This is a follow-up on Talking to the Professionals PART 1 guide for Ebay Marketing Services Department.  The OnRamp services is a wonderful FREE service for Ebay sellers.  The program is designed to help sellers improve their marketing abilities.  The Ebay Marketing Representative calls you and you have a one-on-one phone consultation.  I want to highlight what I learned in my FREE consultations so far.

EBAY Pulse

The SITE MAP link is located at the top right section of the Ebay screen, just left of the Ebay logo.  The first important part of the Site Map is the EBAY PULSE section.  This link is located in the first column of under the heading "More Ways to Find Items".  You can choose any Category that you would like to track.  The first page shows "All Categories".  This page listed the Most Popular Searches on ALL of Ebay.  This would be the most popular KEYWORD typed into the search engine.  You can also get very detailed into each category.  For example, choose the category Clothing, Shoes & Accessories.  You see the Top 10 Keywords for this category.  You can use the arrow beside Category search and drill down to Boys (for example).  Then you see the Top 10 Keywords for the Boys category.  You can go even further to see more detailed information in the Boys section-sizes, shoes, accessories, ect.  This can be done with ANY category on Ebay.  This tip lets you find the most popular search words avaliable in each category.  THIS CAN HELP YOU SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR AT THE MOMENT- If you can, SELL some of these items.

Advanced Search

On the Ebay Home Page you will see a SEARCH Button and just to the right you can click Advanced Search link.  This will take you to the Advanced Search Page where you Search Specific Categories again.  Also, check mark the Completed Listings Box below the Category section.  Again, lets pick Clothing, Shoes & Accessories.  This screen shows every sub-category that you can choose from in this heading.  If you pick Boys agian, you will see all the searches that completed in the Boys-Clothing Auctions on ebay.  This report pulls 10,000++.  The RED number represents items that DIDN'T SELL.  The GREEN shows the SOLD ITEMS and what it sold for.  To narrow down the search even more add search Keywords like TOMMY SHIRT.  This now shows all the Boys-Tommy Shirts, that completed auction. You can even get more specific if you drill down to Boys-6-12 months-Outerwear + Keywords and so on.  THIS CAN HELP YOU SEE WHAT PRICE OR PRICE RANGE THAT THE SPECIFIC ITEM SOLD FOR.  List your items and price them more accurately for a successful sale.

What's HOT

The What's Hot section can be found by going to the Site Map again.  Look at the second column with the heading "Selling Resources".  Then click on the "What's Hot" link.  This section has several key areas.  You will probably see the eBay Pulse section again.  This is just another way to find this information.  The HOT Items by Category section gives you a PDF report of the previous months hottest categories.  This is a GREAT report to review at the beginning of each month.  AGAIN, SELL IN THESE HOT CATEGORY SECTIONS!

EBAY Market Research

This link can be found in the What's Hot Section.  It also can be found in your My eBay under My Account then click on Subscriptions.  This is one of the Reports on eBay that you can purchase.  The subscription will be tracked in you My Ebay-Subscriptions section.    When you get to the Subscriptions page you can click Learn More by the Ebay Market Research section.  This is the Overview screen. Click the large LEARN MORE button and then you are connected to the screen that describes the Choice Comparisons.  The Marketing Representative that I spoke to suggested that I first just try it out with the 2 day option for $2.99 to get my feet wet with the reports.  He also said that if I do sign up for the monthly subscription, I can cancel at anytime.  There is no minumin time that you have to have the subscription.  I have not tried this yet but, probably will in the near future. 

Wow!  I can't believe that one phone consultation could cover so much QUALITY information.  I already feel like a better seller and I'm just getting started.  Now I'm Off to Learn MORE... Can't wait to tell you how it goes!!!