In this article, Adam Ginsberg shows you how to use Twitter to increase your eBay sales.

Today, more than ever, selling on eBay is competitive. One key to your success will be the number of visitors you get to your listings.  In theory, the more visitors to your listings, the more items you’ll sell.

Most eBay sellers simply put items for sale and then wait for people on eBay to find these listings.  It used to be that all items for sale would end up on the front page of eBay as the default search results on eBay was based on time ending soonest.  This changed when eBay changed its default search results to be based on their “best match” algorythm.

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, which are free to use, can be a valuable source of additional traffic to your listings - resulting in more viewers, more bids and ultimately more sales.

Twitter, the fastest growing social networking site on the internet, is a site that can help you get more people to your auctions resulting in an increase in your income. Of course, whether or not that person bids is a different story…but the first step in selling on eBay is to get visitors to your listings.

What exactly is Twitter anyway?

Twitter has become a cultural phenomenon. Everyone is using it, from internet marketing to celebrities.  Twitter.com is a social networking site that allows users to post short, 140-character max, messages almost like like mini-blog posts. Users sign up for a free account and can begin posting immediately.

Unlike Facebook.com, and other such sites, people can become your Twitter “Follower” when they see something from you that piques their interest. You can also follow other people when they post something that interests you. You don’t need prior knowledge of the person or some sort of prior relationship.

How to effectively use Twitter to promote your eBay listings.

First, you should post a tweet (twitter blurb) about once a week to a listing or your eBay store.  Don’t comment more than that or people will either un-follow you or stop reading your posts.

Second, use Tweetburner.com to shorten long url links in teach Twitter post. This is very important very important when you only have 140 characters per Twitter post - and eBay links can be very long.  As well, you can track traffic to each post. Tweetburner calls each shortened url a “twurl.” I’ve made more than 200 twurls and have generated more than 16,000 hits bo my websites, etc.  which is an average of almost 80 visitors per Twitter post. The more followers you have on Twitter the better this ratio will become - as of the writing of this article I have more than 16,000 followers on Twitter.

If you use Twitter effectively you can easily drive traffic to your eBay listings - or any other site you want to promote.  I reached 16,000 followers in less than 5 months.  Oprah reach 1,000,000 followers in 30 days.

In Summary, here are 4 steps to use Twitter to increase your sales on eBay.

Step 1: Twitter is a social networking site where you post comments about what you are doing throughout your day - either in your business life, personal life or both.  You can register for a free account here: Twitter.com . It’s fast and it’s easy to register. Tip:  Create your twitter account using the same name as your userID on eBay. This will help people recognize your auctions and your store.

Step 2: Once you’ve registered your account on Twitter.com, it’s now time to follow Tweeters (other Twitter members) to follow. You want to build a variety of followers and get lots of different people viewing your auctions. Use this link to find other tweeters: http://search.twitter.com. Here you can type in a word or phrase and find people who are talking about that phrase. You can open their profile and use the Follow button on the left top side of the screen. Remember the more people you follow the more people who will follow you.

Step 3: Now that you have followers it’s time to send tweets (twitter messages). You should only sent 1 post to an auction/eBay store for every 15-20 non-promotional related tweets. Once you’ve updated your account with 10 to 15 tweets, then post your first update promoting an item for sale on eBay. Make sure to use Tweetburner.com to shorten the link to the eBay listing (or any url you might want to promote). Remember, you only have 140 characters so use your words wisely.

Step 4: Remember, one key element to making money on eBay is to get people to your auctions.  This will result in higher bids and more sales.

Use Twitter and other social networking sites to promote your eBay listings for an increase in online sales results.

Follow Adam Ginsberg on Twitter here: Adam Ginsberg Twitter

In October 2001 I created my first eBay listings.  I paid a lot of money to a graphics designer who created a listing template unlike anything that has ever been used on eBay. Those listings were the catalyst for what would become Template Optimizer - the #1 source for eBay template software.

I’ve read lots of reviews online for Template Optimizer - most have been favorable and some comments not so positive. This will be true when anything is reviewed on the internet.  But, the simple fact is this: Template Optimizer 8.1, which was just released in Beta, is the most powerful eBay Template Software every developed and released to the public. This isn’t a review of Template Opitmizer 8.1, and doesn’t provide a list of all the new features and benefits. I will say that this version of Template Optimizer has been build from the ground up. It’s not an “update” or “fix” or “add-on” to version 7.1 - but a completely new, revolutionary way of creating listings for eBay.

Since version 8.1 is still in BETA, you can check out Template Optimizer in it’s current form.  Then, once you’re in your account simply click on the “Try Template Optimizer 8.1″ link.  You can test and use the entire system for 30 days for $1. Check it out for yourself and see what others are saying is the “Biggest breakthrough ever” for creating powerful eBay listings.

Ok, now the purpose of this article.  What the heck are eBay auction templates in the first place anyway?

In simplest terms, an auction template is a specialized ad layout that an online auction seller uses to showcase any item they are selling. Some sellers will use the same layout (as their own customized template) for all their listings while others will use a variety of template backgrounds and layouts for a variety of items for sale.

An auction template consists of HTML code written to create the layout of the auction ad, customization, and image hostings.  The template will also consist of unique graphics.  A professional listing template will also provide you with ability to insert blocks of text that don’t change from auction to auction (such as general payment terms, etc.).

Are auction templates a necessity to sell in an auction format?
That depends on who you ask. Malcom Gladwell, in his NY Times Bestseller “Blink” says that you only have 7 seconds to make a first impression.  So, while auction templates aren’t really necessary, using a profession auction template will help you to distninguish yourself from your competition.

There are many reasons that sellers make the decision to work with an auction template. Here are just a few:

• To promote a professional presence to their prospective bidders.
• To reduce the necessity of retyping information that does not change from auction to auction.
• To reduce image hosting costs.

Let’s take a look at each of these in greater detail.

Use an auction template to promote a professional presence.
Let’s face it. A buyer’s first impression of an online auction seller is the description of the item being auctioned. We don’t click into an auction and immediately look at a seller’s feedback. We first look at the item’s pictures and read the details that are of interest to us. If a buyer sees a block of plain text, they immediately wonder if this is a new seller… or maybe someone that’s just quickly trying to rid themselves of a particular item. Plain text does not say “Hello. I am a seasoned seller that is going to deliver a top-quality product in a timely fashion.”

Use an auction template to reduce repetitive typing.
Successful auction sellers have a set of selling policies that they have created - and that they use on all their listings.  This would include “Shipping Policies”, “Payment Policies”, Terms, etc. When using eBay template software you’ll want to look for a system that stores this information for you and then gives you the ability to insert it into each listing you create.  Your time is important to you - and having software that quickly speeds up the process of creating listings.

Use an auction template to reduce image hosting costs.
On eBay, you pay for each picture you insert in your listing (after the first one, which is free). The cost of these pictures will vary depending on which eBay site you list on. As well, you are limited to only 12 pictures (max) per listing.  When you use eBay template software to create professional eBay templates you have the ability to feature your pictures, upload unlimited pictures per listing and NEVER pay eBay picture hosting fees. This feature alone can save the average eBay seller thousands of dollars in picture hosting fees ever year!

Now you should know what an Auction Template is. It’s time to decide which software you’re going to use to enable you to get the best value, the simplest to use, and most importantly the software that is going to help increase what you sell and for how much you sell it for.

Try out Template Optimizer today for only $1 for 30 days. Then, while you’re in your account, be sure to check out the all new, revolutionary Template Optimizer 8.1 BETA.

Okay I admit it, I’m an American Idol fan - and I’ve been a fan since the first season. I look forward to the auditions each year and love the top 12, which is really when the season begins.

This year, while everyone has said this is the most talented American Idol group ever I’ve had to disagree to a point.  I do think, if Adam Lambert was not on the show, this commentary might be true. However, this season Adam Lambert has been the runaway favorite.

After 8 seasons I’ve gotten good at predicting the top five finalists, as many long time Idol observers have…but this year Adam Lambert being in the final was an obvious choice. Each week there was the “top group” and then there was Adam - really in a league of his own.

Some people love Adam Lambert and some people hate him - that’s true of anyone who achieves any level of success.  However, in my humble opinion, Adam Lambert is the clear choice to win season 8 of American Idol and has been since the start of this season.

Let’s talk about the show tonight.

Adam begins with a great performance of “Mad World” - showing a different side than his theatrical rock performances that everyone has been accustomed to hearing him sing.  Kris also had an excellent first song of the night on the piano singing “Ain’t No Sunshine,” - but he sounds so generic with his music.

Tonight each contestant sings 3 times each: their favorite performance from the season, a song show creator Simon Fuller chooses and the winner’s single co-written by Kara.  Let’s hope she’s a better song writer than she has been a judge.  What happened to the song writing contest from previous seasons?

Both Adam and Kris had a great start to the night.  Two Men. One title.  Who will be the next “American Idol”?

Round 1: With all due to Simon’s comment that Kris won the first round, I’m going to suggest that the first round was a tie.

For his second song, chosen by Simon Fuller, Adam Lambert sings the Sam Cooke classic “A Change is Gonna Come.

Twitter is everywhere - and it seems like everyone is using it.  With all the hype and celebrity endorsements, lots of people are asking “What is Twitter”. I had 3 people email me today and say “Adam Ginsberg please Explain What Twitter is“.

There are plenty of sites out there that will tell you how to use twitter but if you want to learn what twitter is in plain english, Adam Ginsberg has posted a video which you should watch right away.

Here are some great Twitter Tips - what you should do and not do when using the fastest growing social networking website on the internet:

DO self censor.  Unless your status updates are protected, anyone can see what you are Tweeting.  Bear in mind the story of the girl who managed to Tweet her way out of a new job because a hiring manager read her thoughts on the position she had interviewed for.

DON’T use Twitter as a chat client. No one wants to see their screen full of irrelevant Tweets from a conversation they’re forced to eavesdrop on.

DO remember to retweet other people.  This can be a good way to build up a following of like minded people.

DON’T endlessly self promote yourself.  Okay, we get it - you have a blog.  Twitter is by no means one way traffic - interact!

DO follow people back, but….

DON’T be offended if users don’t always follow you back.  Users with tens of thousands of followers are unlikely to see your Tweet through the hundreds of other tweets anyway.

DO be funny, informative and creative with your tweets.

DON’T use the auto-DM feature.  This is the Twitter equivalent of a spam and a faceless “hi – thanks for following” is impersonal and can be off-putting.

DO use it to get help.Once you have built up a reasonable following you’ll find it easy to find answers to your questions quickly.

DON’T tweet if your message is likely to go over the 140 character limitation.Spreading messages over the course of several tweets is just going to confuse and irritate your followers.

DO quote famous people in 140 characters or less.

DON’T auto-DM with an affiliate link on how to get followers on Twitter - unless you want everyone to “un-follow” you immediately.

Whatever you DO or DON’T DO, make sure you are using Twitter.  And, make sure you Follow Adam Ginsberg on Twitter - he’ll follow you right back!

Friday night I went to see the movie Angeles & Demons. To be fair to everyone who as read the book - I did not. I’m also one of the few people on the planet who did not read the Da Vinci Code - nor did I see the Da Vinci Code movie.

I like Tom Hanks and I like Ron Howard - and I lover suspense thrillers, so it was based on this that I decided to see the movie.

I found the movie entertaining - and I think as long as the movie is viewed as a religious thriller and not a religious film - it’s enjoyable.

Angels & Demons has a number of things going for it: Tom Hanks, although in a role a found not believable, had great chemistry with Ayelet Zurer.  I also found there was some good humor. It was just difficult to see Tom Hanks (as Professor Robert Langdon) as a “Jason Bourne meets Inspector Columbo” character.

The idea of the Catholic Church being under attack by the long underground Illuminati allows for the same kind of mix of fact and fiction.  Placing this attack during the period immediately following the death of the pope is good as it catches the church at its most vulnerable.

Although the plot twists and turns, asking you “who dun it”, I made my prediction about 15 minutes into the movie.  I hate when I’m right, so early in a good film - it ends up leaving me disappointed with the ending.

It’s obvious, early on, that the attack will come from someone inside the Vatican - which is supposedly designed to give us an intriguing array of possible infiltrators. Is it the Pope’s Camerlengo, Father Patrick McKenna, a youthful priest with a curious tie to the late pontiff; could it be Commander Richter, head of the Swiss Guard, who controls the security for the Pope; might it be Cardinal Strauss, an older Cardinal with great influence – but not one of the four most likely candidates to replace the late pontiff?

Because the threat includes the kidnapping of the four most likely candidates – and the destruction of Vatican City via the releasing of anti-matter, Langdon is joined in his assignment to find the missing cardinals and prevent the explosions by physicist Vittoria Vetra.

I did find it odd that her makeup and hair remained perfect throughout the entire movie…and her form fitting, tailored business suit never showed a wrinkle.

Ron Howard is a brilliant director and, although this movie will not be considered a cinematography masterpiece, it was very well done.

I enjoyed the movie, although I found it was a bit too long. Do I think it’s worth seeing? Yes - however I’d be more apt to recommend this movie as a DVD rental more than I would a trip to the movie theater.

***UPDATE: Angels & Demons was the number #1 film in America it’s first week of release with ticket sales in excess of $48 million.  The key will be the sales in week #2. Will they sustain themselves or will we see a 50%+ drop off? I think we’ll see the latter.

Final Grade: B

Movie Review courtesy of AdamGinsbergBlog.com