26/03: No More Ebook Sales On Ebay

I thought I should mention this as my inbox has been flooded with the news since it recently became public.

Ebay have finally decided to put a stop to the sale of downloadable digital information products on the world famous auction site. This is no doubt going to upset a lot of Ebay sellers who have been bringing in a tidy additional income running an ebook business and wipes out, in one fell swoop, a lot of informational products and membership sites that have focused on this type of online money making effort.

With effect from March 31st 2008 auctions of downloadable digital information products will be allowed on in the classified ad section of Ebay. You can read Ebay's Official Statement Here 

I guess that it all comes back down to a minority spoiling a good thing for the majority of honest ebook sellers. Whatever the thinking behind the move, it will have a lot of people scrabbling for new ways to make money or sell their digital products, so while some will be crestfallen, many will probably see new opportunities unfolding.

Some experienced bloggers and marketers are already offering suggestions and alternative paths for the ousted Ebay sellers. 

If you are an Ebay seller and are wondering just what to do, you may be interested to read this free PDF report entitled 'Don't Panic' - PDF - Ebay Stops Ebook Sales  

I have never dabbled greatly in Ebay myself and am certainly no authority on the subject. I'm guessing that some of these entrepreneurs will defect to other auction sites which on the plus side may cost them less, but all are some way behind the mighty Ebay in the traffic department.

For those who were relying solely on the business model, this will no doubt be a huge blow, but as I always caution people, never put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to making money online. Changes can be swift and unexpected and you can go from hero to zero overnight when the rug is pulled out from under you.

Making money online should always be an excercise in diversification, without losing focus on any one aspect of your online ventures. Spread yourself too thin and you will struggle, but multiple streams of income are still the best way to go. Sounds like the theme for a new post.......

TCH