Cloud Conversion on eBay Radio - How to Effectively Manage Your Customers and Increase Sales

Listen on eBay Radio as Cloud Conversion gives detail on their CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solution for eBay sellers and ecommerce merchants.

To really gain an advantage and increase customer satisfaction (DSRs and Feedback) eBay sellers should consider investing in a CRM tool.

eCommSource by Cloud Conversion, is a full bodied CRM solution integrating eBay My Messages and Ask Seller a Question direct into the Salesforce platform for easy handling of messages and creating reports on top buyers, purchasing behavior and more.

Benefits of eCommSource:

• Manage buyers and all communication in one place
• Improve customer service with faster response time
• Increase customer retention
• Send coupons and incentives to specific buyer segments
• Analyze buyer activity by product to help forecast sales, hot products and sourcing
• and more...

Learn more about eCommSource by Cloud Conversion.

Try a Free 30-Day Trial to eCommSource

Cloud Conversion Provides a Complete CRM Solution for eBay Sellers as New eBay Certified Provider

New eBay Certified Provider, Cloud Conversion


We are delighted to offer eBay sellers a robust CRM solution for customer service and management with the addition of Cloud Conversion as a new eBay Certified Solutions Partner.


eCommSource by Cloud Conversion is a complete CRM (Customer Relationship Management) solution for eBay built upon salesforce.com’s trusted Force.com platform. With eCommSource, top eBay sellers can manage all customer service and support from a single view, gain valuable insight about their top buyers and implement effective marketing strategies to increase sales with repeat purchases.

“eCommSource is a solution for any online retailer who is serious about providing excellent customer service and support. It is appropriate and cost effective for any size company. eCommSource really opens the door for eBay sellers who are serious about customer service to leverage customer relationship management (CRM).” – Jon Jessup, CEO of Cloud Conversion

Features:

• Consolidate all eBay buyer emails from multiple eBay accounts
• Streamline and simplify your customer support process
• Process and answer buyer emails from eBay and other online channels
• Track buyer questions and concerns for resolution
• Route inquiries to the right employee or department (i.e. returns to the shipping dept)
• Buyer questions specific to an eBay auction include Auction Ending Time for response prioritization
• Manage and track customer returns and RMAs (return merchandise authorizations)
• Access other CRM applications from the AppExchange®

Benefits:

• Improve customer service with faster response time
• Boost eBay feedback, DSRs and sales
• Increase customer retention
• Analyze buyer activity by product to help forecast sales, hot products and sourcing
• And more…

Try a Free 30-Day Trial to eCommSource

Visit http://certifiedprovider.ebay.com/ to learn more about eBay Certified Providers and the services and solutions they offer to help an eBay seller grow their business.

Three Lessons to Learn When eBay Sellers Look Back on 2009

Blog post provided by Infopia

The economic slump of 2008-09 has taught internet retailers valuable lessons to take into 2010.
When resources became slim, business owners learned how to make much more out of much less.

This all reminds me of a story: A wise high school teacher once told her class about her days of a poor new college graduate starting out her new life on her own. She beamed as she told her students stories of painting cinder blocks to use as side tables, pleating sheets for drapes in her new apartment and creating over 20 recipes to make with ramen noodles. She told her students that the creativity and ingenuity she gained with the experience was invaluable. A student raised his hand to ask, “Would you want to go back and live that way again?” She replied, “No way! But, I’d never want to take that past experience back.”

Many internet retailers may one day feel the same way about 2009 and the economic slow down that preceded. Here are a few lessons to take with you into 2010.

1. Low Shipping Fees are Imperative to Staying Competitive
The recent economy has changed the way that online shoppers buy. Even as the economy recovers, online shopping will still trend this way. Online retailers have become leaders in the battle against traditional brick and mortar stores. One of the factors that contributes to the success is the ability for shoppers to compare rates. Shipping cost has become a large factor in this comparison. Many online retailers have implemented lower cost shipping methods to stay competitive.

2. Cost Control
What business expenses can be cut? What costs can be negotiated? Retail rent space, packaging materials, contractor fees, etc. can all be negotiated. Many internet retailers had to negotiate costs out of necessity. If you don’t ask, you don’t know if you are getting the best cost. Now that retailers have been forced to make these types of requests, they are able to be sure that they are getting the best price in the future.

3. Customer service is priceless
We have all heard the age old saying, ” the customer is key.” Many internet retailers have learned how to retain their customers with email marketing and loyalty programs. Converting new customers has been more difficult in the recession. Competition has driven many retailers to use excellent prices and promotions for hot items. Benefit descriptions and promotional banners also helped internet retailers in 2009 to beat their competitors.

Founded in 1999, Infopia provides (Software as a Service) eCommerce solutions—helping eBay sellers grow their business efficiently and effectively.

Seller Machine Wins "DSR Rockstar" eBay Star Developer Award - Video Interview

Seller Machine CRM, an eBay Certified Provider, was awarded the eBay Star Developer Award for "DSR Rockstar" at eBay's 2009 Developers Conference in San Jose, CA.

The eBay Star Developer Awards are awarded each year to the eBay developers recognized for building applications on the eBay API platform and for their achievements in enabling sellers to improve customer service, create great buying experiences and keep pace with eBay's dynamic marketplace. BengalOne was recognized by eBay for their Customer Relationship Management solution known as Seller Machine CRM.

Seller Machine CRM, developed by BengalOne, is a customer relationship management (CRM) tool streamlining and increasing communication with your eBay buyers. Seller Machine also helps sellers with shipment tracking and communication to the buyer on the status of the shipment and satisfaction with their item.

Benefits of Seller Machine CRM:

• Build strong relationships with buyers, resulting in higher DSR scores
• Promotes a proactive approach to customer service reducing negative feedback
• Creates and manages eBay customer relationships encouraging repeat sales
• Assists in shipping communication
• Quickly see number of days since Shipped and since Delivered
• Watch for those packages that are taking longer than usual to deliver and contact the buyer before they get upset and contact you

"It's not just the one DSR -- if you fix that one {customer communication} DSR, then all the other ones just follow. Once you've built a relationship with that buyer, then they go out of their way to leave 5 stars every time." - E.J. Bantz, Founder and Creator of Seller Machine CRM by BengalOne

Congratulations to Seller Machine for this great win! Seller Machine is a DSR Rockstar as the tool helps eBay sellers increase their DSRs, create strong relationships with their buyers and increase sales with repeat purchases from happy buyers.

Save Time Answering eBay Buyer Emails with Hosted Support - eBay Certified Provider Spotlight

eBay sellers may find they are spending a large amount of their time answering buyer questions instead of focusing more on listing and strategy. To help sellers reduce the size of their inbox and save time answering redundant questions, Hosted Support (an eBay Certified Solutions Provider) has created a solution that can help, ezSupport for eBay.

ezSupport for eBay is a customer relationship and email management solution automatically responding to buyer emails through a knowledge base the seller has created. Also, sellers can use Hosted Support’s Searchable (Advanced) FAQs in their eBay listings allowing buyers to find their answer and never needing to email the seller.

For example, if a buyer emails or types into the Advanced FAQs, “What happens if the battery doesn't fit my cell phone?”, ezSupport for eBay will instantly email or display that specific seller's answer, such as, “Cell phone batteries may be returned within 14 days of receipt.”

ezSupport not only saves eBay sellers time but also increases the chances the buyer will bid or purchase an item by giving an immediate answer or response. If a buyer has to wait to hear back from an eBay seller, the chances of them bidding or purchasing greatly decreases.

eBay sellers report up to 80% of buyer questions can be handled by automated emails and FAQs.

Consider the customer and email management solution known as ezSupport by Hosted Support for sellers needing to reduce customer contacts and save money and time on customer support.

Key features of ezSupport for eBay:

• Answer 80% of customer email – automatically
• Create an extensive knowledge base
• Auto respond to buyer email from “Ask Seller a Question” link on eBay
• Customizable and Searchable FAQs knowledge base gives buyers immediate answers
• Add, Edit and Delete FAQs at anytime
• Natural Language Search
• Retrieve and archive all eBay messages indefinitely
• Maintain buyer contact records
• POP email importing
• Support multiple logins
• Share knowledge base across multiple ezSupport accounts – Great for eBay sellers with multiple eBay IDs
• Improves feedback and DSR scores
• Responds to buyers who hide their email address
• Adds 24x7 customer support to eBay listings
• Easy 15 minute setup
• Supports Windows and Macintosh
• FREE 30-day trial

ezSupport for eBay with Advanced FAQs can be used FREE for the first 30 days. After the FREE 30-day trial it is priced at $19.95 per month, available on a month-to-month subscription basis.

eBay Sellers that are subscribed to Selling Manager (free) or Selling Manager Pro, can add ezSupport for eBay to their My eBay account with the new Selling Manager Applications. Same functionality and benefits, right in your eBay account.

HostedSupport is a leading provider of affordable customer support automation for web businesses and eBay sellers. Its easy-to-use system can be set up in 15 minutes and eliminates many of the customer support “pains” involved in answering and tracking customer questions, managing the returns process, and resolving customer tickets/cases. Businesses using HostedSupport's products increase their revenues an average of 25% and reduce their manual email workload by 80% or more.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Solutions Help eBay Sellers Increase Sales

Customer Relationship Management

To really gain an advantage and increase customer satisfaction (DSRs and Feedback) eBay sellers should consider investing in a Customer Relationship Management solution or CRM.

A CRM solution will allow sellers to keep records of their buyers in order to better understand the buyers search and purchasing behavior. A better understanding of buyer behavior gives sellers the opportunity to create and implement effective targeted marketing strategies and increase sales with repeat purchases.

A CRM solution will also help reduce the amount of emails and questions eBay sellers receive or automate the email replies.

Benefits of CRM:

• Maintain buyer/customer contact records
• Identify customer segments (location, purchase history, returns, customer support issues
• Improve customer retention
• Know your top buyers for each product and group
• Improve customer service
• Create marketing campaigns
• Send coupons and incentives to specific buyer segments
• Track and report on effectiveness of marketing campaigns
• Analyze and create reports on customer trends in correlation with marketing and product

eBay does not provide a CRM solution for eBay sellers. eBay sellers interested in increasing their buyer satisfaction, retention and sales should consider a CRM solution from an eBay Certified Provider.

Hosted Support
Seller Machine
ShipWorks
MyStoreCredit

eBay Workshop Sept 1st - "Save Time Answering Buyer Questions with Fast and Easy Advanced FAQs and Automated Email Responses”

Workshop: New Selling Manager Applications – Save Time Answering Buyer Questions with Fast and Easy Advanced FAQs and Automated Email Responses

Host: Hosted Support
Date: September 1st
Time: 11AM - Noon PST
Location: eBay Workshop Board

Description: Don’t lose a sale due to slow responses to buyer questions. ezSupport for eBay, by Hosted Support, lets sellers create a knowledge base to be used either as a FAQ (buyers can search for and find their own answers) or if they email sellers directly, ezSupport for eBay will automatically respond to the buyer email based on information the seller has already supplied.

Now you can add ezSupport for eBay quickly and easily to your eBay account with the release of new selling applications for Selling Manager Applications.

Hosted Support is an eBay Certified Solution Provider and one of a handful third party providers included in the new Selling Manager Applications feature.After the material is presented we'll open the board for discussion and questions.

Visit http://certifiedprovider.ebay.com/ to learn more about eBay Certified Providers and the services and solutions they offer to help eBay sellers.

Infopia Helps eBay Sellers and Online Retailers Efficiently Manage Return Merchandise

Infopia announced new functionality in their comprehensive solution for ecommerce retailers and eBay sellers, Return Merchandise Authorization.

Infopia, an eBay Certified Solution Provider, centralizes and automates an eBay seller’s business through a single all-in-one solution. Now, sellers can automate more of their business by reducing the amount of time and money they spend handling returns or RMAs.

The new functionality allows customers to create Return Merchandise Authorizations or RMAs inside the Infopia Transact system. This allows an eBay seller or their customer service representatives to:

• Search for and view the orders to be returned
• Select items from the orders to be returned
• Adjust recommended refunds on the RMA by changing prices, discounts and shipping charges
• Apply restocking fees
• Reject returns, with notes on the original order
• Submit the RMA order to the Infopia Transact system, where it is tied to the original order for tracking
• Add notes to both the original and the RMA order, to ensure no mix ups
• Edit the RMA order
• Create replacement orders

The new RMA functionalities will allow for a more thorough and customer friendly return process for Infopia clients.

eBay sellers interested in using a full service, multi-channel solution for their online and retail business should contact Infopia directly and discuss their needs to decide if Infopia offers the right tool for them.

Founded in 1999, Infopia provides (Software as a Service) eCommerce solutions—helping eBay sellers grow their business efficiently and effectively.

eBay Workshop August 13th - "Save Time & Money Shipping and Increase Repeat Purchases"

Workshop: Save Time & Money Shipping and Increase Repeat Purchases

Host: ShipWorks
Date: Thursday, August 13th
Time: 11AM PST
Location: eBay Workshop Board

Description: In this workshop, we'll look at how ShipWorks helps you save time shipping with their quick, automated printing of address labels, posting of tracking info in My eBay and shipping tracking notification emails sent to your buyers for multiple carriers. Plus, ShipWorks will show you how they can help you manage, organize and report on customer interactions and their purchase volume with you. You'll be able to understand who YOUR top buyers are and market more effectively to those buyers in order to increase repeat purchases.

Visit http://certifiedprovider.ebay.com/ to learn more about eBay Certified Providers and the services and solutions they offer to help eBay sellers.

eBay Certified Providers Can Help Sellers with Recent eBay Announced Changes

eBay recently announced new features and policies designed to help sellers be more efficient and reward them for providing great service to eBay buyers. We want to make sure eBay sellers are aware of how Certified Providers can help them incorporate the new eBay changes and thereby increase their sales while saving time handling their eBay business.

Helping Sellers Avoid Low DSRs

• Tools to make giving great service quick and easy
• Simple bulk shipping management for multiple carriers
• Post shipping tracking #s automatically in My eBay
  

Opportunities for Increased Visibility in Enhanced Search

• Optimizing sales for the new Sales Per Impression
• Tools supporting Product Details

Tools for Efficiency and Profitable Selling on eBay

• Easy listing revisions – Edit live listings to comply with new policies
• Selling Manager Applications from Certified Providers

The eBay Certified Provider Program recognizes third party companies excelling at providing the tools or services an eBay seller needs to grow their business and increase efficiency.

Automate Shipping Invoice, Label, Postage Printing and Manage Customer Emails With ShipWorks

The ShipWorks software provides eBay sellers with a solution to streamline their shipping process. ShipWorks makes it easy to ship more in less time by eliminating manual data entry through integration and direct download of eBay shipping orders from PayPal. ShipWorks will keep track of a seller’s notes, shipments, tracking numbers and emails related to each order. Orders are easily searchable and easily organized using ShipWorks filters.

eBay Sellers can set up preferences within ShipWorks to perform common tasks automatically. Such as setting a preference to automatically print invoices, send shipment notification emails, and updating the online status of orders every hour. ShipWorks makes it easy to keep customers up-to-date with shipping and status notifications, automatically.

In addition to managing your shipping flow, ShipWorks is able to maintain a comprehensive list of your customers based on all orders in the system. This allows you to manage customer relationships. You’ll know which customers have generated the most orders, purchase amounts, where customers are located, etc… Customers are easily searchable organized using ShipWorks filters. Utilize ShipWorks reporting to find and track what your customers are buying and how much of it. Compare your actual shipping costs to the shipping costs you are charging. ShipWorks makes it easy to report on any aspect of your business.

Other Benefits of ShipWorks:

• Support multiple carriers
• Endicia and Stamps.com integration for USPS postage printing
• Bulk package tracking
• Bulk label printing
• Bulk invoice printing
• Leave eBay feedback in bulk with customized presets
• Automatically update your "My eBay" status
• Email management
• Supports multiple user accounts
• Package shipment auditing - claim entitled shipping refunds

If you are not finding all the support and automation you need to handle shipping with eBay and PayPal, then try out ShipWorks. ShipWorks is a complete shipping tool.

ShipWorks offers a FREE 30-Day Trial for all eBay sellers!

Infopia and Salesforce - A Powerful Customer Relationship Management Tool

Listen on eBay Radio as Infopia discusses their Salesforce addition for eBay sellers. With Infopia and Salesforce, eBay sellers can fully manage their customer relationships through

• Ability to manage all communications with eBay buyers
• Have a 360° view of eBay customer activity for faster customer resolutions and strategic decisions
• Analyze and segment eBay customers, as well as order information for targeted email campaigns and buyer loyalty programs
• And more...

Download a Solution Overview