Sales vs Coupons: A Reseller's Guide to Using AI to Help Decide eBay Promotions

As a small business owner selling a variety of items on eBay, I’ve learned that effective promotions can make a significant difference in sales. Two promotional strategies I’ve found particularly useful are sales (markdown sale events) and coupons. In this post, I’ll share my experiences and insights to help other resellers decide between these two strategies.

Understanding Sales and Coupons

Sales, or markdown sale events, are a great way to display your discounts to your buyers. Instead of reducing the listing price, before and now prices on your listings will display for a limited time, boosting your conversion rates.

Coupons, on the other hand, can be a great way to reward loyal customers or incentivize new customers to make a purchase. You can offer coupons to specific customers, or make them available to all potential buyers.

Considerations for Choosing Between Sales and Coupons

In my experience, a combination of both strategies works best. I use sales to attract new customers and clear out old stock, and coupons to reward loyal customers and incentivize repeat business. The key is to experiment and see what works best for your specific circumstances and business goals. Here are several factors to consider:

Inventory: If you have a large inventory or want to clear out old stock, a sale might be more effective.

Customer Loyalty: If you want to reward loyal customers or incentivize repeat business, coupons could be a good choice.

Marketing Strategy: Consider your overall marketing strategy. Sales can attract new customers, while coupons can help you build a loyal customer base.

Profit Margins: Consider your profit margins. If you have a high-margin item, you might be able to offer a larger discount through a sale or coupon.

Sales (Markdown Sale Events):

• Sales, or markdown sale events, are a great way to display your discounts to your buyers.

• Instead of reducing the listing price, before and now prices on your listings will display for a limited time, boosting your conversion rates.

• Markdown prices appear in search results on eBay and on the view items page.

• Examples of markdown sales events: Save up to 30% on all laptops. Save up to 50% on last season’s winter gear.

• Benefits include introducing new items, attracting new buyers, and clearing inventory.

Coupons:

• Coupons can be a great way to reward loyal customers or incentivize new customers to make a purchase.

• You can offer coupons to specific customers, or make them available to all potential buyers.

• Coupons can be used to offer discounts on specific items, categories, or across your entire store.

• You can control the duration, terms, and conditions of the coupon.

Remember, the optimal choice hinges on your unique circumstances and business aspirations. Experimentation is key to unlocking the most effective strategy for your venture.

Leveraging AI Tools for Strategic Decision-Making and Slogan Generation

In my journey as a reseller, AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot have been invaluable partners. They’ve helped me strategize which promotional strategy to use and generate creative slogans that resonate with the season or specific factors.

Strategizing Promotional Strategies with AI

When deciding between sales and coupons, I often turn to these AI tools. By providing them with information about my inventory, customer loyalty, marketing strategy, and profit margins, they can analyze these factors and provide recommendations on which promotional strategy might be most effective.

Seasonal Slogan Generation with AI

One of the unique advantages of AI tools is their ability to generate creative slogans based on specific inputs. For instance, I can ask the AI to generate slogans for the winter season, and it will provide a list of catchy slogans that incorporate winter-related terms. This allows me to tailor my marketing messages to the season, making them more relevant and engaging for my customers.

AI as a Think Partner

In essence, AI has become a ‘think partner’ for my business. It’s always there, ready to brainstorm ideas and provide insights based on data. It’s like having a marketing expert and creative genius at my fingertips, helping me navigate the exciting world of eBay reselling.

Ultimately, both sales and coupons are effective promotional strategies on eBay. The best choice depends on your specific circumstances and business goals. Don’t be afraid to experiment with both to see which works best for you. Remember, the goal is to increase sales and grow your business.