Power Sellers Unite

lindajean · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 444

I just knew it wouldn't be long after they put other sellers listings on our pages that they would be putting other ads on their other pages.

Apparently the ads only show when you do certain searches but these things seem to spread like poison once they get started. :(

Then again, maybe they always did it but I just didn't know it? Here is an example:

http://www.ecrater.com/search.php?keywords=crochet+pattern

At the bottom of search results are google ads. Same with a postcard search or just about any other.

Here's another for the search lobby card
http://www.ecrater.com/search.php?keywords=lobby+card

Now, I know that is only on searches that start at ecrater. But, if a site is ever going to grow to be significant sales wise, then it needs to be a destination site where people think of that main site first when they want to buy something.

If ecrater is going to point those potential buyers elsewhere, then they will never reach that goal.

Anyway, I may be the last person to know this. But, since it hasn't been discussed I wondered if anyone else even cares?

jcut92 · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 853

Hi Linda, those ads have been there awhile now. I guess to help you understand a little better. Heres the facts, If Dimitar didn't do that, then the sellers would be hit up with fees.

In order to keep ECRATER free, and that is his plan from what he has told me, then he must generate money to keep the site up and running. Those ads don't bother me in the least but I am sure they may bother others. Oh well what can we do? EC is also an Established site so its about Time the Owner makes some money.

It cost quite a bit of money to keep that site up and running smoothly and I am sure he was needing it. I am very grateful to be able to list without someone nickel and diming me to death. Its kinda like a Breath of Fresh air. The site itself is ran professionally and he has done a wonderful job keeping it that way. I know you can also feature an item or items for a fee if you want to be on the front page. Thats another way he generates money.

EC has staff, and maybe they were getting tired of working free? J/K LOL, so the money has got to come from somewhere ya know?

I have been a member of EC for 3 years, I know hes going into his 6th year online. He has really come along way Baby! :)

Digmen1 · Joined: 12 Feb 2010 Posts: 1007

Yes I don't like ads on auction sites that could drive traffic away from your/our listings.

But as Jcut says, they have to pay for the site and make money some how.

I just wished that the owner could make more money from featured listings etc.

I am thinking of featuring some of mine to try to get some sales.

I always wonder, and I suppose everyone does, who much one of these auction sites can, could or does make ?

I imagine its not that much, or some of them would not have closed.

But if you have servers to run and staff to pay, then you must make something.

Here in New Zealand our local encumbent site TradeMe was sold to an overseas company for about 30 million dollars. The guy who started it up had nothing to start with and in the end had 30 staff. He had the whole New Zealand market (4 million people and i million listings) tied up, ebay could not break in.

jcut92 · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 853

Hey Digmen, go to the website below and check it out. Its very interesting to see what the ads generate and how much the site brings in and what the value of it is. I am amazed at what some of those ads, etc bring in. Check it out, use the box at the top of the page.

www.websiteoutlook.com

Type in Facebook, that will make your eyes pop.

Digmen1 · Joined: 12 Feb 2010 Posts: 1007

Wow

I'd do it for that !

Its says that my web site is worth $4 a day !

That would be a bit high I think !

But I don't want to run ads on my site.

But I need traffic !

jcut92 · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 853

Why don't you want to run ads on your site? Isn't that the normal way to generate some cash? It seems like if you look around all the successful websites do it.

Digmen1 · Joined: 12 Feb 2010 Posts: 1007

Thanks for that.

My website is for selling and providing information about my product.

I don't want to confuse people with other sites.

It does not cost me much, and I plan to make money by selling my product.

(and as I said before) it does not generate much repeat traffic, so it would not be good for anyone to advertise on it.

Eg I paid $10 and $30 for banner ads on two websites and got very few hits.
So I did not repeat the ads. But I am looking for good sites to advertise my website on.

jcut92 · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 853

I understand :wink:

BigT · Joined: 13 Mar 2005 Posts: 305

I don't get the big deal.

The ads are on www.ecrater.com NOT in your store.

mojavelyn · Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 12:55 pm Post subject:

This is the potential of earning for google ads IF each ad is clicked on. And does not truely reflect 'true' ad income.

lindajean · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 444

It's a big deal to me for the same reasons showing competing sellers items on my listing pages is a big deal.

I want a site that will work for ME. That will work for ALL sellers.

That will work to bring buyers to the website and KEEP them there.

And, that once they are in my store will work to help me KEEP them there.

I would much rather pay a fee for the website than have it free and have them divert future customers offsite.

But, that is just my opinion.

I did cancel my store last night. I was still bothered by the fact anyone coming in through google would be blasted with competitors listings at the bottom of each of my listings.

They look like my items and I think it will deter multiple purchases.

At any rate, I won't be complaining anymore. I did what I thought best by closing mine and wish all who remain the best of luck in future sales.

I'll continue to build my own website and if that doesn't work, then I will quietly retire into the sunset to enjoy what is left of my life the way I used to enjoy life before ebay took it over.

mojavelyn · Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 3:13 pm Post subject:

Lindajean, how long can a site that has no fees, have the continued growth that EC has shown, continue to provide all they provide to seller's without some type of income?

Does anyone actually realize the cost of the bandwidth for a site as large as EC?

And those ads do not actually drive buyers off the site unless its something that interests them more then your item does.

And EC does not receive any money unless someone does click on them.

strikingedeals · Joined: 22 Aug 2009 Posts: 98

I am happy with ecrater showing google ads and providing me a venue to sell items for free.

If ecrater don't show ads it won't get any money to run the site,pay the staff etc.

My sales are consistent on ecrater and I am getting more sales every day may be due to increase in traffic.

http://strikingedeals.ecrater.com/

hotnana · Joined: 02 Feb 2008 Posts: 875

strikingedeals I agree...eCrater still continues to work well for me so the ads are no big deal! How many shoppers are actually finding us through EC as a marketplace? As BT mentioned, the ads are there when someone clicks on an item through an eCrater search. If someone goes into your store from Google, the ads aren't there.

portocall · Joined: 05 Jun 2009 Posts: 156

Unfortunately most of the selling sites have ads now. They're all over Amazon and sellers pay high fees there. ebay has them now I think, and they used to be ABOVE the sellers items (with the sellers paying listing fees!) That didn't seem right to me.

As for ecrater. I know the owner has planned all along to make his money from ads and plans to keep the site free for sellers and buyers. The ads have just turned up in the last week or two (I've been selling on ecrater for two years now with absolutely no fees or ads)

I even click on the ads now and then, especially if I'm headed to the ad site anyway. I figure this may give ecrater a bit of profit from the click- through. I don't really know if it does.

I do understand the original post. Internet ads seem to be the big marketing plan recently. I know some sellers put Google ads on their own websites or blogs to make a little cash.