offline software such as those made by Blackthorne, Marketbalst, or others, you want to automate from the beginning. Automation saves you time and make your operation appear and function, more professionally.

When you make some money, don’t rush out and spend it. Always reinvest in your business and keep reinvesting in your business.

Time is your most precious resource. Anything you can do to automate functions and get others to perform simple operational tasks will free you to do the management and creative tasks that will build your business.

Every listing is a reflection of you and your business. Each listing should look professional and contain keyword-rich headlines, good photos and item descriptions that are accurate, complete and that sell.

Establish sales, payment, and shipping and return policies that are both friendly and yet support your business model. Don’t be dictatorial. EBay is a community built on trust. If you trust others to do right they usually will. The percentages that don’t are quite small and you should treat it as a cost of doing business.

Build and preserve an excellent feedback reputation. Feedback is the window through which others see you. You can have great products, compelling product descriptions and super photos –but if you have a lousy feedback score, your business will suffer.

Great feedback is built by providing great customer service. Treat every customer as you would like to be treated and you will always have a high score.

Follow the rules. A lot of new sellers become frustrated by eBay’s complex listing regulations. You can’t fight city hall. EBay is like the government. Some of the rules may seem petty and unfair, but it is their platform, their business and they make the rules. EBay has been pretty good over the years of responding to member feedback. If you think a rule is stupid or unworkable, don’t push the envelop and don’t get into a fight with eBay –you will lose. Instead post your opinion on the message boards. EBay members are on the boards and they look for common threads and opinions from their members. An intelligent post will get read.

EBay is one of the most competitive marketplaces on Earth. Study and stay on top of your competition constantly –and be prepared to react to changes in the marketplace. I study my competitor’s auctions at least once a week.

Experiment, test, and innovate. Experiment with new tools and software when they become available. Test different listing and pricing strategies, new products and sales strategies. Test headlines and optional features. Innovate constantly. Always look for new ways to solve old problems.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are plenty of resources for the entrepreneur amazingly the best source of help is often other eBayers. Your direct competitor may not want to help you, but there are plenty of others who will. A post on any of the eBay related forums message board will bring dozens of responses. Once you are a seller, you need all the resources you need to have your business still flowing and in good condition.

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