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Ebay vs own websites
 

With the new ebay rules and the fact that with just a single bad run of cases you can get kicked, I'm thinking if I should start all over or just invest the time and money in my own websites. I've spent $35k in ebay fees the last 12 months. I'm not counting the refunds I've made to avoid negative feedback. If I invest that 35k in my own webstore and then spend it for advertising, maybe I'll be better off. What do you guys think.

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

I have been preaching that for years now.. use eBay and Amazon but always have backup plan (your own website). Personally I started with my own eCommerce website and used eBay to expand our sales. If I had relied on eBay completely.. I would have been screwed.

I talk about creating your own website with SixFigureBoss.com

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

I already have around 15 webshops generating pretty good income. I'll just give that money for seo and adwords. I've always been wondering how many people actually go to ebay and search for something and how many google it and stumble on the ebay ads there.

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

Good stuff! Personally I'm an Amazon fan before eBay (I rarely buy on eBay). I'll go to Amazon first before Amazon simply because it's convenient. That said PPC and SEO ranking for your product keywords bring in the sales..

For me.. Google > Amazon > eBay in regards to the sales that can be brought in.

Of course what you sell is a huge factor. The thing about eBay and Amazon is it's easy. Anyone can use these marketplaces easily. As for Google (general search engine traffic) and you own website takes a little more brain power. That means less competition :)

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

I set up my own website a year or so ago now, it's doing okay, nothing special, but I don't pay for Adwords, I've not fully completed the SEO for each item, but it still sits there and gradually gets busier. I'm not lazy by the way, just too busy.

As for how many hits you get on eBay from inside eBay Vs. Google, you can look at your sales reports and it will tell you, not sure how accurate it is.

My eBay
Account
Marketing Tools
Traffic Reports

This brings up your Omniture reports and will show you various information about where traffic to your eBay shop came from.

Can anyone give a brief summary of 6 figure boss? Will it help me sort out my SEO on the website?

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

SEO is well covered in the guide. Along with PPC, Email Marketing, Product creation, etc.

SixFigureBoss: Create Your Own Online Business! (reviews from the forum are on this page)

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

Very well said. I sell auto parts. Ebay is really easy, but now I realize what everyone saying "don't put all eggs in this one basket" meant. Plus, with auto parts, and I guess everything else consumer-based, the real aim is repeat customers. In my case, that's repair shops and similar venues. It's priceless if you can get such people to shop through your own website. And worthless if you do it through ebay. I

I've never spent a dime on ebay. I do all my shopping on amazon - far better, easier, and not so many chinese sellers selling ****.

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

Not accurate at all because ebay doesn't advertise your auction, but rather their best match page for a given item so the person is first taken to ebay, and then to your page, and you see ebay.xx as a referral.

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

Good experience there - you can avoid PP having control on your funds too with your own website (avoid using PP)

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

Correct, however, I would say it is a good idea in the initial stages to offer PayPal as possibly an alternative, to gain buyers trust on a newly launched site. Lots of buyers feel more protected paying via PP....stripe (UK users) in addition to PayPal should work well as a CC processor.

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

IMO paypal is a must, there are people that prefer using it, but is mainly use skill, not bad at all, I have a very nice account manager which solves all kinds if issues for me and it's British so trustworthy enough. And of course no stupid inr and snad cases and money holds. Nochex is also an option. Directly taking cc info via a merchant acct is a no for me because the added cost of certificates, PCI compliance and the chance of hacker attacks are things I just don't want to deal with. I'm even thinking about adding bit coin and other alternative payment methods, doesn't cost anything but any extra sales brought by them are welcome

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

There are services that accept PP payment without you having to have your own pp...

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

Tried one called Icepay. The point where it gets messy is when you get a dispute or claim because you don't have direct access and you have to go through a very lazy ticketing system and in most cases you end up losing your money.

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

Has anyone here used shopify.com to create their own site? If so how's the sales.

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

I have PayPal, Skrill and my own Barclays Merchant account on my website.

95% use PayPal
4.5% Use Barclays
0.5% Use Skrill

If I'd have know that I wouldn't have bothered with the Merchant Account, but I guess it's always handy to have there ready if I need it.

I've not used shopify before sorry.

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

Most people will want to pay by PayPal. It's just easy for them because no credit card details entered and it's something that they understand and use easily. However.. I find if your check-out page is CLEAN and secure they will use credit card options such as Authorize.Net as well. Just most prefer PayPal. It's how it is. :)

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

Can I know what are these services please?

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

2checkout is good

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

CCNow works with a 5% loss

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

ebay is good marketplace for over the world with ready seller and buyer.
your site to promote internet then get buyer.

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

How does one start to get sales on their own website? Personally I wouldn't buy from a website that was launched just a month ago with no track record whatsoever. Seems really hard to get a website started up

Re: Ebay vs own websites
 

You start a website the same way you start a zero feedback EBay account....eventually someone will take a chance and buy from your site. It's all about patience, advertising, getting people to your site.

A lot people advertise their website via EBay by adding some type of advertising in the package they ship out.