The Pepperjam Network is now offering inline text adds, which will display popup ebay results for keywords.  This new service is currently in beta, but offers enough configuration to get started and apply to almost any website.  Currently I'm testing out the PJN text link conversions on one of my automotive blogs, where traditional advertising is not quite cutting it.

The Pepper Jam in-text ads are very similar to what Kontera and intelliText are currently doing.  After setting a few variables, advertisers are given a snippet of Java code to add to their web pages.  From there Pepper Jam does the rest, picking out it's own keywords and adding links.  When a visitor hovers over these in text ads a popup will show a corresponding eBay item, along with similar search results.

There are also ways to configure the beta PepperJam In-Text Ads, basically to keep unwanted keywords from being turned into in-text ads.  PJN offers the creation of a White List, Black List, and Auto Generation configuration.  The White List is used to select only the keywords you want to be converted ot in-text advertising, while the Black List will keep certain keywords from ever being turned into advertisements.  I have been using the Auto Generation method that selects any keywords eBay and PJN seem fit to convert into in-text advertising.

PJN inText ads can also be limited to how many a visitor will see per page.  The default is 50, but I quickly lowered this number to 10 and introduce the Java script to a limited number of pages, not just in my blogs template.  Personally, I see these types of ads as a turn off, but if used conservatively I think will help revenue conversion on low performing pages.

PepperJam Network explanation of PJN inText Ads:

You may be asking what is Pepperjam InText Ads? In short, With Peppejam InText Ads, the advertiser's brand is linked to a relevant keyword appearing in the online content which is matched to the advertiser's ad. In the case of Pepperjam InText Ads rolling over a "hot" hyperlinked keyword results in a product advertisement from eBay being shown. See an example below:

To start using PJN inText ads simply log into your PJN account and select the Generate Links drop down tab.  At the bottom of the list you will see the option for inText ads, which will take you to the setup phase.  All of your options are on one page and the Java code is automatically generated to be copy-pasted into the pages you choose.

This single post is using the new beta Pepperjam Network inText ads.

More on PepperJam In-Text Ads

I've been spending more and more time focused on eBay, how it works, auctions, sellers, buyers, and more importantly helping someone get a small business to take off.  My experience also extends to an existing power seller, with over 4,400 feedback.  Everything that I see in regards to eBay I hate.

Here is a breakdown on the ugly Truth about eBay Sellers:

1. Every seller has multiple people that they associate with, which they employ to bid up their auctions.  This allows the seller to start an auction at a low-low price, without worry of seeling it to a thrifty buyer.  Yes, getting a deal on eBay is a myth.

2. The only way sellers make money on eBay is to carve out a niche, make their money, and then get out.  As soon as a niche is found to be making money, it is immediately flooded with scammers, those willing to sell items at a loss, effectively destroying the market.

3. Sellers only sell crap on eBay.  Expect to pay the same price on eBay as anywhere else if you intend to buy a quality item.  Everything else is just junk, crap, items that people can sell in a typical brick 'n mortar for fearing of being laughed at.

4. The really big sellers on eBay will give items away at their cost, to destroy competition.  They also don't pay their employees jack and rely heavily on a manufacturers 'rebate' at the end of the year.

It's a bastardized marketplace that used to be such a wonderful outlet for actual online garage sales.  Furthermore, I feel that back when I originally signed up(Feb 2003) I was not concerned with being scammed.  Now, it's both buyers and sellers scamming anyone who takes the time to 'try' and compete with the power sellers.

No thanks, count me out.

The want to buy (WTB) section of the Digital Point forums can be a tricky field of spam mines to negotiate.  Allow me to share some of my tips, to help you find your way safely to your destination.  Hopefully that means landing a sale and that the transaction is a smooth one.

My Experience on DP

I've been using the Digital Point Forums (DP) since February 2006 and active to the tune of 1,300+ posts.  Furthermore, I've been involved in their Sales section from both sides of the fence, both buying and selling.  Over the past two years my PM box has been subjected to spamming, threatening, and general nonsense, thanks to specifically being involved in said Sales section.

As of this posting my iTrader feedback is setting at 40, with a 97.6% positive feedback.  My only negative was due to me being ripped off by a scammer, providing false stats for a website that I purchased.  I chock it up to idiot tax and a learning experience.  Feel free to view my personal profile and sexy cat face persona here.  Nevertheless, in this post I hope to provide tips for avoiding asshats when selling on DP.

Use The Correct Sub Forum

Don't waste your time trying to list what you want to buy in the busiest subforum, if what your buying doesn't match.  The moderators at DP have a hard on for moving and/or removing anything that doesn't fit.  Plus, could you really stand living with yourself knowing you lied to a captcha and check mark list?

Be Specific

Don't be vague with your thread posting, if you do, you open yourself up to a slew of spam PMs.  Also, people can't read your mind, simply buying links without the dirty details means you may not be a serious buyer anyways.  Basically this will mean that the really good offerings, say quality link placements, might not bother dropping you a PM.  Below is what I make sure to include in my WTB Threads, when I'm wanting to purchase links.

• The niche and I'm extremely specific and picky.  I don't give a shit about general blogs or sites, I want my link to appear on a very specific topic site.  Ask and ye shall receive, dont' ask and you get blogspot blogs looking to plant your link on sites with pictures of cats who are bad at English.
• Price you're willing to spend, no more, no less, no range, just exactly what you want to spend per link.
• Tell the reader what to do, either post in the thread with their offer or if it's ok, drop you a PM.
• List your payment method, which is generally paypal.  But, if you only accept something else, make sure and tell people, otherwise communications may have been wasted.

Don't Waste Time

Much like you don't want people wasting your time, return the favor by keeping correspondents in the loop.  If someone send me a PM, that follows my thread description, then I will reply one way or another.  A simple, sorry not interested, or yes send me more info is all that's needed so that the other person doesn't feel like they wasted their time.

When dealing with spammers and those who obviously didn't read your whole thread, just delete.  When I am buying links, I get a ton of PM's with people selling things that don't fall into my specific niche, are more than I posted I was willing to spend, etc.  Those PM's are immediately deleted to free up more space in my inbox, they deserve no response.  Furthermore, I report those that blatantly send out mass PM's to anyone buying links, regardless of what their thread stated.

Success!

Hopefully, if you follow these tips, not only will you get what you are looking for, but also create some friendships in the process.  Through the years, by following these techniques, I've developed some contacts that have enabled me to stream line my link buying or service buying on the Digital Point forums.

Now, I'm a lot less likely to post a WTB thread and more likely to just open up my contacts list and drop a PM.  I've learned who I can trust, who I can't, and above all I know that my money is being spent on a worthwhile marketing endeavor.  Yes, I'm doing my part to keep the online economy going.

Reddit is starting to make me cross  eyed and the internet memes are getting out of hand.  So what do I do, I join the herd and add my own taste of funny pie chart link bait.