The Official OfferMe BlogSpot

Share the Love with OfferMe's Group Buy this Valentine's

2010-02-03T10:15:00.002+11:00

Need help finding the right gift for Valentine's Day? OfferMe's Bekim Ahmedi suggests checking out Group Buy.

Wasn't I just saying that you should check out Group Buy for Christmas gifts? How did we get to Valentine's Day already? I really can't believe that a whole year has passed since I was running around trying to find a decent bunch of roses to buy for my wife. Flowers, flowers and flowers. Over priced and unoriginal are just two thoughts that come to mind when I think flowers. But really, what else do I get my wife for Valentine's Day?

Well, we're trying to add a little more variety this year with OfferMe's Group Buy. Our Deal Detective, Erick, is doing his best to source great deals that'll make your partner feel the love this year. And I say partner because, ladies, we like the ol' Valentine's Day gift to, you know? Although, hun, if you're reading this, no flowers!

Each week, when Erick finds something decent, he'll 'Heart' it. If you see a little heart appear next to the picture, take a click and give it a look. As usual, these we'll be at great Group Buy reduced prices.

Love laptops? Well, we've got a great range coming your way in February. Our Love the Laptops promotion will see four stunning machines, each a little different than the next, go on sale at unbeatable prices. There will be an all-rounder, a stylish travel companion, a back-to-school special and finally a gamer's dream. This week's, the all-rounder, is the ASUS U1E... Check it out!

Finally, don't forget the results from last week's Valentine's Day Voting! We saw some really great gift packs take to the polls and the winner's were:

See the Full Results

So, if you're stressing about this year's Valentine's Day, breathe! You'll love what we've got at OfferMe.

The Group Buy Summer Selection rolls on

2010-02-03T10:08:00.001+11:00

OfferMe's Business Development Manager, Erick Teresa evaluates last week's Group Buy Summer Selection Sales Results.

Our Summer Selection promotion has really given our Group Buy participants the opportunity to make their voices heard by picking the products they would like to purchase. The concept is pretty simple, but if this is the first time you've heard about it, I'll explain it again: Each week we introduce five new selections promoting variety, competitive pricing and the power to choose when your item is put on sale on our Group Buy site. All you have to do is cast your vote. Not only is it obligation free to vote, you'll also get $1 in OfferMe Credit when you do!

The first week's vote, on Games & Accessories, went to the polls two weeks ago, with the winners hitting Group Buy last week. The Week 1 Champion, the PS3 DualShock Controller, went on sale Tuesday, followed by the FIFA 2010 PS3 Game on Wednesday, and finally the Microsoft XBox Controller on Thursday.

Results were amazing to say the least. After only five minutes, the PS3 Controller had already sold 20 units and by the following day, this Group Buy deal was sold out. The hype was so intense that we had buyers looking to book multiple controllers prior to the midday launch time! Further, after selling out of all stock, numerous buyers came to us asking us to source more sellers for this particular Group Buy!

It'll be interesting to see how this week's sales go. For those of you that didn't get a chance to vote last week, you missed out on deciding between an array of household appliances. The candidates were a GoDuster, a Swivel Sweeper, a pair of Stain Removing Pens, a portable Steam Iron and Digital Bathroom Scales. (For more info about these items, click here) The Scales jumped out to a huge lead, which it held onto in spite of a late surge on the Swivel Sweeper. Following in third was the electric-powered and electro-magnetised GoDuster.

Here's the Group Buy Medals Podium:

The Scales go on sale today - Check it Out

The Swivel Sweeper & GoDuster hit the Group Buy markets on Wednesday & Thursday respectively. For those, keep an eye on www.offerme.com.au/groupbuy

This week's Summer Selection focuses on digital cameras & accessories. This includes two high quality digital cameras, a great deal on a 7-inch digital frame and an elite professional standard, travel-secured camera bag. These are items that have seen heavy requests on OfferMe and we believe you, the buyers, will enjoy this vote.

Just make your voice heard! Go to www.offerme.com.au/voting

The OfferMe Community: Voting for Group Buy

2010-02-03T10:02:00.001+11:00

Nadim Sharbean discusses the results from Week 1 of the Summer Selection.

Summer Selection Week 1: Group Buying Gaming & Accessories

Well, a week has passed and our Group Buy Summer Selection has found its first victor. Nearly two hundred people cast their vote, making their voices heard. With the wide range of games and gaming equipment, it was a tough selection. Yet in the end one item stood far ahead of the rest.

Here's how the Group Buy Summer Selection medal table ended up:

See Full Details

I'll admit, I'm a tad disappointed. I voted for the item that came in fourth; the game Borderlands on Playstation 3. However I'm also keen on getting FIFA 2010, so I may redirect the Borderlands money to that.

In the end even our suppliers were stunned by the huge demand for the White PS3 Controller. With only 20 in stock, they had to race out and scrounge together whatever other controllers they have available. Luckily for them, most didn't mind the colour. They just wanted the great price on the device! The sale went live yesterday and (at time of posting) 50 had already been sold.

Summer Selection Week 2: Group Buying Household Appliances

This week five new products will go to the polls, all in the household appliance category. Here is a brief run-down of each candidate:

Group Buy – 2 x Bleach Pen Stain Removers:

These bleach pens will make your whites shine again! These pens are great for getting tough stains out of white clothing and off household surfaces. Simply dab with either the pinpoint end or the wide end and rinse it off. Great for those really nasty stains like red wine, coffee rings, mildew and more.

Group Buy – The GoDuster:

This is an electric duster that uses electro-magnetics to help catch dust. Now, I can't quite comment on the GoDuster, but I have used an item exactly like this myself. And I'll say this, they're brilliant! Just point it at the dust and it'll whip it away. The best aspect is you can get this thing into hard-to-reach areas and get to the dust without having to do too much.

Group Buy – Portable Dual Purpose Mini Steam Iron:

This little take-anywhere device is a must have for any frequent traveller. This iron not only does the job of more traditional irons, but it also has a steam 'n brush feature that'll help you clean your garments on the go. Remove the creases from folded up luggage and get that suit or dress ready for a night out!

Group Buy – The Swivel Sweeper:

This is a nifty item that'll make cleaning up little messes even easier. This Sweeper is essentially a powerless vacuum cleaner with 360-degree cleaning movement. What this means is it cleans no matter which way to push it so you never miss a speck of a dust.

Group Buy – Digital Bathroom Scales:

Want to know how harsh Christmas was on you? Well this scale is just the right item. No one likes to step on the scales, but with New Years' resolutions about to take effect, there's no time as the present to start measuring your success. Designed in chic black and taking up to 180kg in weight, these scales are a smart addition to any bathroom.

Seen something you'd like to Group Buy? Then you better make sure you vote for it!

This vote runs 'til midnight Sunday, January 17th, with the winner going on sale the following Tuesday. To see more product details and cast your vote, click here.

Remember: OfferMe is built to cater to the Buyer's voice... So make your voice heard!

Group Buy Voting: Whetting your appetite

2010-02-03T09:48:00.001+11:00

OfferMe's Bekim discusses how the Summer Selection is putting the cherry on Group Buy...

Like everyone else, the decisions I make shape my life. This statement is never more true than when it comes to spending my hard-earned money. Each decision I make, from where I buy my coffee to what type of car I purchase, is a choice I weigh up. Sure, I spend much more time choosing the car than the cupper, but you get the point. Which brings me to this week's blog topic: Voting on Group Buys.

Group Buy: On the Menu...

Throughout the month of January we are giving users of OfferMe the choice of which products should go live in our Group Buy deals. Just like the menu at a restaurant, we will bring you a category and you get to choose what you want us to sell.

In our Group Buy newsletters and banners on our site you will see the Summer Selections banners and products you can vote on. This week's featured category will be gaming with these five products going live:


Borderlands (PS3)	FIFA 2010 (PS3)	PS3 Controller (white)	XBox360 Controller	Gaming Headset
Under $50.00	Under $50.00	Under $50.00	Under $40.00	Under $50.00

All users can vote for the one they want to see go on sale. Voting goes through for a week, with the top three products going on sale the following week in order or 1st to 3rd on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Group Buy Voting: For Dessert...

You can also earn OfferMe Credit throughout the voting process! You'll receive $1 OfferMe Credit for each of your votes. Plus, tell your friends to vote, and if they register and vote, you'll receive a further $1 OfferMe Credit for each friends vote. So if you can successfully get 30 of your friends to vote, you can make a total of $31 OfferMe Credit to spend on OfferMe.com.au.

So check out for the first Summer Selection vote today by clicking here and make the decision that shapes your buying experience.

Introducing Group Buy on Services

2009-12-22T13:52:00.001+11:00

OfferMe’s Deal Detective, Erick Teresa presents yet another concept that's guaranteed to put savings in your pocket.

I have always been passionate about our online Group Buying concept and what it means to our users. People come online to get a great product at the most competitive price and I'm proud to say that our team has performed exceptionally well to serve that purpose. OfferMe consistently provide great value products at the best prices we can negotiate from reputable sellers. Each of whom pass a stringent registration process just to be part of the site. We have introduced a wealth of communication tools ensuring your voice is heard and that you can purchase products in full confidence.

However, the last thing we want to do is rest on that success. Over the last couple of weeks we started receiving high level interest from our users that focused on a new line of business. No company is currently providing this new concept and we thought, “Why not OfferMe?” Our team started initial discussions and, after heavy research, proudly present a brand new concept that's guaranteed to open a whole new world of opportunities, while continuing to save you dollars and time.

Group Buy at your Service

Group Buys on services allow you to grab a great deal on an activity! Get a discount on great meats at select restaurants. Save bonus dollars on a weekend away for you and your partner. Pamper yourself with a spa treatment for only a only a fraction of the original price. The possibilities are endless and so are the savings.

One of our verified sellers, City Hunter Internet Cafe is the nation's only gaming orientated internet cafe chain, providing their patrons the very best in e-Entertainment. They do this by combining the latest in PC technology along with a large array of games. They feature five stores in the Sydney area spanning from Chatswood to Burwood. With their 6th anniversary just passed, City Hunter has grown to be a popular destination for the new generation LAN gaming population.

Every Christmas, City Hunter offer $21 Gift Cards, allowing patrons to give their friends and loved ones a minimum of six hours of free playtime. This year, they're offering that same card through OfferMe, becoming the first company to be part of the Group Buy on services program. Thanks to Group Buy, City Hunter will be selling the Gift Cards for $15 off! That's $6 each. Additionally, for the first 99 cards you can use up to $5 in OfferMe Credit.

That's $21 of playtime for a mere $1. Check it out

We're pretty excited about this first Group Buy on a service. We feel it shows the potential of this new feature and we hope you embrace it. We're aiming to provide you with even better deals going forward; in travel, accommodation meals and entertainment. Further, if there's something that you've always wanted to do, but were waiting for the best price, tell me. After all, this is Group Buy at your service.

The OfferMe Community: Group Buy goes to the Polls

2009-12-18T12:48:00.001+11:00

Community Manager, Nadim Sharbean tells you how you'll be getting more control over Group Buy deals.

The People's Choice...
Group Buy Assassin's Creed II

Two Thursday's ago we held a vote for Christmas to tell us which PS3 game you wanted most on Group Buy. On our end there wasn't a big push. A small banner in the daily newsletters and a few mentions on Facebook. And yet the results were massive, with Assassin's Creed II and Tekken 6 going neck-to-neck right down to the wire. Near 150 users chimed in to give us their thoughts and, when it seemed that Tekken had taken the race, a huge surge for Assassin's Creed pushed it over the line.

Here are the final results for the Group Buy vote:

Assassin's Creed II – 56 votes (37%)
Tekken 6 – 46 votes (30%)
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – 28 votes (18%)
Dragon Age: Origins – 17 votes (11%)
The Saboteur – 6 votes (4%)

Everyone's a Winner with Group Buy...

Well, almost everyone. In the end, the three top games went on sale through Group Buy at the ridiculously cheap price of $49.95. This was even cheaper than a certain gaming companies 'Insider Online 24-hour Discount Bonanza', who advertised at about $10 more. In fact, over 30 people have already joined the Group Buys for Assassin's Creed and Tekken, with Uncharted 2 going live today. I, myself, have joined the Assassin's Creed Group Buy and am seriously thinking about Uncharted as well.

At those prices I can afford two games for Christmas!

The Group Buy Voting will live on...

2010 is going to be a bigger year for OfferMe. There's a lot in the pipeline set to make your experience on our site even more enjoyable. My favourite is our Summer promotion, the Summer Selection. Similar to the past PS3 game vote, we'll be hosting polls on a wide range of categories, allowing you to choose the best products you want on OfferMe. The aim is to keep ensuring we have the Group Buy deals that you're after. Obviously, the most important thing will be your vote! Sure, picking politicians can be tough... But knowing what you want or need for the house etc is easy enough.

So keep your eyes peeled for the Summer Selection, there are bound to be some sizzling deals to start the new year with a bargain!

Make Your Group Buy Voice Heard...

Did you know that OfferMe's Request It service is similar to these Group Buy votes? Simply user the OfferMe search bar to find the product you're after and click 'Register Interest'. When a product has enough interest behind it, our Deal Detectives will do their best to turn it into a Group Buy!

If you don't find the product you're after, list it. Then, whoever else is looking for the product, can also add their support to it.

Answering the Concerns of Group Buy

2009-12-07T10:40:00.001+11:00

OfferMe's Deal Detective, Erick Teresa discusses the steps he takes to ensure your Group Buy questions get answered.

Ever look for a product online – even in our Group Buy – and worry that it might not be exactly what you are looking for? Maybe it's a new laptop and you want to make sure it's perfect to play your favourite games. Maybe you are looking for a a Digital Camera and you want to compare optical zoom specifications with another model that's for sale online. The product looks great and so does the price. You just need to sort out this small enquiry and once answered, you're ready to purchase the product; or, in the case of Group Buy hit the “I Want To Buy” button.

With other eRetail sites that's where the problems usually arise. You want to ask someone but have no idea exactly who to ask. It's not like there's a sales rep to even spend some time chatting with you about the product. If you really want the item, you will end up sending an email to the general enquiries department while waiting anxiously for a response. Usually you end up waiting an eternity. Sometimes you may not even get a response! More times out of most, you'll end up leaving and buying your item across the road where you paid more money but at least you received assistance from someone who was available to help.

Who can blame you? No one wants to spend their hard earned dollars on an item they don't have full confidence in. Undoubtedly, this lack of a personal touch is a huge problem within the eCommerce world, where most items are available without any assistance at all.

Of course, at OfferMe, we've gone a ways to make sure we're there to answer this questions. This is what makes OfferMe so different to everyone else online.

Group Buy is Buyer focused...

Firstly, whilst OfferMe works hand-in-hand with the sellers on our site, it's important to separate us from these eRetailers. This allows us to remain as a buyer focused platform, giving us the ability to to negotiate competitive deals. To ensure we're getting the best possible deal, our team researches both online and off-line competitors. Each Group Buy deal listed goes through the same stringent qualifying process. This helps us stay true to the buyers demands, as they continually receive quality deals and at highly competitive prices.

We also provide a wealth of communication tools ensuring you have our full support.

Answer your Group Buy question Live...

As with most companies, customer support is a crucial part of our service. Our head of Customer Services, Sakshi Paul, oversees all of our customer enquiries ensuring our buyers are fully supported and that their issues are addressed within a timely efficient manner. Sakshi also manages our live chat feature during business hours, providing live support for users through instant chat messaging. It's a safe, secure and personal way to get the answer to any product-specific or service-related question you may have.

Get InTouch to discuss any Group Buy concerns...

Some of you may already know about OfferMe's InTouch. Yet the truth is, a lot of users are unaware of the full potential InTouch gives them. InTouch is OfferMe's community platform where everyone can share their own experiences, product knowledge and even team up to get a Group Buy Deal.

Further, I'm on there. I spend a fair amount of my time in InTouch getting ideas about new products to source or speaking to concerned buyers. Simply add me as a friend and I'll keep you up-to-date with the deals I'm currently negotiating while trying solve any of your product issues.

Settling any Group Buy issues across the web...

Everyone knows that the 'net is a big place. OfferMe isn't confined to the OfferMe site alone. There are other places you can chat to OfferMe users and get the answers you're after. Our Online Content Manager, Nadim Sharbean, manages an OfferMe Facebook fanpage which has grown to over a thousand fans within a couple of weeks. While the latest Group Buy Deals and some hilarious video clips make up the bulk of the site, you can also chat to other OfferMe fans & users, and compare your experiences.

If you're a forum surfer, the best place to find chatter about OfferMe Group Buys is Australia's number one retail forum, Ozbargain.com.au. Online Marketing Coordinator, Bekim Ahmedi works hard to consult all questions that appear on the site. Staying involved in threads like this ensures that all these answers to obvious concerns remain available to anyone that may share them.

What I'm essentially trying to emphasise is that, when you choose to shop with OfferMe and use our Group Buy service, you are not alone. Our team is here to assist you, providing the full support you need to confidently make your purchase.

The OfferMe Community: Group Buy versus the World

2009-11-26T09:16:00.003+11:00

Nadim Sharbean compares the Group Buying revolution to the rest of the eRetail world.

Fair's fair: we harp on a bit about our Group Buy service. So today I've decided to look at some of our so called competitors and the things they're offering you...

Billy Corrigan was speaking from a well-wizened view when he penned the lyrics:

“The World is a vampire... Set to drain.”

Dash away thoughts of Twilight and instead focus on the Nosferatu type, with horribly long fangs and sucking the blood of anything that crosses it's path. Then you start to see the type of horrible image Corrigan, the Smashing Pumpkin's frontman, was getting at.

Group Buy Guaranteed

The truth is, the world is full of blood-sucking beasties that'd happily drain our livelihood. And A LOT of them can be found on the 'net. Gone are the days of chain letters received by post, threatening to burn your house if you failed to send $5 and forward the letter. Gone are the days of door-to-door salespersons, just asking for 5 minutes of your time. Gone are the fly-by-night vendors that set up stalls in village malls to pawn off their wares before disappearing with the dusk.

Where'd they go to? The worldwide web; where everything is for sale and every seller's as credible as their pretty flashy images.

Thankfully services like PayPal and Verified by VISA have come along to help offer you some assurance. At OfferMe, we have aligned ourselves with one of the country's biggest banking corporations, Westpac, so you know that we're legit and properly handling all funds. Additionally, all non-Group Buy purchases can be made via PayPal, adding to our credibility. With Group Buy, although PayPal isn't available for the feature, we offer a complete Money Back Guarantee, meaning if you don't get the product you're after, we'll fully refund you!

Group Buy vs Auction Sites

Nowadays though, these steps aren't enough for everyone. Web browsers are smart enough to look out for the score. So what is the score? How does Group Buy match up to other services, such as 'net auctions and penny-bids?

Well, I believe Group Buy stacks up favourably. Don't just take my word for it, let's compare them!

To start off we need understand the basic principle of economics: supply vs demand. For those of us that did some form of Business Studies, Commerce or Economics in high school, we'll all remember that graph our teachers introduced us to on Day 1:

Quite simply, the more that products are supplied, the lower the demand becomes. The inverted relation between the two is the basics of every economic design. It's why our government has done their best to ban monopolies and promote small businesses. In the end, higher competition leads to better benefits for all consumers.

So how does this relate to the 'net?

As the old saying goes: the more things change, the more they stay the same. The supply vs demand module is constantly in practice within online retail world. Yet sometimes it becomes so skewed that we fail to see what's going on.

Take, for example, online auctions. A BluRay Player supplier comes onto one of these sites to sell his item. It's one device and he lists it at a low, low price. Users start to bid and compete against one another for the device. Demand starts to rocket and, because there's technically only one of the device supplied, the price rockets up. In the end the supplier makes a decent enough sale for the item to still be profitable in his book. Also, he's generated interest in his wares, attracting other buyers to his eStore. Most buyers are usually so depressed at missing out on the auction deal, that they'll sate their desire through buying the device at the normal market price. Sound stupid to you? Yeah, well it actually happens. That's why eRetailers all have 'shopfronts' on these auction sites.

With OfferMe's Group Buy though, the supply vs demand module works in economic harmony. The more of our users that want the device, the lower the cost becomes. This price setting process begins before the Group Buy deal is advertised. Through OfferMe's original platform our Deal Detectives see the type of demand our users have for certain items. Then the negotiate prices based around that demand. As most of our users can attest, this usually leads to some favourable savings, up to 85% off the recommended retail prices.

Group Buy vs Penny-Bid Sites

Similar to online auctions, penny-bids are a one product pony; everyone fights it out for a single object. With these sites, users buy credit from the server and then bid the equivalent of one cent on an item. Every time a new bid is made, the price of the item rises. At the end of the auction period, the highest bidder wins. You'll see ads for these sites promoting things like Nintendo Wii's going for a mere $11.32. Which, on the surface, sounds great. What they fail to also openly advertise is that every bid that has been placed is collected! So, if you were second last to bid on that Wii, you spent $11.31 for nothing! Does it still sound that great? If the site feature 20,000 users and each bids up to a mere 10c for a $400 Wii pack, that penny-bid sit just made over five time the cost. Sure, one user got a massive saving, he 'won' the Wii. But 19,000 other users were definitely losers.

OfferMe's Group Buy though isn't about one lucky user. Group Buy ensures multiple users get the same savings. Yeah, so perhaps the Wii won't go for $11.32. Yet, if you spend money on OfferMe you get what you pay for! In fact, the products are ALL you pay for with OfferMe. There are no user fees or registration charges. It's simply the price of the product and delivery. Further, we hope to see between 10-20 people taking advantage of our prices. It means we've found something else that you like. We even encourage you to tell your mates about it. There's no 'one-off-special-discount-for-you-only' deal going on here. As we say, with Group Buy everybody wins!

So do you see why we harp on about Group Buy? To us it signifies a revolution on the 'net; instead of allowing faceless merchants from around the world to dictate terms to you, OfferMe gives you the power to demand better prices on the products you're after. And right now the site's still growing! Get behind this eRetail revolution now and take back the control. After all, it's what you're demanding.

With Group Buy, the More the Merrier

2009-11-18T10:13:00.001+11:00

Want to ensure your Group Buy deal goes through? OfferMe's Bekim Ahmedi tells you about ways you can get it done.

I've done my fair amount of traveling around the world. And what I've come to realise is the thing I liked most was I always had someone to turn to and say, "Isn't that amazing?" It's the ability to share the experience that makes it so great. What am I talking about? I'm talking about group buy. If there is a deal and your the only person who has clicked "I want to buy" then you have to ask your a question: How much do I want this item?

For most people sharing bargains is something they reserve for the real world. They head down to the shops, buy what they want and then come back and tell their friends about it. Here's the thing; let's say you go out and buy a TV. You save $200 on a brand new LCD screen. You tell your friend and they say, “Hmmm... That's not bad. We need a new TV.” Then they're also getting $200 off a plasma screen. It's great that everyone's happy.

What if, though, buying the two TVs at one time got you each $300 off? Let's face it, that happens. Sellers always have a little more wiggle room to play with. And that's where Group Buy comes in. We go out and find out just how much that wiggle room is. What we can't do is make sure your friends get in on the deal. And that's where you need to ask yourself that question.

Most people automatically tell their friends about great deals. My colleague, Nadim, purchased the multipurpose wireless headphones off our site. The day he did so, he went and told all his mates at football training. It was a great idea. If just two of those guys joined the deal, Nadim would have been assured the deal went through. But he was asking for the boys from football to go home, turn on the computer, get online, go to the site, perhaps register and then purchase the item. More than likely they simply would have forgotten about it.

So there has to be a better way, right? Yep, the lovely internet has now made is much easier. In fact, there are plenty of ways.

Group Buy on Community Sites...

Web 2.0 is term you may hear us or other 'net sites say a lot. Basically it boils down to the community sites that now dominate the 'net, such as Facebook and Twitter. Staying in touch and finding out what the people you care about are up to is now so much easier thanks to these developments. So letting your mates know about a great deal can be as easy as pasting a link onto your Facebook page. In fact, on each of our Group Buy deals, you'll find a 'Share' button that'll make achieving this really, really easy. Check it out on today's latest deal

Group Buy on Shopping Forums...

The Internet is full of sites for online shoppers to compare prices and give reviews for products. Most of these are run by third parties that won't allow companies to SPAM their sites with fake posts. In Australia there are some really good ones. The two most famous are OzBargain.com.au and BuckScoop.com.au. The best part about using online forums to share is that the users already online, already looking for a great deal and have no concerns with making purchases across the 'net. In fact, the proof is in the pudding. Check out OfferMe user Kazyazy's post on OzBargain here. She guaranteed that she didn't miss out on her Group Buy item. Near 290 people checked out this deal thanks to her.

Share using OfferMe's InTouch...

OfferMe's very cool InTouch social networking platform is designed for this very purpose. Considered a Facebook for shoppers, InTouch allows OfferMe users to talk with other users and share deals with each other amongst the community. The added bonus is that InTouch users are already OfferMe users, so they're well aware of how the Group Buy service works.

No matter if you use one of these places or all of them, spreading the word can ensure you get the deal you're after. And, in the end, that's what really matters.

The Thrill of the Challenge: Finding a Group Buy Deal

2009-11-09T13:28:00.000+11:00

OfferMe BDM, Erick Teresa, discusses the process he goes through to find great Group Buy deals for Christmas.

I can't believe we're almost there already. Another year has passed right before our eyes and we'll all look back wondering where the last eleven months went. Chances are, like everyone else, you went through your highs, lows and in betweens, but you're happy you made it. With 2009 coming to a close, we can now look forward to the most exciting time of the year: Christmas. It's that special time for giving and receiving gifts among your closest family, friends and loved ones. It's also an opportunity to say thanks to these special people in your life that have continually supported, loved and cared for you.

Buying a present is never easy and considering Christmas is just around the corner, many e-commerce and retail stores will start flashing “Big Savings” posters in front of your eyes. A lot of different products will also start hitting the market influencing you to buy. And making sure you get a competitive price is a must, which means spending hours comparing prices between different stores from all around town. This tiresome, time consuming process may leave you feeling confused, drained and downright frustrated.

To give you more insight about OfferMe and how we can make your life easier, today I thought I would give you a window into my world.

Every day whether I'm at work, going out or lounging around in front of the television, I look for deals. When I step into the office I look at what our buyers are requesting and immediately start looking for a deal. After scouring a wealth of eCommerce stores and eRetail outlets, I speak with our extensive seller base and negotiate a competitively priced deal, trying to ensure it's one of the best deal on the market.

I also spend late nights and weekends researching which items are popular and how much they are selling for. If I'm watching TV and notice an item for sale during the commercial break, I'll write it down and research it online. If I'm out with my wife when she's shopping for jewellery, shoes, clothes, accessories – the list goes on and on – I'll compare the costs seeing to it that we get the best price. In fact, I currently have a pile of catalogues sitting on my desk that I scour each day, trying to see what's hot and at what price.

Chances are, you probably think my actions are a little crazy or even over the top. I wonder the same thing sometimes, but I actually enjoy it. I am relish the challenge of finding great deals based on your requests. Forget spending your shopping nights and weekends looking for a deal because at OfferMe we do all the hard work for you.

Simply register your interest on an item you want and, if the demand on OfferMe is high enough, we'll do our best to find the best deal we can. Once found, chances are, we'll Group Buy it. Then all you have to do is simply book your item and sit back while your item is delivered right to your door.

Check out what's going on Group Buy now... Click here!

The OfferMe Community: 'Tis the Season for Group Buy

2009-11-03T12:03:00.001+11:00

Nadim Sharbean gets ready for Christmas with OfferMe and Group Buy

Don't Ba-Humbug Group Buy Christmas Shopping...

Sure, here at OfferMe we've been doing a lot of talking about Christmas Shopping with Group Buy. The truth is, we see it as a way to ensure you have a great Christmas. Think about it this way: it's December; your entire family is coming over for Christmas lunch; your boss has decided to forgo any Christmas bonuses because, let's face it, we're still in an Economic Crisis; there are no parking spots available anywhere at the local Westfields; and, if you don't get started on your Christmas gift buying, someone's going to think Santa missed them. If that scenario rings true for you, you need to listen to what we're saying.

Everyday a new Group Buy deal will be sent your way. If it's something that you believe would make a great present, jump on and book yours. That's one less gift to go hunting for and you'll be getting it at a great price. And, whilst we can't help with Christmas dinner, by making your purchases this early, you'll still have extra cash come December.

So may be you can bring in a caterer!

The OfferMe Business Model...

Most of you have probably checked out an OfferMe Group Buy deal and said, “Hmmm... I don't know if that's really what I'm looking for.” Fair enough. We're not all Elton John's throwing cash away on anything we see. To be wary is to be wise. Yet the question that I get asked the most at OfferMe is “How do you guys get ahead?”

I won't lie, we make cash on sales. But our business model is built to prevent the buyers from paying that cash. Essentially what we do is charge our sellers a nominal fee for selling on our site, as we handle all the advertising on their behalf. For our buyers they still win because the seller has to keep the price at a low rate to compete. In the end, it's the proverbial win-win for everyone involved.

As we don't have a direct vested interest in the sales, we remain an impartial third-party to all deals. If you query the features of an item, ask us, we'll give you an honest answer... we've got nothing to lose. If you're having an issue with a seller, tell us. We'll do our best to resolve the issue or, should the seller really be at fault, we'll remove them from our site. In the end, we exist to work on your behalf. Your satisfaction results in our growth. So tell us what we can do to make sure you stay satisfied.

Group Buy really works...

Most marketing people (of which I claim not to be) rarely use what they're hawking. All talk and no show. So I thought it would be worthwhile to tell you about my own Group Buy experience.

About 4 weeks ago, through OfferMe's Group Buy I purchased the Latest Monster HDMI Cable. The week prior I had made a sound deal on a WD HD Media Hub. Although a brilliant device, I knew I wouldn't get full use out of it unless I had a quality HDMI Cable to go with it. When the deal went live I did a little research and found that, while most companies weren't selling the same cable at the $299 RRP, it was generally selling over $100. At OfferMe, due to it being part of a Group Buy, the cable was only $35, plus $7 in shipping & handling. For me, it was a no-brainer. Of course, the second I told my mates about it, one of them wanted one too and I had to fork out another $42.

It took a little over a week for the cable to arrive and, I'll admit it, the wait seemed FOREVER. But in hindsight it wasn't that long when compared to the wait for some of my other internet purchases. The second it arrived I had it plugged into the Hub and man, what a difference it's made. Watching downloaded HD media is like watching One HD: crystal clear with perfect sound to match. My mate used his for his PlayStation 3 and he testifies that the picture has improved compared to the cable they gave him with the console.

Due to this feedback OfferMe's BDM, Erick Teresa, is looking to put the cable in Group Buy again. He's also discussing more deals with the same supplier. Feedback like this helps us know who's reliable and who we probably shouldn't deal with anymore. Considering we have more of a vested interest in our buyers than our sellers, we listen to you to do our research. So, if you've made a Group Buy purchase, make sure you give us some feedback. It's easy; when you're signed into your account, click on the item you've bought and look for the Feedback link in the drop down menu on the right. Then say a few words about your purchase and click Done.

Like I said earlier, we're all about buyer's satisfaction.

2009-10-29T11:33:00.000+11:00

Bekim Ahmedi talks about all that's going on at OfferMe, including Christmas Group Buy specials.

Changes to the OfferMe Group Buy Newsletter...

If you're like me, you usually sit through the ads when watching TV. There are one or two ads I might enjoy seeing, but mostly I just stare at the box until my program starts again. After all, there are a vast amount of ads on TV that are in no way relevant to me. So why should I show them my attention?

My issue with television ads carries right through to the newspapers. When you buy the paper there are so many different sections. Business, sports, entertainment and there is usually one section that's just not related to me. Currently I don't need the careers section, I'm happy where I am. So wouldn't it be good if I could just select what I wanted to see?

Well, at OfferMe, this is why we have made changes to the OfferMe Group Buy newsletter. You simply choose the category you are interested in receiving and that's all you'll get. And, if you're someone who really doesn't mind watching all the TV ads or going through all the sections of the newspaper, then that's not a problem either; you can continue to receive all of OfferMe's newsletters. It's just a way for us to ensure you're getting the most out of your OfferMe experience.

Decking the Halls at OfferMe...

Christmas is around the corner, only a couple of months to go now, so you may notice changes to our site over the coming weeks. Well, of course we're putting up the Christmas decorations, with a new Christmas theme garnishing our site and a little bit of Christmas cheer being invested into our communications with you guys. We at OfferMe together with our community want to get into the spirit of Christmas and the holidays.

We're just as amazed as you that another year has ticked by so fast, but this year we're getting you prepared. Presents, presents and more presents. Family, friends and Kris Kringle... sounds like a lot of gift buying. I'm just thinking of the crowds I'll have to negotiate in the shopping centres over the next couple of months. How annoying! No parking! No seat in the food-court! Long queues at the cash register! Even longer queues getting out of the car park! Arrgghhh, I'm already over it! Group Buy will be a perfect opportunity for that gift without the hassle of the Christmas rush period in the shopping centres.

Yet just like Santa, OfferMe won't know what you really want for Christmas unless you tell us. After something special like Pandora jewellery or a bottle of Calvin Klein cologne. Then let us know. We have connections with plenty of sellers, so we can negotiate a Group Buy discount on almost anything. But without your input, how are we going to get you that Christmas gift that you've searched everywhere for?

OfferMe Credit Look Out...

Keep your eyes peeled for the OfferMe Credit logo. Starting last week, OfferMe Credit will be available on more and more select Group Buy deals. That means, on top of the 20% - 50% that you save with Group Buy, you could also get a few more dollars off! For more information about OfferMe Credit – how to get it and use it – check out this link.

Listening to the Buyers: You get a say with Group Buy

2009-10-29T11:26:00.001+11:00

OfferMe's BDM explains how listening to customers increases Group Buy demand.

Ernest Hemingway once said:

“I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.”

It's amazing that in today's world of new age relationships and hi-tech communications that his quote would still ring true. I mean, listening is such a simple way to let someone connect with you. Yet no one really seems to do it. Failing to apply this fundamental principle creates frustration, annoyance and just plain disappointment. No one enjoys the thought of being unheard. Especially in retail. When you're trying to get a cheap buy and no one wants to listen to you, what's to stop you from just giving up. You feel deterred and just want move onto something else. It's the same for everybody.

I've been there. And, in my job, I see it every single day. Last year my wife and I visited one of the big electronics retailers (name withheld to protect the innocent ie me). We were looking for a good deal on a laptop. After fiddling my thumbs waiting to be served for over 20 minutes, a staff member finally made their way into our aisle and faintly introduced themselves. We already knew what features we were after and simply asked the Sales Assistant to tell us what deals they had. Instead of actively listening to our needs, the Sales Assistant pretty much cut us off and introduced us to products that we neither wanted, nor could afford. We walked out empty-handed and feeling like we had wasted our time.

As a consumer I have the belief that this should be easier. It's the nature of commerce: supply exists due to demand. Therefore, actively listening to your buyers allows you to find the right products to sell. For us at OfferMe, listening to our buyers helps us determine which products we need to negotiate the best deals on. This also has the direct benefit of increasing buyer confidence and retention, by continuing to provide the right product for your buyer. This is exactly what they're referring to when they're talking about 'good service'.

As a Business Development Manager, listening to our buyers and understanding their needs is essential for me to do my job. This is the first step before I can search for the best deals on the market. It's even more important when you consider that I do it for OfferMe, a buyer focused community. After all, that's our biggest differentiator, setting us apart from our competition. At Offerme, your voice needs to be heard loud and clear. As a member within the sales team, I have to make myself available to actively listen to your needs and requirements.

Which brings me to Christmas...

Chances are you'll spend countless hours during November & December searching for a wide variety of gifts. That meaningful item for someone that made your year special. Or that Kris Kringle gift for a random at work. At OfferMe, we appreciate that Christmas is really meant to be about spending cherished quality time together. That's why you should let us handle all the searching for you. Let us waste our days finding that perfect item at the best price. All you need to do is tell us what you want.

We're always here, we're always searching and we're ready to listen. What deal can we find for you?

The OfferMe Community: Working Together for Group Buy Savings

2009-10-14T09:21:00.007+11:00

Online Content Manager, Nadim C Sharbean, explains why Community is key to OfferMe's Group Buy.

If you're reading this blog because you've come from the link on the OfferMe site or our Facebook fan page, then I'm doing my job well. My name is Nadim and in my role as the Online Content Manager for OfferMe.com.au, it's my responsibility to communicate and interact with the OfferMe community.
Now, granted, most companies in today's virtual world have blogs and Facebook pages. 'Social Media' and 'Social Marketing' are two chic terms in business right now. Yet with OfferMe it's so much more than simply having an online presence. You see, to us here, OfferMe is built on and built for our Community. Our mission is to create a social shopping platform that focuses on gaining benefits for buyers.

That sounds like more marketing shtick. So let me whittle it down to basics. Essentially we exist so that OfferMe users can get the best deals on products they want. As most of our users know, the biggest way we do that is our Group Buy feature. This innovative concept allows users from all across the 'net to join together and get bulk buying prices on... well, anything really. As most people know, go into any store with two mates to buy the same product and the Sales Person will be more than happy to negotiate a better price. OfferMe's Group Buy takes out the hassles of that process. You simply say whether or not you want in on the Group Buy deal.

(On the Right: The highly requested Kingston 4GB DataTraveller sold for a mere $9.95 last week!)

How Group Buy products get chosen...

Currently, the OfferMe BDM, Erick Teresa, handles all the Group Buy product searches and negotiations. He bases his searches on the higher requested items on OfferMe (for more on requesting items, check out this page). What this means is that some of you are getting what you want, while others have to wait. So, if you are a user that's waiting, how do you get Erick onto your item? It's pretty simple really. First you request the item on OfferMe. Then you get people to click the 'Register Interest' button on your listed item.
And that's where the OfferMe community comes in. Want a PS3? Get on the Facebook page and get the votes behind it. Or try out OfferMe's InTouch social platform. It's like a Facebook for our users. In the end, all you need is a handful of people hunting for your product to get Erick on the job.

Group Buy your Christmas cheer...

Right now we're trying to stock up on cool things for Christmas. Yes, the 'Time for Giving' is right around the corner and we're looking at sorting out all your Kris Kringle needs and Christmas gift ideas in one hit. Got an item you think EVERYONE needs for Chrissie? Well, go on and tell us about it. We're like Santa... But with credit card access.

Introducing OfferMe Credit: Getting Bigger Online Bargains on Group Buy

2009-10-01T16:04:00.001+10:00

My name is Bekim and I'm part of OfferMe's marketing team. I've got to be honest, I really enjoy my job and not just because of the City views from my computer. A good part of the reason I like my job is because I really am a strong believer of what we here at OfferMe have to offer. OfferMe is the future. With our features, including Group Buy, OfferMe will change the way you shop for online bargains. At OfferMe, you request what you want and let the sellers find you. Rather than you looking all day for the best prices, they come to you. There's no auctioning, no bidding; OfferMe's just a platform where you and the sellers can interact.

I'll give you a real example: I'm after a new DVD player but, like most people, I don't have the time, nor the energy, to go from shop to shop looking for the best price. And while online shopping seems easier, with the amount of people out there hocking dud stuff, it's just as frustrating. So instead I've simply put in a request for a DVD player on OfferMe and will now sit back and let the sellers find me. When one of our registered and approved sellers sends me an offer, I can either choose to accept his quote or - the best bit - haggle for a cheaper price. And it's all at no cost, OfferMe doesn't charge any membership fees. The only time I'll pay is if I agree on something with a seller.

Another feature that we have is 'Group Buy'. It's a platform where individuals can group together to create an advantage where everyone involved benefits. Similar to bulk buying, buyers from across Australia are able to purchase products at a lower price than what would have been achievable had they purchased on their own. With factory outlets and direct wholesalers becoming so popular nowadays, OfferMe Group Buy essentially delivers the same thing, to your computer. The best part is that you don't have to round up and beg your friends to join in. The deal is available to all OfferMe users, so all you have to do is make sure you don't miss out!

OfferMe Credit – Available on Group Buy

Our latest feature, though, is the sugar on top. OfferMe now also offers OfferMe Credit which can be used as currency on only on our site. The credit can be payable on any deal – including Group Buy deals – which feature the OfferMe Credit logo. It even includes payment on shipping and handling.

It basically works like this...

OfferMe Credit in Cash...
Group Buy Price = $49.99
OfferMe Credit = $3.00
The amount to be paid = $46.99 + S/H

OfferMe Credit in Percentage...
Group Buy Price = $49.99
OfferMe Credit = 5% (5% is $49.99 = $2.5)
The amount to be paid = $47.49 + S/H

The amount is automatically calculated for you when you click on the 'I Want to buy' button!

And, you can score up $30 in OfferMe Credit the day you register. Simply register your mobile and you'll receive a $30 OfferMe Credit Bonus in your account, absolutely free. Also, it's important we mention that mobile number registration is only done for security & validity purposes. We do not, in anyway, text or call you unnecessarily. It simply helps us in keeping your online shopping experience safe.

Right now you can $5 of OfferMe Credit on our Group Buy item, the Nokia Bluetooth headset. That'll bring the full price of the headset down to $21.50. Check it out

And when you're done that, I dare you to comeback and tell me that my job isn't great!

Negotiating an Online Bargain: Why the old principles never change?

2009-09-28T15:12:00.003+10:00

It's interesting how times have changed so much, yet the same issues remain unsolved. If anything, people have become more confused. For a long time, we spent countless afternoons driving to different shops looking for a good deal. We spoke to different shop assistants asking about different products and trying to haggle a bargain price. More often than not, we ended up driving home empty-handed knowing we had wasted precious time; time we could have spent with the family going to the beach or a picnic.

The emergence of the Internet as a viable retail solution only ended up muddying the waters, leaving us even more confused and worried whether the e-retailer we were dealing with was legitimate and not just a scam aimed at our hard earned dollars. Further, with so many stores booming online, people were still wasting countless hours, yet this time it was spent searching different websites, trying to find that elusive online bargain.

There had to be an easier way. People demanded convenience and needed peace-of-mind, knowing that they could quickly and easily get the right product they were looking for, at a competitive price. They wanted back their free time, to return their focus to their children or their mates. They wanted to spend romantic weekends with their partners, without worrying about the annoying hassles of day-to-day life.

If you could go to one place to achieve all of the above, wouldn't that make things so much easier?

Well, that's my job. My name is Erick Teresa and I'm a Business Development Manager at OfferMe.com.au

Every morning, when I step into the office, I get on the case of finding the best deals on the 'net. My team and I start with the OfferMe customers. Knowing what buyers, like yourself, are interested in purchasing is vital to our process. Then we go about handling all the searching that you'd normally spend half a day doing. This goes beyond simply comparing prices and quality between verified e-retailers. It's the aim of our team to build relationships with reputable sellers and negotiate special deals for our growing list of buyers. What we want is for you to find the best prices on OfferMe. By doing this we can assure your convenience and peace-of mind, while offering you a quality service.

At least once a month I'm going to get on here and tell you how it's going in my side of the company. Perhaps I'll let you know about some new products we've got coming up on Group Buy. Or maybe I'll be able to give you some goss on what we're looking for. I'd really like it if you guys jumped on and told me what you're after. And please, no one say PS3... I'm already on the case (and as soon as I find a great price you'll be the first to know). So go on, go enjoy your weekend. Just check in every now & then and see what we're offering you.

Thanks Mum

2009-04-27T13:52:00.001+10:00

Mother's Day is a time to really thank mum for everything she has done. From cutting the crusts off our sandwiches to making our favourite dinner when we aren't our usual selves, Mums play a special role in most people's lives. This Mother's Day, let mum know how much you appreciate her.

Chrysanthemum's are the obvious choice for Mother's Day but why not think outside the box this year. If you have children so your mum is also a grandmother you can't go past some home made gifts. Paddle pop jewelry boxes and glittery cards are timeless keepsakes.

If your mum lives overseas or interstate make sure you send your Mother's Day card well before. If you're sending a parcel send it even earlier to make sure it arrives on time. Remember:it's ok if a card arrives early, not so good if it's late. Threw in a bit of card etiquette my mum taught me there.

Most importantly, don't forget to see mum or get in touch with her this Mother's Day.

If you yourself are mum, we would like to wish you a wonderful and happy Mother's Day from the team at OfferMe.

Author: Katie Preston Toepfer

Easter is upon us

2009-03-23T11:28:00.006+11:00

It was during a trip to my local grocery store a few weeks back when I noticed a large display of colourfully wrapped goodies. It was then that I realised, Easter was upon us.
Gradually over the next few weeks this display will keep growing in size, filled with chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies. Ever so subtly, these delights will work their way into our trolleys and eventually...onto the thighs.

One Easter phenomenon I want to mention is the creation of the Easter Bilby. The Australian distant relative of the Easter bunny. I think we should support our native species and I applaud the chocolate manufacturer who started creating the Easter Bilby chocolate range. Not only are they delicious but they also support the 'Save the Bilby fund' which has been helping the survival of the Bilby since 1999.

We have our own version of Santa clad in shorts, thongs and a wife beater, why not have our own version of the Easter bunny too?

We all know Easter is not just about over-eating and Easter egg hunts. It's a time to be spent with family and friends. Whether it be a trip with the family up the coast over the long weekend, or a quiet seafood BBQ feast in the backyard. From the whole team at OfferMe we would like to wish you all a very safe and happy Easter...We'll deal with the over-indulgence at a later date.

All the best

Author: Katie Preston Toepfer

Why should we sell anonymously online?

2008-12-04T23:59:00.000+11:00

I am a regular visitor of smartcompany.com.au, I saw an article called “Why online retailing is a dead-end: Gerry Harvey” the other day, quite a starement from Gerry, isn’t it? A lot people has reacted strongly against what Gerry has claimed, feedbacks flew in expressing that maybe Gerry is too old to understand what online is all about.

Think about it again, maybe Gerry do have the resource to make such a statement. Australia has a relatively small market, distribution channels sometimes do have a lot of power over the suppliers, especially over the major brands. With Harvey Norman in its current size, it can easily put pressure over suppliers, not allowing them to sell cheap to other small operators, especially the ones that are selling online. With such power, it’s understandable that Gerry can make such a statement. But for small operators, who are selling or are going to sell online. What can we do to avoid the channel pressure then? One way I thought of is finding a place online where we can sell anonymously.

This is one of the reasons why on OfferMe, until the deal is done, seller’s ID is hidden to they buyers, the offer does not show to people who is not interested in buying. So if sellers do have something in stock that need to cleared, they can sell any price they want on OfferMe, they don’t have to worry about damaging their hard building brand value or the price tag they have put up in their stores, which is a majar problem a retailer will face when selling the same product online at the same time.

James

OfferMe can offer you great savings this Christmas

2008-10-22T15:07:00.001+11:00

Some of you will look at the title of this blog and say, What? Christmas already? Others will be way ahead and have revised their Christmas card list from last year. Wherever you're at with your Christmas preparations, www.offerme.com.au can offer you some great benefits. Not only helping to ease the stress of shopping centres, but also to help you retain some cash, helping to prevent the dangerous maxing out of high interest credit cards.
Firstly lets take a closer look at the way OfferMe works. If you are looking for a specific product and cannot find it in the search, OfferMe enables you to list it on the website and helps sellers find you, offering you the product you want and also at the price you are wanting to pay. So you can rest easy while OfferMe collect offers from sellers and sends them directly to you. No calling around, no driving from center to center in 30 degree heat. List what you want, and let the sellers come to you.
Feel like you spend half of your Christmas shopping time in the post office? What is so handy about OfferMe is that all sellers offers include postage. So just say you want to send an item overseas as a gift. You can simply pay for it and give the seller the mailing address. No more post office ques and unsuspecting postage and handling fees. It couldn't be easier.
For those of us who are wary of buying online, OfferMe verifies all Australian sellers ABN numbers and credit card details when they register as a seller. This is to ensure optimum buyer safety when making a purchase. We want to make sure that every transaction you have on OfferMe is a pleasant experience.
There is no shame in saying that you perhaps are a little out of touch with the latest in ipods or mobile phones. If you want to surprise your 16 year old daughter with the latest and most popular ipod this year you can use OfferMe as a research tool. Here you can view all of the products that have been most popular over a period of time or the items which most buyers are requesting. We have done all of the research for you.

This year we hope to help you enjoy the festive season just that little bit more. By taking a lot of the hassle out of the seasonal ritual that is Christmas shopping.

Author: Katie Preston

What can YouTube do for your business?

2008-07-09T14:52:00.000+10:00

People are becoming increasingly more aware of the effect of social media sites on their business. We have realised that not only are they an important presence to have on the Internet, they provide an effective way to reach our target audience for a minimal cost.

According to the Morgan Stanley Internet Trends, March 1st 2008, 51% of all YouTube users visit the sight weekly and 50% of users watch videos until the end. 52% of YouTubers between the ages of 18-34 years old share videos with friends and colleagues ‘often.’5So we have a dedicated large portion of the population visiting a site that is free to upload videos to and anyone can have access to them. Individuals and business’s have become ‘Internet stars’ overnight and attribute their business success to YouTube.

How can your business benefit?
There are several ways to use YouTube to your advantage. At OfferMe, we have built a YouTube page for our business. It’s a place where we can create videos on areas of our business using it as a marketing tool, help area or user information centre. Customers who have a YouTube account can subscribe to our channel on YouTube and add us as a friend. YouTube allows business’s to create a community in a similar way to a Facebook or Myspace page. You are able to send messages to friends and subscribers of your page, letting them know of competitions, new videos, events or other user information.
Furthermore, YouTube offers its users a tool that allows you to see the statistics of the viewers of your videos. YouTube Insight allows you to see the number of views your videos receive per day, how popular your videos are compared to other videos in a given period of time and where your viewers are in the world. Using graphs the information is presented in an user-friendly, easy to read format.
Business’s can also use it to get people interacting with their business. Here at www.OfferMe.com.au we have just launched a YouTube video competition. People can enter the competition by creating a video and uploading it to YouTube. The content can be anything they like as long as they have the URL www.offerme.com.au showing on the screen at all times. The video with the most views by the closing date wins $10,000. We want our customers to interact with us, have the chance to be creative and have fun when they visit our website.

Many companies have made videos instructing people on how to use their products. A Canadian small business created a video to promote their blender.To show just how powerful the blender was they put an ipod in it. This creative idea gave the business a new found success.

The key to using YouTube as a marketing tool is to be creative. Get out that camcorder and start rolling! These days, anyone can be a director. We have only just launched our YouTube competition and have already seen users becomes friends of OfferMe, viewing our videos to see what we are about. Embracing all kinds of social media sites and creating a presence is vital in staying in tune with our customers.
Check out OfferMe’s YouTube video competition at www.offerme.com.au/competitions. Or visit our YouTube channel at http://au.youtube.com/user/offerme12.

Author: Katie Preston

Multi-channel’s and increase in online activity incorporated into the buying experience

2008-05-22T12:56:00.000+10:00

With rising petrol prices, it’s no wonder more and more people are turning to the Internet to do their shopping. According to an American cross-channel retailing expert, by 2012, almost half of all retail purchases will in one way or another involve the Internet. Whether that be to initially compare prices before going to a store, or simply making the whole decision and transaction online.

But it’s not only greener attitudes that are pushing Internet sales onward and upward. People are beginning to trust the methods of payment online as shopping over the Internet is becoming more and more common place.Third party payment systems such as PayPal,which are engineered to assist with making payments over the Internet along with retailer guarantee’s of delivery, ensure that consumers feel comfortable with purchasing over the web. Businesses are also now giving people return options for their purchased goods with no return fee for delivery.

The Hitwise Industry Snapshot Report for Shopping and Classifieds details in terms of visits, the top ten websites for Shopping and classifieds for the month of February,2008. At number one we have eBay, holding 29.57% share of the market.

Far be it for me to harp on and on about SEO but The Hitwise Report revealed that,’42.39% of all visits to the online ‘Shopping and Classifieds’ industry went to the top 10 websites for the month of February, 2008. 48.10% went to the top 20 websites and 63.24% went to the top 100 websites.

The report, Multi-channel Retailing, ACRS Secondary Research Report, August 2007 released by the Australian Centre for Retail Studies revealed that 86% of all store catalogues included a URL and 80% of retailers are using email to promote their business and advertise promotions. As noted earlier, many retailers now offer easy return offers for online purchases. 87% of retailers accept returns in-store for online purchases.

The ACRS Secondary Research Report references Shop.org which states that 34% of consumers use a minimum of three channels when making a purchase. These consumers who use multiple channels spend up to ten times more than those consumers that use a single-channel when shopping.

Of course, the presence of a ‘real’ store can not always prevail over online, and nor should it. Some things are better experienced in the flesh. However some items such as electronics are a great seller online. People know what they want and they know they can get it at a reasonable price too.

An online presence is vital to maintaining consumers, even if you are not selling online. Multiple channels are now an important way to inform, retain and excite your customers with the retail experience you provide. Of course, no-one can ignore the decrease in labour costs when selling online either. Especially when it’s through a third party website.

www.OfferMe.com.au has engaged it’s growing number of supporters through facebook, blogs and its pre-launch site. By acknowledging the significance of online presence, not just through your own website, doors open and awareness becomes viral. Something the Internet can do for your business at minimal cost.

The Internet has become a great tool for retail businesses. If used in the right capacity, it can generate more business than using traditional modes of marketing and advertising.

Author: Katie Preston

Consumer trends making it hard for businesses to keep up

2008-05-08T12:08:00.001+10:00

There was a time when being in big business meant having access to technology to keep ahead of your consumers with the power to ‘wow’ them with technological advancements. These days, consumers have access to cutting edge technology and the gap between consumer and business technology is narrowing.

With Facebook and YouTube page views increasing by as much as 40% over the past two years, its no wonder we are seeing an increase in businesses having a strong social networking presence. The USC Annenburg School’s Digital future report ,2007 revealed that 80% of people saw the Internet as the most valuable and trusted source of information, over all other types of media such as television, newspapers and radio.

The report going on to prove that the king of social networking sites is Facebook. With 250 K new registrations daily and more than 50% of their users returning every day, it has become a must-have for businesses.

Facebooks success would have to be at least partly due to its early acknowledgement that the user could change and add applications to the social networking site that would only increase user activity and give individuals the power to customise their profiles. By giving the user the power, they opened up social networking sites to a whole new world of personalised features with an incredible potential for successful and targeted advertising.

When comparing Facebook and MySpace, we can see why consumers prefer using Facebook. Firstly, there are less intrusive ads on the web page. The ‘friends’ section of the page is prominent and stands out. It also offers a strong sense of security for users. People can share their lives with their peers and don’t have to worry about spammers.

Widgets are fun mini applications that can be added to your web page, social profile or blog. These widgets can link your page to other favourite sites.Another goldmine for businesses on social networking sites. For example, lets look at BBC News. They have their own Facebook and also clips within YouTube. By not relying solely on their website and having a direct link to their social networking sites on their web page, they increase the amount of people who view their news features. Their presence is strengthened by having a social networking presence.

When we look at who is purchasing what online, it is no surprise that websites like Amazon.com have come up with a way to show browsers what items people bought after they purchased specific products and where they went to on the site after they purchased. There are also customer reviews and discussions so people can ask what others think of certain products. As we all know, no form of advertising beats customer referral!

Facebook is a business’s heavily artillery if you know how to use it. One of Facebook’s features is a mini-feed. It gives you a list of the current Facebook activity by those who are your friends on Facebook. So if someone became a fan of your site, anyone who is friends with the person who became a fan will be notified. When they log in it will read, ‘John became a fan of OfferMe.’ If a friend has reviewed a restaurant, it would state, ‘Alex has reviewed yummy restaurant and has given it 4 stars.’

Every day more and more businesses log on to Facebook and take a vital business step and set up an account. Nutella is a prime example of how you can use your Facebook page to make your customers interact with your brand. www.OfferMe.com.au now have a Facebook page and we encourage people to come join us and be apart of our network. It is constantly being updated with news feeds and images so check it out! We also welcome you to post your own comments and images on our site.

Social networking sites for business is not just a trendy fad. The type of interaction between users on Facebook is priceless. It’s true what they say, money can’t buy everything.

Author: Katie Preston

With a revolt brewing, why is eBay still laughing?

2008-04-29T14:00:00.002+10:00

Since eBay increased its fees and banned payments other than PayPal, most eBay sellers are furious about the decision. If you go to the eBay power seller’s forum, http://www.powersellersunite.com, you can feel the heat and clearly see there is a revolt brewing against eBay. Some sellers are even asking sellers to boycott eBay on May 1st to deliver a strong message. You rarely ever see a revolt of this scale, against a business by it’s own members!

On Wednesday, 16th of April, on the morning 2GB’s special eBay topic talk-back show, almost 100% of the callers condemned the changes. An eBay spokesperson was also on hand to defend their policy. When faced with a sea of furious callers, this extremely well spoken guy (probably good looking as well) cited improved security as one of the main reasons for its decision. Compared to the stressed out and angry callers, he was so calm, confident and delighted, behind his well organised words, you could feel his true attitude: “just shut up or piss off if you are not happy!” You could sense he just thought all of those stressed out angry sellers’ were a joke.

As an eBay Powerseller, I truly understand the feeling of sellers, it’s just an extra cost for us to bear and extra income for eBay to enjoy. A friend of mine recently spent a lot of money not too long ago implementing an online payment system for his eBay buyers. Now with the change to the PayPal only system, all his money’s been wasted and for the sake of his business, he needs to employ an extra 4 people to handle the payments section before any alternative system can be set up. With extra labor costs and extra payment settlement costs, eBay sellers are getting squeezed too hard. Although sellers are extremely reluctant to increase their prices when they realise it’s an inevitable cost for everyone, they will be forced to by either increasing the Buy It Now price or raise delivery charges to offset PayPal fees. Although buyers are making less noise at the moment, in the end it will be ALL eBay users who with suffer.

I now have to ask this question, how can eBay think they can simply defy the odds by pressing even harder, even with this kind of resistance and not worry about losing customers? How can they possess this kind of super power other business don’t have? Honestly, I have to say they deserve it. After years of superb work and marketing, they built the best auction site on earth. In terms of online auctions, they are the Mt. Everest. Almost nobody can compare.Those who have tried to overtake them have often fallen to the wayside. Other sites are happy to sit by, and watch eBay users be squeezed, get angry and suffer, because they know that some eBay users are glutton for punishment and will come back to trade on eBay despite how they are treated. EBay knows they hold all the cards! Without eBay, where can sellers go? Some eBayers have tried to organise boycotts to deliver the angry message and stop eBay from pressing too hard.eBay knows they are big enough to weather any storm and sellers that boycott will only be hurting themselves! After using the Australian market as a Guinea pig, they will push PayPal to all global sites! Their profits will soar indefinitely. It doesn’t matter how eBay users are.

eBay users and competitors must be wondering, are they truly invincible? Like human beings trying to reach higher altitudes, after reaching the top of Mt. Everest, they just can’t go any higher unless someone thinks of something revolutionary. But by inventing the aeroplane, man can go higher than any mountain! Look at Kodak film. No other film makers can come close to Kodak, but they were replaced by a new format almost overnight. Kodak, the most well known film company nearly drowned in its own developer due to the invention of the digital camera.When we look at this scenario in comparison to eBay, you can see that it won’t be replaced by a more user/seller friendly auction website, it will be replaced by an all new concept of online trading.What once worked for everyone now is starting to not work. It’s time for a new idea.

Beside extremely low fees, OfferMe has all the other advantages eBay doesn’t and a concept that makes eBay look out-of-date in this new, next generation way of selling. I just wonder if OfferMe will stop eBay laughing?

Author: Albert Yang

Frightening fees for e-commerce businesses, what can be done?

2008-04-23T14:19:00.002+10:00

Trading online is a great way to make a living or some extra money. However sometimes it can be so costly that you only just break even after SEO and SEM costs. People are increasingly looking at alternatives to hosting their own site online and are now registering with sites that can do it all for them.

When trading online, there is less emphasis put on the location of your business therefore rental costs are much lower. You will also require less staff with an online operation than you would with a traditional retail store.However the costs associated with running your own e-commerce site can add up unexpectedly.

After setting up and paying for a domain name, paid a developer to create the website you then have to look at online marketing strategies. SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and SEM (Search Engine Marketing ) can be extremely costly and not always effective. When we look at google Pay Per Click for example, people are spending from 25 cents up to more than $2.50 to have someone simply visit their website. The statistics are that only 1 in 50 of these visitors will become a registered user.This makes the average cost of acquiring a register user on your website anywhere between $12.50 and $50. We haven’t even started on the cost of traditional forms of marketing such as print advertising and other media campaigns.

In the early stages of e-commerce marketing, savvy business owners could handle the google ad-word program(PPC) by themselves just by following the guidelines provided by google. Now as more people purchase and search online, online buyer behavior and usage of search terms has become a very complicated topic. Only professionals and extreme online business proprietors can handle Google ad-word themselves. Most of the new comers to the online business will complain that their PPC program just doesn’t work. Smart business owners generally hand over their PPC programme to a SEO company because they realise that hiring a full time in house team will not be able to compete with professional SEO companies. Not only will it cost more to have a team in house, but it will most likely not be as effective as outsourcing to a SEO Company.

But the real war zone is google organic key word rankings. When it comes to hot key words and getting on google’s first page in one of the top 5 positions, many SEO techies work day and night using methods they think will work,to try and push their client’s website to one of the top 5 positions. I have to say, in some highly competitive industries, to achieve coming up on google’s first page, is nothing short of sheer brilliance. It seems these days businesses will spare no expense to come up on google’s first page top five ranking. When online business owners realise this, they know the cost of running an online business isn’t necessarily cheaper than running a traditional store.

The Internet should make doing business easier. It can if you have the right systems in place. As the price of running an e-commerce businesses increases, it’s time we realised that we need to create new models for doing business online.

What can you do to loosen the load of fees for trading online?At OfferMe.com.au we aim to make the cost of selling on the Internet minimal. Through us there is no barrier between buyers and sellers.There are no listing fees and no time wasting-searching for customers. We have a ‘no sale, no charge’ policy. So you don’t pay anything unless you make a sale. Gone are the days of eBay anxiety.

OfferMe is the first step towards eradicating high online marketing fees for businesses. An important step towards the ecommerce of the future.

Author: Albert Yang