If you're an eBay member and you don't have a 
page, I urge you today to create one! There are so many benefits to having one. And it's a free tool eBay allows all members to have, so you may as well take advantage of the opportunity.
Me pages have many uses within the eBay system, but perhaps the best one is the marketing it can provide you. You can use this page to describe shipping terms, tell a bit about you, share some photos, and even add a few links to your other Web sites or those you frequent.
The only limitation here is eBay's "two-click rule." This means if you place a link to an external Web site, it must take two clicks before a page shows something for sale outside of eBay. The first click can't lead directly to a Web site offering something for sale, but the second click can.
The two-click rule is strictly enforced. Remember, eBay is a marketplace, and it won't tolerate sellers deliberately leading customers outside to purchase goods. Doing this may result in a suspended eBay account.
"The About Me page may not promote outside-of-eBay sales or prohibited items, nor may it contain links to commercial Web sites where goods from multiple sellers are aggregated by a common search engine," eBay notes.
I use my Me page in several ways: to promote myself, share my credentials and encourage people to subscribe to my newsletter. I keep my page very simple, and I include links to a few of my Web sites. However, I don't include links to Web sites where I offer something for sale. Although I do include banners showing off the sites, the banners are not clickable. Feel free to visit my Me page to see what I mean.
Use it to promote other places where people can find you on the Web, and increase your visibility in search engines
Where to link?
So if you can't use your Me page to sell something, what's it good for? Simple. Use it to promote other places where people can find you on the Web, and to create inbound links that help increase your visibility in search engines. Here are a few places I suggest you link to from your Me page:
- Twitter
- MySpace
- Facebook
- Blogs
- Web sites
You could even link it to your favorite eBay sellers (with their permission, of course). I've seen many Me pages set up as a group promotion type of page where all the sellers promote each other's eBay stores. This can be a great way to network with other sellers, but it also creates "reciprocal links," which are another way to get higher ranking in search engines.
Me pages can be great marketing tools. If you have a Web site and are a member of eBay, I suggest setting up a Me page and linking it to your business. Share your information with the eBay community. Add some keywords relating to you and your business. This is just another e-commerce avenue that is often overlooked. As a business owner, I know how important it is to direct traffic to my site, and an eBay Me page can be used quite effectively for this.
Once your Me page is set up, eBay will automatically provide you with a Me icon that will show up next to your user ID. When other eBay members click on this icon, they will be taken directly to your Me page.
You can also include a link to your Me page in your eBay listings, but you may not include any language within those links that promotes items or other Web sites. You can encourage the viewer to visit your "Me" page to learn more about you and what you have to offer.
Shoppers will feel more at ease buying from you if you express yourself on your Me page
Easy to do
Creating a Me page is as easy as pie! eBay has simplified the process for us in several ways.
You can enter your own HTML code, or you can use a page layout already designed by eBay as a template.
Before you create your page, surf around eBay and take a look at a few other pages to get an idea. Then, jump right in! Don't hold back or think you can't do it—it is truly simple. Once you're ready, just scroll to the bottom of anyone's Me page and you will see the link to create your own Me page.
Me pages are especially important for new eBay sellers. They are the perfect place to share a bit about yourself with your potential buyers. Shoppers will feel more at ease buying from you if you express yourself on your Me page. You could even include a photo, or a few. Add a photo of your pet or your hometown, or share a story of how you got started on eBay. Open up and let the readers know why they should shop with you!
Send me a link to your Me page. I look forward to learning a bit about you!
Danna Crawford, CEO of
PowerSellingMom, Inc., has been a successful
eBay seller since 1997. In 2008, she received eBay's Community Hall of Fame award, as well as the Golden Ribbon Community Seller Award from eBay Giving Works. As an eBay Certified Education Specialist, she teaches at the community college and university levels, and frequently speaks on topics such as how to make money blogging, writing eBooks and more. Crawford can be heard every Friday night on her Internet radio show,
PowerSellingMomRadio, and in weekly webinars at
VirtualOnlineLearning.com.
Opinions expressed here may not be shared by Auctiva Corp. and/or its principals.
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