UsedEverywhere.com

Top Ten: Distractions

Today marks the first day of the year that I’ve worn shorts to the UsedEverywhere.com office. What’s strange about that statement (other than the peculiarity of me sharing my wardrobe choices with you), is that today is July 29th. There’s only a month and a half left of Summer, and I’m not ready for it to be over. Forget school, forget cold, forget wet roads, forget dirty cars, forget Winter. Below are 10 items that will distract you and me from the impending doom of Summer’s end.

10) Bocce Set
http://www.usedgatineau.com/classified-ad/10916680

Have you ever tried playing bocce ball in the Winter? It doesn’t work. Like octopus and ice cream, the two were never meant to mesh. So what better way to ward off thoughts of Winter than to embrace something that is related to it in no way, shape, or form?

9) Paintball Gun
http://www.usedukee.com/classified-ad/12195105

The hardcore paintball fans out there may argue that their sport only gets better in the cold months. After all, frozen paintballs inevitably result in more pain, and if your favorite past time is one that closely resembles warfare then maybe that’s where you get your kicks. I, for one, would much rather romp around when the projectiles heading my way deliver just enough of a pinch to take my mind off you-know-what.

8) DSLR Camera
http://www.usedregina.com/classified-ad/12134967

Picking up a fancy DSLR camera is sure to distract you from what’s to come. Just learning what all of the buttons do should take a couple of months. Sure, by the time you’re a certified expert it may be snowing, but at least you’ll have pics to remind yourself of hotter days.

7) Tent
http://www.usedcampbellriver.com/classified-ad/10651010

Of all the things one can do to forget about the end of Summer, my favorite is to go camping. The future may be bleak, but immersing yourself in a dense forest with nothing but a water filter and veggie dogs will halt time as you know it. If that doesn’t work then mosquito hordes and hungry bears will serve as adequate distractions.

6) Giggle Gear Roaring Dinosaur
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/11601507

Maybe I’m alone on this one, but the Giggle Gear Roaring Dinosaur costume could preoccupy me for days… maybe months. It roars when you stomp.

5) Fishing
http://www.usedottawa.com/classified-ad/12188374

If you like fishing as much as our very own UsedEverywhere.com Sales Manager, then you don’t need me to tell you it’s bona fide escapism. As the Babylonians say, “The gods do not deduct from a (wo)man’s allotted span the hours spent in fishing.”

4) Tattoo Gun
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/11084181

I hear that after your first you just can’t stop, and with your very own tattoo gun you won’t have to! Sounds like a great way to take your mind off September school/work, no? Ink yourself enough and you might not even be welcome back.

3) Keg
http://www.usedgatineau.com/classified-ad/10058398

It may be as important to our social evolution as the campfire was to our australopithecine ancestors. Kegs of beer bring friends together like nothing else and, conveniently enough, surrounding yourself with friends is a fantastic distraction from reality.

2) Patio Set
http://www.usednanaimo.com/classified-ad/12633652

Where else are you going to enjoy conversation and a keg?

1) Kittens
http://www.usedpei.com/classified-ad/12653787

If there’s anything the Egyptians and Internet age have taught us, it’s that the human race is undeniably distracted by cats. The way they move, the poses they take, and the expressions they make all factor into the memetic obsession. If ever in doubt about the future to come, kittens are the remedy.

How To: Crop and Resize Your Pictures

I want to sell my bike on UsedEverywhere.com, so I break out my fancy digital camera and I take a picture of the bike in my apartment. Then I connect my camera to my computer and upload the image, but when I try to attach the image to my ad I run into a problem. The image is too big to upload and, on top of that, I took the picture from too far away so the bike isn’t centered in the image. I don’t have the latest version of Photoshop, so what do I do? Below are a few steps that you can take to crop (ie: snip the unnecessary edges off of a picture) and resize your images for free.

Step 1) Go to www.picresize.com and click on the “Browse” button as indicated by the red arrow below.

Step 2) A box showing files from your computer will appear. Navigate to the folder that your picture is saved in, click on the image file (ex: Bicycle.jpg) and then click on the “Open” button.

Step 3) If you see text in the white box beside the Browse button (see below), then click on the “Continue…” button. If the white box is blank, you have failed to select an image and should go back to Step 1.

Step 4) Your image should appear beside the Crop Menu. Click and drag your mouse over the area of your picture that you would like viewers to focus on. In this case, I’ve selected my bike and would like to delete the surrounded area that is tinted gray. When you are pleased with your selection, click on the “Crop Selection” button.

Step 5) Next, you will be asked to resize your picture. The optimal size for uploading an image to your local UsedEverywhere.com site is 640×480. I recommend selecting “25% smaller” from the drop down menu to ensure that your image retains it’s aspect ratio and is reduced in size enough to be used on the site.

Step 6) Double-check that the “Save As” drop-down menu is set to JPG, then click on the “I’m Done, Resize My Picture!” button.

Step 7) Take a look at the width and height of your image. If it is close to or smaller than the recommended 640×480, then click the “Save to Disk” icon.

Step 8) Voila, You’re done! Your image should be saved as “rsz_IMAGENAME” to your browser’s default save location. All you have to do now is post it to your ad!

Hope that was useful. Send me a line at michaelc@usedeverywhere.com with any suggestions you have for future “How To” blog posts.

Update: Server Maintenance

As of approximately 9:00 am GMT +8 we have been experiencing server issues that have resulted in users not being able to upload photos to their ads. These issues are also causing some of the banner advertisement links on our sites to be unresponsive and our umbrella site, www.usedeverywhere.com to be down. While our primary servers are undergoing maintenance we will be relying on back-up servers to support the UsedEverywhere.com network. Please be patient with us as we work to get all of the features you’re accustomed to back up and running. We’re hoping to come up with at least a temporary fix within the next few hours. Stay tuned to our Facebook Page, Twitter feed, or this Blog Post for more updates.

Thanks for your understanding!

- Michael C.

Top 4: Edited User Photos

Earlier this week we wrote up a tutorial on how to add text to your photographs. Did you try it out? If you made an attempt, be sure to post your Ad ID number in the comments section below and I’ll include it in the blog. If you haven’t, the images below might convince you that it’s a sure-fire technique to drive traffic to your ads.

4) Name, Features and Price

Editing your image with the details about your item is a great way to generate traffic. Potential buyers will often browse through the thumbnail images rather than reading each description, and editing the information that you want to communicate into the picture is a great way to capitalize on that buying habit.

3) Color Editing and Cropping

Sometimes all people need is a little spice. In this case, the seller made some simple changes to the color balance and aspect ratio of their image. It immediately caught my attention as I scrolled through page after page of dull, square thumbnail images.

2) Advertising Your Address (commercial only)

If you’re a commercial seller, editing your storefront address and website into your pictures is a great way of driving people to both your virtual and “brick & mortar” locations. This seller made sure to size their text large enough so that people browsing through thumbnail images can make out their dealership’s address.

1) Multi-Picture Posting

Within our current framework, you are limited to posting 4 images in each ad. Some posters have creatively dodged this limitation by editing several images into one file, allowing them to communicate their item more effectively to potential buyers.

Got a tip? Post your idea or the Ad ID number of an ad that has edited their ad image in a creative way and I’ll had it to the post!

How To: Add Text to Your Pictures

Several savvy UsedEverywhere.com users have already experimented with image editing on their local online classifieds site. Whether it’s a catchy tag line or their item’s listing price, we’ve found that these alterations significantly improve the number of “hits” they receive (ie: the number of people that click on their ad). Below are instructions on how to use the free image editing website Pixlr to add text to your pictures.

Step 1) Go to www.pixlr.com and click on the “Open image editor” link.

Step 2) Select the “Open image from computer” option.

Step 3) Navigate to the folder where you’ve saved your image. To keep things simple, I’ve saved my picture to the Desktop. Once you have your image selected, click “Open.”

Step 4) Then, select the “A” icon in the Tools menu. This is the Text tool. Once you have selected the “A” icon, click anywhere on your image and type in the text that you would to appear.

Step 5) In this example, I’ve decided to showcase the price of my car. Once I type my text in the Text Box, I have the option to change its Font, Size, Style, and Color.

Step 6) When you’re satisfied what your masterpiece, click on “File” at the top left hand side of your screen. Then, select “Save…”

Step 7) You’re going to want to rename your picture so that it doesn’t overwrite the original. I’ve simply added “_Edited” to its original title. Double-check that “Save to my computer” is selected, and that the Format drop-down menu is set to JPEG. This will ensure that you will be able to upload the image to your local UsedEverywhere.com. When your screen looks like the image below, click “OK.”

Step 8) Next, you’ll be asked to select a location to save your edited image. Once again, to keep things simple I’ve saved it to my Desktop. That way it will be easier to locate when I am placing my ad.

Step 9) Place an ad on your local UsedEverywhere.com with your image and wait next to your phone. Should only be a couple of minutes!

I hope you found these tips helpful. If you followed the above steps and created text on an image, send me your Ad ID number (located under the description of your ad) and I’ll share it with the UsedEverywhere.com community!

How To: Vote For Your Favorite Video

Have you voted for your favorite Garagellennium user video yet? Voting will close at noon on July 26th, so get your votes in as soon as you can!

Step 1) Go to our Facebook Page and if you haven’t already, click on the “Like” button. This is required to vote for your favorite video.

Step 2) Then, click on the “Speaker’s Corner” Tab at the top of the page.

Step 3) Scroll down and click on the video you would like to watch.

Step 4) Click on the “Like” button below a video (circled in red below) to vote for it.

Step 5) Good luck contestants! We’ll be announcing the winner of the iPod Touch on Monday, July 26th!

5 Ways to Get Buyers to Your Doorstep

With the advent of the Internet came a veil of anonymity that protects both the innocent and the wily. On most websites, people are free to interact with others without divulging any personal information. While this has several advantages, it sometimes results in a distinct behavior change in those individuals who are no longer bound by face-to-face societal norms. What does this mean when you’re selling something on your local UsedEverywhere.com? Christa, one of our Facebook followers had this to say:

I have had 15 yes FIFTEEN people (in the last 3 days) say they were coming by for numerous items.. I would set a time, give all my information.. and no one bothers to come. People shouldn’t be allowed to waste others times.

We feel you Christa. Below are five steps you can take to remedy the issue.

1. Get to the Point
Everyone has the attention span of a guppy these days. When they inquire about your item, cater to that mentality and give them all of the information they need in a single burst. If they emailed you, respond with one email that contains your location*, your availability, and whether or not you’re willing to sell it for their requested price. If they phoned you, try to fit all of that information into a single telephone call without having to play tag.

*Update from the community

Gareth: I read your tips. Good ideas but giving your location and availability is a recipe for a B&E, particularly if you have listed items that are valuable / easily stolen. Seller beware!

Michael: I completely agree Gareth. Rather than disclosing their address, sellers may want to include their general area or a location other than their home where a meeting could take place. Coffee shops and well known, public areas are great if the item you’re selling is portable.

2. Follow-up
If someone shows interest in your item but doesn’t email you back, there’s no harm in following-up with them. We often get caught up in the woes of daily life and it’s not uncommon for people to skim over an email if they don’t have the time or energy to respond, only to forget about it entirely. Prod them with an email and at the very least you should receive a courteous “no.” This will speed up the selling process and give you more time to focus on other potential buyers.

3. Light a Candle Under Their…
Sometimes all a buyer needs is a little manufactured motivation. Let them know that you have other buyers interested in your item and that you’ll be selling on a first-come, first-serve basis. Your time is valuable, and there’s no point in turning down potential buyers while you wait for the first person you spoke with to (hopefully) follow through with their promise.

4. Timing is Everything
Everyone’s schedule is different and it can sometimes be tricky to coordinate a meeting with potential buyers. If you’re having difficulty making time you risk losing potential buyers. Post your item on a Friday or sometime when you know you’ll have a few free days to arrange the sale. If your item is reasonably small you might even consider taking it to work and making the arrangements to sell it on your lunch break.

5. Be Price Flexible
Everyone’s looking to hold on to their pennies, but in the long run 5 or 10 bucks isn’t going to make or break your bank account. Before you post your item, consider what the lowest price you’d be willing to sell it for is. Then raise the price slightly in your ad. Buyers looking for a deal will be more likely impulse buy if you cut down the price, and you’ll sell your item faster. If you really want to rake them in, offer your best deal to everyone and anyone who inquires. Bargains are tough to ignore.

Try those out and let me know how they work at michaelc@usedeverywhere.com

Top Ten: Ways to Pacify Your Kids

Alice Cooper wrote “School’s Out” for the kids, but what if he had written it for you? Would it really be proclaiming the joy of school’s end? Those of us with little devils of our own know that summer means two things: a lack of freedom and an excess of noise. As usual your local online classifieds site has the answer. We may not be as dignified as SuperNanny or have the wisdom of Dr. Phil, but we do have a wealth of cheap stuff that will pacify your kids.

10) Bicycle
http://www.usedottawa.com/classified-ad/12266992

9) Education Dinosaur Cards
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/9710807

8) Superman Comic Books
http://www.usedregina.com/classified-ad/12255822

7) Hand Cuffs
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/12262976

6) PSP Go
http://www.usedottawa.com/classified-ad/12263258

5) Jigsaw Puzzle
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/11730325

4) Painting Supplies
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/12102320

3) Electric Guitar
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/12496734

2) Cell Phone
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/12256256

1) Harry Potter Books
http://www.usedottawa.com/classified-ad/10507813

Have a great (stress free) weekend!

How NOT To Buy Online

Every once in a while, we at the UsedEverywhere.com office receive a peculiar inquiry. Below is one that we recently found in our mail box. If you’re reading this Blog, you most likely know how our websites operate. We provide a platform for sellers to post warez and buyers to browse it. If a buyer comes across something of interest, they are free to contact the seller using the information provided. Power buyers know all too well that the faster they contact the seller the better. Competition is stiff, and if a half-decent deal is posted to the site you can bet there will be others racing to the Email button. You can imagine our bewilderment then, when Chris from Eugene, Oregon contacted us via snail mail in hopes of acquiring an old cassette deck. We checked on the ad and lo and behold, it had expired and the contact information was lost. In a last ditch effort to reunite Chris with cassette, I am posting his letter. If you are the seller of this Denon cassette deck DRW-840 (or know someone who has one), feel free to email me at michaelc@usedeverywhere.com. Otherwise you can take this as a prime example of how not to use an online classifieds site.

Michael’s Top Ten: Red Things, eh

Every year on July 1st, residents of the Great White North celebrate the birth of their country. To some, the celebrations commemorate the anniversary of Canada’s independence by way of the Constitution Act. To others, it’s an opportunity to showcase their love of red (that’s rouge to our friends in the East) in a grand public display. Here’s a list of 10 items from UsedEverywhere.com sites for the latter:

10) Red Shoes For Your Kids
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/12158715

9) Red Slippers for You
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/11108394

8) Celebrate Canada With Your Short Game
http://www.usedregina.com/classified-ad/12376609

7) Hold Your Computer in a Red Sleeve
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/10877077

6) Hold Your Lipstick in a Red Bag
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/11611097

5) Red Patriot(ic) Bass Guitar
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/12379789

4) Red Corvette for Kids
http://www.usedottawa.com/classified-ad/12418540

3) Red Belly Dancing Hip Scarf (Truly Canadian)
http://www.usedottawa.com/classified-ad/12129325

2) Foam Canada Cowboy Hat
http://www.usedwinnipeg.com/classified-ad/11685215

1) Nothing’s More Canadian
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/12412292