Products are definitely the overwhelming majority of what is sold on the auction sites. But there are a few services that are auctioned as well. So if your business involves some sort of service, an auction is a very feasible option to consider. Use the auctions to promote features of your services...
1) Save time -- Time is the most precious commodity in our society. Many busy people will pay exorbitant amounts of money for services. Cleaning services can easily be auctioned. Notice the Web site link?... 2) Supply specialized service -- Sometimes a particular service is sought-after because it is so specialized that the customer doesn’t have the skills required to do it. In the listing below, you will find a very “specialized” example...
3) Provide a service with modern technology -- Here is an interesting service. For $29.99, this service-provider will provide you with a… “new beauty system that will help you select a modern
hair-style that revitalizes your appearance and transforms you into a more attractive woman!”
The buyer sends her picture and receives 75 shots of herself with all kinds of different hair styles. To make the offer more attractive he adds two bonuses -an additional “free” 25 pictures for the same price and free shipping.
4) Teaching services -- One seller offers the opportunity to learn several different professions and become certified in them. He also offers course in such fields as massage therapy, pressure point therapy, medical billing, fitness and weight training, Web design and numerous computer functions. All of his listings link to the Southeastern Institute of Computer Technology and Career Training Web site.
5) Auction an entire team -- Here is an unusual service example... I have never seen the services of an entire management team being auctioned before but why not? Talk about a turn-key operation!
6) Provide keepsakes -- Keepsakes are always popular and this auctioneer takes advantage of that interest..."You are bidding on a 16 x 20 Photographic Reproduction printed onArtist-Quality Canvas. The photo will be scanned on a high definition scanner,lightly retouched if necessary, and printed on Artist-Grade High Quality Canvas and a protective coating applied. This makes a BEAUTIFUL GIFT or ACCESSORY FOR THE HOME."
7) Sell services to other auction sellers -- There are famous marketing stories about the 1848 gold rush in California. The majority of the people who made the money weren’t those out digging with a pick and shovel but those who sold them the tools to do the job. You can sell these types of “shovels” to fellow auctioneers or sellers...
i) Provide necessary auction services. For example, other sellers would bid for your time to write their ads, research suggestions for domain names, create easy-to-use design templates for sites, create tools to track customers’ buying and Web-surfing habits, or create banner ads, etc.
ii) Provide services for people who want to sell goods but don’t want to personally participate in the auction process. You can provide marketing services at no risk to yourself and people will gladly give up a percentage of the profit.
I have a friend who sends merchandise to me. I sell it and we split the profits. I asked him why he didn’t sell it himself, and keep all of the money. He said he thought about it this way... 50% of the profit and no work or 100% and a lot of work, including having to learn the auction process. The former suits his needs the best. He is busy with other businesses and doesn’t want to take the time to learn.
iii) Provide very specialized services for people. For example, you can create an alliance with companies that ship large, bulky items. You then can manage the shipping needs of an auctioneer who doesn’t enjoy that part of the business. Or you can provide materials needed for shipping, like wrap or boxes.
8) Sell convenience -- Susan and Bill are making thousands of dollars a year auctioning freeware and shareware that they have put on a CD. Why is this considered a service, rather than a product? Simple. They aren’t selling the programs. They are selling the work they did in collecting it. After all, if it’s on the Internet, a customer could find all of it for herself without buying their CD.
9) Sell information to other companies - Our time in history is frequently called the “Information Age.” In fact, information is the most valuable commodity we have. There are lots of companies who will pay, and pay well for specialized information. Those companies and individuals who are skilled researchers and know how to gather and report information will always be in demand.
What kinds of information do your customers want and need? Here is just a small sampling...• Surveys
• Demographics
• Statistics of all sorts
• Polls
• Marketing consultation
• Media services
• Patent protection
• Feasibility studies
• Resumes
