Hi!
I just returned from Nicaragua. It is a beautiful country with amazing people. Peter and I had a wonderful time. If you missed hearing me on eBay Radio this past Tuesday with Griff & Lee, we have a download for you.
- Special Announcement: The Whole Kit & Caboodle is now available!
- Feature Article: 10 Tips to Writing Better Titles
- Lynn Recommends: Buying Property in Nicaragua
- The Queen’s Update: Our 10th 100 Best Story from YOU!
This ezine is published once a week.
April 19, 2007 Volume III, Issue 15
Dear friends,
Our Nicaragua trip was amazing. Peter and I met up in Houston and flew together to Managua. My good friend John, had his brother-in-law Paul pick us up at the airport and our adventure began. The area we visited, San Juan del Sur, is beautiful and best of all, reasonable. We will be finalizing our purchase of several lots this week. If you are interested in this amazing investment opportunity, please read the Lynn Recommends section–“Buying Property in Nicaragua.” Diversify!
Peter and me with Paul
If you missed my interview with Griff on eBay radio this past Tuesday, you can listen to it here (our interview is number six.) As always, Griff and Lee are entertaining and fun! Check it out.
We have also put together an incredible package of every single product I have ever released. It is called The Whole Kit and Caboodle something that my grandmother would have said. The pricing is amazing and will be good for a limited time. So, if you have ever wished you could assemble a complete “Lynn Dralle” library for a reasonable price–now is the time.
My feature article this week lists my top ten tips for writing better titles. I will tell you over and over again that it is the title that works the hardest to sell your item–not the category and not the description. You won’t want to miss this quick and valuable read.
Finally, this week we have another great story about the things you all have sold on eBay. This one comes from Julia Wilkinson and it is a great story.
Here’s to Successful eBaying!
Lynn Dralle, ‘The Queen of Auctions,’ Creator of the best-selling eBay Boot Camp in a Box.
During our last strategy session, we realized that we needed to offer the products that you all ask for. A lot of you have been asking for The Whole Kit and Caboodle. So, we are going to bundle every single one of my eBay products together and offer the bundle at an amazingly low introductory price.
We are talking every teleseminar, every special report, every book, and all that the Boot Camp in a Box has to offer–plus the lost Bellingham video footage.
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I have really enjoyed the whole Boot Camp in a Box and have picked up lots of great instruction from you. Your enthusiasm reminds me that it’s all in getting the numbers up and having fun with this. And now, I really am! Thanks again, and God Bless, –Michele R., St. Petersburg, FL Ebay ID: 2chelz |
Click here to learn more. We are even offering terms that make it a deal that you can’t possibly pass up! This special offer ends on Thursday, April 26th at midnight so don’t delay!
‘Top Ten Tips to Writing Better Titles‘
by Lynn A. Dralle, ‘The Queen of Auctions’
I can never stress enough how important the title is to your auction success. I haven’t seen any published reports but I believe that most buyers on eBay search by title. I do–I very rarely search by category. I would estimate that 90% of all auctions are found by a title and/or description search.
Tip #1–There are 55 characters in your title–USE EVERY SINGLE ONE
Or get as close as you can. It drives me crazy when I see a title that is short. A title should be as long as it possibly can be.
Here are two examples of titles that need work that I actually just copied off of eBay: I will do a title makeover for both of these at the end of the article.
1. This is the title of the first auction:
Ceramic Vase
Here is the description:
Beautiful Vase. Stands 10″ tall. Cream/yellow color. With flowers and verticle line design. Base measures 4 3/4″. Top opening oval shape 7 5/16″ by 4 7/8″.
Good/great condition. No chips. The glaze has a small amount of “crackling effect” near the base due to the aging process.
Bottom marking: USA
2. This is the title of the second auction:
thimbles and a vase
Here is the description:
11 thimbles and 1 vase thimbles 9 have pictures of birds
Tip #2–Use Eras
Many collectors search by era. Some of the more popular ones are Eames, Victorian, and Mission. For more information on eras, please reference How to Sell Antique & Collectibles on eBay….and Make a Fortune. Pages 78-84 and 112-119.
Tip #3–Name Colors
I know that when I shop on eBay, a lot of the time I am looking for a specific item in a specific color. My son wanted a white suit for Easter (as you may recall) and I searched my white suit and his size when I found it to buy on eBay. I did not spend hours scrolling through the category “boys clothing”. Get the most important or dominant color in your title.
Here is an example of a plate with no maker’s marks that sold for quite a bit due to my title. I listed the colors and named the animal. Click here to see what it sold for.
Pottery Plate Bunny Rabbit Dedham Blue Brown Vintage
Tip #4–Manufacturer’s name is a must
Again, this is very important. Many people collect by manufacturer–think Fenton, Steiff, and Boyds Bears. Also, when purchasing clothing customers have brand names that they prefer, for example, Gucci, Old Navy, and Ralph Lauren. Don’t forget this important component of your title.
Tip #5–Identify the pattern
Identifying your pattern is also critical to your success. Whether it is china, flatware, bedding, or linen pattern–it must be in the title. Also, clothing manufacturers release certain collections–get that collection name in the title.
Tip #6–Identify Size
When I buy clothes for my kids and myself on eBay, I always search by size. No sense in just searching for a pink girl’s dress for Indy if it won’t fit her. I often search with “pink dress girls 8” or “pink girl* dress m*”. (The asterisk acts as a wild card so that anything following will also be brought up in a search: girl* will bring up girl, girl’s, girls, etc.) Put the size in your title.
Here is a photo of a shirt that I just sold on eBay. Notice how I put M in the title for the size. Click here to see what it sold for.
Filson 865 Original Wool Shirt Men’s M Navy Burgundy
This even makes sense for pottery and glassware. If you have a huge vase–call it huge or big. If it is miniature call it like it is.
Tip #7–Identify Condition
If there is room, it is a nice idea to mention the condition. Especially if your item is mint or mwt (mint with tags) or brand new. Sometimes, I will even put As Is in the title just in case someone is looking for a fixer-upper project or wants to repair china.
Tip #8–List Quantity
If you are selling 6 plates or 2 knives in one auction–spell it out in the title. As you will see in the title makeover that I do for the thimbles, the quantity would have garnered more interest than just thimbles and a vase. 11 thimbles or LOT Thimbles gets my attention. Also, if I am just selling one dinner plate, I will often say 1 in the title. This way there is no misunderstanding.
Tip #9–Identify the Material
What is your item made out of? Is it glass, resin, cashmere, plastic, wood, or cement? This is an important search term. If I am looking to buy a cotton shirt, I will search by cotton shirt.
Tip #10–Imagine Yourself as the Buyer
The one thing that I do before writing any title is to quickly think about it from the buyer’s point of view. If I was looking for this specific item, what words would I put into a title search? This way I come at it from the opposite direction. For example, if I am selling a pink vase what would a buyer be looking for? Possibly, wide-mouthed glass vase pink hobnail Fenton Vintage WOW–I think and type in 55 characters now–it does amaze me. That was just 55 exactly! Remember that the spaces do count as a character.
FINALLY–Remember that the title is to get them to the page where your item is listed with other items that have those same few searched-for words. Once they are there, a WOW or a Nice or a Beautiful can get them to click on your auction before someone else’s. Do not underestimate the power of a good adjective!
Title Makeover:
1. Old Title: Ceramic Vase
Here is the description:
Beautiful Vase. Stands 10″ tall. Cream/yellow color. With flowers and verticle line design. Base measures 4 3/4″. Top opening oval shape 7 5/16″ by 4 7/8″.
Good/great condition. No chips. The glaze has a small amount of “crackling effect” near the base due to the aging process.
Bottom marking: USA
New Title: Lovely CreamWare Ivory Ceramic Vase USA Vintage Floral
54 characters
2. Old title: thimbles and a vase
Description: 11 thimbles and 1 vase thimbles 9 have pictures of birds
New Title: Lot 11 Thimbles Porcelain Birds White Vintage Bonus WOW
55 characters–and I didn’t advertise the vase because it wasn’t relevant–it was more like a gwp (gift with purchase) or bonus.
Final Hint:
By the way, that one auction for the thimbles could easily be purchased at the low starting bid of $14.99 and the 11 thimbles broken out and sold separately for more money–I would guess $4.99 to $9.99 out of an eBay store. Look for short titles when you are buying for resale on eBay.
Do you see the importance of your title in generating interest in your auctions? Auction titles with effective search terms and adjectives which generate interest will result in more auction views and higher bids.
WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Lynn’s past ezines here.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR ON YOUR WEBSITE? Yes, you may – just as long as you include all links as they are and append this complete blurb with it: The Queen of Auctions and eBay Power Seller, Lynn Dralle, publishes ‘eBay Tips & Tricks’ a weekly ezine with 9000+ subscribers. If you’re ready to jump start your eBay business, make more money and have more free time, get your FREE tips now at www.thequeenofauctions.com
Our trip to Nicaragua was amazing. The tiny town that we stayed in, San Juan del Sur, reminded me of Cabo San Lucas about 30 years ago. My college friend, John (see ezine v3is10 for his photo), is the one whose development we went to see. His wife, Lelia, and he are developing a 30-acre parcel of land.
Peter and I will be buying lots this week. The prices are very reasonable and start at just $25,000. Many of the lots have peek-a-boo ocean views and you can see Costa Rica in the background. John is offering favorable terms and financing on a certain number of lots – with only 30% down. The entire project is backed by First American Title Company. I know that I can trust John with this transaction in Nicaragua, I have known John for 23 years and he is of impeccable character.
Photo from Lot 35 (that we just committed to buy last night.)
They say that Nicaragua is the next Costa Rica. It also boasts the title of being the safest country in Latin America at this time. The people were friendly and the food and living expenses were remarkably reasonable. Peter and I had a wonderful Lobster dinner one night for $8 for the lobster and $5 for pasta with clams. Also, a glass of chardonnay is just $1.50 in a nice restaurant! I am sold in this country!
We stayed in a wonderful inexpensive hotel with many other Americans and the majority were all there to invest in the country. Instead of buying a new car this year, I am going to put that money towards land in Nicaragua. My grandmother always believed in investing in real estate. She often quoted Will Rogers who said, “Buy Land. They ain’t making any more of the stuff.”
I really believe in this project and what John is doing for the country. John’s fifteen-year relationship with Nicaragua started in the early 90s when he worked there for five years. Since then, he travels back at least every summer to visit his wife’s family and friends. Peter and I are considering building a retirement home but we also know that these lots are an incredible investment. I think that within three years the prices will have at least doubled.
Another photo from Nicaragua showing San Juan del Sur
I am thinking about holding a free teleseminar if there is enough interest—with John and Peter on the line to answer any of your questions. It is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday night, May 2nd from 5:00 to 6:30 pm Pacific time. To sign up, please click here.
If you don’t want to wait for the teleseminar–because the number of lots available with financing is limited–please email John immediately at John@TheQueenofAuctions.com.
I am happy to present our tenth story for The 100 Best Things You’ve Bought or Sold on eBay! This week’s story is from Julia Wilkinson, author of The eBay Price Guide. Julia writes about a type of book that is always a good bet when making purchases for resale on eBay. Click below to read…
Click here to read the story…
Please patronize Julia’s auctions (juliawww) and store (Julia’s Finds) and make her business this year even better.
Also, check out her super cool book The eBay Price Guide here. Thanks!
We are looking for more great stories of your eBay adventures. We know there are many great tales out there, so please submit your story along the lines of the stories from the 100 Best Books and a great side story with photos will help. If we use your story, you will receive a $35 merchandise credit on my website and you will have your story featured–along with your user id–in my ezine! It may also eventually end up in a published book!
By the way, when I mention my ezine readers’ user IDs with links to their auctions–it actually helps their sales! Amazing how that works. Click here for the guidelines for submitting your stories.
eBay Power Seller and third-generation antique dealer, Lynn Dralle, is the creator of Boot Camp in a Box, the home-study course where you can learn to implement the Dralle Method to maximize your eBay profits.
If you liked today’s issue, you’ll love this step-by-step course that is guaranteed to be the most complete and enjoyable guide to selling on eBay that MAKES YOU MONEY.
Read all about it here.
The Queen of Auctions also offers free articles, teleseminars, how-to books, tracking guides, DVDs, eBay Boot Camp training, and other resources to help entrepreneurs make their eBay business a six-figure sales machine. Click here to learn more.
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Lynn@TheQueenofAuctions.com
Happy eBaying!!
Lynn
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Lynn is an experienced eBay Power Seller, author, and teacher. If you want to know the eBay tips, tricks, and tools that Lynn uses for buying and selling at an online auction click here.