[Lucky Eddy]

eBay is the big daddy of online shopping and even though there have been changes over the years, it still remains one of the most influential sites on the web. If you already own an e-commerce site or plan on starting one, you can't overlook the power of eBay. It is considered one of the biggest search engines in terms of online products and has a reach of millions across the world. Smart business owners have been integrating eBay with their own online store and doing it very successfully.

If you already have an eBay store, but have not made the move to create your own e-commerce site separate of eBay, you are missing out on huge growth opportunities. There are a couple of disadvantages of only having an eBay store. The biggest one is that your business is at the mercy of eBay. A slight change in their regulation or policy could have a big effect on your business. You are subject to both insertion and final value fees, and many sellers have been complaining about the constant increase in rates. Last but not least, eBay is a marketplace with a lot of competition. The type of buyer it attracts is usually very price conscious and is looking for a bargain. In order to stay competitive and turn that person into a paying customer, you need to keep the prices of your products low. Attracting customers with low prices is a good tactic, but not if your entire business depends on it.

If you already have an e-commerce store, but do not have a presence on eBay, you are missing out on a vast number of potential customers. It is very difficult to make your mark on the web when there is so much competition out there, especially if you are just starting out. You have to work on your store's SEO, marketing to a targeted audience and spend big bucks on advertising across the web. Being on eBay allows you to put your products in front of people who are already there to spend money. They are in a mindset of making a purchase and are simply browsing to find the products they want. If you are able to capture the sale, you can use it as an opportunity to build a relationship with this person so that he or she can purchase more from you in the future. The great thing about eBay is that they are very well established and buyers feel protected. If you establish yourself as a trusted seller, they will have no problem buying from you again through your own online store.