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Some do it for fun. Some do it to sell. And some just do it to do it.
eBay's "Me" Page allows you to post information about yourself and your auctions so that other eBay visitors can learn more about you. (When you see the word "Me" next to a user's name, click on it and it will bring you to their "Me" Page.) You can include personal information about yourself with photos, or keep it strictly business, including some of your current auctions and your feedback profile.
"It's really a personal page," said one eBay member. "There is almost as much variety as there are types of people."
A "Me" page on eBay can be just about anything, but if you're serious about selling, it shouldn't be a jumbled mess.
I am serious about selling, and also serious about saying, "Hello, welcome to my world," to potential bidders and passersby alike. And I wanted my "Me" Page to reflect that. After weeks of debating, mulling over text, fonts, and lingering on the eBay Q&A Board submitting so many "Should I or Shouldn't I?" notes, I threw caution to the wind (and threw all of my previous reflections away) and just started to type.
So many pages are filled with Vanity Items, such as baby pictures and snapshots of pets. And, while the baby pictures would prove that I was born blond (really, I was!) and I love my spoiled-rotten cat just too much, every facet of my life, both the detritus and delectable, needn't rear its head online. I figured it's just too much to sift through. That isn't to say you should make your page cold and calculated. eBay is a community with lots of personal contact, even if it is largely over email.
"A Me Page shows who you are, that you are a real person and not someone selling magical cards on the board," according to eBay member Nancy (eBay:L36Suds).
I decided that soft colors combined with brief, conversational text would do that job. The colors would convey comfortable surroundings, like a friendly shop where bidders can come in and browse. As for what I'd say, a "Just the facts, ma'am," approach just isn't "Me." I drew on the basic reporting technique of Who-What-When-Where-Why-How. Then, I edited, and edited, according to my own KISS principle: Keep It Short and Sweet. I figured that "Me" pages that ramble on wouldn't necessarily hold onto page viewers. An expert agreed.
"People are going to want get to the heart of things," said Scott Rigby, head of Thoughtbubble Productions, a New York City-based Digital Media Consulting group with a staff of 50 and clients such as Comedy Central, MediaOne and Cablevision's entertainment and news channels.
But, it's a fine line: Rigby added that someone considering building a "Me" Page should try to avoid being too short. "A few sentences saying, perhaps, how long you've been in business, your specialties, customer satisfaction, anything that will help to build trust."
- Others, as well, maintain the page should be professional. "They allow a person to judge what sort of person they are dealing with. Whistles and bangs don't get it
- just a bit about what the person collects, sells, some helpful hints are nice," says Janice M. (eBay: janice142), a seller who added that she "always" looks at "Me" pages. And so do the customers, which is why a page should ideally be lean and mean.
"People who come to eBay are coming with a specific task: they are there to buy stuff," according to Rigby. "They don't want to be overwhelmed with too many choices, or just too much," he said.
Rigby recommended featuring a few top items, or two days worth of auctions, rather than the 150+ items you may have for sale that week. If that's unavoidable and your "Me" Page ends up scrolling on forever, selectively add some graphics, Rigby suggested. Visually, it draws people in and breaks up the text.
And keep what few graphics or icons you have compelling, by tying them into your merchandise descriptions. In a word: neat graphics and tightly edited text to match. I tried that, adding a little typewriter icon on the paragraph about writing and reporting - and it worked! Again, I added a small picture (that loads fast) of an antique wood box, alluding to both my merchandise and the "Pandora's Box" that the fun of selling on eBay has opened in my life.
Rigby also said to follow through on your item pages, "so the customer can pick it up and read the back of the box, so to speak."
- He said many clients come to him not knowing what they want from their Web site or, wanting too much from it. Those are the clients who want soup-to-nuts
- as in souped-up graphics and nutty amounts of text, information and every note, record and sale ever done by the company. "Too little doesn't often accomplish much," he said. But, worse yet, too much doesn't accomplish anything.
Just remember: Before you put anything on your Web page, Rigby recommends looking at it from a customer's point of view. "If it doesn't help them through their buying experience or guide them through your Web site, omit it."
When Creating Your "Me" Page, Ask Yourself: What do I want to say? What do I want to accomplish by having this page? What or how much do I want to show about my business or myself?
Tips:
Graphically, keep it neat, clean and straightforward. The page should load fast. Select options carefully from the eBay templates: You do not need to choose everything!
Edit, edit, edit.
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