iOffer.com Unveils Enhanced Item Detail Page

Another iOffer press release:

New Design Improves Buying Experience with Better Features, Selling Experience with Increased Item Exposure

San Francisco, CA -- Online shopping consists of two elements: buyers and sellers. Buyers must be completely satisfied with their purchase, and sellers must provide the best service to retain buyers. Buyers must understand the full buying terms up front, and sellers want to expose their items to more buyers. iOffer's new item detail page satisfies both buyers and sellers, with advanced buying features and extensive selling attributes.

Enlarged item displays add clarity and focus to each item listing, followed by a full description to reiterate its importance. Buying terms are grouped together to let buyers grasp relevant information immediately, stating the item's asking price, quantity, shipping info & price, payment options, and available actions on the item.

A "Meet the Seller" box introduces the seller and his or her store to buyers, displaying recent activities and feedback ratings. Buyers can access the seller profile, past transactions, feedback comments, and seller statistics through the rating chart before making informed buying decisions.

Multiple gateways to the seller store are strategically placed on the page, including a permanent slideshow and a gallery view of their items. This convenient path connects buyers and sellers to help foster and develop a strong business relationship.

An organized tabbing system eliminates the need to scroll down the page, showing all buying information in one central location. The simple and clean layout allow item detail pages to load faster, permitting buyers to browse more item listings and find the best deal in a shorter amount of time.

The new item detail page is centered on item description and buying terms, creating a global buyer appeal. Placing the most prominent information in the center inspires buyers to proactively initiate negotiations with sellers to speed up transactions. As a result, buyers and sellers are satisfied, and both obtain better online shopping experiences.

About iOffer, Inc.

iOffer, Inc. is recognized as a leading alternative online marketplace worldwide. Since 2001, iOffer has been changing the way online transactions are conducted, providing a safe and friendly community for its members to buy, sell, and trade through open negotiations. iOffer believes that active communication and interactions are keys to the success and enjoyment of their members. For more information, please visit www.ioffer.com.

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iOffer.com Reports Growing Revenue and Traffic in January

Here's the latest press release from iOffer:

Successful Start to 2009 Brings Higher Expectations and Goals

San Francisco, CA -- The 2008 holiday season is over and 2009 is carrying higher goals for iOffer.com. December 2008 left the alternative online marketplace web site wanting more with record numbers across the line. Despite the continuing effects of the declining economy and the need for consumers to save money, January statistics in terms of traffic and revenue have fulfilled and surpassed all expectations for iOffer.

Key Metrics January 2008 vs. 2009
- Dollar Sales: $3.8 million vs. $8.5 million (124% growth)
- Unit Sales: 67,000 vs. 242,000 (261% growth)
- Traffic: 2.4 million visits vs. 5.8 million visits (142% growth)
- Page Views: 25 million vs. 65 million (160% growth)
- New Member Registration: 35,000 vs. 93,000 (166% growth)

New members and item listings are pouring in every day. Total transactions and dollar sales are increasing steadily. January set the tone of a successful year for iOffer, as more improvements are planned to enhance the overall buying and selling experience of its members.

About iOffer, Inc.

iOffer, Inc. is recognized as a leading alternative online marketplace worldwide. Since 2001, iOffer has been changing the way online transactions are conducted, providing a safe and friendly community for its members to buy, sell, and trade through open negotiations. iOffer believes that active communication and interactions are keys to the success and enjoyment of their members. For more information, please visit www.ioffer.com.

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Selling on iOffer Part 3: Snag a Sale

Did you have a good start with the Want Ads? Here's another starting point.

Selling is like fishing. You wait and you wait, until something finally happens. You feel a tug at your pole, so you start pulling. For all you know it could just be a garbage bag.

Likewise, sellers wait awhile before they make a sale. When someone finally comes and takes a look around your store, you get excited and give them your full attention, not knowing if they're actually buying something or not.

To make sure that you get the real deal, use iOffer's Snag-a-Sale.

Snag-a-Sale is a feature that lets you see the offers and negotiations that are taking place in front of you, whether there's a question or offer in place.

Why do you care?

The transaction is not completely done. There's no commitment yet. That's where you come in. If you got the same item or something similar, jump in there and offer the buyer a better deal.

Just like fishing, snag the buyer quickly with your offer before it's too late. It's a big ocean out there; everything is fair game.

Selling on iOffer Part 2: Want Ads

Want Ads again?

I want to emphasize how important Want Ads are and how often people look past it not realizing the power of these Want Ads.

Here's an important quote at the end of my first Want Ad post:

"When you want to start selling, browse new Want Ads to see what buyers are looking for and list those items first."

Many new sellers overlook the fact that Want Ads help them start their business. Buyers post Want Ads because they want something that they can't find. Your job as the seller? Find that item and list it for the buyer. If you already have the item, you're one step ahead of everyone else.

If you don't believe me, try posting a Want Ad yourself. You'll receive responses fairly quickly.

You could be that seller responding to the Want Ad. Don't just sit there and ponder about the kinds of things that you could be selling. Just sell the things that you know will sell...by looking at Want Ads.

Selling on iOffer Part 1

As promised in my previous post about Want Ads, it is time to talk about selling.

Just like the little lonely "For Sale" sign in the middle of a vast plain of green grass, or a little guppy in the Pacific Ocean, where do you start and how are you supposed to just jump in and blend in with the rest of the crowd?

For starters, you should see how selling works on iOffer. Take a look at their Seller Help and Seller Safety Guide pages. Take a look at their Fees and Credits Policy to gain a sense of how much it would cost you to sell something, and how much you would profit from it.

Second, why don't you see how their selling process works. Take a look at their simple listing form. Fair enough, it's easy and straightforward. You only need the basics: category, title, description, keywords, price, shipping, and pictures. Everything's on one page, so fill out everything and preview it to see what it'll look like.

This should get you going for awhile. Spend some time and play around with it.

I'll leave you with some incentives for you to Sell on iOffer:

• Free Listings


• Free Pictures


• Free Store


• Free Web Adress


• and much, much more!

iOffer Want Ads

Want Ads are self-explanatory. They are what they are; ads for something you want.

iOffer Want Ads are better than other want ads because they're FREE. Read the 3 little logos up at the top and you'll quickly understand how it works.

1. You post a FREE Want Ad and tell the whole world what you want.

2. Your Want Ad will be posted to the whole world. Anyone looking for it will find it.

3. When someone responds to your Want Ad, you'll get an email telling you to do something about it.

Why am I talking about Want Ads?

Because it's the perfect ending spot about buying and a great way to start talking about selling.

When you, as a buyer, can't find something, post a FREE Want Ad and it'll find you.

When you want to start selling, browse new Want Ads to see what buyers are looking for and list those items first.

Not So Secret Buying Tip on iOffer

Yesterday I talked about the 5 Ways of Buying on iOffer. Today I will talk about a couple different unconventional ways to get the items you want on iOffer.

When you browse around online marketplaces, what kinds of items are you looking for? Couldn't you just go to your local store and get it? You're online to find the lowest price, right? Do you ever wonder about the items that you have laying around may be items that other people are looking for?

What would you say if I told you that you can get what you want by giving up what you don't need? Because that is exactly what I mean with the following not-so-secret buying tips on iOffer:

Swaps

Swapping is another word for trading, and that is what iOffer's Swap Center is all about. Trading instead of buying. There's a whole world out there, there has to be someone out there who has what you want and who wants what you got.

The trick is for you to go find that person on iOffer, and list your own items so they'll be able to find you as well.

When you've found the perfect match, click on the Let's Swap button and both parties are on their way to getting their items. Only members who allow Swaps will have that option, so keep searching.

Browse around and list your items to get started.

What is iOffer

Back to basics. Breaking down iOffer little by little.

iOffer is an interactive online community that allows its members to buy, sell, and trade through open negotiations, viewable to the general public, just like you would in real life.

Of the top of my head, here are some of their basic benefits:
- No Listing Fees
- Free iOffer Store
- Free pictures
- Transfer your items and ratings from eBay and other sites
- No item expiration dates
- Sellers only pay a fee when their item sells
- Multiple payment options (PayPal, Google Checkout, Mpayy, Amazon Payments...)
- and more...

One unique characteristic of iOffer is that buyers can make OFFERS on items, so it's waiting until the end of an auction to bid on an item. Instead of bidding, iOffer is all about NEGOTIATIONS.

New iOffer Home Page Highlights Buyer And Seller Actions

Here's the press release for the new iOffer home page:

Redesign Improves Site Navigation and Item Listing Exposure

San Francisco, CA -- iOffer.com unveiled a new home page design to optimize the online buying and selling experience. The refreshed home page exemplifies what iOffer is about: better deals for buyers through open negotiations and higher profit for sellers with free listings, store, transfers, and other features.

Easy and Simple Navigation
An integrated search box provides a more prominent gateway for buyers to access all item listings. Popular category images in the center and top category links on the left enable buyers to browse items effortlessly wherever they are on the page.

Improved Featured Item Exposure
Featured items are strategically positioned below the popular category images to amplify its significance. Enhanced graphics offer clear and concise depictions of featured items, helping sellers gain more traffic and exposure to their store.

Shared Interest of the Online Community
"Current Activity on iOffer" displays current member negotiations. "What Buyers Are Saying" shows buyer ratings. Both present a continuous stream of active buyers and sellers interacting positively on the site, ensuring the quality and merit of iOffer.

iOffer continues to provide a consumer-friendly community that adds value and excitement with their inviting new home page. It encourages visitors to stop and take a look, informing them of the site's unique principle. It generates multiple entryways to the most pertinent information on the site--item listings. Consumers gain a sense of its relevance to their individual buying and selling needs. Buyers and sellers are able to obtain a better experience through this focus on content and personalization.

About iOffer, Inc.

iOffer, Inc. is recognized as a leading alternative online marketplace worldwide. Since 2001, iOffer has been changing the way online transactions are conducted, providing a safe and friendly community for its members to buy, sell, and trade through open negotiations. iOffer believes that active communication and interactions are keys to the success and enjoyment of their members. For more information, please visit www.ioffer.com

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eBay Alternatives: iOffer Reports Sales Are Up

Here's an article from AuctionBytes:

iOffer.com reported record dollar sales, units sold, new items listed, and new memberships over the past six weeks from November 1, 2008 to December 15, 2008. The "trading community" marketplace encourages negotiation between buyers and sellers and reported key metrics for the holiday shopping season (November 1 to December 15). Data from 2007 is listed first, followed by the same period in 2008.

• Dollar Sales: $5.5 million vs. $15.1 million (175% growth)
• Unit Sales: 121,323 vs. 275,813 (127% growth)
• New Item Listings: 470,846 vs. 1,213,476 (158% growth)
• Traffic: 3 million visits vs. 9 million visits (198% growth)
• Page Views: 31 million vs. 80 million (158% growth)
• New Member Registration: 44,192 vs. 126,175 (186% growth)

Source: iOffer.com

Congratulations, iOffer!

New iOffer Home Page

Starting today, when you visit www.ioffer.com, you will see a brand new design. Here's a breakdown of each individual section:

Smack in the middle of the page is a welcoming message about iOffer and what it is. The search box lets you search the entire site immediately. Click on "learn more" to see the various features that you can use on iOffer.

To the left of that is a little box that encourages new visitors to sell on iOffer. It is truly fast and easy to start selling on iOffer. Like the box says, there's no listing fees, you get a free iOffer store, and you can transfer your items and ratings over to iOffer from other sites. Just click on the big, yellow button to see for yourself.

Right below that is a "Current Activity on iOffer" box. This area shows you how active the site really is. Buyers and sellers are always online, and questions and offers are continuously being made. Click on each individual link to see what was said if you're interested.

Then there's the huge category visual. In addition to the normal category column on the left hand side of the page, this visual is more appealing and attractive (at least to me). These are the more popular categories on iOffer, so click on a few and browse around and see what's cooking. Wouldn't you want to click on one of those pretty pictures instead of a word? I know I would.

Right underneath that are the "Featured Items". Sellers who paid for this enhanced feature will see their items here, with a much bigger picture than before. You're sure to get more lookers this way. Pictures are always good, so I would suggest all sellers to keep putting nice pictures for their items. Pictures are FREE anyways, so why not. These 8 pictures will rotate, but if you want to see more Featured Items, just click on the "View All Featured" link.

Finally, you can see what buyers are saying about their sellers and the items they bought. Read it and you'll be sure to feel welcome. This shows how wonderful the site is, with buyers and sellers happily transacting with each other. Happy Buyers = Happy Sellers = Happy Business = Happy $$$. Now, if only I can get more sales.

So, what do you think about the new look?

Buying on iOffer: Recap

This is the last of a series of posts about the simple aspects of buying on iOffer.com.

1. Buy Now - If everything looks good--price is right, shipping's awesome, no questions needed--just click the "Buy Now" button to purchase the item right away!

2. Make Offer - Have some fun with the website. If the price isn't right, make some offers and counter offers on some items to experience how the site really works!

3. Ask a Question - Are you the cautious kind of buyer? Ask as many questions as you want about the item(s) before committing to anything. You may even request an offer from the seller if you want them to make the first move.

4. Add to Cart - Maybe you're the indecisive kind. Add the item to your shopping cart so you can monitor the item(s) whenever you want. But don't wait too long because the item might be gone before you can get back to it.

5. Swap - Why pay for something when you can trade for it. If both parties agree on item(s) that each person wants from the other person, then you guys can trade those items instead of the traditional buying and selling.

That was one big and short recap of the several buying aspects of iOffer. If you want, go to their Buyer Center and learn more about buying.

Next time, we'll talk about the opposite of buying...Selling!

- iOffer Dude

Popular iOffer Community Clubs

Below are some of the more popular community clubs on iOffer. Mouse over each club logo to see the title of each club. And since your cursor is already on top of it, why not click it and check out what other members have to say!



- iOffer Dude

Why iOffer? Free Tools and Features

Why should people use iOffer? I've compiled a list of reasons why I started using it:

1. FREE listings

2. FREE seller store

3. FREE picture uploads

4. FREE multiple web addresses that link to you

5. Non-Auction Format
Making offers and negotiating with buyers and sellers make me feel like I'm shopping in person, rather than trying to make the highest bid in the last 5 seconds of an auction.

6. Mr. Grabber
It lets you transfer your items over from eBay, Overstock, and Sell.com. You can also transfer your eBay feedback rating so your buyer/seller reputation is intact. The best part is it's also FREE.

7. Store Widget
You can easily customize a widget for your store and post it all over the web, for FREE.

8. Group Offers
When you make an offer, you can make the same offer to other sellers who are selling similar items. Whoever accepts your offer first gets the deal. This seems like I'll get what I want quicker as a buyer, and probably a better deal too.

9. Events
It's sort of like a chatroom where people can get together and mingle away, while promoting and selling their items. How cool is that?

10. Live Notice
I thought this was a neat feature. I'm sure many sellers are online all the time, and this feature will pop up messages in your face when you sell an item or someone asked a question about your items or anything like that.

11. Community
I like this part the most. I mean, everything I've listed so far are awesome, mainly because they're all FREE, but as a newbie, I like how the members at iOffer are so nice and easy-going. They have hundreds of community clubs and I can guarantee that you will find some sort of help in any club.

Wow, sorry didn't think my list would go that long. And sorry that you had to read through everything. I'll try to add some pictures next time to even out the text/image ratio.

Am I missing anything else? Feel free to make comments and add some other features that I may not have found yet.

- iOffer Dude

Parody Feepay

Check out iOffer's cartoon and see how other sites are stealing your money!



- iOffer Dude

Welcome Introduction

Hello everyone!

As an iOffer fan, just wanted to spread the love, the joy, and the word out about iOffer. I've been using it for a bit of time now, and it's been pretty sweet.

The economy is bad, so we all need to find other ways to spend our money, or not spend any at all. One way to keep spending is to buy less, or spend less and get the same amount. That's where iOffer comes in. I find their fees to be cheaper than other eBay alternative sites, and their community members are so nice and helpful.

Therefore, I created this blog to share my ongoing experiences with iOffer. I hope you will begin to enjoy this blog, as well as iOffer itself! Until next time, keep your eyes open for more changes and updates.

Browse around iOffer yourself and tell me what you think...www.ioffer.com

- iOffer Dude