I've been preaching for a looooong time about using video in eBay listings. It's really easy to do (yes, even if you're not a geek) and it's persuasive. If you want to sell more, using video is one of the best things you can add to your listings or your website. The user interface is intuitive and fun, and it's remarkably easy and fast to find the kind of vehicle you're looking for. At that point, you can view a user made video to get a tour of the car, inside and out.
Currently, about ? of used car sales in the USA are carried out online, a figure which is sure to rise further.
HotSwap uses the slogan ?seeing is believing' to tie into their use of video throughout the site, and in doing so they raise a very valid point. Seeing IS believing. In other words, buyers are far more likely to pursue a car that they've ?viewed' (albeit virtually) than a similar listing with only photographs or worse, just a description. Also, any seller that takes the trouble to create a video can be thought of as a serious seller, they're someone who spent some time to showcase the car.
Does your industry lend itself to using video to win buyers confidence, especially if there are competitors who are ignoring this useful medium? Online video is not going anywhere. You can embrace it now voluntarily or be forced into using it down the line. Surely it makes sense to forge the way in your industry and be at a competitive advantage than to try and play catch up when it may be too late. Oh, and I don't want to hear the ?but my business is different' excuse. If you REALLY believe your business is different, we need to talk?
Success Story from Jeff Sauers
This message came in from Jeff Sauers, a subscriber from New Jersey, USA:
?Hey Andrew! I already have a great success story for you by using some of your tips. First, I want to tell you that I received this month's newsletter today and was really blown away by this month's tips. I especially loved the interview with Debbie Levitt. Great job (as always)!
Here's the success story: A couple of months ago, my wife won four New York Jets football tickets at work along with a prepaid parking pass to the season opener against one of their arch rivals in the Meadowlands. I live about 1 1/2 hours away, but had knee surgery recently and I'm still not allowed to walk that much just yet. Of course, we decided to put them on eBay.
I used some of the advice you give such as using the right keywords in the title, a powerful headline, emotional body copy, a subhead, etc. We didn't offer a 'But It Now' option, but my wife wanted to put a reserve price in just to be safe (which was easily met).
Now, I knew the tickets would sell and I had an idea about the approximate amount we should get - being that I'm a football fan and former Philadelphia Eagles season ticket holder myself - but even I didn't think we would get as much as we did. Just last night our auction ended and we got $825! I thought it would be in the $600-$700 range.
But here's the part you're gonna' love - even other sellers who also had four tickets plus a parking pass in sections equal to ours didn't get nearly as many bids or sold their tickets for the amount we received!
I simply used just a few of the tips you teach and netted a nice profit and blew away even professional ticket sellers. Thought you would enjoy that success story.?
Congratulations to Jeff on netting such a nice profit. I can only encourage you, the reader, to follow Jeff's path. Jeff easily paid for his entire annual subscription with this one transaction.
I defy anyone to disagree that they couldn't have done the same. I outline the steps for you and add to them in each issue with the latest breakthroughs, discoveries, and sometimes sneaky techniques, but it's up to you to take action. Take action and cool stuff will happen in your life. Sit back and do nothing, and guess what'll happen? That's right ? nothing! Again, I wholeheartedly applaud Jeff for taking action?