Your "About Me" Page

by The Online Auction Academy

Published on this site: March 11th, 2004

Most of the major auction sites such as eBay, Yahoo!, etc. have an "About Me" or similar page that can be created to tell the viewer who the seller is. This is possibly the only thing more important than having your own website when you are selling through auctions online. This page can make or break some sales and will promote return customers as well.

Your page should stress three things: your background information, the benefits you provide to potential buyers, and a reason for those buyers to return to your auctions in the future. Keep in mind your potential customer's perspective at all times. Write the information on your About Me page with the objective to sell them on yourself and your auctions. Write in the first person to create personality, but don't get too personal. Don't use too-personal things like pictures of your dog and avoid overly grandiose things like extra exclamation points (!!!).

Let's use an example. Let's say we are in the business of selling classic records and other musical recordings. A potential buyer has come to our About Me page through an auction in which we are selling a vintage Bob Dylan vinyl album. He reads the following:

"I have been buying, selling, and collecting rare musical recordings since 1982."

What reason has the buyer to care about your expertise? He can go somewhere else and find someone who's been in business for 50 years if he wants to. If this read:

"I have been buying, selling, and collecting rare musical recording since 1982 - and I recognize authenticity when I see it. I pride myself in dealing only in the highest-quality items and value these items fairly and conservatively."

Now the buyer knows that not only have we been in the business for 20 years, but we are also connoisseurs of music and that we will not overcharge them for what they are receiving. To further the person's trust, we may consider continuing with more information about our business.

Above all, your About Me page should stress to the customer (without going overboard or being too cheesy) that you are trustworthy and that they will benefit from your auctions in some way. After all, no matter the person, buyers are egocentric and want to know what is in it for them.

Further, your About Me page should include the following:
Link to your website (if you have one - and you should) Auction links (most services include this automatically with the About Me page) An email link or "opt-in" link to join your email list (an article on this topic will appear next week) Your real name (first and/or last)

These things will promote you as a business and a person - which will further identify you to your customers. Your website link should be fairly prominent as this is a great way to gather returning customers. The email link will be discussed in an article next week and will become an important part of your sales strategy.

Remember that your About Me page's purpose should be to convey to the potential customer that you are genuine, trustworthy, and that they will benefit from your auctions/products.

The Online Auction Academy is the premier training school for learning to sell at online auction and create a profitable business online. Sign up for a free online seminar featuring the AuctionMan Craig Meyer: http://www.awwstore.com/oaa/.