BANS stands for Build A Niche Store, an eBay affiliate web site generator. Using BANS you can create a web site that will display eBay listings from particular categories that you select. When a visitor clicks on one of the displayed listings they are taken to eBay. If that user buys an item within 7 days of clicking on that link you get credit for the sale.
Where can I buy BANS?
http://emdubl2.nichestore.hop.clickbank.net/ is the web site.
What do BANS sites look like?
Try one of mine: http://www.flatlaptops.com
What else do I need to get going?
You need a free account on Commission Junction (http://www.cj.com) and you need to apply and be accepted for eBay's affiliate program. I'd do this BEFORE I bought BANS just to make sure. You'll also need a reliable web host, a domain or subdomain, and an idea for niche you want to sell.
How do I make money?
You make a percentage of the profit that eBay makes on each sale from listing and final sale fees. This amount varies from item to item. I've seen payouts from $0.16 up to $200 for each sale. Higher value items generate higher profits. You can also earn $25 for each new eBay user that signs up through your site (they need to at least bid on something within 7 days of signing up)!
So selling cars can make me thousands?
eBay Motors uses a flat fee instead of the typical percentage based fee for other items. You'll make around $40 per car sold, depending on listing upgrades. Other items, like expensive watches and antique furniture can cost as much (or more!) as some cars, and use the regular eBay listing and final value fee schedule (hint, hint).
What is a PID and where do I find it?
Your PID is a number that gets created when you add a web site to CJ's system; they uniquely identify a site for sales tracking purposes. PIDs are necessary to get the proper credit for each sale. You MUST set your PID if you want to make any money.
To get a PID log into CJ.com and click Account, then Web Site Settings, and then Add a New Web Site. Fill in the info for the site you want to use. When you're done you can select that site from the dropdown. You'll find the PID listed in the information for that site.
What is a SID?
The SID is a string of characters you create to help you track your sales. Use anything you want to identify the source of the sale. BANS uses the keyword assigned to the page where people clicked to get the listing. SIDs are optional.
How much money can I make with BANS?
That's a loaded question. As with any web site it depends on the quantity and quality of traffic your site receives. It also depends on how many sites you're willing to set up.
What's the license limit on setting up BANS sites?
No, there is no limit to the number of BANS sites you can set up with your purchased copy of the software. I personally have about 2-dozen, and I know of people with at least 40.
How much does BANS cost?
$97 as of version 3.0
How long does it take to set up a BANS site?
With a little practice and preparation it's easy to set up a site in an evening. The installation process is quite simple: set up a MySQL database, copy up the BANS files to your host, visit your site's home page and follow along with the installation instructions. Select your template and eBay categories and you have a basic site running!
What are good hosts to use with BANS?
I personally use a dedicated server for my sites nowadays, but I'd easily recommend Hostgator as a good host. People have had issues with Godaddy as a host, and Dreamhost (another of my hosts) requires you to use PHP4 with BANS (but it works).
How do I promote my BANS site?
People use different methods to promote and get their sites indexed. I use a custom sitemap and backlinks to help with the indexing process. Social bookmarking sites are also a good method. I also try and find directories on the topic I'm promoting and get links from those sources. Writing custom articles and adding them to your site also helps drive traffic. Use any method you'd normally use to promote a web site. DO NOT use Craig's List as it's a known way to get yourself in trouble with eBay.
What about PPC Campaigns?
Many people do use PPC (Pay per click) campaigns such as Adwords to drive traffic. I personally haven't done it yet, but I know people do use it to generate sales. As with any PPC campaign you need to monitor it to determine how successful it really is.
What's BANS "footprint"?
BANS has several "identifiers" that help people track down sites created with the software. It's rumored that Google uses these footprints to delist (I doubt this) or at least apply a penalty to BANS sites. Footprints such as the ebay "rover" links and the "Powered By" link at the bottom are known ways to find a BANS site quickly. I personally have modified my BANS installation files to eliminate most of the footprints.
How long will it take before I make some money?
Like any web site it all depends on the traffic that your site generates. I've set some sites up that made sales on their first day. Other sites I've set up have taken a month because the traffic was mainly "lookers" and not "buyers".
What's the biggest limitation of BANS?
I'd say that the limited SEO features puts the BANS sites at a disadvantage over hand-crafted eBay affiliate sites. You can alter the Keywords, Description, and Title tags of a page, but the first H1 tag is always the same for the entire site. This can be overcome with a little custom modification.
Where do I find help?
The BANS forum is one of the most active software support sites I've seen in awhile. When you purchase the software you're given access to the forum which is full of tips, suggestions, and general support from both members and the developers.
Should I buy BANS?
The short answer is yes, the $100 investment will probably pay off within the first month with a well constructed site. So far BANS is the easiest way (note not the most efficient way) of creating eBay affiliate sites geared around a specific category (or categories for version 3.0+).
I hope that helps people getting started.
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