There are many reasons why your item did not sell, or didn't sell for as much as you have seen others sell for.  I have decided to write a series of guides to help the new (and maybe some not-so-new) sellers.

This guide will focus on the pictures.  Just as my other guides will tell you - think like a buyer!

Picture your items as if you had no description.  Would you buy an item in the store by looking from across the aisle?  Of course not.  So don't expect a buyer to want your item by taking one photo that shows more background than item. 

Show every angle.  Front, back, sides, bottom.  You would look at all sides of something you wanted to buy if you picked it up off of a shelf - try to give your buyers the same experience. 

If your picture is fuzzy, too dark, too light, or has anything wrong that distorts the view of the item, take it again.  If there is too much background and your item looks like a tiny fish in a big pond, crop it.  Clear, close up pictures will make a buyer want an item more.  

If you are concerned about the cost of adding so many pictures to your listing, you may want to consider using a third party listing site.   Most charge a small monthly fee and you get picture hosting that won't charge per photo as ebay does.  Just do a websearch for listing tools and you will find many to choose from.   If you are handy with html you could also use a free picture hosting/sharing site. 

The how-to's, tips & tricks of taking quality photos still illude me.  I tend to do things through trial and error.  I'm sure if you need help with taking quality photos there are many guides and groups here on ebay that can help. 

Now repeat after me.
I will picture my items as if I had no description.
I will give my buyers the best possible shopping experience by showing them every angle.
I will teach WaitressChik how to keep the flash from creating a major glare.  (LOL ok, the last one was a bit selfish... Can't blame a girl for trying, right?)

Thanks for viewing my guide.  Please take a second to vote YES if you feel this is helpful information.