ZENAuctioneer

From hosting fees, design costs and management time, the cost of owning a web site can really add up.  Often times, web sites get created with the good intention of keeping them updated and current but, often the costs and time requirments of maintining such a site are too much and the site grows stale. 

Sometimes, auctioneers try to manage their own web site in an effort to save money but, may in fact, be costing themselve money.  How? Sites that are not professionally maintained tend to be full of errors which can keep them out of the search engines.  This costs money though lost opportunity.  An auctioneer's time is worth money.  The time spent updating a web site is time that could have been spent preparing for an auction, preparing advertising, soliciting new business, etc.  What is your time worth?

One way for auctioneers to successfully manage their web site is to use a pre-packaged or customized CMS (content management system).  These are nice because you are still in control of your web site, but you don't have to be an expert web designer to manage your information.  Packages like PHPAuction and ZENAuctioneer are designed to let auctioneers have a powerful and professional web presence without as much maintenance.  The upfront cost is a bit more with this type of system but, long-term, your web site will likely be more successful and less expensive.

Here is a quick comparison between two content management system designed specifically for auctioneers:

PHPAuction XL (view details)

• $886 + Installation
• Requires database support: yes
• Customizable: yes
• Online demo: yes
• Pros: Lots and lots of features.  Good for managing complex auctions and if you are looking to sell items online.
• Cons: Database requirement typically means a higher hosting cost. More features means more time will be required to manage auction and to learn the system.

ZENAuctioneerPRO (view details)

• $499 (Installation is included)
• Requires database support: no
• Customizable: yes
• Online demo: yes
• Pros: Fast and simple.  Simplified management system is quick to learn and use. Does not require database hosting option.
• Cons: Does not support online purchasing. 

If you would like to receive a free, honest analyis of how best to manage your auction web site, please contact me here.  I can help make sure you are making the most of your web site at the best price.

How can I make items in my catalogs easier to find?

A common practice for auctioneers is to list the items for sale in a long paragraph of items separated by semi-colons.  While this may be cost-effective for print advertising where the number of lines in an advertisement determines the cost, on the Internet, this is the WORST possible way to display your auction information.  On the Internet people scan for information.  Bulleted lists or a line-by-line display of information will make sure that your sale items are more readable.

What can I do to be added to search engines like Google?

The Internet is a very competive place, but there are some basic guidlines for being "search engine friendly".  These guidlines and techniques can be complicated and technical and are best left to professionals.  In fact, not following these standards can hurt your ability to be found in search engines--and could even get you banned!  Consult with a professional web developer or use website products that have been designed to maximize your search engine presence.

How can I make SURE I am added to search engines like Google or Yahoo!?

Every wonder how some websites always show up at the top or on the featured sidebar?  It's easy...they pay for it!  But wait!  It's probably not as expensive as you think.  You pick keywords that people might be looking for, and you only pay when someone clicks on your link...usually only pennies per click!  Rare and specialty terms are usually very inexpensive and a great fit for auctioneers who sell rare items. Contact us for a free consultation and service quote.

If you would like some help with making your web site more visible, contact your local web developer or use a company that specializes in Internet marketing for auctioneers like RowdyData.