Do you use Press Release Marketing?

Press releases can be a very effective tool for online marketing. Using services like PRWeb, Express Press Release and more (just google "press release or online press release and you will have hundreds to choose from) can increase your online exposure, provide back links to your blog articles and web pages and much more. The odds of an online press release being picked up by a major news outlet may be slim but the everlasting exposure on the web is still worth your efforts.

You should write press releases in a newsworthy style. Simply repeating your marketing message will not cause many readers of press release material to linger long on your press release. Include current events which relate to your business or service and try to get quotes and references from outside sources. Your press release should look somewhat like what you might read in a newspaper, not like a brochure or web page for your business.

Here is an example of a press release I just sent out this morning. Tell me if you think it looks newsworthy.

All Business Auctions of Largo, Florida CEO Scott Pooler to Speak at eBay Powerseller Conference - RocketPlace - Orlando March 1, 2008
Scott Pooler of All Business Auctions to Speak at an eBay Selling Seminar & Conference (The first to convene after the recent fee and feedback changes at eBay). The focus of this conference is education and information sharing. Scott will discuss the addition of eBay consignment to existing small businesses and many other speakers will share insights about how to make eBay add to your bottom line.

Recent eBay news has been filled with negative reports about changes in fee calculation methods and seller feedback. These changes have just recently been introduced by eBay to the millions of current sellers utilizing the online auction service to present their wares to the world.
Rocketplace (formerly the As Was Conference) @ The Disney World Yacht Club Resort, February 28 - March 1, 2008. http://www.rocketplace.com/index.html Is the first conference of Powersellers and Solutions providers being held after these eBay changes were announced.

"We will discuss the changes in fees and feedback but we do not plan on adding to the present fervor by promoting sellers strikes or departures" Said Scott Pooler of All Business Auctions.com in Largo, Florida. "Our focus is and always has been, using eBay's massive appeal and significant worldwide traffic pull to help small businesses succeed in online marketing"

Mr. Pooler is a 10 year veteran of online marketing via eBay. He has been a Powerseller, a Trading Assistant, eBay Drop Store owner and a Master Franchise Representative for one of the largest eBay drop store chains in America. "I have seen how changes can sometimes cause a stir among the eBay selling community in the past. It is important to remember as an independent seller, your focus should be more about how to use the site to your advantage, we teach those methods to small businesses every day". As a certified eBay Education Specialist with eBay University, Mr. Pooler has transitioned his business into an Internet Marketing and eBay sales consulting firm. All Business Auctions is designed to first demonstrate and then implement advanced selling strategies and solutions for local small businesses. "We help small businesses with every aspect of getting online, from branding and web design to eCommerce and eBay sales".

Many speakers and presentations will be available to attendees at RocketPlace. Subjects covered will include eBay and eCommerce solutions and resources in addition to utilizing web 2.0 applications and methods to effectively promote your business online. "This is not just a eBay centric conference, we will discuss many emerging technologies and methods to increase online sales" Says conference organizer Debbie Levitt of As Was Marketing in Tucson, Arizona.

"In my business I have seen the effectiveness of these new technologies and methods of promoting via social media/web 2.0, I want to share these techniques with other business owners and merchants. This conference is an amazing opportunity to do that in a face to face situation, I am very pleased to be asked to not only attend but speak at such a cutting edge and prestigious event". Scott Pooler - All Business Auctions

Scott Pooler will be speaking about bringing eBay consignment services into existing businesses, how it works, and how to use these services to bring value to existing customers while promoting your own brand on a worldwide stage. Scott's presentation is scheduled right before the amazing keynote address we expect to hear from Jay Berkowitz of TenGoldenRules.com in Boca Raton, Florida - "I know Jay Berkowitz will bring amazing insight and clarity to the social media topics he specializes in. Ten Golden Rules is a great concept and Jay is a fantastic speaker, we will all learn from his perspective". (Jay Berkowitz is the former marketing director of Coca Cola, AT&T, Sprint, and e-Diets.com).

Worldwide Brands, eBay, Refund Retriever, Kyozou, Merchant Advantage, Channel Advisor, HammerTap Research, PPCSummit.com, Type Pad - Six Apart, Constant Contact, buySafe, & Blueberry Consulting are just a few of the major solutions and services providers presenting and available at the RocketPlace.com conference.
See:
http://allbusinessauctions.com/blog/2008/01/19/the-as-was-conference-in-orlando-2008-meet-and-network-with-the-pros-of-ebay/

All Business Auctions

12525 Walsingham Road

Largo, Florida 33774

727-596-6900

See Our Blog At: http://allbusinessauctions.com/blog

Read the Trading Assistant Journal http://allbusinessauctions.wordpress.com

As you may know from my previous post about TAWC (The As Was Conference in Orlando) Debbie Levitt of As Was asked me to discuss adding eBay consignment to any business at the conference based on my consignment background and history with drop store operations, franchising and our publication of the Trading Assistant Journal.

Debbie also wanted to bring in a focus on social marketing via networks such as Facebook, Linked In, and Second Life among others.  Debbie actually asked my opinion of who she should ask to speak at the conference about these cutting edge marketing topics.

My first thought was of Jay Berkowitz CEO of Ten Golden Rules an Internet marketing professional with former employers on his resume such as Coca-Cola, McDonalds, AT&T, Sprint & e-Diets.com .

Jay broadcasts a very successful and informative marketing podcast on i-tunes called the Ten Golden Rules of Internet Marketing. I thought he would be the perfect choice to introduce these types of new marketing opportunities to the eBay culture.  Debbie asked me for the introduction after I gave her a short review of Jay's considerable qualifications.

I called Jay and introduced him to the As Was Conference and briefly covered the goals of the conference.  Jay was more than gracious in making time for our conference in his very cramped February speaking schedule.  Debbie was very pleased to offer Jay the Keynote speech to end the conference on Saturday March 1, 2008.

The Ten Golden Rules Podcast and Jay Berkowitz featured an Interview with Debbie Levitt of As Was in episode 19 available on i-tunes or directly from the Ten Golden Rules website.  I will also add that both Jay and Debbie were very gracious on the Podcast in mentioning my contribution towards bringing Jay to speak at TAWC... Thanks for the honorable mention Jay and Debbie!

Check out the podcast and sign up for The As Was Conference - You will learn more at this conference than you could possibly imagine. It's not too late to join Debbie, Jay & I along with numerous other eBay and Internet Marketing specialists at the conference at Disney World Yacht Club Resort.

See You There!

Scott Pooler

I have a small announcement:

Scott Pooler of All Business Auctions has accepted a gracious invitation from Debbie Levitt of the marketing and eBay design company -As Was - to speak at: The As Was Conference in Orlando 2008.

Debbie Levitt has asked me to speak about a subject she knows I am passionate about and I am grateful for the opportunity she has presented me. I will be more than pleased to share my enthusiasm on this particular subject with the attendees of The 2008 As Was Conference...

eBay sales and consignment - marketing opportunities for your present business model.

My pre-conference outline for this session is:

1. Detail the honest and realistic pros and cons of leveraging eBay sales and consignment services to an existing retail or wholesale business.
2. Reveal the secrets of leveraging an eBay consignment as a marketing tool to expand your brand and bring new customers through your door.
3. Discuss the advantages of an eBay trade up program for new equipment sales to existing customers.
4. Quickly outline the plentiful tools and solutions available to help any business get started with an eBay consignment and marketing plan.

I asked Debbie Levitt, CEO of As Was and organizer of this impressive event, why she decided to hold her own advanced eBay conference?

"Lots of people read the Entrepreneur Magazine eBay Startup Guide and then call us wanted to know how to eBay. Or they've been reading books or blogs by Adam Ginsberg, Janelle Elms, Skip McGrath, Mike Enos, Jim Cockrum, and Phil Dunn, and wondering who to trust. How to sell on eBay, how to start an eBay business, what products to sell, how to make the money they hear you can make. Should they attend eBay seminars, eBay University, eBay Live, or other events with eBay experts. Those are good questions, and are better answered in a 2.5 day conference than a short blog post.

The reality is that selling on eBay is work... nobody makes heaps of money sitting on their pool rafts, doing nothing, and barely turning on the computer. Don't believe the scams. Like any business, an eBay business has to be taken seriously. Research, planning, and informed decision-making are part of the process. Don't just jump in, and don't just throw money at a system that claims it does most of the work for you, but your success is your responsibility. Anybody considering starting or growing any sort of business needs education, information, and networking".

So how about that 2.5-day conference with all the answers?

It's the 2008 As Was Conference. http://www.aswasconference.com/agenda.shtml details the speakers and schedule.

The conference will be held this year at Walt Disney World's Yacht Club Resort in Florida at the end of February, it's the only event (other than eBay Live) taking a look at how to grow your eBay business now. Packed with free networking lunches, networking dinners around Disney, free Business Clinics and expert speakers giving you techniques, tips, strategies, and tools you can use immediately to change and grow your business, The As Was Conference is different than everything else out there.

TAWC Will Teach You How to Make More Sales, Be More Profitable, and Attract More Customers Through:

• Software and systems that will make your eBay and off-eBay selling easier, automated, and more efficient.
• Blogging, shopping comparison websites, pay-per-click advertising, and your own email mailing list.
• Finding the right products to sell and the strategies for selling them successfully.
• Item presentation, listing design, and how to build the most effective eBay Store.
• Faster and cheaper shipping.
• Hiring part-time, full-time, or seasonal staff.
• Adding eBay Consignment to your existing retail or wholesale location.

Worldwide Brands recently sent a notice to their mailing list about our upcoming conference. Here is some of what they said: How would you like to come to Disney's Yacht Club Resort in Orlando, FL for a few days and learn real 'insider secrets' to making money on eBay? Well, on February 28 through March 1st, 2008, you can come to one of Disney World's most popular resorts and get a huge unfair advantage over your eBay competitors. If you do any selling on eBay or plan to, you should definitely attend this event. You'll discover the newest techniques and strategies that can help you grow a huge eBay business for 2008.

Highlights of TAWC Include:

Informative sessions designed to teach you with the newest and best ideas, techniques, and strategies that will make you more profitable.

• Sessions presented by eBay staff, industry experts, and successful online sellers.
• FREE Business Clinics; get personalized advice from a team of industry experts.
• Plenty of time to meet speakers and exhibitors, and join roundtable discussions.
• A fun environment with three FREE networking lunches in our banquet room.
• Networking dinners around Walt Disney World.
• Learn what you're not going to hear at eBay Live! or any other conference.

Get Ready To Network

Make sure you bring business cards because there will be plenty of time to connect and network with other sellers, speakers, exhibitors, and the experts on the Business Clinics panel.

Want to be a part of the incredible networking dinners? During the conference registration, you can check boxes to indicate that you want a seat at one or both dinners.

When you get to the conference, there will be convenient sign-up boards with different restaurants (and different high powered eBay experts). If you asked for a seat during registration, you'll then be allowed to choose which restaurant, and sign up.

Business Clinics sign ups will be handled the same way. And of course, each days lunch will be a networking and information exchange bonanza!

oPINions will be great ice breakers. Pins at TAWC are not for collecting or trading. Every sponsor/exhibitor at our event will have 1" round logo pins, called oPINions. At registration, you will get one lanyard oPINion for each product and service that you currently use or have used in the past. These are designed to be conversation-starters rather than for trading or collecting.

Are you thinking about using a certain product or service? Find someone wearing that oPINion, and ask for their oPINion on that company. Give your honest oPINion to anybody who asks. Nothing's better than getting feedback from real eBay sellers at our conference.

Take It Home
The As Was Conference will not be recorded on video, so you need to be there! Attendees can pick up brochures from our speakers and exhibitors, and after the event, we will make the presentation slides from every session available for download. That means that you'll get everything the speakers put on the screen (that isn't live off the web) including their information, tips, examples, and resources.

Seminars and Events

Increase Sales with Unique Branding and Item Presentation
Learn how to present your item and your company in ways that will make shoppers trust you more and want to buy.
Debbie Levitt, CEO of As Was

Scalable Sales Automation
Learn how Kyozou's online and sales management system can grow your business.

Custom Software Solutions
Learn how software can be customized to make your online selling life easier and more efficient.
Tobe Goldfinger, President of JDT Technologies

Growing Your Business With eBay Certified Providers
Learn which companies eBay recommends that eBay sellers work with.
Laura Della Torre, Senior Manager, Seller Tools at eBay

Growing Your Business Without Growing Old: Automating, Expanding, and Scaling Like the Pro's - Learn how ChannelAdvisor's online and sales management system can grow your business.
Max Leisten, Senior Product Manager at ChannelAdvisor

Make Shipping Cheaper and Easier
Learn how to get UPS, FedEx, and DHL to pay you when you ship with them, and how to make shipping faster and easier.
Brian Gibbs, President of Refund Retriever

Driving Repeat Business and Buyer Loyalty

Learn how to attract buyers, keep them thinking about you, and get them to tell friends.
Tim Woda, Director, Business Development & Enterprise Sales of buySAFE
Lisa Sparks, Regional Development Director - South Florida, Constant Contact

Cause Marketing and New Media to Grow Your Business
Learn how eBay Giving Works charitable listings can bring buzz and fierce customer loyalty.
David Yaskulka, President, Blueberry Consulting

eBay Research and Strategies for Maximum Profits
Learn about specific eBay listing strategies that will save on fees and attract more shoppers as well as how eBay-related research can be used to make better-informed decisions about how and when to list.
Debbie Levitt, CEO of As Was presents eBay strategies and EverySeller Research
Steve Nye of HammerTap

Your Best eBay Store
Learn the best ways use your eBay Store and its many features as well as how pushing the limits on eBay Store design could pull shoppers in.
Rich Lee, eBay Stores Marketing
Iarla O'Halloran, Creative Director at As Was

How to Stop Breaking the eBay Rules You Didn't Know You Were Breaking
Learn how to stay out of trouble on eBay. Considering that some of your competitors might look through your listings to see what rules you're breaking and turn you in, it's important to be fully compliant.
The As Was Team

Hiring the Right Full-Time and Part-Time Staff
Learn what qualities and skills to look for in part-time, full-time, seasonal staff, and where to find these people.
Eric Winegardner, Monster.com

Sourcing Product and Being the Product Source
Learn how to find product lines from reliable sources. Are you a reliable product source? Learn how to get in front of online sellers.
Rob Cowie, President, Worldwide Brands

Overseas Product Sourcing & Manufacturing
Learn how to do business directly with the factories in Asia.
Charles Bell, Senior Project Manager of Siege Engineering, Inc.

Exciting Your Shoppers With Great Item Photos
Learn how to take better product photos, and how to give them that "floating" effect or make them unique.
Eric Majeran, Senior Sales Manager at Vertus presenting Bling! It
speakers, TBA

eBay sales and consignment - marketing opportunities for your present business model.
Learn the pros and cons eBay consignment sales, and how this may be an exciting and profitable addition to your present retail or wholesale business.
Scott Pooler, CEO of All Business Auctions

How to Grow and Manage Your Profitability
Learn how to get your accounting organized so you can measure and increase your profits.
JP O'Brien, CEO of Keepmore.net

Turn Traffic Into Cash
Learn how to grab shoppers and make money by leading them to your eBay items and/or ecommerce website. Learn the ins and outs of eBay's Affiliate Program, blogging, shopping comparison websites, and pay-per-click advertising.
eBay Affiliate Program staffer, TBA

Come create a dialogue with our team of experts, and get personalized advice!

(Pssst... These people will be available to network with during the free lunches and scheduled dinners , or you may just meet up and hob nob in the halls... enjoy!)

• Debbie Levitt, CEO of As Was
• Edward Sayers, eBay Consultant (former eBay TSAM)
• Dawn Sears, Account Manager at As Was (former eBay TSAM)
• Sarah Sosniak, Product Manager of Typepad at Six Apart
• Mary O'Brien, Partner and Chairperson at PPCSummit.com
• Michael Lambert, CEO and Co-Founder of Merchant Advantage
• Rich Lee, eBay Stores Marketing
• Rob Cowie, President of Worldwide Brands
• JP O'Brien, CEO of Keepmore.net
• Erika Barcott, Account Manager at As Was
• Iarla O'Halloran, Creative Director at As Was
• Edward Sayers, eBay Consultant (former eBay TSAM)
• Scott Pooler, CEO of All Business Auctions
• Marcia Cooper, Certified eBay Education Specialist, PowerSeller, and Trading Assistant
• Harvey Levine, eBay Education Specialist, PowerSeller, and Trading Assistant
• Sharon Ware, Business Consultant and Certified Education Specialist
• And many more

This is an opportunity to learn all the inside secrets and effective marketing strategies of established and recognized eBay and eCommerce experts you know and can trust. This conference is not a marketing pitch for some fly by night eBay solution in a box... This is a solid and respectable marketing and informational conference with speakers and presenters dedicated to helping you succeed in online marketing and eBay based sales programs. All of the tools, solutions, tips and experience one could hope to find will be available to attendees for an unbelievable price of only $299.00

Register NOW! - The information you will gain from just a single day of this conference is worth more than the price of admission for the entire 2.5 days of events.

See You There!