Hi Andrew,

I would like you to explain to me, how I can link my website (www.urgadgetshop.co.uk) to eBay to sell my products. I already have an eBay account for 7 years with 100% feedback. I only buy and sell my personal unused stuffs now and again. But now, I have a home business website, how can I link my website up with my eBay account, so that people can view my website and probably purchase. What should I do?

Thanks,
Oladimeji Alo

Hi Oladimeji,

Thanks for your e-mail.

As you have probably heard, eBay is very strict on advertising any kind of websites via their platform, so you have to be a bit creative to find ways around eBay rules. There are several “gray hat” techniques you could use to advertise your website via listings, but I won’t cover them here. The risk of getting banned is too high, so it’s not worth doing anything illegal really (as any competitor could report your activities).

But there are few things you can do to advertise your website “legally”:

• By eBay rules, you can have a direct link (wow!) to your website on your About Me page. This is the place where you can freely use HTML formatting as well, so make sure to use this option widely!
• In the listings, you’re allowed to publish your full contact details, this includes a phone number AND more importantly – an e-mail address. Put it in the header section of your listing template! So if you use e-mail: info@yourcompany.co.uk, some customers will notice yourcompany.co.uk part and may visit your website to find out more about you!
• Your Name! Hopefully you have a name & logo for your company! If so, position it in highly visible place in your listing’s template, header section. Your website should be in the same name, so that people can easily find your online shop via Google.
• eBay Blogs – did you know that you can write a blog using your eBay account? Not only this will generate traffic to your website (yes, you can place links in your blog posts) but it will create valuable back links which will help you to improve your search result positions.
• Follow up your leads! This will be your most effective & profitable strategy, if done properly. You sell gadgets, right? So, when someone buys a gadget off your eBay Shop, make sure to include a Thank You letter/flyer with a DISCOUNT or SPECIAL OFFER coupon code that can be redeemed via your online shop. Make sure it’s something valuable, like 10% OFF, free shipping or a free gift on their first purchase via your shop! This is so simple but works like a treat!

So here you go – a few, very simple, easy techniques to spread a word about your website on eBay, without breaking any rules! But please note – all that traffic will be worthless if your website doesn’t convert! Make sure it’s optimized to highest standards, good looking; easy to navigate shopping platform people would LOVE to buy stuff from!