The following are tips that I would like to share with you, that I have come to learn from my experience throughout the years of buying and selling on eBay and helpful articles that I have come across on the internet and in books.  I understand that some of these may be obvious to some, especially the more experienced and/or successful sellers, but these are key tips for those thinking about selling on eBay, just starting to sell and the clueless.  Regardless of how long you have been selling online, more often than not, sellers forget the fundamentals of selling to maximize the prices that their items sell for.


A succesful listing incorporates the following essentials:

• Effective Titles
  
• Concise, Compelling Description
• Taking Eye-Catching Pictures
• Clear, Concise Terms and Conditions

Effective Titles...

The title is probably the most crucially important indicator of a successful listing.  Think about it...when you are looking for an item to buy, what is the first thing that you immediately do?  You enter the keywords for the item you are looking for in the title search bar.  The search bar is the most utilized piece of the eBay site for buyers.

You are limited in the number of words you can use in the title, so choose them well.  I never understood why some sellers put words like "L@@K" and "WOW" in their titles.  I don't know of anyone that searches under these keywords and they really do not attract attention to your listing.  What really attracts them are pictures - which we will discuss below. 

Another significant reason for unsuccessful listings is spelling mistakes.  This literally spells out why your listing did not get enough exposure or hits and why your selling price was far less than another seller listing the same item as yours.  If your potential buyer is looking for a specific item, then your listing won't come up in their search if any keyword is misspelled.  On the other hand, if you have extra space you should consider putting intentional spelling mistakes that are commonly entered - such as the NBA Superstar "Dwyane Wade", commonly misspelled as "Dwayne".  The important thing though is to make sure that you at least have the correct keywords entered in your title.

Concise, Compelling Descriptions...

You don't need to have a description that is nobel-prize worthy, but your listing should at least make it appear that you can speak the language. People aren't usually confident in buying from someone who appears barely able to communicate or even worse - has no idea about the item for auction.  Try to get to the point quickly and describe the item in detail - such as condition, any serial #'s or anything unique to the item.  Also make your description look as vivid as possible, while being clean and professional.  Try to grab the potential buyer's attention by making bold, yet true statements that get them thinking about the potential value or significance of your item.  Think of it as web advertising or one of those infomercials on tv, where they captivate and excite the viewer and capture their interest.  Although some buyers know exactly what they are looking for and don't need any motivational help while others do need the encouragement; both types of buyers need to know about the condition and authenticity of the item.  Lastly, make sure to spell-check your description and that everything is accurate and concise, with no misleading statements.  Only use words that truly apply to your item.  The ultimate goal is to distinguish your item from all the other ones!

Taking Eye-Catching Pictures...

Again, the idea is to capture the interest of your potential buyer!  Think about what you would be interested in looking at - a dazzling, clear picture or a fuzzy, boring image of something that somewhat resembles what you are trying to sell?

Depending on your item, take a good photo with a digital camera, or scan your flat item in a scanner.  I recommend the simple rule-of-thumb of using a scanner for all flat objects and a digital camera on everything else.  With a digital camera, be sure to get as close as you can to your item and focus solely on it; i.e. avoid any distracting backgrounds!  Also try to take pictures with natural light and avoid any reflections, especially on shiny objects or surfaces.

Taking close-up pictures shows the prospective buyer what they want to see. If necessary, take several pictures of the item from varying angles to show the buyer just how great your item is. You can also touch up the pictures in an image-editing program like Photoshop. The program is simple to use and can be purchased at extreme discount on the eBay site.

Clear, Concise Terms and Conditions...

A posting on eBay without shipping costs is a listing that may not get very many bids. Savvy eBay shoppers are cautious about overspending on shipping. Many sellers begin their items with a low starting bid (or a low, buy-it-now price) and make up their profits with an outrageous shipping amount.  To keep your buyers happy...make sure that your cost is comparable to what other sellers are charging for S&H on similar items, while making sure that you are still covering your own expenses for mailing, courier pick-up, tape, packaging material, envelopes/mailers, boxes, etc.  If you truly need to have a higher than average shipping and handling charge because of your expenses, then simply make sure that the reason is sensible and state why in your listing. 

Also, let the reader know what forms of payment you accept and make sure to have PayPal account set up.  Accepting credit cards through an online service such as PayPal ensures the buyer's level of trust and confidence in buying from you, helping you attract more bids.