Interviewing Buyers and Sellers, Finale!

In this series of blogs I found out, using my polls to quest for information, that sellers are using multiple venues to increase their sales. The majority of the votes cast indicated that many people spend time at two sites. As a result, I am joining the ranks and opening a second store. I've chosen Seller's Arena, and as they are in the progress of opening an innovative new mall, I am on hold with this project until their programmers have completed all the testing necessary to ensure a successful grand opening. I've heard through the grapevine that this may be only days away... and I am anxiously awaiting the opportunity to expand! OnlineAuction has provided me with a home base that I am proud to be a part of. This next step will increase my internet presence and empower me to continue learning and using the tools of online merchandising, while at the same time building new relationships, a larger inventory, and a diverse customer base.

I also found out that buyers are pretty set in their ways when it comes to finding product. The results of that poll indicated that most buyers look to their favorite venue first, before proceeding on to a search engine, like Google, or to the old stand-by, eBay. What does that tell you?


That tells me that the single most important thing you can do, as a seller, is to create good titles and descriptions! If you don't, your items cannot be found!

Many of you have read my blogs about SEO, but it is worth mentioning again... good SEO is a combination of several things.

First you must concentrate on keywords.

According to Google: What are keywords?
The keywords for your Custom Search Engine should describe your search engine's content or subject matter. Google uses this information to tune your search results to ensure they are as relevant as possible and to promote the most relevant pages for your search engine. Good keywords are words and short phrases that describe any of the following:

• the topic of your search engine
• the content of the pages you want promoted

Create titles that include relevant keywords and keep them short and concise. No more than 72 characters. Focus upon the item, not an adjective, like beautiful or wow! Your most important keyword(s) should be featured at the beginning of the title.

Expand upon your title in the sub-title.

Expand further in your listing! The same keywords and phrases should be used in your description. Your first, (and last), paragraph is vital, as this is where the search engine spiders concentrate heavily on keywords.

Once you start writing with your head, and not your heart, your placement on the searches will improve. It does not happen overnight... the whole process is like building blocks, and must be constantly added to and maintained. Blog, join a networking group, a discussion panel, or a social site, like Twitter!

Everything you do helps build recognition for your store and your items.

Understand that search engines look for relevant, changing content. So list often! And revise your listings as necessary. OLA, for example, gets spidered approximately every 2-3 days. Issues like the popularity of both your host site and your items affect the outcome of the searches. Links increase popularity, so place OLA links, your store links and individual items links everywhere you can!

Use the tools available to you. One that I recommend is Oodle. Another is FreeWebSubmission. Others include AddPro and EveryPlaceISell. There are more options out there... find 'em!

If you're blogging, be sure to add your blog to the rotation at AlphaInventions!

Lastly, read. There are many sites which are full of good information on Search Engine Optimization. Get involved, get motivated, and get informed! Here's an article to get you started: from Cyberindian.com.

Good luck, everyone! Thanks to all who participated in my polls. Let me know what else you're doing to promote your stores! And don't forget to stop by and see me at

Fleapirates Plunder!