Gazza Mark can we make joining up from and external link more friendly & informative

[booksforsale]

Hello Gazza and Mark

Like many others on here, I try to drum up interest in ebid.net by posting links to my listings, via social networking sites.

I never gave it any thought about what those picking up the links actually experience, so I thought I would give it a go and pretend I am coming into ebid.net cold, so to speak.

So I made sure I was logged out of ebid and clicked on one of the links to one of my listings.

I got to the listing and clicked on "Place Bid" which brought up a pop-up reminding me I am about to place a bid, and giving me the choice to continue or go back. Nice so far.

So I press OK to continue which then took me to a screen where I could either log in or register.

As I am testing, to get a feel for the "buyer-new-to-ebid" experience, I go for the register option and the first thing I am asked for is my email address. The first thing I would be thinking as a new ebid buyer, or on any website, is "No! No email address for you yet, I want some more info"

But anyway, for the sake of the experiment I put in a spare email address, which takes me to the "Register For Your Free eBid Account" page.

Again I am confronted by a "give us all your info" page. Yet at this point a 'newbie', coming straight in from a listing's URL, would still know nothing about ebid.net.

(Obviously not wanting to register again I stopped here, so to be fair don't know and can't remember, from my initial registration, what happens next)

For someone coming to ebid.net brand-new, from a direct link, and not having read up on it, I feel this registration process is a bit cold and impersonal.

I wonder how many potential buyers we lose with this straight in approach.

Rather than going for the "grab the email address" bit, what about leaving that out and taking the prospect to a page with a bit more info, from where they can then join up AND then be taken back to the listing from where they came.

OR

having two options a "Learn More Button" which does what it says, and a "Quick Join" button for newbie's who feel confident about ploughing straight in.

Just a suggestion.

[Juliebabe25]

Booksforsale

That is one of the best posts and suggestions I have read for a long time.

I added a buddy points join up to all of my listings just recently, and I too wondered what the experience is like for a visitor to ebid.

Any way of streamlining it would be good.

I have noticed that lots of newby sellers to ebid report lots of views, but not so many sales.
(this may be part of the reason for that)

[suesjools]

Hello Gazza and Mark

Like many others on here, I try to drum up interest in ebid.net by posting links to my listings, via social networking sites.

I never gave it any thought about what those picking up the links actually experience, so I thought I would give it a go and pretend I am coming into ebid.net cold, so to speak.

So I made sure I was logged out of ebid and clicked on one of the links to one of my listings.

I got to the listing and clicked on "Place Bid" which brought up a pop-up reminding me I am about to place a bid, and giving me the choice to continue or go back. Nice so far.

So I press OK to continue which then took me to a screen where I could either log in or register.

As I am testing, to get a feel for the "buyer-new-to-ebid" experience, I go for the register option and the first thing I am asked for is my email address. The first thing I would be thinking as a new ebid buyer, or on any website, is "No! No email address for you yet, I want some more info"

But anyway, for the sake of the experiment I put in a spare email address, which takes me to the "Register For Your Free eBid Account" page.

Again I am confronted by a "give us all your info" page. Yet at this point a 'newbie', coming straight in from a listing's URL, would still know nothing about ebid.net.

(Obviously not wanting to register again I stopped here, so to be fair don't know and can't remember, from my initial registration, what happens next)

For someone coming to ebid.net brand-new, from a direct link, and not having read up on it, I feel this registration process is a bit cold and impersonal.

I wonder how many potential buyers we lose with this straight in approach.

Rather than going for the "grab the email address" bit, what about leaving that out and taking the prospect to a page with a bit more info, from where they can then join up AND then be taken back to the listing from where they came.

OR

having two options a "Learn More Button" which does what it says, and a "Quick Join" button for newbie's who feel confident about ploughing straight in.

Just a suggestion.

I agree, this seems impersonal, but, as I recall, other sites use a similar impersonal registration format, (can think of 3 right off the top of my head and those are just ones I'm aware of in the U.S.). I'm not sure whether or not the format is off putting to newbies, but it seems to be the way things are done on larger (and even some smaller) auction sites nowadays.

I'm not sure how you'd make it less impersonal either, but, then again, maybe that's why I'm not a saint, or even close to one...

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[adruml]

I have noticed that lots of newby sellers to ebid report lots of views, but not so many sales.
(this may be part of the reason for that)[/QUOTE]

I resemble that.

[suesjools]

I have noticed that lots of newby sellers to ebid report lots of views, but not so many sales.
(this may be part of the reason for that)

I resemble that.[/QUOTE]

LOL!

Best wishes for many sales to all,

[Brunwulf]

Good points,

The registration process def needs a oil change,

How about just asking for a email address and a user name upon registration, Then when they have confirmed there email address they are asked to fill in the rest of there details in order to buy or upgrade to seller etc.

[madelaine]

This sounds like a good idea. Friendly has to be good!

[booksforsale]

Hello Gazza and Mark

.........

Rather than going for the "grab the email address" bit, what about leaving that out and taking the prospect to a page with a bit more info, from where they can then join up AND then be taken back to the listing from where they came.

OR

having two options a "Learn More Button" which does what it says, and a "Quick Join" button for newbie's who feel confident about ploughing straight in.

Just a suggestion.

Like this mock-up page perhaps... Hope it speaks for itself.

"I Want to Join Now", does what it says on the tin, "Tell Me More" would lead to a page where the guys get a chance to really big-up ebid, THEN give the T&Cs and joining form.

Hey Gazza, if you use this idea, thanks in advance for the big bundle of buddy points

[emporiumdays]

Greetings all.......
I've only just read 'booksforsale's' opening suggestions to this thread, and I have to say 'Brilliant' .

Personally, I think you've hit on some very constructive ideas, and I honestly reckon they'd be a winner....
It's so true that people need to have a brief informative outline of what they're signing up for.

I feel that placing yourself in the shoes of a first time visitor is THE KEY.

If a number of 'volunteers' were monitored for their feedback experience, I would imagine that an amazing amount of valuable
information could be obtained.

It's so hard to be genuinely objective if you've grown with the creation of something - I really believe that there's so much to be
gained from tapping the feedback of the first time user.

Kind Regards to all.....

[craig7501]

Like this mock-up page perhaps... Hope it speaks for itself.

"I Want to Join Now", does what it says on the tin, "Tell Me More" would lead to a page where the guys get a chance to really big-up ebid, THEN give the T&Cs and joining form.

Hey Gazza, if you use this idea, thanks in advance for the big bundle of buddy points

That books is a great idea, hopefully the boyz will take it in consideration and maybe take this brilliant suggestion on. So here's my bump for it.

Also if a potential buyer doesn't want to register with eBid can something be done where they can buy as a guest.