Things You'll Need:
- eBay Account
- Internet Connection
- Time
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Step 1
There are many free sites where you can start your own blog. Check Blogger.com, Typepad.com, Xanga.com, or just Google "start a blog."
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Step 2
If you have knowledge in a certain area, start a blog and talk about it. Focus on your expertise and try to tie your blog posts in with your products. For example, let's say a retired Air Force pilot enjoys selling collectible airplane models on eBay. He can share some of his stories about his flying experience or military service on his blog. If a cooking expert sells cookware and kitchen accessories on eBay, she can offer cooking tips or share recipes. Make your blog interesting and fun to read without pushing products at your readers.
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Step 3
The purpose of a blog is to create a place on the internet to promote your website and drive traffic to it, to interact with your potential customers, and to build relationships with other bloggers in your niche. Write intelligent posts offering useful information, then throw in a pitch about the products you sell on eBay. The key to keeping your readers, and attracting new ones, is to provide real information that benefits people in some way.
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Step 4
Your blog posts will come up on search engines, so be sure to pack them with key words that relate to the items you sell in your eBay store. Visitors will find your blog, and then your blog will lead them to your eBay store.
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Step 5
You don't have to write all of your posts from scratch. You can use articles from eZine, ArticlesBase, GoArticles, and other sites. (Just Google "free articles.") You must give credit to the original author or provide a link to where you found the material if it is not your original work. You can also use quotes from online magazines, discussion groups, and other blogs. So, you don't have to be an accomplished writer to have a blog.
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Step 6
Offer to do guest posts on other blogs, and invite others to write guest posts for you. (All this entails is that you write a post and email it to the blogger, they will actually do the posting.) Using our retired Air Force pilot example from above, he may invite other military personnel to write posts about military collectibles or their experiences serving in the military. Using our chef example, she could invite guest posts from caterers, cake decorators, or chefs specializing in international cuisine. Mix it up and keep it fresh and interesting.
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Step 7
Watch your eBay traffic reports. Determine if traffic is being referred to your store, in other words, are visitors clicking your store link and checking out your merchandise?
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Step 8
Add the eBay Affiliate Program to your blog. (See my eHow article on how the eBay Affiliate Program works.) You can make extra money just by referring new eBay users.
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Step 9
Add Google AdSense to your blog. Again, you can make money when visitors click on the ads.
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Step 10
Add affiliate programs to your blog. Back to our chef example, she can add affiliate programs that deal with cookbooks, kitchen gadgets, or chef apparel.
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Step 11
You can go all out and have a blog professionally designed, but that can be expensive. Just start out with a free one at first, and see how it goes. If you like blogging, and decide to stick with it, you can always have your blog professionally designed.
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Step 12
Look around at other blogs. You can get all kinds of ideas just by doing your research and watching what others do. You can also join blogging groups and forums and ask experienced bloggers for guidance if you have questions.
Comments
cyclegirl98 said
on 10/7/2008 Excellent advice!
librarylady said
on 10/5/2008 This is a good article. Very good.Thank you.