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In Part 1 of this series, we discussed how writing reviews on eBay and Amazon could help give you credibility as an expert and give your listings increased exposure (http://digbig.com/4hxdx). Aside from offering your knowledge via product reviews, there are a couple other ways one can become an online expert to market products or listings. The first is to raise your profile via the popular "Listmania" function on Amazon.com to build lists of products you have an interest in promoting.
Listmania is the option to create a list of items that have particularly influenced you as an Amazon.com reviewer - items that you find personally or professionally important. Many pages on Amazon post these lists at the bottom of the product page. If you've impressed upon a viewer that you're a reviewer who knows what they are talking about, they will pay special attention to your list and consider purchasing what is on it. When they click on your list, they will see your entire line of recommended product(s) and your comments on each one.
You can include items any of the following categories in your Listmania list:
- Books
- Music
- DVD & Video
- Electronics
- Toys & Games
- Software
- Computer & Video Games
- Kitchen, Tools & Hardware
- Lawn & Patio
To add a list to your Amazon.com profile, simply click the "Add a Listmania List" link on the left side of the Friends & Favorites home page.
The second option on Amazon is to write a "So You'd Like to..." list. These lists differ from the straightforward Listmania list in that these are supposed to be written like guides to show people how a given product or products can enrich them or solve a problem. Because of this, they take a little more care in writing but come across as more sincere and convincing to potential customers. As with the Listmania feature, many pages on Amazon post these lists at the bottom of the product page.
"So You'd Like to" lists work the same was as with Listmania ones in that if you've impressed upon a viewer that you're a reviewer who knows what they are talking about, they will pay special attention to your list. When they click on your list, they will see your entire line of recommended product(s) and your comments on each one.
There is an inherent advantage to "So You'd Like To" lists versus Listmania ones. If you compare the comments you can place on this list compared to Listmania, you'll notice that they are more personal and engaging on the whole - thereby making your recommendations more appealing.
If you're interested in pursuing a similar strategy to raise your profile on eBay, you're in luck. eBay recently began offering a similar option, called "eBay Guides." While some guides you'll see on eBay are written by the site administrators themselves - or eBay's merchant partners - most are written by members.
Just as with product reviews, these lists or guides need to written with care. Trying to hard to be "sales-oriented" and your guide changes your recommendation from an "expert opinion" into just another ad. Here's an example of what you want to avoid:
Guide to Widgets
By: widgetseller
Don't miss out on this widget. It is absolutely stunning. It has a rare wedge on the side of the dumaflichitt. As an expert, I know the retail value is over $200 but I am selling it for $100.
By comparison, here's a quick example of a better written guide.
Guide to Widgets
By: widgetseller
When buying a used widget, you want to consider both looks and quality. Looks are the easy part - if you like the way it looks in the photos, then it looks good enough. But quality is a broader question and you may have to ask the manufacturer for more information than what the auction provides. Here are several things to consider:
Coating - Some widgets are very hard vinyl while others are very soft, and may even be a silicone vinyl mix. Softer vinyl is usually preferred for higher grade widgets.
Color - Nonessential, though want to make sure that it is painted with colors that won't wash off, wear off, or rub off.
Brand - Historically, the best widgets are the Blue or Black Maxx Widgets. You can find listings for these under "widgets" on the site, or at my eBay store at widgets_at_eBay.
Between the two examples, the second clearly offers content that will influence a reader to listen to your opinion - and trust to find quality used widgets at your store. After all, remember that on both eBay and Amazon, the user community is allowed to vote on your guide. Garnering a large number of negative votes is sure to raise your online profile - but for the wrong reasons! As in many web things, content is the key.
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