TIP SPECIAL REPORT

Selling Info-Products On eBay: 3 Unusual, Proven Money-Making Ideas That Will Make Your Greed Glands Do A Happy Dance

I'm going to make a few assumptions here.

Yes, I know the old joke about assuming things... (i.e.
if you 'assume' you make an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me')

But these are educated assumptions...so stick with me because they will help you understand the importance of the rest of this report.

In this report we're going to discuss and examine 3 highly profitable and specific ways to use eBay to sell information products that aren't as obvious as they might seem. Each one has a little 'twist' that makes them super-profitable. They are:

  • TWIST #1: Not your average lead generation for an info-product
  • TWIST #2: Outright sales of info-products on eBay's site for large profits
  • TWIST #3: Using eBay to determine the marketability of your info-product before rolling out

We'll start with lead generation:

TWIST# 1: Not Your Average Lead Generation Techniques

A few TIP's ago I spoke about using eBay for lead generation. We're going to talk more about that here, plus show you some examples (that are working) to model.

There are a few techniques that are absolutely essential to success using this method that I discovered from my research.

First, the offer should not exceed One Cent. The idea behind this is simply that you don't want to place any barriers up to any potential bidders. In each of the cases below, you'll notice that the bid is 1 cent. During the course of my research for this report I found a lot of eBay seller's apparently looking for leads, yet placed $1.00 or more on their items as the opening bid. The results were devastating. Even with an excellent headline (auction title) and offer, they were getting fewer than 2 bids on average per listing or, in many cases ZERO leads. That's a waste of time and money.

Second, the title in the listing should emphasize "FREE" ...or "FREE SHIPPING" or "FREE INFORMATION" or other combinations. Even though you've listed the item for a penny, no bidder (obviously) actually expects you to collect. So the words 'FREE' certainly come into play here and emphasize that the offer is 'risk free' as well.

Third, the description on each of the listing was surprisingly simple.The less complicated the offer and what the listing was all about the better...the higher number of bids. In one case the description was little more than 3 lines of text.

Below are some of the 'hot' listings on eBay for lead generation. I define a 'hot' listing as any listing that has 20 bids or more.

The seller, "
ballgod", doesn't seem to be selling anything else except what he calls in his description "... a piece of information. The link to get the following service". That's all you're going to get! A link!

Basically what he's offering is "information" to receive information! Check out the listing here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1603484787

At last count he had 61 bids...that 61 qualified leads!!! And the listing still has 24 hours to go...

His complete headline simply reads: Free information Free Shipping 1 Cent only

His description simply reads: "You are bidding on a piece of information. The link to get the following service--No shipping/Handling Charge, just a penny only."

Here's another eBay seller, "mocopo", with the EXACT same offer (with 35 bids so far):

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1603485132

eBay seller "kidcasino" has 22 bids so far on:

"WHOLESALE INFORMATION ON THE WEB! 1 CENT!"

There are a few more good examples- but not very many. Honestly, not many are successfully doing this. Not many are doing it right.

Ok, so what's the deal? Where's the MONEY???!!!

= I Believe This Is One Of The Most Powerful Cash Generating Plans I Have Ever Discovered On eBay =

I think this is truly going to be one of the FASTEST money-making methods ever invented. Think about this for a minute.

You sign up for an affiliate program, put a link on your web site and
hope someone clicks on it and buys. Or they sign up for your ezine, list or whatever and then you contact them.

That's rather passive...here's a little more aggressive or pro-active approach:

  • You select high payout, or high residual income affiliate programs

  • Using teaser copy that's simple and straightforward you list the 'information' on eBay as described above

  • You collect the leads for immediate contact and follow-ups and send them the link to the information (which, of course, includes your affiliate ID)

Here's why I think this is so powerful:

  • You have a choice of thousands of affiliate programs to promote... if one doesn't work (no bids- no interest) you can quickly start another one or...

  • Having 10 to 20 of these going on eBay at the same time, generating hundreds of leads is a GUARANTEED way to make money

  • You can build targeted email and snail mail lists very quickly

  • The cost to list a dutch auction on eBay at 1 cent is minimal and the leads and on-going affiliate income could be substantial, especially with residual income programs


I'm not going to teach you all about affiliate programs, but basically you get paid by referring a potential customer to a company that has an affiliate program... if the potential customer ends up buying from the company. The amount paid varies from 10% to 100% of the purchase price. Some affiliate programs have very high payouts and even recurring payouts. For example, a web hosting service, like the one above, charges a monthly fee to it's subscribers. If your lead turns into a sale you could be paid a percentage of that monthly fee forever!

Check with
Commission Junction for a number of excellent programs you can sign up for.

Two-tier affiliate programs and those with residual income plans are going to be the best, in my opinion, to promote. The potential to generate high, monthly residuals with this plan is very attractive.

Don't let this one pass you by...start testing now with affiliate program you're already signed up for then start looking for more to promote using the methods above.

---
NEW: In response to a statement/question posed by a subscriber just after this report became available, I'm posting it here because it helps clarify the strategy (this is not legal advice and it is not intended to be, nor is it an interpretation of eBay's policy):

MEMBER: Just an FYI, most Dutch auctions on eBay are canceled because most are considered feedback solicitations or fee circumventions (getting leads for free). I just had one canceled like this a week ago.

ANS: I'm NOT suggesting anyone circumvent eBay's Policy in any way...the point to make is that- you're selling something specifically at "1 cent" -it doesn't matter what it is: A link; A report; A telephone number; A picture; etc.... do I believe eBay would be accused of 'restriction of trade' if they did not allow you to sell something for 1 cent? I think so, if that should ever happen.

Even if they did approve a new policy you couldn't sell anything for 1 cent... how about 2 cents?...3 cents?, etc., etc... see what I mean? They can't stop it at 1 cent. What they culd do is set a policy of a minimum bid at say $5.00- and that may happen.

Until then, as long as you don't indicate in your ad that
there's NO other obligation to buy something else AND you indicate that you are NOT running the ad JUST FOR the purpose of soliciting feedback...you should be OK...maybe...

Another suggestion is to create several eBay ID"s and try running your auctions by rotating them...as a way to duck under their radar.

But, if you get your listing canceled, my understanding is...basically they don't terminate listings -like the one's I described- unless someone complains to them about it. I have a feeling someone complained about your listing and got it shut down.

Maybe a competitor? In that case, use the multiple ID's strategy.
---


TWIST #2: Outright Sale of Info Products For Large Profits


There are niches of niches on eBay...thousands of categories and 25 million registered users.

Their interests are varied and deep. Take mushrooms for example. Specifically Morel mushrooms.

This eBay seller caught the attention of one TIP subscriber and then alerted me to it. That is always welcome...:-)

There's a very important lesson here: Niches are very powerful and profitable.

The seller,
shane67, doesn't have very many listings at present, but he did a tremendous business selling CD-ROM's with mushroom growing information on it:

Current and recent auctions by shane67 (84):

Item #

End

Price

Title

High

Sales

1233875673

May-08-01

$14.95

Grow Your Own Morel Mushrooms! On CD-ROM

30 Dutch bids(*)

$448.50

1236549702

May-18-01

$14.95

Grow Your Own Morel Mushrooms! On CD-ROM

55 Dutch bids(*)

$822.25

1240569073

Jun-02-01

$14.95

Grow Your Own Morel Mushrooms! On CD-ROM

31 Dutch bids(*)


$463.45


Gross Total(s):

116 bids

$1,734.20

(*) indicates that auction has ended.

shane67's home page (
http://www.sporetradingpost.com/ccebay.htm - he calls himself the "Keeper") indicates that he is really into mushrooms. He is a fanatic. And he knows his hobby very well.

According to the research I've done: The true
morels have a greenish-yellow to dark olive cap that is ribbed and pitted like a honeycomb. Morels are commonly found in the spring in woods and old apple orchards and on burned-over land or areas where wood ashes have been scattered. Here's everything you need to know about Morels': http://www.morels.com/links.html

He has found a way to grow them under controlled conditions, and the information on how to do that is very much in demand on eBay. But, what's amazing to me is that since the end of the last auction on June 2nd, 2001, he (or she) hasn't put up another listing!

If you're selling an information product in a 'one-step' eBay listing here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Make sure the subject matter is very specific 'how-to' - a nich or a niche is best. i.e. Mushrooms -> Morels
  • Put the information on CD-ROM or in printed form (although I love ebooks, I believe most eBay bidders would prefer a 'physically' delivered product)
  • Test a few listings to see if there's any interest before rolling out to more listings

While I still think a 'two-step' approach is better (STEP1- lead generation listing on eBay, STEP 2- following-up with the real book or info-product) than simply putting up your product to see if it sells...I can't argue with the success of shane67. I'm very sure there are other very successful sellers of info-product buried deep in eBay's thousands of categories.

As I find them, you'll be the first to know...

But let's talk about what to do after you have created a hot selling info-product that sells like hot cakes on eBay...

TWIST #3: Using eBay To Determine The Marketability of Your Info-Product Before Rolling it Out

Let's say you created a niche info-product and are selling it like proverbial hot-cakes on eBay, just like shane67 above.

Do you simply create more listings or what exactly should be done to increase your profits?


For the sake of argument, let's call eBay a microcosm of the online world. It's representative of the entire online community.

If your info-product does well there...chances are you could begin to market it successfully from your web site and to targeted email lists as well. You know that there's interest...you have received positive feedback from your eBay customers and it's ready to roll out...

On the reverse side:

What if you have a product that you've developed that's NOT selling on your web site...or sales are very slow?

Terrance has created a very interesting program at :
http://www.sellcandybars.com/index.html

Wouldn't it be a good idea to TEST the product on eBay...before rolling it out with a web site? Here's his copy:

How would you like to finally start a home based business that's easy, fun, makes money every single week and can be ran right from small corner of your room or kitchen table?

You see, by using nothing but a computer and a printer, you can make anywhere from $300, $500 and even a $1000 per week doing nothing more than just sitting at home creating these adorable eye catching but inexpensive gifts.

In fact, just last week, I personally made $795.00 working part time.

Now first, before I give you all the details, let me introduce myself. My name is Terrance (that's me in the picture). I want to tell you all about my super successful home based business that I operate from the corner of my living room on my computer.

I sell candy bars.

Yes, you heard me right....candy bars.

However...I'm not talking about just any run-of-the-mill type of candy bar. These are special and they bring me lots of extra money.

You see......I sell PERSONALIZED candy bars.

I like it...it's has money-making potential and it's in a very dynamic niche. I think it would sell on eBay, but you never know until it's tested!

Think 'niche or a niche and think about using eBay to test your copy, etc and to get testimonials from satisfied buyers before rolling your info-product out to the online world...it could save you a ton of money and a lot of frustration waiting for orders to come in from your site.

Until next time,

- Dave


Entire Contents © Copyright 2001 by David Vallieres. All rights reserved.