You've heard the saying "A picture is worth a 1,000 words" I'm sure. And it was never truer than in your listing. As a seller you are competing against thousands of other sellers with the same or similar item. When your item shows up in a list with many other items you only have a few ways to influence a browser to bid. 1) is with your title, the most important aspect of your listing, 2) the price of you item, and 3) a picture of your item. Since Gallery Photo is now FREE there is absolutely no excuse for failing to add a photo.

A lot of us are either professional photographers or have high-end cameras which make it a lot easier for us to show off our item. But you don't have to be a professional to get great results even with a not-so-hot camera.

Here's how:

1. Use a plain, solid background. You can buy poster board just about anywhere. Even some inexpensive fabric or sheet will work. If you have a very light colored item you may want to have a dark background. I usually have several colors I will use for different items depending on the amount of contrast I want.

One of my favorite backgrounds is a plain white roll-down window blind. I turn it upside down, attach the edge to a skirt hanger that has clips then hang it up on a door or bar with a table or chair below for the rest of the blind to roll over. Then when I'm done, it just rolls neatly up and stored till the next time I need it.

Avoid taking a photo of something on your carpet unless it is an item that belongs on the floor. It looks cheap and the camera will often make any spots or dirt show up more in the photo. Be aware of what is in your photo besides the item you're selling. Nobody wants to see your cluttered counter or the contents of your cupboard. Also, try to avoid adding in objects to enhance your photo. It is confusing and looks like it's part of what ever you're selling. If you must use other objects such as scarves, sprigs of greenery or whatever, make sure to state in your listing that those objects are not included.

2. Use good lighting. Don't depend on your flash to provide light if you end up getting a lot of glare. Indirect light from a window should be all the light you need to take a photo without using your flash. You can buy a cheap, flexible lamp to use for extra lighting when you need it. A lamp can help add definition to your items by giving it a greater impression of depth or texture.

3. If your photo is blurry, take another one. Few people will be motivated to bid if they can't see what your item looks like in detail. Get as close to the item as you can so it fills the viewfinder. If you don't have a camera that has a 'macro' feature you might consider investing in one. There are many decent digital cameras on the market for under $100 that will give you this 'close-up' option. If you're willing to spend between $100-200 you'll have even more options.

4. Use more than one photo when necessary. You've probably already had buyers ask what the back, or inside, or top of something looks like. Those are the people who will take the time to investigate. Many people simply move on to another item, taking there business elsewhere.

5. Include a photo of any flaws or damage so the seller can make a decision based on the visual evidence rather than you simply indicating in your listing that there is a flaw. If you have a tablecloth with a small stain, photograph the stain! Buyers may assume it's a terrible stain when in fact it might just be a barely noticable one. The more information you can give a buyer about your item, the more likely they will be motivated to consider bidding.

6. If you have a large lot of items, one single photo isn't going to be much good. It only costs 15 cents to add a photo. If you use several photos Ebay has a couple of different packages which combines some listing features and save you money. These packages really help your item stand out and are often worth the added investment.

7. If the size of your item is critical to a buyer, you might consider placing a ruler next to the item when you take the photo. It's a very good visual reference. In cases where it is good enough just to say '14 inches high" then a ruler in the photo isn't necessary.

8. Take several photos at one time. It will give you several choices so you can pick the best photo or photos for your listing. I can't tell you how many times I've had to go back and take more pictures because a photo was blurry or too light or dark (goes for both digital and 35mm cameras).

9. Sometimes a scan of your item is much better quality than a photo. I've found that scanning some types of jewelry results in a much better quality than if I tried to photograph it.

10. Get some photo editing software. Sure, if you can afford PhotoShop, that's the way to go for total control over your pictures, but most people will do just fine with more economical software. If you don't know what to buy use the Internet to do some comparative shopping, ask a computer savvy friend, or talk to someone at a computer store.

And one last thing. Use a photo in your listing whether you choose Gallery or not. There are very few things a person will buy 'sight unseen'.

Remember, the only way someone is going to see your item is through the photos you provide. A good photo can make the difference between a sold item and an unsold item!