Bounce Ideas around on HOW to promote EBID

[mobymatt]

Just a couple of ideas (but they rely on eBid management's involvement too):

1/ How about a prize supplied by eBid for the winner of the monthly Buddy Points chart? I know the Buddy Points are a good reward as they are, but a prize (an iPod shuffle, extra Buddy Points, some vouchers etc..) could give more incentive to hit that top spot and, therefore, bring more people to the site.

2/ What about a monthly 'High to Low' Buddy Points auction? People who perhaps have lesser Buddy Points feel they are in with a chance of winning a great item (Sat Nav, PSP etc..) for whatever the lowest *unique* bid is made in Buddy Points to 1 decimal place (7.9 points for example). The bids would all be kept secret until the auction ended. Again this could encourage people to build up their buddy points and would potentially be a headline-grabbing story at the same time.

[Barrattess]

That's a good idea!
Mind you. this is only geared up for the sellers....we need to bring in buyers.....

[mobymatt]

That's a good idea!
Mind you. this is only geared up for the sellers....we need to bring in buyers.....

The Buddy Points incentives mentioned above would primarily be for the sellers, but the 'Buddies' they bring over could be solely buyers (and/or potential sellers of the future) providing we have what they're looking for at a price they're willing to pay

So, someone brings over 20 of their regular customer with a promise of at least 5-10% off their prices elsewhere and the buyers join via the buddy link then that's 20 Buddy Points gained to the seller and 20 potential new customers to the marketplace.

[Barrattess]

Yeah...a bit long term tho...we need to bring in buyers now...

we need an incentive for buyers to join...

[mobymatt]

By the way, some saddo was childish enough to give this thread a 'one star' rating for some reason

I think it deserves more than that - if you agree just vote a for a higher score using the drop-down Rating option near the top of the page.

And whoever the 'one star' voter was:

This is an auction/sales site. People will naturally discuss the best way they can think to try to improve traffic and increase sales on here. Why is that a problem?

[Barrattess]

Well there are 6 members viewing this thread as I type....where are your ideas if you think you can do better ...c'mon!

[mobymatt]

Yeah...a bit long term tho...we need to bring in buyers now...

we need an incentive for buyers to join...

I agree we need to look for ways to get more buyers in...I'll continue with my head-scratching

If people send/give a flyer to their buyers elsewhere either online or at a boot sale with a discount % offer exclusive to eBid isn't that an incentive?

The Buddy Points ideas I posted were also to give the sellers a little extra incentive into dragging more of their buyers over here.

More thoughts to follow, hopefully...

[nykmedia]

Ideas to bring in viewers and potential buyers:

A free monthly newsletter promoting eBid
An online art exhibition inviting art enthusiasts
An online fashion show inviting fashion bargain hunters
An online craft fair inviting anyone who needs card/gifts with targetted promotion during peak times such as Mothers Day, Fathers day, Valentines Day, Christmas etc
A monthly chart to prove that promotion works
Merlin's Magic Car Boot Sale for quality goods at way below RRP
A free link exchange with everyone who runs websites
Promotional merchandise featuring eBid and your store names
Free advertising to promote items and stores
Very cheap websites for linking straight to your stores
Press releases to make sure everyone knows that eBid provided a superb fundraising event every month

Be back soon, going for coffee

[Pete27]

Before you all start brainstorming for ideas on how to bring in buyers have you considered the possibility the buyers ARE out there but that there arent enough sellers offering a wide enough variety of items for them? I have always said ebid needs more sellers...... i consider myself a buyer although i buy very little on ebid, 99% of the time its because what i want isnt on here so i have to go elsewhere. I ALWAYS look here first though.

If G&M did a massive advertising campaign right now, new potential buyers would log on, look around... some might find what they want, but a lot wont and once they think there is a limited selection of stuff here the chances of them coming back are VERY slim..... now if there was a huge selection of items at good prices they would log on... be impressed and stay.. thats what ebid needs.

[kedo]

Hello Pete27, I was about to post something along the same lines. Thanks for saving me the trouble.