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If you think that E-bay has nothing to teach you, think again. It doesn't matter
much that you aren't in the auction business and that your website is entirely
different in scope.
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What matters is that the first place phenomenon of the
Internet Revolution is E-bay. Its evolution is not just as a profitable
e-business but a new culture of society. The lessons learned at E-bay might just
get you off the surfboard and onto that ship you have been waiting to come in.
This on-the-edge idea broke ground out of a humble Silicon Valley apartment into
a reality model of more than 10 million registered users and sales to the tune
of more than $100 a nano-second.
In other words, while you spent ten seconds
reading this sentence, they sold $1000 worth of merchandise. Yes, E-bay has
something to teach us all. For within their model are lessons you can learn and
adopt in your own business, no matter what your business is.
Practicality dictates a certain model in order for entrepreneurs to achieve
success. Until, of course, a titan in thinking comes along to blow that model to
kingdom come and put in it's place a new paradigm of thinking. Enter E-bay.
Enter the non-conventional. But enter, ready to learn.
The Courage of Ideas
E-bay started out as an idea in the brain of someone not so different than
you. One man, in an apartment got a creative inspiration that he turned into the
biggest reality of success the Internet has yet to see. What does this tell us?
That it can happen to you. I'm sure that the idea had its obstacles to overcome
before it ever arrived at its current glory, but through persistence became
real. Ideas have power once we fuel them. Believe in the future of your ideas
and surround yourself with people that can support and nuture that belief.
The Journey With Out A Roadmap
Some business journey's are not by the book, complete with business plan and
a clear vision of its destination. Many ideas evolve, change, and grow through
continued inspiration and perspiration. This isn't to say that the business plan
is not important, but rather that flexibility is. Be ready to take a new road
when the one you're started down is not achieving your vision. Realize that this
is the evolution of an inspired idea.
Taking the Old, and Incorporating The New
Be prepared to blend both new E-commerce ideas with old tried-and-true
principles for a net result that will equal success. Don't banish all of one
theory for another, but rather mix what works. Affiliate programs with
established marketing plans, advertising venues with email, etc. Be courageous,
but wise.
From Business to Community
Create a place that others will talk about. It is the nature of people to
want to gather, so create a gathering place for people to share ideas, make the
deal, and communicate. The dynamics of the Internet is in its community and
E-bay saw the value of this and became not just a community, but a society of
it's own.
Body Parts Are Not For Sale—Making Good with Bad Times
While E-bay got press over body parts that were put on it's site for sale, it
wasn't all bad. Yes, they obviously pulled these auctions from the site once it
came to their attention, but the press it created did not hurt E-bay. In fact,
it solidified them as THE online community of our time. The place to be, to go,
to bookmark, and return. It drove more people to the site. The lesson? Make good
with bad times. Weather the situation, but create an event.
Evolving Forward Remember above all that change is what creates a forward
moving, successful business. Never stay stagnant. Be aware of consumer's tastes,
the change of trends in behavior, and constantly evolve your plan.
E-bay was an idea. We all have them. The question is what will you do with
the next one that pops into your head? You know the potential now, and if you
doubt it, visit E-bay to become convinced.
About the Author:
Jerome Chapman has proven his
own credibility to his clients through numerous successful businesses and some
of the most compelling e-books about marketing on the web. To find out even more
about how to make your business profitable and efficient, visit his web site at http://www.1HourWealth.com/ebay
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