Happy Independence Day and Canada Day! What are you doing on the computer on this holiday weekend? Go out and eat a hot dog. (AFTER you read this fascinating issue of AuctionBytes-Update, of course!)
***
Speaking of hot dogs, Maggie has been enjoying the warm weather. So much so that she dragged me through a patch of poison ivy in her zeal. So, scratch, if I seem a bit distracted in this issue, scratch-scratch, blame it on the Auction Hound!
***
Looking for summer reading? My friend John Bryans at CyberAge Books sent me a copy of a new book called "net.people - The Personalities and Passions Behind the Web Sites" by Thomas E. Bleier and Eric C. Steinert.
Some of the "net people" interviewed have created Web sites centered around their collections, including "beanie mom" (www.beaniemom.com) and "the comic book king" (www.comicbookresources.com). This book profiles 36 Web site creators, many who run their sites part-time while continuing to work full-time.
If you are thinking of creating your own Web site to supplement online auction sales, this book demonstrates the advantage of letting your personality shine through on your Web site. It will differentiate you from your competitors, and you'll have a lot more fun.
Ina Steiner is Editor of AuctionBytes.com and author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). She has a background in marketing and research in the high-tech and publishing fields. If you have story ideas, comments or questions, send them to ina@auctionbytes.com.
