Advanced eBay ApplicationsTake your business to a higher level with these advanced applications.

There comes a time in your eBay life when the basics justaren't enough. You need to move on up in the listing softwareworld and seek out more powerful programs. Power-Sellers andsellers with large inventories or a high volume of listings canturn to more advanced applications like Infopia and eBay'sSelling Manager Pro. There are tons of vendors out there, so feelfree to compare and contrast services and costs.

All in all, the following are some very powerful programs thatare designed to take your business to the next level. Some can evenintegrate with and boost your overall e-commerce plan. Most ofthese programs are web-based, so you don't have to worry aboutdownloading and maintaining lots of software on your computer. Atthis level, look for strong customer service, and take theopportunity to exercise free trials when they're available.

• eBay's Selling Manager Pro:This applicationups the ante from the basic edition of the program. You getinventory management, listing statistics, an automated feedbacktool, monthly sales reports and a listing designer. The bulk andautomation features can save you time and help you keep a handle oneverything from sending invoices to dealing with unpaid items.Since it comes directly from eBay, you can expect tight integrationwith the site. The cost is a very affordable $15.99 per month.

• Infopia:For small and midsize businesses, thisprogram offers a comprehensive e-commerce solution with tight eBayintegration. Some of the innovative features available includeorder customization and trade-in capabilities. Infopia'sservice is one of the priciest, but also the most comprehensive, asit can extend beyond eBay to other facets of your business.Starting at about $5,000, it includes full-service installation anda comprehensive online marketing program. When you're lookingto take your e-commerce business to the next level, this sort ofsolution is worth checking into.

• Zoovy AuctionSeller Edition:This application comes with quite a fewautomated capabilities, including eBay checkout, Powerlisting,PayPal integration, and order status e-mails and tracking numbers.It also throws in a bulk listing service, counters and customizabletemplates for good measure. The image-hosting component comes withhandy editing and resizing tools. Integration with FedEx, UPS andthe U.S. Postal Service can help take the headaches out of shippingand get your packages out the door faster. You can take Zoovy for afree two-week test drive to try it out, after which it costs $49.95per month.

• Channeladvisor Pro:This program has some seriousfeatures for serious sellers. Think inventory tracking andmanagement, professional templates, image hosting and customizationtools. You can edit multiple listings and schedule listings forposting whenever you want. The extensive invoice management toolsare time-savers. It starts at $29.95 per month, or you can get adiscount if you sign up for a whole year. The Pro package isdesigned for individual sellers and small businesses. If yourgrowing business has outstripped that category, look into theMerchant edition for more advanced marketplace managementfeatures.