Omkar

Hi,

I found on internet that there is a script for eBay store being sold at $99. It is popularly called as BAN. Has anyone tried it? Is it worth its value?

Omkar

Scott Murdaugh

If you take the time to build it up, optimize it, research your niche and drive traffic then it can be.

If it's any indication, my EPN account has a lot more than $99 in it.

It's a great tool. It's up to you to put it to work.

-Scott

ExRat

Hi Omkar,

I've been using it for a long time.

I wouldn't recommend it at this time. If you use a heavily tweaked version and load the site with content, you may get a site to stick in Google - but it's unlikely.

Most bans sites are found by Google and de-indexed or ranked very low - if at all. So that leaves Yahoo and MSN.

Most of the long term bans users have switched to using PHPbay and wordpress because it's a lot easier to add the content so that Google will give the site a chance. It's very difficult to add content to the bans script.

You basically need to build a content site and slip the ebay ads in there - rather than vice-versa - no ads on the front page.

The first challenge is to build the right kind of site to get yourself accepted into ebay partner network. Once in, with the right type of sites, EPN is still one of the best affiliate programs out there.

JayXtreme

I think you would be better off investing in a custom wordpress theme that you can feed RSS into to pull your content, and make sure you are pulling content and not just product listings..

Any BANS business I had was pulled down.. and from what I have seen in the past 6 months, I can only believe that I made my decision at the right time.. bans sites get some real stick from Google..

Peace

Jay

TKO

The glory days of BANS users are sadly gone. Like Exrat and Jay suggested, Wordpress is the way to go. Google has tormented BANS users for some time now.

Phil Murray

I purchased bans back in August of 08 but like the others have switched my focus to wordpress. I still have a couple of bans stores open that are companions to regular blogs that have earned enough to more than pay off my initial bans investment.

Omkar

HI, Thanks to all the members who have contributed. I love Warrior forum because it reveals all pros and cons and guides you exactly. Thanks a million guys.

Omkar

SandraCee

Question about this, I have seen some blogs with what I assume is the phpBay plug in and sometimes the ebay listings are totally unrelated to the content on the blog.

How do you guys deal w/ this?

Thank you
Sandra

nhynes57

Having used BANS on a few sites I would agree that
wordpress + ebay rss feed is the way to go.

Noel

imac1912

Hi Omkar, I have a few BANS sites that I have been adding content to since June 2008. At first they were being indexed well and income was good. However, since Google changed the way they looked at BANS in October 2008, the earnings have dropped off big style! I keep adding content but little has improved the income. Now looking to diversify into other income opportunities. On the positive side, the BANS forum does give you help at building your website up, optimizing it, researching your niche etc. In other words it provides help with the learning curve to operate a BANS site. Hope this is helpful info.
Ian

boogieman

when I bought about 1.5 yrs it was the 1st ver and then they went to the next ver and udated again to another ver. and I had a tough time changing sites.

So I stoped using bans all together - too much changing things around on all sites for me

Dumped the bans sites

pilotjoe

I've used bans for a about a year and it has paid for itself but a lot fo people have built thin affiliate site with it and google doesnt like those. I've switched to straight wordpres and use PHPbay. It does the same and I get much more control over my content, better seo, and best of all google love.

dmderoeck

I would stay away from BANS.

I have used both BANS and phpBay Pro and IMO there is no comparison. Like the others have mentioned in this post, BANS has been targeted by G so it's probably best to go with the stellar Wordpress platform.

Wordpress coupled with phpBay Pro is a winner. You still need to do the normal SEO, link building, and continually add good content to get results. But all in all I'm extremely happy with this combination.

-Dan

reapr

I am with you on this one. phpbay has ran circles for me around BANS even though BANS has paid for itself several times over. phpbay just works so well with wordpress and I have not had any issues with it. You also have the option to get a script that will also integrate with other php sites ... winner hands down.

mick535

The only alternative to phpBay I use is StoreStacker. It is not just ebay centric, but you have to add a lot of content to it, just like the Wordpress sites for it to keep from getting de-indexed.

I also like to use popshops.com. They have almost every affiliate datafeed you can dream of and not a bad price either. I have the $5 per month membership and I am moving to the $30 one because I am making so much money with it. I use it in conjunction with phpBay on my Wordpress sites as well.

halcline

Hi,

I purchased PHPBay last week and am trying to figure out how to create a site with it. It's easy to install, but I'm looking around on this forum right now for help in creating a site with it.

Some cool sites are created with PHPBay...I just need to learn how to use it...

hal

Dean Martin

Site owner would have it configured incorrectly - there are enough options that you can filter down to very specific items or categories.

My guess is they are being lazy in their configuration which is only going to bring poor results.

malcasid

BANS was good when it came out. I don't think many people are making money from it now.

new2ebiz

I used BANS as a add-on to several of my niche sites. I saw a drop in sales once eBay changed their affiliate program. I feel it should only be used as a additional part of a good content site, not as a standalone effort.

On the plus side, I've always been able to get whatever answers I needed from their forum. I have no programming experience and I was able to install it fine.

I do plan on looking into the phpBay plugin several have mentioned.

I wonder if one is not 'into' blogs if BANS would still be OK if one has a good content site to go with it.

trishworks4u

I have 1 BANS site that gets about 100 visits per day but I also do article marketing and a little ppc. I'd caution anyone that's not already in the EPN (ebay partner network) to get a plan together and get ready for a battle. They are, for the most part, just automaticaly denying applications for membership without even bothering to look at your site. I was denied 3x (this was Jan '09) and then grew a backbone and appealed to them before they accepted my application.

Just something else to consider before investing in software.

sarasayshi

BANS ended up being a huge waste of money for me. I never actually built a BANS site after purchasing it. I read up on teh forums there adn was an active member on the forums but at the time alot of people were getting their BANS sites deindexed or were having their EPN accounts closed due to low perfomance. All of these red flags just convinved me to try other outlets.

I did end up purchasing BAYRSS and added ebay rss feeds to my sight easilty with it but I never really made any money from doing so.

I would assume the actual BANStemplates etc is pretty much dead by now.

TrafficMystic

I would disagree with this.. I've got many bans sites indexed in google and one of them is indexed at 1 and 2 indented) and above nintendo and amazon... You have have to plan out your strategy correctly.

If you take a basic bans store and all that google sees is feeds... so with just feeds and a basic bans signature you would not rank anyways... you need to take the basic bans template and add content to it then build up your links from there... I tested this on a brand new site in december had it in the top 10 within 2 weeks and now it is ranked at positions 1 and 2 and has gained a pr2 rank on the main domain and some of the internal pages in the last update at the start of this month....

It;s all about content and strategy... and BANS does work I make money from several of my ranked bans sites.

TrafficMystic

if you already have a blog and want to try an ebay shop then you can also try phpbay which is good. They also have a free phpbay lite version as well to use.

djleon1

I have has Ban since Jan 2008 and initially was making $150 a month off of some decent niches sites. Since late 2008 the amount I make has decreased though it has picked up of late. Part of this is the economy as my traffic to the sites has not decreased much but there are not as many sales occuring.

Bans itself is not too hard to use and there is very good support in their forums.

stevereel

Thanks to all for the useful info. Just saved me some time and money.

2009crunch

Tend to agree with everyone here from my own experience have 7 Bans sites and am going to move 6 over to php ( which will be a new experience for me) The one remaining is making about 150 pounds a month, but it is a combination of Bans/Wordpress so easy to maintain.

paularad

This is good information. Thanks everyone! I didn't buy this and I always wondered if it was a mistake. Sounds like it would be now.

pavionjsl

We are always looking for easy and good.........but I think the extra work pays off in stability