Newsletter #6 - featuring; New year - New format, Taking stock of YOUR business
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Help My Auction Free Newsletter
www.helpmyauction.com
Date 7th January, 2008 Issue #6
In This Issue:
1. New Year - New Format
2. Taking stock of your business
3. Reviewers Wanted!
4. Tell us what you think.
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1) New Year - New Format
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Happy new year everybody!
I hope you all had a safe and joyous celebration of the new year - 2008.
I'm sure that everyone has been busy taking stock of where their business is and where they want it to be - if not please take a few minutes to read our feature article.
Well 2007 was a roller coaster ride
for me personally. I had my third child (Oliver, if you didn't read that newsletter!) who is now almost 5 months old. I took extensive time off due to ill health, but I have come back raring to go and really attack 2008 with a gusto.
I have had so many lovely comments about my newsletters, which I sincerely thank you all for. One theme that I did find running through allot of the comments, was that as much as you all enjoyed the content and found it to be a valuable read, that you would rather them to be shorter (thus quick to read) but more frequent.
I have heard you loud and clear and this year the newsletters will be more frequent (I'm aiming for 2 weekly) but in smaller bite-sized chunks. This way they are less of a commitment for you to read.
So keep those comments coming - I AM LISTENING - and together we will make this a newsletter truly worth it's weight in gold!
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2) Taking Stock of YOUR Business
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FEATURE EDITORIAL
We can not escape the fact that it is a new year. Whilst it's not quite the same for your business as a new tax year, it still is a great chance to take a moment to reflect on what you did achieve in 2007 and what you want to achieve in this next 6 months, taking us up to the all important date 30th June 2008.
We have all heard that famous adage - "failure to plan is planning to fail". That is still one of the truest things I have heard on both a personal and professional level.
After having some leisurely time off over the holiday period, I (like everyone else, I'm sure), found the thought of "WORK" a little daunting. There is so much to do, so much I want to achieve, how can I get it all done? Planning, of course.
My first step was to write down what EXACTLY I wanted to achieve in this next 6 months. By writing it down rather than just planning it in your head, you will not only be more likely to actually do it, but if your like me and tend to forget great ideas just as quickly as you have them, then it will make sure you remember what it is you want.
Now obviously most of my own goals for this year are based around my courses, website and teaching, so they are not that relevant to an eBay business plan. I have included my eBay business plan from this time last year, so you can get an idea of what sort of things you might like to include;
- Increase listings amounts
- Expand stock lines for a greater
appeal
- Reduce expenses, not just eBay
fees, but non essential "essentials".
- Increase my eBay store marketing
efforts
- Redesign eBay to make it more
user friendly for buyers.
- Look at other sales channels,
not just eBay.
- Improve after sales to free up more time.
As you can see the things on my list are still pretty general. There is nothing there to tie me to them and make me get them done. We need to take each one and make it specific on what, how & when.
Let's take number 2 for example "Expand stock lines for a greater appeal". We need to break that down into smaller do-able pieces with deadlines.
The what - from "Expand stocks lines" we can be more specific and make it add 6 new stock lines by 30th June 2008.
The how - We need to look at exactly what we need to do to get a new stock line. First we want to research a stock line, let's try google, yahoo, yellow pages, internet forums and networking. Then we need to look at what demand there is for the product on eBay, we can try completed searches and eBay marketplace research. Then pricing, who is selling them and for how much. How much will it cost us to buy them in, tax, duty, etc. I'm sure you are getting the picture.
The when - So we want 6 new lines in 6 months, that would make a product each month. We will plan the next months goals, then break it down to each week and each day. For example;
Month 1 - week 1 - Monday - Brain storm product ideas
Tuesday - Search Google & Yahoo
Wednesday - Search Yellow Pages
Thursday - Search Internet forums and review contacts you have met via networking opportunities.
Friday - Collate your list of products and pick one to focus on
Month 1 - week 2 - Monday - Search eBay completed listings using a set of keywords
Tuesday - Search eBay completed listings by drilling down categories
I'm sure you are with me now. It's easy when you take the time and if you only set yourself tasks that are for small periods of time each day, say 1/2 hour - 1 hour, you will find that you can and will find the time to do them.
One thing I like to do is write out what I want to achieve for the day, working from my master overview of objectives, and make it into a list which I then pin to the fridge. I open or walk past the fridge many, many times a day and I hate seeing jobs left undone, so I will stop and find the time to do them.
It also gives me a great sense of control and achievement to be able to tick off each item off of my list during the space of the day.
If you keep working at your goals, you will get there!
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3) Reviewers Wanted!
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You may or may not know that my new book is almost finished. This is my own course on how to get started selling on eBay.
I had taught eBay's own course since they produced it and presenting it up in front of a classroom full of students, I had always thought to myself - "I could write this better, more coherently and with a greater relevance to Australians, than a course written for Australians by Americans".
The result in my opinion, is the most comprehensive, clearly written eBay course on the market. I have tried to cover even the most basic of things, like how the site works, where to find different areas, etc, as well as how to sell. I have written it adding in my years of experience as an eBay Powerseller - something that eBay staff just can't add.
Now I am almost done, I need reviewers. I want to know what the average students makes of my course. Is it as clear as I think it is? Does it flow well? Does it cover the lot?
Obviously I would not be charging for the course for reviewers, all I would ask in return is a review, that I can use in my sales copy once I put the course out for sale to the general public. Nothing sells a course better than real comments from real people!
If you are interested in being a reviewer or you know someone who is, please send me your details to amanda@helpmyauction.com with the subject line "Learn to Sell Review".
I will have to limit my reviewers to the first 5 people who apply, so if you are interested, please get in quickly.
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4) Tell us what you think!
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I would love to hear other people's views this newsletter, or on anything else auction related. This issue has centered around eBay, but you can comment on anything you like.
Please send your comments, questions, and ideas for
upcoming issues to us at:
mail to:suggestions@helpmyauction.com
Your feedback matters to us!
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Regards,
Amanda Callbutt, CEO
Help My Auction!
Copyright 2005-2007 by Help My Auction!
All rights reserved.
www.helpmyauction.com
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