Using eBay to Generate Traffic

**amcmill2** · 12-13-2007 03:49 PM

Hello,

I am new to the forum but I have been browsing it for a few weeks now. Anyway I have run an ebay business for 2 years now, and it makes decent money, but I am looking to expand it to try and greatly increase the money I make

. I was wondering if anybody here has used ebay to generate traffic, and how they did so/ used it? ebay is the best way I have ever seen to get free traffic, sometimes over 1000 people view one of my auctions, and I know I can refer them to my about me page to direct them to my website, but thats as far as I have gotten. What to do with my site? Should I try to sell affiliate products, try to develope my own products, etc. If anybody has experience with this, I would love to hear what you did! And if there is any other ways to harness and use ebay traffic, I would love to know that as well. Thanks to everybody who takes the time to help me out!!!

**dfveteran** · 12-13-2007 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by amcmill2

Hello,

I am new to the forum but I have been browsing it for a few weeks now. Anyway I have run an ebay business for 2 years now, and it makes decent money, but I am looking to expand it to try and greatly increase the money I make

. I was wondering if anybody here has used ebay to generate traffic, and how they did so/ used it? ebay is the best way I have ever seen to get free traffic, sometimes over 1000 people view one of my auctions, and I know I can refer them to my about me page to direct them to my website, but thats as far as I have gotten. What to do with my site? Should I try to sell affiliate products, try to develope my own products, etc. If anybody has experience with this, I would love to hear what you did! And if there is any other ways to harness and use ebay traffic, I would love to know that as well. Thanks to everybody who takes the time to help me out!!!

Ebay wont let you advertise anywhere on their site to generate hits to your personal website.

Here are some pointers though.

Everytime someone buys from you. Give them a thank you card or business card with your personal website information, when you send the goods.

Also, include your personal website link in all your ebay emails. Everytime you communicate with a buyer or potential buyer, make sure your website information is in your email signature.

There are other, more advanced ways, but these 2 work great.

Shoot me a pm or cheack out my daily blog if you have any other questions.

**amcmill2** · 12-13-2007 06:15 PM

Why can't you direct people to your website through your about me page?

**Hooman** · 12-13-2007 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by amcmill2

Why can't you direct people to your website through your about me page?

You can.

EBay is excellent for generating traffic. I used it to jumpstart the sales of my first ebook, and I've got similar plans for my second ebook.

I sell a lot digital products, and in doing so I get my buyers email addresses, and then I use that to send them out newsletters here and there. In my auctions I also include that they will get my newsletter *free* as an added bonus, which includes lots of special offers, news, etc.

Over the past year or so, I've built newsletter lists each targetted for different categories...I have around 2000 emails total at this point.

You should also write reviews/guides. That gets you lots of good traffic to your About Me page. Plus, post on the forums like the 'front porch' and 'part-time sellers' boards.

**geffklusner** · 12-13-2007 11:12 PM

i too think ebay can generate much traffic

**dfveteran** · 12-14-2007 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by NorKal

You can.

EBay is excellent for generating traffic. I used it to jumpstart the sales of my first ebook, and I've got similar plans for my second ebook.

I sell a lot digital products, and in doing so I get my buyers email addresses, and then I use that to send them out newsletters here and there. In my auctions I also include that they will get my newsletter *free* as an added bonus, which includes lots of special offers, news, etc.

Over the past year or so, I've built newsletter lists each targetted for different categories...I have around 2000 emails total at this point.

You should also write reviews/guides. That gets you lots of good traffic to your About Me page. Plus, post on the forums like the 'front porch' and 'part-time sellers' boards.

Your about me page is another good place. I almost forgot about that one. Nice tip!

**Cognition** · 12-16-2007 09:54 AM

Is it possible to sell digital products on Ebay for $0 [for the purposes of generating traffic]?

**amcmill2** · 12-18-2007 02:45 AM

So does anybody think it is possible to run a business (employing my own website of course) depending on ebay to generate almost all of the trafic until my site is established? I sell extremely popular items (Apple computer stuff), also have my own digital products, and am a powerseller if that helps any.. Any input appreciated!

**manzanar101** · 12-18-2007 01:46 PM

Most people on ebay are expecting rock-bottom pricing, so if your business can compete in that type of market, then you can definitely succeed because the volume is there.

**rogercbryan** · 12-18-2007 02:26 PM

EBay is a good source for traffic generation. It should not be your only source. A previous poster was correct when they said that eBay does not allow external links. You can have your account suspended if the links point to a site that sells products. A few of my companies have used eBay to drive business to their auctions with out problems for 2-3 years now. Just be prepared to get the boot from eBay is someone complains about you.

**Aletheides** · 12-19-2007 02:21 AM

You have it backwards, you should be generating traffic then sending it to Ebay.

**amcmill2** · 12-21-2007 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by Aletheides

You have it backwards, you should be generating traffic then sending it to Ebay.

What is the beneift of that?

**more freedom** · 12-23-2007 05:04 AM

Can you explain how it works?

I thought you cannot post your personal site on ebay auction?

**rogercbryan** · 12-23-2007 12:20 PM

I think you misses the point. They are looking to drive sales on their site not on eBay. I think we are talking about using eBay as an advertising venue and not a sales venue.

Originally Posted by Aletheides

You have it backwards, you should be generating traffic then sending it to Ebay.

**rogercbryan** · 12-23-2007 12:24 PM

In the auto auction business we often list cars on eBay that have no chance of selling. We do this because the $50 it cost us to list the item can sometimes bring in 5000 hits of which 5-10% (250-500) people will link to our website. These are buyers interested in our product at a cost of $.10 to $.20 per lead. This has been a good source of lead generation.

So you can list items on eBay with out the intent of selling them. Please use caution as this is against the terms and conditions of eBay and may result in suspension of your account. I've been doing it since 2005 with out any problems... take that for what its worth.

Originally Posted by TheCDAllenGroup

Is it possible to sell digital products on Ebay for $0 [for the purposes of generating traffic]?