eBay Marketing Calendar August 2012

August is right around the corner. We welcome back guest blogger Chris Taylor with more selling tips:

One of the keys to becoming a successful eBay merchant is marketing the products at the right time. August kicks off parents favorite and kids least favorite time of year: heading back to school. What’s great about this time of year for eBay sellers is just how versatile this event really is. From kids going to college to those just heading off to kindergarten, there should be no end to the type of inventory you’re able to move.

And let’s not forget that “back to school” related keywords get searched for hundreds of thousands of times each year, thanks in part to how heavily major corporations are pushing the marketing message (all to your benefit). Let’s take a look at some of the ways we can leverage this time of year.

School Supplies
School supplies are ridiculously expensive. There isn’t a cheap way to buy your kids notebooks, binders, pens/pencils, scientific calculators – you name it. You should consider putting together back to school “kits” that include all of the basic items kids need to start the school year. By putting together kits you’ll be increasing how much money you make, and you’ll cut down on shipping costs by shipping in bulk. It’s a great way to move low-cost items out in large quantities.

College Essentials
The big spenders this time of year are freshman college students. Parents are over-spending on their kids who are leaving the nest for the first time. You’ll be able to move a large variety of items: small refrigerators, lamps, rugs, bedding, small couches and chairs, laptops, TVs – the list really does go on and on. The key here will be crafting a listing title to catch their attention and competitively pricing your products.

Clothing
A new school year brings the need for kids to have new clothes (whether they actually need them or not). Every kid wants to be up with the latest in fashion trends, and as a result, you’ll be moving everything from shirts to shoes to belts and hats. And let’s not forget about their accessories like their backpack and jewelry.

Making Your Listing Stand Out
Don’t forget about the importance of making your listing stand out from the competition. Other eBay sellers will be trying to capitalize on these seasonal events as well, and you can enhance your listing by using a custom eBay listing template. A custom template will help give you the professional and trusted appearance buyers are looking for when spending money online.

Want more ideas on what you to sell this month? Checkout the eBay Retail Marketing Calendar from Page Mage to see a complete list of monthly events and trends that you should be leveraging.

Chris Taylor is VP of Marketing at Page Mage. Page Mage, a recipient of eBay's 2011 Ecosystem Champion Award, offers Billboards, a "Top 10 Most Popular" application for free custom eBay listing templates for eBay sellers looking to stand out from the competition.


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eBay Marketing Calendar: July 2012

Now that June has flown by us, it is time to get ready for July! Guest blogger Chris Taylor has tips to get you ready for July:

One of the keys to becoming a successful eBay merchant is marketing the products at the right time. July brings us a variety of events and holidays that eBay merchants should leverage to help bring in money from those impulse buys. What makes this selling strategy even more successful is how heavily these events are pushed by other businesses. Essentially they are doing your marketing for you.

Are you ready?

Independence Day – July 4th One of the biggest holidays of the year, Independence Day is one of the best times to get together with family for a reunion and some great BBQ. Just about everyone will be doing something outdoors. The week of July 4th is one of the most common weeks requested off in the work world, as everyone wants to spend some time enjoying the summer weather with friends and family. This is a great time to be listing your USA-themed merchandise, party supplies as well as summer-themed products. That means BBQ equipment, pool toys, summer clothes, sunglasses, etc.

The British Open – July 15th-22nd One of the biggest golf events of the year, The British Open combined with summer weather is a great opportunity for eBay sellers. Consider stocking up on merchandise for the open as impulse buys will be at their highest during the event. And let’s not forget just how inspired we can get from watching professional athletes. Watching them play makes you want to grab your clubs and play 18 holes, too. As a result, you should be pushing your golfing equipment and clothes. Clubs, bags, shoes, shirts, shorts, pants, training videos, etc. will all be on the minds of golf fans.

Blockbuster Movies
It’s very well known that some of the biggest blockbuster movies of the year debut in the summer. This year will be no exception. With releases from Spider-Man to Batman, you’ll find that action figures, movie posters and other memorabilia will be on the minds of eBay buyers. It’s up to you to take advantage of it.

Making Your Listing Stand OutDon’t forget about the importance of making your listing stand out from the competition. Other eBay sellers will be trying to capitalize on these seasonal events as well, and you can enhance your listing by using a custom eBay listing template. A custom template will help give you the professional and trusted appearance buyers are looking for when spending money online.

Want more ideas on what you to sell this month? Checkout the eBay Retail Marketing Calendar from Page Mage to see a complete list of monthly events and trends that you should be leveraging.

Chris Taylor is VP of Marketing at Page Mage. Page Mage, a recipient of eBay's 2011 Ecosystem Champion Award, offers Billboards, a "Top 10 Most Popular" application for free custom eBay listing templates for eBay sellers looking to stand out from the competition.


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eBay Marketing Calendar: June 2012

Today, we welcome back Chris Taylor of Page Mage with tips to market more successfully for June:

One of the keys to becoming a successful eBay merchant is marketing the products at the right time. June brings us a variety of events that eBay merchants should leverage to help bring in money from those impulse buys. What makes this selling strategy even more successful is how heavily these events are pushed by other businesses. Essentially they are doing your marketing for you.

Are you ready?

Father’s Day – June 17th 
Searched for on Google over 100,000 times each month, Father’s Day is a great holiday that every eBay seller should be looking forward towards. Few people know exactly what to get their Dad for Father’s Day, so take advantage of that by offering a large variety of options for them.

From ties to golf clubs, cigars to gag gifts, there are endless opportunities for you to sell off your men’s inventory during the Father’s Day rush.

First Day of Summer – June 20th
Summer break, vacations, hot weather and lots of time by the pool are all on the minds of eBay buyers starting as early as April. This is a great time to break out summer-themed listings such as barbeque equipment, pool toys, summer clothing and anything that would help entertain kids during the long summer months for parents.

NHL and NBA Playoff Finals
With the NHL and NBA seasons wrapping up in April, we’re now on to the championship rounds for both leagues. With only two teams remaining in each league, team memorabilia will be at its highest for all four franchises. From new fans to old, everyone will be looking to get their hands on just about anything with their team’s logo on it.

Consider increasing your inventories of autographed memorabilia, decorations and of course, clothing for each of the remaining franchises. You may even see the other franchises in both leagues selling well as fans of their sport prepare for a long summer until the next season begins.

Graduations
High School graduations, a memorable event years in the making. Parents, friends and family members will be looking for the perfect gift to send to their graduate as they prepare for college and/or the working world. Stock up on graduation party items, themed-gifts and basically anything with an inspirational quote on it.

Making Your Listing Stand Out
Don’t forget about the importance of making your listing stand out from the competition. Other eBay sellers will be trying to capitalize on these seasonal events as well, and you can enhance your listing by using a custom eBay listing template. A custom template will help give you the professional and trusted appearance buyers are looking for when spending money online.

Want more ideas on what you to sell this month? Checkout the eBay Retail Marketing Calendar from Page Mage to see a complete list of monthly events and trends that you should be leveraging.

Chris Taylor is VP of Marketing at Page Mage. Page Mage, a recipient of eBay's 2011 Ecosystem Champion Award, offers Billboards, a "Top 10 Most Popular" application for free custom eBay listing templates for eBay sellers looking to stand out from the competition.

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eBay Marketing Calendar: May 2012

Today's post is by guest blogger Chris Taylor. Here are a few marketing tips to use to get ready for selling during the busy month of May:

Yes, I’m a procrastinator. I even waited until the last second to write this post. It might be a genetic thing. Unfortunately one of the keys to becoming a successful eBay merchant is that you need to market your products at the right time. And if you sell seasonal items, that means you typically have to prepare weeks and sometimes months in advance.

To make my mom proud, I’ve decided to turn over a new leaf and listen to my own advice. So looking ahead (can’t believe I said that!), May brings us a variety of events that eBay sellers should leverage to help bring in money by having the right products at the right time of the year. What makes this selling strategy even more successful is how heavily these events are pushed by other businesses. Essentially they are helping to do some of your marketing for you. Now it’s up to you to take advantage of it.

Are you ready?

Cinco de Mayo – May 5th
Bust out your sombreros, maracas and most importantly, your party gear. Cinco de Mayo is the perfect opportunity to be ramping up your sales on party platters, decorations and Mexican-themed attire. Buyers will be scouring eBay looking for ways to make their house party memorable. Better hurry on this one, only a few weeks away!

Mother’s Day – May 13th
The keyword “mothers day gifts” gets searched for over 200,000 times a month on Google. Unlike me, many buyers will search well in advance. So you should be ready now. Of course if you list your great Mother’s Day gifts the day before then you’ll at least have me as a potential customer.

This is the perfect time for you to be ramping up your listings of photo albums and frames, jewelry, candles, pampering gifts and other gifts for around the house.

Indy 500 – May 27th
Just about every time there is a major sporting event like the Indy 500, it’s pretty common to see a huge spike in searches for memorabilia. So many fans just witnessed their favorite driver come through at the last second for the win, and they want to make that memory last.

Take advantage of these types of sporting occasions by ramping up on that particular sport’s memorabilia. For NASCAR, you can be listing car replicas, hats, shirts and other racing-themed items. This is a great way to capitalize on impulse buys while the thrill of the race is still fresh in their minds.

Moving Month
Did you know that the month of May is widely known as moving month? The majority of home and rental moves take place in May, and as an eBay seller that means you should be preparing for an increase in decorative and home furnishing sales. And a lot more related to homes, apartments and condos.

Making Your Listing Stand Out
Don’t forget about the importance of making your listing stand out from the competition. Other eBay sellers will be trying to capitalize on these seasonal events as well, and you can enhance your listing by using a custom eBay listing template. A custom template will help give you the professional and trusted appearance buyers are looking for when spending money online.

Want more ideas on what you to sell this month? Checkout the eBay Retail Marketing Calendar from Page Mage to see a complete list of monthly events and trends for all of 2012 that you should be leveraging.

Chris Taylor is VP of Marketing at Page Mage. Page Mage, a recipient of eBay's 2011 Ecosystem Champion Award, offers Billboards, a "Top 10 Most Popular" application for free custom eBay listing templates for eBay sellers looking to stand out from the competition.


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