Three Ways To Market Your Online Auctions

 

Many of our customers are reluctant to tackle the internet as an auction channel, they feel like they may not be able to get enough bidders to the website to make a difference, or perhaps they feel that spending their money to drive online bidders might take away from the budget set aside for the floor.  All of these are valid concerns so we will cover a few ways to drive traffic to your website that are cost effective both in the short term and the long term.

 

Advertise Your Online Auctions In all Marketing Collateral

Ok it sounds like common sense!  You know how many of my customers don’t tell people they have internet bidding?  Way too many, be proud of the fact that you are a technology savvy business, promote it and tell everyone who view your advertisements, billboard ads, radio and TV ads etc about your website and that they can bid online.  Adding this text to your existing ad copy does not take a nickel away from your total ad spend and it will send new bidders.

 

Send Out A Press Release That You Can Bid On The Internet In Your Online Auctions.

The media loves the internet and everything to do with, a great story is how a local auctioneer who has been practicing their trade for 25+ years is looking to the internet to assist their customers and provide a competitive edge to their clients.  The media love online auctions and they love a good story on local business and are always on the lookout.  Also you may want to contact online magazines in your niches and tell them about any unique items that you are selling.  Total cost for sending out a press release less than $50, potential payback…..  Big money!

 

Use Pay Per Click Advertising For Your Online Auctions

It makes sense to market in the same medium you expect your customers to be coming from and to be comfortable bidding and buying items online.  You have to be careful pay per click can be expensive but the good news is it is easy to monitor and budget for so it does not get out of control.  When you market your online auctions keep in mind what the total value of a new customer is.  By that I mean once you have their information you can easily market to them via email for future auctions, when buy over and over again that customers worth increase each time.  So give some thought to exactly what a new online customer is worth.