I hope this short guide will serve as a simple motivation tool for the New Seller who actually hasn't started selling yet!  Also included will be some basic steps toward getting a few items up for sale so you can enjoy the eBay experience, in particular, the eBay selling experience!

First, put behind you the paralysis through analysis syndrome!  Let's just work towards starting the job, perfection comes later.  To lead, so to speak, you must first learn to follow.  In other words, the best way to start is to BUY.  A good buyer will likely be a good seller.  (If you have already purchased several items on eBay, you have already completed step one of the simple two step program - Buy and Sell!)

Go ahead and buy some small stuff from some well established, 99% positive feedback or so sellers.  Read the auction carefully and email any questions BEFORE YOU BID.  Buy some inexpensive stuff.  How about a vintage 1980s TV guide for some nostalgic skimming?  How about an old concert t-shirt for that trip to Key West?  Maybe somebody has your favorite jeans in your size, slightly used, and at half retail cost.  No hang ups here.  You can at least consider these purchases low overhead start up costs and you can always resell later.  Don't go for that expensive electronic gadget, at least not now!  I've known a new buyer or two, immediately turned off to eBay after buying that too good to be true TV or stereo, only to receive bad goods from a bad seller.  One person received nothing!  Sadly, make that a couple of people who received nothing!  Now that you have 15 or so positive buying feedbacks, and know the field a bit, it is time to sell.

Find some things in your home that are unusual, kind of vintage or old, not too valuable, and not to be missed.  They should be in nice condition.   I'm talking about that World's Fair trinket, that Smurf key chain collection, and that pewter chopper belt buckle you never wear.  What about that Timex watch, still new in the box, a gift that you will NEVER wear?  Let's keep the items small and manageable, easy to ship, and not too breakable.  Gather up these nuts, because the eBay squirrel  has some selling to do!

8 items should be good for now.  If you really think you have something with some decent value, fiddle around with an eBay search and get an idea of its market value.  Even though we're going low stress no stress here, we don't want to give away something for $3.25, that may have brought $32.50 further down the selling road.  Later on, your listings will improve and so will your profits, sometimes dramatically.  Maybe, save the better stuff to sell later, or just go for it now!

Click on sell your item and just follow along.  If taking digital pictures and uploading them proves too tricky, leave the pictures out for now, if you MUST.  Keep things simple just to get started.  Start your items around 99 cents to $2.99 to generate bidding interest.  Keep your shipping and handling costs reasonable.  A seven day auction should do.  Keep the listing costs LOW.  $1.00 a listing is more than enough.  Forget the borders, sub titles, and all that jazz until you really know how and when to utilize them.  A gallery picture is always a good thing, however, and now they are free! 

EBay is the proverbial learning curve.  So no looking back if it is only to whine!  Just keep jumping in little by little and keep things manageable.  Don't take any risks that are going to hurt too much.  Occasional computer glitches and related problems will pop up now and then and you will overcome!  Never loose your motivation and have fun!  Soon enough, you will evolve and continue evolving into just the seller that you would like to be!

And always remember, there are scammers out there ready to take advantage.  Watch out for official looking emails from eBay that ARE NOT from eBay.  Just go to your eBay messages in your My eBay.  All the real messages and mail is in there concerning your account status.  There is nothing to be intimidated or scared about here, just be aware.

You could choose to sit and learn and gather information for weeks and weeks.  eBay, and related sites could easily become an information monster.  I say monster, because you can become so bogged down with information, you won't get started.  Leave that to the perfectionists.  Time for you to sell, sell, SELL! 

Once payments are received and most items are packaged and shipped, get that next group of items together.  Keep it manageable and grow as you go!  Good luck and have a blast!