Twitter & Social Media For e-commerce sellers

Word has spread about my advice to online sellers a couple of weeks ago at the eBay Radio conference in Las Vegas. I taught about using Twitter to build your brand. I've seen my words mirrored on many blogs since and I'm glad the word is getting out. Since I began the buzz, I was interviewed last week by RSSRay on wsradio.com.

We discuss the use of Twitter and how it can impact an e-tailer's bottom line. More importantly, I discuss the pitfalls many users fall into when first starting with the service. Quality, not quantity is a phrase you've heard before, but in the realm of social media, it rings even more true.

If you're packing items to send out today (hope you had a big weekend of sales) why not click the title of this post (it's a link) and give a listen.

Social Media for eBay & e-commerce sellers

It's time to get down to the business of social media. Last week I spoke at an eBay Radio conference in Las Vegas (OK, it was more like a party - but I digress) and the most savvy online sellers were excited to jump on the social media train.

Like anything new, Social Media has attracted gurus, experts, mavens and scammers, each with a different story to tell. I've been studying Social Media for a while and I've learned a few important truths.

The internet is still a community
Yes, SEO is important, updating your webspace is too, but keep in mind that the town square of years gone by has moved to the internet. Conversations are barely held in person or over the phone - they happen online. This is a community, where you need to respect your friends (your audience).

It is not a soapbox - don't sell, share
As fascinating as your sales message or opinions are to you, constantly barraging folks with your importance doesn't cause your friends to interact. They don't make people want to converse with you or do business with you. They want to know the person behind the tweets (or the blog or the page) is a real person, with a real life.

Be a person
Every name on the web has a person (or persons) behind it. Share a little of your personal day. If there is more than one person at your business handling the tweeting for your Twitter account, have them sign their tweets with a caret and their initials, like ^mc.

Time those tweets
If you tweet at the same time every day, you're no doubt hitting the same audience over and over. We are creatures of habit and log onto Twitter around the same times every day. Set
your calendar to vary the times you tweet - you will hit a different audience.

Answer back & retweet
If you're not interested in what other people are saying, why should they feel engaged in your comments? Read, comment, inquire. Be a part of the community. Save your promotional tweets for one in five - one in six is even better.

Quality still wins over quantity
Is it really important that you have a gazillion followers? I think not. There's really no way to effectively follow tens of thousands of people. Go to wefollow and categorize yourself and your business. Find people who are interested in your message and/or your product. Follow them.
If they like what the see on your Tweetstream, more will follow.

Follow back those of like mind. Do you care about a new MLM program? If that's what you are intesterted in, follow them - but don't clutter up your stream with unusable verbage. If you don't
care about the latest get-rich-quick program, pass when those citizens follow you. You have a market. Know it and follow back.

Commit to the community
Fill out your Twitter profile with links to your site or your online profile. Let people know who you are. Isn't it more interesting to know about the person you're following? Is a faceless profile even the least bit interesting?

Visit your Facebook stream at least twice a day
Check the posts of your friends on your Facebook home. Again, comment or "like" what they have to say. It's all about the interaction. Don't post your sales message to other peoples walls. Friend and join fan pages of people and businesses you like and respect. Communities only survive when there are active participants.

I was named an iCitizen by brand marketing guru, Kelly Mooney in her book, The Open Brand. I take that title very seriously. A good citizen of the web participates. Become a leader. Your voice is just as important as Ashton Kutcher or Oprah. Learn from the real Social Marketing geniuses like @MackCollier and ecommerce newsman @ColderICE. Follow social media conferences online if you can't attend the, like them 140 characters conference.

Followers and friends stay with you only if they like, respect and trust what they discover.

Windows 7: Interview with a Real Expert

How lucky am I to be able to interview Stephen Rose, Sr Community Manager Microsoft (Windows OS) on my radio show last week? Tres lucky.

If you have any questions about the new Windows 7 operating system and how it will change (improve) the way you do things, click the link on Stephen's blog to hear the interview.

He's not a typical, stupifying techie - he's funny, smart and well informed. He explains the tuff stuff so that even simple-geeks like me can get it. You'll love hearing what he's got to say!

Do the New USPS First Class Rates Affect your sales?

As you know, I'm a huge proponent for saving money, in the real world or virtual one. As an eBay seller, I'm always looking for ways to make my items more desirable to the buyer while not cutting down my bottom line. Saving money on shippping is the most basic of steps.

I use USPS First Class for many of he items I sell online, and today the rates went up. The new First Class rates can be found here, but without a calculator they can be confusing.

So let's just say that any package weighing 13 ounces can now be sent via First Class mail for $3.45 (including Delivery Confirmation fees). A 16 ounce package (with the electronic discount) sent Priority Mail goes for $4.80. Not a huge chunk of change, but a considerable savings. With smart packaging, you can usually package your item in a bubble envelope and lower the postal rate. (A box weighs more than an envelope).

Don't forget that Delivery Confirmation is de rigeur when you use USPS. It's the only way that PayPal will stand behind you if the customer says the package was never delivered - and the USPS confirms that it has.

Empowering eBay Entrepreneurs in a Crisis Economy

I did a short segment on today's eBay Radio PowerSeller hour with Jim Griffith and Lee Mirabal. Click here to listen. I think you'll find some value in what we spoke about.

Visiting with my friend, Kathy Ireland

Today was a fun day! I got a call to visit my friend Kathy Ireland at her booksigning for her new book at Borders, Real Solutions for Busy Moms: Your Guide to Success and Sanity. Aside from wanting to see Kathy again, her new book is a must read. No matter how old your children are - you're sure to be a busy mom! Although Kathy signed my copy of her book saying I was "a powerful inspiration," she's more than that to me. Kathy is an amazing woman.

She communicates with moms every day: online, at the grocery store, at church, at speaking engagements, and on her company website. She is grateful that her conversations don't center around beauty tips or requests for autographs or advice on how to dress. Rather, she has the honor of hearing from real women who struggle with balancing the responsibilities of marriage, raising children, managing a household or career or both, and finding any time left to take care of themselves.

As the involved mom of three very active children, the supportive wife of an emergency room doctor, and a dynamic businesswoman, Kathy knows of these struggles firsthand. She credits her strong faith in God and her parents' love and support for any success she has today and dedicates her days to finding the solutions that can make life easier for busy moms in all phases of life. As she tackles the tough financial concerns families feel today and many other issues, Kathy offers empathy and encouragement. She shares stories from her own life and wisdom she has gained through her years from teenager with a paper route to successful supermodel to mom to entrepreneur with a dream for big business big business which was realized by building what Forbes now calls the "Billion Dollar Brand."

Starting an eBay Business For Dummies on a Playaway audiobook?

I opened a box from my publisher the other day to find the latest iteration of one of my books, it's on a Playaway(?). I went to the website and checked it out:

"Playaway is the newest format of audio, combining a wide variety of content with an easy-to-use player all in one small unit. When you receive your Playaway, all you have to do is press play to start listening immediately – there is no need for a separate player, and it comes with earbuds and a battery to make it play.

Playaway is the most simple and immediate way to enjoy music and audiobooks. Its portability allows users to enjoy their favorite authors and titles on-the-go, whenever and wherever. "

Well son of a gun, sounds interesting, so I emailed the manufacturer for more info. They didn't respond. I guess I'm not a big enough name. Their site featured a trade-in program, which makes these audiobooks pretty green.

Amazon sells them too: Starting an E-Bay Business for Dummies (Playaway Adult Nonfiction) and it seems they have a co-author attached to it. After some studying (since I've never heard of the co-author) it seems the person listed "reads" the book. What the hey? I've checked him out - he's big in the voice over industry, so I guess that makes his reading my words equally important as my writing the book.