SS2BM (Summer Solstice to Blue Moon) Update

SS2BM Update

This is an update regarding our "Summer Solstice to Blue Moon" (SS2BM) promotion, which is planned to run from Thurs June 21st (the Summer Solstice) to Saturday June 30th (the Blue Moon). Many thanks to KMC (whose idea SS2BM was) and to those who have joined up and participated so far.

For those who are unsure as to what the event will entail, in a nutshell, it is a promotion of alternative sites to Ebay. By having several sites co-operate in such an unprecedented event, we hope that ‘unifying’ several sites behind one promotional push will enable web customers to be more aware of alternatives to Ebay. We will need YOUR help in publicising this event, as explained further on.

Sellers

For sellers who have joined up so far, please remember to include the keyword "SS2BM" in the title of listings planned for the event. It may also be an idea to include a summary in listings referencing SS2BM. For example:

"This seller is one of many participating in the "Summer Solstice to Blue Moon"
(SS2BM) online grand summer fayre, which is intended to raise awareness of
alternative sites to Ebay. At present, Ebay and Paypal's market dominance is
beginning to create an unhealthy monopoly regarding online trading. Many sites
and sellers are taking part in this event and there are various competitions and
special offers running throughout the promotion which takes place between June
21st (the Summer Solstice) to 30th (the Blue Moon)."

Furthermore, it would also be a great help to use a linkable banner to the event (for use in listings, websites, and forum signatures). Some banners can be found here: http://rebeccalea.com/pages/bluemoon.html

Alternatively, the following code can also be used (particularly for forum signatures!)

href="http://pheebay.com/index.php?pr=Summer_Solstice_Blue_Moon_St_Elsewhere_in_Unity"
mce_href="http://pheebay.com/index.php?pr=Summer_Solstice_Blue_Moon_St_Elsewhere_in_Unity"
target="_blank" title="SS2BM">src="http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/Pheebay/summersolsticebluemoonbanner.jpg"
mce_src="http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb186/Pheebay/summersolsticebluemoonbanner.jpg"
border="0" alt="Google 'SS2BM' between June 21st and 30th for a never seen
before buying experience...">

If you are an independent seller and wish to have your listings or own website featured in the event, please register your interest here: http://pheebay.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1871 (remember to post a link to your listings and provide a banner - if possible)

SS2BM Special Offers

Many sites which have joined up have offered special incentives for sellers; they can be found here: http://pheebay.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2129

As a general guide, most sellers taking part in the event are offering a 10% discount on their items compared to Ebay prices. For example, My Ebay Shop Price £10 / My Alternative Site SS2BM price £9...etc etc. The idea here is to provide incentives to encourage BUYERS to explore the alternatives to Ebay.

Furthermore, some sites and sellers are offering incentives to buyers too. They can be found here: http://pheebay.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2130

Remember to keep an eye out for some bargains by Googling 'SS2BM' in the various search engine (e.g. Google, Google Products, Auction searches) between 21st and 30th June! The main page for the event is here:
http://pheebay.com/index.php?pr=Summer_Solstice_Blue_Moon_St_Elsewhere_in_Unity

During the event, seller's listings will be displayed on this page as well as a multi-auction site search. It is also this page that should return upon entering the words "SS2BM" or "Summer Solstice Blue Moon" into Google's main search.

Publicity (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT IF THE PROMOTION IS TO BE A SUCCESS)

We hope to achieve some media coverage with this event but the extent of the coverage will depend on how many contact the various media outlets. Ideally, it would probably be best to contact web journalists and local media first (e.g. Auctionbytes.com, North Wales Weekly, California Times etc) over the next couple of days, and then to contact mainstream media a few days later (around the 19th). Some sample letter and guidelines as to how to compose emails/letters to the media can be found here: http://pheebay.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2166

For those who have limited time, it may be an idea to forward a couple of links related to the event, as well as a brief summary of why you are looking to spread your wings beyond Ebay. Here are the links for a news article and a press release:
http://www.hippyshopper.com/2007/06/smart_protester.html (news article) http://www.businessportal24.com/en/SS2BM_Means_Bargains_Great_Gifts_202430.html (Press release)

Some popular e-commerce web sites are:
Auctionbytes ina@auctionbytes.com
E-Commerce Guide http://pheebay.com/5/?BJKQZ
The Register (UK) news@theregister.co.uk
EWeek (US) http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1642193,00.asp
WebUser (UK) news@web-user.co.uk

UK Media contact details can be found here:
http://www.mediauk.com/
US Contact details can be found here:
http://www.rumormillnews.com/MEDIA_EMAIL_ADDRESSES.htm

In particular, it is worth contacting BBC's 'Working Lunch' with details of SS2BM, as they have given Ebay quite a bit of coverage over the past few months: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/6704515.stm

We'll be sending out another update just before SS2BM starts, if you have anyquestions, feel free to email the following organisers:
kmc@kissmyconfusion.com (Pheebay member KissMyConfusion
katherine@pheebay.com (Pheebay Moderator 0ctavias0fferings)