Joe's Weblog

A trip to Bukit Timah

2009-03-20T02:03:00.000-07:00

It had been quite a few months since i last blogged. I had been busy setting up my new company that specialise in courier services. The new company is called COUREX PTE LTD. It mean courier express.

Because of my work in Apple Bazaar, i had recently brought my self a SLR, Nikon D6. This camera is really great! As a result, i had also took up photography as an hobby and really love it.

For the past two weeks, me and my wife had been going to photoshooting venues such as Bukit Timah and Labrador park. Not only can i practise my photgraphy skill, more importantly, i can also spend time with my wife cynthia. Tomorrow i am going to Marina

Barrage in the morning with my wife. Some more photo taking. I had also attached particular picture which i had taken. Not a masterpeice (still learning how to take photos in manual mode). but i thought i like it. The morning sun was just shining on it. I thought it was really beautiful and took a few shot. The result was the warmth feeling that it gave me. Don't you think so?

Last night went to have a durian feast with my family. The durian is quite epensive. $12 for a kg and we ate a total of 5kg. Took a quick video of the durian stall as well.

Make Ebay selling easier with ebay education specialist!

2008-12-07T01:24:00.000-08:00

Make Ebay selling easier with ebay education specialist at Apple Bazaar!

We can understand how desperate you are to beat the economic blues that are driving the world crazy. We all are affected more or less and our revenues are on decline. Let’s leave the topic to be discussed by economists and financial experts. Let’s start contemplating on the ideas how to tide over the crisis and increase our profits. Yes, we can do that. If we are aware of the huge benefits the site Ebay presents to us, we definitely can face the blues with ease. Earn money online just like us!

How about contacting an ebay education specialist? Well, you are wise enough to understand that it is not child’s play to make things happen on ebay unless you are aware of the finer nuances of online marketing. This is the reason we want you to equip with necessary knowledge that can help you in good stride in long run. We were just like you when we started selling on ebay. And we made ourselves capable by undergoing strict ebay training from Ebay University. Now we want to share our knowledge and help numerous other people to succeed in their online marketing venture.

First of all, select the best ebay education available by doing online search. Also you can join us at AppleBazaar, where expert ebay education specialists can take care of every need of yours for making selling on ebay simpler.

What can ebay education specialists at AppleBazaar teach you and why is it special?

Same ebay course material as used in Ebay University with up-to-date ebay training
Hands-on-training to acquaint you with the tricks to make profitable selling on ebay possible
You will learn how to research and create attractive listings
How to attract buyers by enhancing description skills and addition of photographs
How to set profitable pricing?
Utilizing PayPal account for ease of online transaction
Monitoring sales
How to avoid blunders in online marketing at ebay?
How to master packing, shipping, and feedback policies?

In short, we at AppleBazaar equip you with knowledge that is necessary to build your brand at ebay and sell royally to convert ebay into a decent and regular income source. No wonder ebay gurus have come over the global economic crisis. They and many other ebay education specialists have mastered the art of online marketing at ebay that has made their life easier. Now it’s your turn!

Top tips for Search Engine Optimization of your website-

2008-12-07T01:23:00.000-08:00

When anybody starts online business, he obviously intends to perform best and take his business to global level. But among such a terrible competition in online market, it is not child’s play. One has to be extremely careful while designing his strategies while spreading his wings in online marketing. All said, there is no other word that emerges but “Search Engine Optimization”! This is the most trustworthy way to improve your online rankings on reputed search engines.

If Search Engine Optimization is the sure shot way to improve your online sales, how should one go about it? Let’s see-

Find the top keywords- spend quality time in searching for the highest searched keywords. Opt for tools like word tracker and you can easily find top keywords from your arena. Use these keywords while creating content on your business website.
Look for your competitors- The tools like SEO Elite help you realize your competitors and design strategies that will give you an extra edge. Knowledge of incoming links to competitors’ website can help you great deal.
Optimizing your website title- as far as possible, use the best keywords in the title and try not to make it too long.
Use of headings- utilizing the headings while designing your web pages is one of the great ways to improve your search engine rankings
As far as possible, try to use same keywords as anchor texts to the link from different pages of your site
Article writing- Sprinkle lots of keywords in systematic and decent manner throughout your articles. This is one of the underestimated ways to improve search engine rankings. More the article keyword rich, more will be generated the traffic to your site
Avoid using doorway pages. The search engines like to index human friendly pages with good content
Try to submit your site to search engines yourself without using submission software.
Utilizing newsletters- Offering keyword rich articles to ezine publishers is also one of the great ways for SEO. The archives of such sites remain active for years to come and therefore your links stay live with them
Using site map- If you have a big site, providing site map is better way to enable search engines to find every page within two clicks. For smaller sites, a navigation bar will do the trick.

Thus, the businessmen who try to incorporate all the above mentioned tips right from start of launching their business online, they almost always succeed in turning their dream of being successful global businessman into reality!

Apple Bazaar Online Marketing Basic Tasks List

2008-11-17T10:21:00.000-08:00

Just did a checklist on a summary of online marketing task list that i thought would be useful for my website. Hope you will find it useful as well.

Apple Bazaar Online Marketing Basic Tasks List
Search Engine Strategies
SN	ACTIONS	YES	NO	REMARKS
01	Write a Web Page title with keywords
02	Write a Description and Keyword META Tag.
03	Include Keywords in Header Tags H1, H2, H3
04	Make Sure Keywords Are in the First Paragraph of Your Body Text.
05	Use Keywords in Hyperlinks
06	Make the Navigation System Search Engine Friendly.
07	Develop Several Pages Focused on Particular Keywords.
08	Submit the Webpage URL to Search Engines.
09	Fine-tune with Search Engine Optimization.
Linking Strategies
10	Submit the Site to Key Directories
11	Submit the Site to Industry Sites and Specialized Directories.
12	Request Reciprocal Links
13	Write Articles for Others to Use in their Newsletters.
14	Begin a Business Blog.
E-Mail Strategies
15	Install a "Signature" in E-Mail Program
16	Publish an weekly E-Mail Newsletter
17	Send Offers to Visitors and Customers
18	Targeted e-mail lists.
Paid Advertising Strategies
19	Purchase Pay Per Click (PPC) ads
20	Begin an Affiliate Program.
21	List Products with Shopping Comparison Bots and Auction Sites.
Others
22	Promote the Site in Online Forums and Blogs
23	Ask Visitors to Bookmark the Site.
24	Exchange Ads with Complementary Businesses

Market Price Research Using Terapeak.

2008-11-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

In this blog, i will share about on how to find the best selling price on eBay. In my own experience, this is always the most critical stage in order for the item to be able to sell for a good profit. Any mistake or bad judgment in my own painful experience would result in loss.

I would normally use research tool like Terapeak. It is a good tool where it can help me to find the average selling price ASP in the eBay market. Not only can it help me to determine the ASP in the US market, it can also generate the ASP in the AUS, France, UK, Canada and Denmark. These information would allow you to compare the ASP in the different countries and help you to decide which item would fetch the highest price in what market. The ASP is generated using the data or 7 days or 30 days. In my opinion, 30 days offered a more reliable data.

This feature had proved to be useful to me and indeed had helped me to increase by sale over the last two months.

Using Youtube for your business

2008-11-15T07:35:00.000-08:00

YouTube is a video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. It display a wide variety including movie clips, TVclips and music video, as well as amateur content such as videblogging and short original videos. More than 100 million videos viewed each day, tens of millions of unique visitors. In November 2006, Google acquired the company for US1.65 billion.

We can use YouTube directly to promote our company products and services. Hence using Youtube to drive potential customers to our websites where they can purchase what you sell. To do this, you need to produce and upload videos that function as online infomercials, promoting your company’s products and services.

With the use of the video in Youtube, businesses can better showcase their products or services through their own made video. Also you can make videos on the discussions about specific markets that your company knows inside and out. We can talk about the know how, speicification of the products, projection of growth of a specific sector, local economy and other information that a client will find interesting and valuable. Post these videos and your target market will come to watch them. With these, this will give you a unique edge on your competitors.

The main key here is to create a video that people want and like to watch. Videos that is informative, useful, or entertaining. It can’t be a straight commercial, because people don’t like to watch commercials. It has to Provide value to the viewer.

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Writing a great description for eBay Listing

2008-11-15T07:19:00.000-08:00

Writing a thorough description can really pay off in the price you receive for your item.
Here are some points that must consider when writing a great description
Everything already in the title – some people skim-read titles and move on to descriptions so don’t worry about repeating yourself. Your title should contain the most important information about your product, so it bears repeating.
Why you are selling the item – obviously because you don’t want it any more. But if you have a valid reason for getting rid of something potential buyers feel happier bidding. Reasons for selling may include needing the space, having recently bought a newer model, needing the money, moving or because you have a new hobby.
The size of the item – include all the measurements you can, even if they are only approximate. Even with clothing that has a size on its tag, it is useful to add the exact dimensions of the garment.
Its condition – if something genuinely has never been used, list it as new. If it’s new and still in the original packaging include that detail. If you’ve worn it a couple of times, add that detail; don’t simply say “second hand” or “used”. Basically, give as much information as you can. Being accurate and honest is what is most important, so if something is scratched or ripped mention it – potential buyers may still want to buy it.
Its history – if it’s rare or collectable and there’s a story behind how you acquired it, include this. A good story will encourage people to trust that your goods are genuine.
Colour – you’re probably wondering why you need to include this if you have a photo. Objects look different colours in different lights, some computer screens may show a picture in a different hue, and if you spell out the colour your buyer won’t be able to come to you after they win the auction and tell you they no longer want it because it looked a different colour in the photo.
Good old-fashioned sales pitch – go crazy. Tell them how wonderful your item is, how fantastic the quality is, that you’ve never seen one before in such good condition, how much you have enjoyed owning it and how loath you’ll be to part with it. We’re all suckers for a good sales pitch!

Do not include:
Anything that is not true.
Keywords that are unrelated to your item in order to try to lure buyers searching for these words. (For example, do not say, "If you like Ralph Lauren, you'll like these towels.") This is known as "keyword spamming" and it is against eBay's listing policies.
Item descriptions copied word-for-word from other sources (i.e., e-commerce Web sites, other eBay listings, manufacturer Web sites, etc.).
Trademarked logos unless you have permission to use them.

How to write an effective title in eBay title?

2008-11-15T07:14:00.000-08:00

Right now, i am looking through some of the materials that i had prepared for my eBay students in my next month eBay class. From my experience in selling in eBay. It is really very important to have the correct title. Make full use of the 55 characters. Utilise all the keywords. As this is an area that cannot be neglect. I had prepared a writeup that show in details on what are the important details in writing a good eBay title. Hope you all will find it useful.

Important things to include in a title are:
Total there are 55 characters. Make full use of it.
The title must consist of it brand name, what it is, size, conditions, color, model and age.
Omit punctuation marks and asterisks.
Try not to include "wow" or "look". Buyers don't search for words like these
Once done, check the relevancy of the keyword. For example eyewear has a higher relevancy than eye wear, therefore in the title, eyewear should used instead of eye wear.
You can make use of Google Keyword Analysis to check to check the relevancy of the keywords. https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal
Do not have titles that:
Fail to state what the nature of the item is.
Contain Web site addresses, email addresses or phone numbers. The only exception to this rule is the sale of domain names.
Contain profane or obscene language.
Use the following words in an attempt to market or advertise their item: "prohibited", "banned", "illegal", "outlawed" or any other descriptive word which may bring into question the legality of an item by either governmental or eBay standards.
Include brand names other than the specific brand name used by the company that manufactured or produced the item you are listing. This is called keyword spamming and is not allowed on eBay. For additional information and examples, read eBay’s Keyword Spamming policy.
These types of listings are not permitted and will be ended. The insertion fee will be automatically credited for that listing.
Read more information on eBay's search manipulation policies including Keyword Spamming and Misleading Titles.

Other title don’ts
Don’t worry about creating a grammatically correct sentence.
Don’t use acronyms wildly.

An Eventful Day In Malaysia

2008-11-08T07:46:00.001-08:00

Right now, i am writing this blog in my hotel room in Malacca. Today was a eventful day and i thought i should blog what had happened today.

Left singapore custom at about 815am and proceed to Malaysia Johore Bahru for breakfast. The place we went to was a cluster of food stalls and we ordered quite a few dishes of food such as Braised Duck, Chee Cheong Fun, Wanton Mee Etc. My opinion of the food was not really that great.

A quick look at the place where we went for breakfast. Quite crowded with people in the morning. With the crowd presented, the food should be nice right? However in my opinion, it is not really that good. I ate the wanton mee... too salty and not tasty at all. Personally i gave 3 out of 10 for wanton mee there and a overall 6 out 0f 10 for the food there .

Took a quick video on this Chee Cheong Fun stall. It show the process of making this chinese delicacy. After i finished the video taking, as a appreciation of token to this guy, i ordered two peice of chee cheong fun from him... my verdict was 8 out of 10 for the food. Good job!

We spent about 30 minutes there taking out breakfast and was on our way to our car and something that happened shocked us. My father in law car window was smashed and broken into. As a result, my wife lugguage bag (Including IC as well) was being stolen. It shocked us as we would never expect this kind of stuff (always heard from other that JB is unsafe) would happened to us and in such a short time. As a result of this, we had to find a workshop to fixed my father in law car. We spent about the next 4 hours in JB waiting for the car to be repair. This really sickened me... people who do not want to earn a honest living disgust me. What is so difficult to earn a living through honest mean? Why must these people steal? As i am telling my wife, these people would eventually get caught up and be punished. These robbers are the same as those online scammers that i always meet in my online business. They like to go around stealing, cheating and scamming other people... i believe they will eventually meet their fateful day. As a result of this, the actual cost of this breakfast is very expensive and it cost more than RM550 (Replacement of window glass is RM550). Still in my view, it is quite fortunate that at least the worst did not happen... the robbers might have the whole car!

The car was repaired and we decided to proceed with the family trip. In this event, i would think that a lot of people would just give up the trip and proceed back home with a sunken mood. However in this case, i had seen something from my father in law. He could have chosen to be really angry, curse and swear and get back home or he could be calm, solve the problem and still proceed on as what had been planned (he choose the latter). This applied to business as well. If obstacles are faced, solved the problem calmly and proceed on with the eventual aim in mind. Be focus!

A tiring day but i guessed everything still turn out to be well and that is where is most important.

Just checked the sales for today as well. Average Sale today, make about SGD600 from eBay today. The really amazing thing about online selling is that i can go out the whole day enjoying but sales are still make on it own... really great!

All right... got to go to bed. Tomorrow would be another shopping day. Please bookmark my blog and i will continue to update on what is happening. Good nite!

Nice eBay Commercials

2008-11-06T23:14:00.000-08:00

Right now, i am preparing for a seminar that i am going to conduct in Malaysia KL next week. I thought of showing some videos on eBay and came across these few interesting eBay commercial video that i thought are entertaining and would like to share with everyone here. We had been selling on eBay full time and trust me, eBay is really a global marketplace where the whole world is at your fingertips. Enjoy the videos...

Nice video. I like the way that this video is shown. Nice music too.

A very funny series of video made. It tell you that whatever u do not like, you can sell on ebay.

I personally like this ads a lot. It give me a kind of back in time feeling. Really a great adverts.

eBay is really a global marketplace

A cool advert... i like the exchange taking place

A very powerful video indeed... on the belief all people are good.

This is a very funny taiwan ebay ads. eBay saved his life.

A cute video showing almost everything can be found in eBay

About Me

2008-11-06T22:12:00.000-08:00

Hi to everyone who is here to read my blog. Well... this is not the first time that i had blogged. I did blog on a few issues previously but did not do it too seriously. I had been wanted to blog on a consistent basic for a long time but had been put off due to many reasons (it is procastionation actually :p) but really i thought it is important to blog and share with my loved ones, friends and business associates on what my thoughts are... Whether it is right or wrong. I believe as a mankind, we must have the ability to reflect and express. Therefore blogging can really serve in this purpose. Since this is officially my own personal blog, i would like to just give a quick background on myself.

About me

I was in the Singapore Armed Forces in the last ten years as a regular Military Armour Officer. I was fortunate to be able to study in the University (NUS) with the sponsorship of the SAF Local Study Award. Here in NUS, my tuition fees were being paid for by the SAF and i was also given a yearly allowance of 10K. Life in the Army was good for me. I met lot of good people, made lot of good friends and i am alway fortunate to have good bosses. They taught me skills and share with me with their experiences that had benefitted me and i believed will continue to do so in the future.

I got to know my lovely wife Cynthia Khoo three years ago and we got married this year on the 5th Jan 2008. Life was good as i got a good wife and a career, just when everyone least expected it... i decided to quit my good job and wandered into a unknown territory and did what i believed in... to follow my passion and start a ecommerce business. After serious consideration and discussion with my wife, i officially tendered my resignation in March this year. Now here i am, working on my own, i (with my wife helping me in the night) started a company called Apple Bazaar specialising in e-tailing.

Here in Apple Bazaar, we are creating a Bazaar that actually sell to the world with internet as the platform. Apple Bazaar is also a eBay Gold Powerseller (Minimum Revenue of USD10,000 purely from eBay) and we had sold to more than 50 countries. I am feeling great everyday because i am doing something that i loved. Selling online is not easy, it is really hard work and therefore a high level of passion is required in order to sustain.

Also at this moment, i am conducting eBay classes to share with people on how to sell the right way on eBay. I am a certified eBay trainer who is trained by eBay to coach people the right way to sell on eBay to make some serious income. In the next 3 month, i should be on my way to become a Google Adwords Professional where i believed it will help to increase my knowledge in Adwords Marketing and hence increase my competencies to coach my students. In internet industry, we must constantly learn new knowledge so we can always in the forefront.

In all, i believed strongly in one cause... Do what you love, Follow what your heart tell you. I do not want to ask myself on my last day in bed... Why didn't i do that?

Please come back and visit my blogs often. I will constantly add new blogs to share with you my own personal views, my happenings, my business and whatever that i feel is important.

Take care and see you again.