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Online Seller Takes His Auctions to Twitter

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

auction - iclipart.comYou've probably attended auctions or purchased items on eBay, but have you participated in any Twitter auctions as a seller or buyer?  One eBay seller and auctioneer thinks you probably will someday soon, even if you haven't yet.  In fact, he's leading the way!

In Auction Bytes, e-commerce authority Ina Steiner reports that @AuctionWally (aka Walt Kolenda) is experimenting with micro-blogging to expand his online sales beyond live auctions and eBay.

@AuctionWally uses the hashtag #TwitterAuction to organize his auction tweets, and you might want to take a look at them.  His first auction item was a Disney Tinkerbell Clock on July 11, and since then he's tweaked his process a little:  Instead of asking bidders to send him a Direct Message on Twitter for placing a bid, as he did initially, now he asks them to use the @reply feature;  He also links to Terms and Conditions for each item, according to Steiner.

 

Check out his online e-book titled How to Do Auctions on Twitter, if you're intrigued.   Yep, that's right... Just 10 days after his first auction on Twitter, he has a how-to book already written and published. 

Congratulations, @AuctionWally.  I'm a fan!  Now, if I can just figure out how to expand your idea and run with it to sell houses...

Posted by

This infoMargaret Wodarmation was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. 

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Comments (13)

Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Margaret, twitter is a perfect format for an auction if you have enough followers. It's also a great way to add followers. What next??

Sharon

Jul 21, 2009 04:31 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

WOW, Margaret, this is pretty interesting. I thought it was great that we add all listings and they are automatically added to Twitter. But Auctions, now that is interesting and will have to keep up with this how successful this idea is. Because you can bet that we will one day soon be adding listings directly by link from the MLS as an added member service. Great post and an interesting idea.

Jul 21, 2009 05:24 PM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

Interesting concept, Margaret... another step forward for technology!

Jul 21, 2009 06:01 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Sharon - Who knows where this Social Media will take us!

William - You can probably see that I am impressed at the way he got this how-to book out...  I've probably been thinking about doing something like that for years, and he thinks about it, writes it, and publishes it in 10 days!

Jesse - We'll let him work out the kinks, and then maybe we'll try it with a listing!

Jul 21, 2009 11:48 PM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

There are people making their business work for them in so mnay ways on Twitter. This is just another good example.

Jul 22, 2009 12:25 AM
Terry & Bonnie Westbrook
Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI
Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re

We have been using e-bay for some time but the fees are increasing . We are always looking for an alternative. Thanks.

Jul 22, 2009 01:06 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Bill - It's just amazing to me how creative some people can be.  I really look forward to seeing this evolve in the coming months.

Terry - As it says in the AuctionBytes article, Twitter is not for mega-sellers because you can only auction one item at a time, but it just might be the answer for people cleaning out their basements and attics.

Jul 22, 2009 01:16 AM
Bob & Bonnie Horning
Mount Joy, PA

I'll have to look into this... I'm a twit who doesn't tweet. I couldn't figure out how to use it ... my corporate sent a nice pdf to help us twits to tweet so ... if anybody else needs help... I think I'll be able to figure it out with their help now. I tought I taw a puttytat! Who comes up with these names anyway.

Blessings, Bob

Jul 22, 2009 02:01 AM
John Cannata
214-728-0449 http://TexasLoanGuy.com - Frisco, TX
Texas Home Mortgage - Purchase or Refinance

Well, this isnt a bad idea. Just have to get the hashtag known with users and Im sure it will take off (if it hasnt already).

Jul 22, 2009 04:20 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Bob - I know where you're coming from.  I don't know if anyone is getting anything from me, but I'm definately learning from others on Twitter.

John - Yeah, he seems to have this down pat, doesn't he?

Jul 23, 2009 01:02 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

I dunno, Margaret.  One of the features I love most on EBay is the seller (and buyer) rating system.  Still, I have to admire this guy's creativity even if I wouldn't go near one of his auctions.

Jul 23, 2009 02:05 AM
South Austin Real Estate Blog
Sky Realty South Austin - Austin, TX

And who said there is nothing new under the sun?  Everyday there are advances made in technology that seem incredible.  Good for this person for figuring out a new way to sell.  Buyer beware I think may prevail right now.

Jul 24, 2009 12:38 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Gail, It's fun to watch an entrepreneur at work.  No end to the creativity and energy, it seems!

Pat, I hate to tell you...  As the mom of an expert on online trust and safety (Founder of Buysafe.com), I'm sorry to telly you that those eBay ratings are easily manipulated and should not be relied upon.  On the other hand, using the hashtag on Twitter (#TwitterAuction), you view everything written on this person's auctions and feel confident that there has been no editing... no changing of the rules (like ebay does all the time)...

Jul 24, 2009 04:09 AM