TheEBookBlueprint.com

Ebay EBooks Banned - But You Can Still Profit From EBooks On EBay & Grow A List

Effective, March 31, 2008 EBay is banning digitally delivered items. This means that anything sent via email or any other online method of delivery is not allowed. This includes:

Mp3’s/Audio Files, Videos, EBooks, Websites, Online Services, Photos, Screen Savers, Domain Names.

Think you’re doomed?? Don’t be discouraged, there are ways we can work around this.

Below you will find a list of ways you can still sell your EBooks on EBay and still make money.

1. Sell it as a physical product
   1. Burn file to cd, dvd, or floppy disc and mail it
   2. Print it out and mail it (you can even sell domain names, or any other link like this. A piece of paper IS a physical product)
   3. Have the delivery automated online using kunaki.com or one of many other options
2. Use Aweber to deliver custom email following payments
   1. Send a thank you email with F.A.Q., along with an additional download link
   2. Offer a bonus (discount, additional ebook, etc.) if customer opts to receive online only after purchase and send digital download link.

Can You Still Build A Mailing List On Ebay?

Selling cheap products to build your mailing list was one of a few ways to build a list on EBay, but I wouldn’t say it was the most effective. Lots of people that bought those cheap items were just trying to build their feedback score quick, and didn’t even bother to even opt in to get whatever you were selling. You can still collect a mailing list from EBay using one of the following methods:
Link to your website via your about me page. In your auction, encourage your readers to visit your about me page for free or great tips, coupons, etc…

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  • Write a guide or a review as a teaser, then encourage your readers to visit your about me page for more information. Your about me page can link to opt in pages, affiliate links, or other websites outside of EBay as long as you are not saying “buy this” on your about me page.
  • List a classified ad on EBay, include an opt in box in the actual listing or link to your website or squeeze page(more below).

You can still sell digitally delivered products on Ebay…..But

only via classified ads.

Classified ads run for as little as 30 days, require no feedback, and transactions occur outside of EBay. Classified Ads are just as effective at selling as an auction, being that they show up right along with the auction listings. They are also listed in google searches, and if you choose to list for longer than 30 days, that gives you free exposure once Google picks up your listing. There are more benefits to using classified ads though:

•  You can sell not only your digital items, but also affiliate items, via classified ads. The only other place you are allowed to do this on EBay is using your about me page. Do it anywhere else and you will quickly get booted!
• The duration of the listing is longer, and the listing can be changed at any time. That means that you can easily advertise one product one week(or even one day), and then another the next.
• Contact information is allowed. Include your business phone number, if desired.

This decision EBay has made to ban digitally delivered items is a good thing, believe it or not. Here are a few reasons why:

• Increased perceived value - automatically, by selling a PHYSICAL product, whether it be on cd or a actual printed PDF file, it is a physical product. The customer actually receives something in the mail.
• The good stand strong, while the bad be gone - one of the reasons EBay is doing this is to help prevent scammers from easily scamming others out of their hard earned money.

What was happening was a scammer would set up a new EBay account, sell items for pennies to quickly build feedback, then begin selling high priced items once they had a high feedback score(the feedback score gave them instant credibility). They then would not ship the item(probably did not even own it), and ignore the buyers refund requests/complaints.

Another way that selling a physical product benefits you:

You can retain your customers shipping address along with their email address and have 2 ways to market to them - via regular mail and via email. It is completely legal – think about all the online stores you have shopped at and received future mailings from after. Collect their names and addresses into a database, and send out regular advertisements, teasers (can be as simple as printed out sales pages, and more) There are so many ways you can benefit from this change it is unbelievable.

BUT…..

You need to have a back up plan, no matter what. You see, the thing about selling on EBay, is that they make and break all of the rules - simply because they can. I know personally - I have had auctions pulled with no real explanation and I know I was well within EBay’s rules and regulations, but it did not matter because they are in control.

It is time to start venturing out from EBay, if you have not done so already. I’m not saying be done with them completely, just have a back up plan so you are not at a loss if another major change occurs. Having a list OFF EBay brings more security. Learning how to make money online OFF EBay can’t hurt.
One way to generate guaranteed income online is to create information products that people need to buy. Notice I said need, not want. These information products solve a problem, are answers to embarrassing questions, fulfill a need, make life easier, or make something happen fast. Desperate Buyers is the best resource for this - check it out here:

http://www.TheEbookBlueprint.com/DesperateBuyers.html
Dont let this small change get the best of your business. Adapt and make it work for you! For a free report and tips on creating these types of reports, send a blank email to DesperateBuyers@aweber.com
If you are interested in more information on ways you can profit from your mailing list offline, or on other ways to build a mailing list to market to offlline -contact me at DesperateBuyers (at) gmail (dot) com.
You are free to link to this post or if you want the pdf file you may resell or redistribute it as long as it is not altered in any way.  Here is the link to a PDF version:

http://www.TheEbookBlueprint.com/DigitalBanning.pdf

If you do continue to sell on Ebay, I recommend you sign up for this forum:

MySilentTeam – The best forum for Ebay Sellers. Or…..

Silent Sales Machine – Sign up for the best FREE EBay newsletter and get tips on making the most from your about me page.