Brand Yourself!

If I learned anything from my days at Glacier Bay DVD (still the most recognizable brand on eBay), you need to have a lot of eyeballs see what you are offering, before you actually make any money.

The same idea works for exposure to your content or products. The more eyeballs that see your stuff, the more potential you have for making a living at this. That's why I frequently leave comments on blogs and in forums. As a blogger, I appreciate when readers leave comments on my posts and I regularly click back to their site to learn more about them.

I also use one public user ID (rksmythe) on all of my social network accounts for consistency and visibility. I also don't post anonymously on blogs and forums because after awhile people remember your name. Type in rksmythe or Randy Smythe in any search engine and you will see links to my content.

Believe me, if anybody is looking for me they can find me (on second thought, that might not be so good). A brief note of caution; don't use your public id as your private id for online banking and other personal accounts.

My readers come from all over the world but they don't all find me the same way. My Squidoo readers are not the same readers as my blog readers, though if I'm doing my job right there will be a lot of cross-over readership. You need to open up a spot on the web where your readers/customers congregate and then write interesting, fun, insightful content and they will follow you to your other content and products.

Think of every social networking site on the web as a window to your content/products, its simple to create a profile and once you've done that you can move on. Regularly update the sites that bring you visitors. Don't spend a ton of time on sites that don't drive traffic to your content or products.

It's Time To Vote!

We were looking for a new eBay Squidoo Community Logo so we started a contest. As of today all of the entries have been received and we have begun the vote. There are 32 entries in all so plenty of options are available. So post your vote today! Just click on the link below to be taken to the voting module on Squidoo. You can vote for as many entries as you like, the top 5 will be presented to the judges and they will select the 3 finalists.

Thanks to everyone who participated.

Click through to see the voting plexo

We Are Having A Contest!

Yep! Beginning today we will be holding a contest to find a replacement logo for the eBay Sellers on Squidoo Community -- out with the old and in with the new.

Say "so long" to the Squid Dude that graces our community header but don't worry about him, I'm sure he will find work elsewhere.

Logo submissions begin today, Aug 2nd and run until midnight Aug. 8th, then "let the voting begin".

Have you ever wanted to design a logo? Are you a graphics guru? Show us what you've got by submitting as many entries as you like. The winner will receive $1,000 in Squid Offers as well as:

"The Presentation Package Pen Set" includes two full size Bullet Pens; one retractable and one non-retractable in a black plastic case which is felt-lined in light grey.


So, show us what you got! Here are the rules and Contest Specifics.

How To Create An eBay Stores Lens That Sells!

I'm sure many of you don't know the first place to start with this Squidoo stuff; don't worry you are lot alone. Many eBay sellers have heard of Squidoo but no very little about it. I'll try to give you a snapshot.

5 Reasons YOU Need a Squidoo Lens...

1. Squidoo Is Free. You can’t beat free! In the few minutes it takes to create your lens, you can quickly start driving traffic to your eBay listings. That's right...for free.


2. Squidoo Lenses Are Easy To Create. Squidoo is easy, friendly and totally non-techy to use, and provides you with the tools to create an excellent page describing your product or service.


3. Squidoo Helps You Become The Expert. Nobody knows your products as well as you do, so use Squidoo to share that knowledge with potential buyers. Showcase your bestselling stuff, introduce yourself to new customers, give a little background about your store, explain a process or some unique history about your product... and then (of course) point readers to where they can buy buy buy!


4. Squidoo is a Wowsers Traffic Driver. Hundreds of eBay sellers have seen increased traffic to their eBay Stores and websites. If you use the eBay building block on a lens, you can list your items once and as they change on eBay they will automatically change on your Squidoo page. Many eBay sellers get a nice percentage of their store traffic from their Squidoo lens.


5. Squidoo Pays You! You earn a royalty from every sale off of your lens. For you or charity. Just for selling stuff you were going to anyway. Nice.

I thought it would be nice to give you a head start, creating your very own eBay Stores Lens, with an example of some of the "best practices" for creating a lens: How To Create An eBay Stores Lens That Sells!. Once you've had a chance to review the lens and see how easy it is, then just click on the Make Your Own link on the header and get started creating your own lens.