THE SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL SELLING GUIDE

THE SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL SELLING GUIDEIn this guide youll find loads of comprehensive listing tips as well as invaluable info on selling successfully on eBay. Read on and enjoy, and if you find it useful, please vote Yes at the end thank you! ****************************************************

The impression made by a listing is crucial in making sales, so creating clear and informative listings is a must-have skill for every eBay seller! By paying attention to the following elements of your listing, youll stand the best chance of getting the best price for your item!

Item titleThe title needs to be a catchy and informative one-line description of your item. Within the permitted 55 characters try to include words buyers might use to search for your item, along with other selling points, such as New or Limited Edition (if applicable!). eBay also allow you to add a subtitle to your listing. This might be useful if you dont feel that you can sum up your entire title into just 55 characters of the main title. Titles show up in search results, so try to think of as many applicable keywords to include in your title as possible.

Item categoryIn eBay you can search for items in one of two ways: Firstly, if you know what you are looking for, you could simply type your keywords into eBays search facility (at the top of every page). However, if you arent sure of what item to look for, or just feel like browsing, you could navigate your way through the many categories available in eBay. As such, all items on eBay need to be assigned to the most fitting category. If youre not sure which category best suits your item, you could try searching for similar items to see which categories they have been listed in. If you cant decide on just one category, you do have the option to list across two different categories, though this will cost more than a simple category listing. Usually, just one well selected category is sufficient for a successful listing.

Condition of the item: new or usedAnyone looking to buy an item will want to know whether it is new or used. It is best to describe the condition of your item as accurately as possible. If your item is new, it is also worth detailing whether it is brand new and indeed whether the tags are still intact. If it is not a new item, try to add as much detail about the condition as possible. Dont forget that with some vintage items age will be a selling point! Try to put a positive perspective on any negative aspect of your item, for instance, the pocket might be hanging off your vintage jacket, but its a sewing lovers opportunity to get a real bargain and a fun project! It is best to be as honest as possible so that potential buyers know exactly what theyll be getting -nobody wants unnecessary post-sale disputes over the item condition, or indeed the item description

Description of the itemWhen considering what to include in an item description, try to think of all the details a perspective buyer would want to know. The more info you include, the more confidence you can instil in your buyer. If a buyer is interested but cant find all the info they need in your listing, they will no doubt be prompted to approach you with their questions. So by including all relevant info in the first instance, you can save yourself work further down the line! If you do receive questions from buyers you have the option to show the question and your answer alongside your listing. This can be really handy for showing even more info about your item and also shows other perspective buyers that you offer good communication! By looking at other listings, youll see that sellers seem to take different approaches in their listing technique. Some will be friendly and affable in their style, sometimes offering perhaps a little more info than is really needed, and sometimes actually showing themselves in a less than desirable light as a result. (Reading between the lines of a seller who has had to relist and item due to a timewaster can lead you to wonder why the first person pulled out of the sale). Other listings, however, will be exact and to the point, which is great from an informative point of view, but can make the seller seem unapproachable. I think it pays to strike a happy medium with as much relevant info as possible but with a polite and approachable demeanor. This can be achieved as simple as telling potential buyers that they are free to contact you should they have any further questions, and by wishing them Good Luck or Happy Bidding. Whichever approach you choose to take, remember that eBay holds sellers responsible for ensuring that all info is accurate. By making sure that all the info is available and true, youll avoid unnecessary problems and youll have happier customers and better sales which is our goal after all!!!

A picture of the itemOn eBay it really is true that your picture will speak a thousand words. Without a picture your item is not likely to sell very well at all, and by the same token, a poorly taken photo can be just as damning! It really does pay to include a clear, detailed photo of your item. There is no additional charge from eBay to include a photo in your listing, however, if you want multiple photos or a gallery photo further charges will apply. You have the option of unloading your photos to eBay to be shown at a maximum size of 800 x 800 pixels, and for most listings this service is perfectly suitable. If you are selling a more expensive item however, it might be worth adding more of your own higher resolution images in addition to the basic one offered by eBay. When adding your own hosted images you will not have to pay the additional image fees to eBay either, so it is seriously worth considering. There are several good websites that offer specialised eBay picture hosting just Google eBay picture hosting for a selection. Where it is so important to use as high quality images as possible, you might also want to consider using a Graphics programme to crop and enhance your photos. If you choose to use programmes such as Corel Paint Shop Pro and Adobe Photoshop Elements, youll need to save your images in JPG format ready to be uploaded to eBay.

Here are a few pointers on how to get that ever important money-making pic:A simple but really effective way to create a good image is by photographing your item against a blank background. If you can use a contrasting colour or shade of background then even better! Just think how much clearer and more distinctive a dark object looks against a light background.If taking a close-up shot, make sure your camera is set to macro. If your camera does not have a macro setting, try not to get so close that your shot goes out of focus. Consider taking your shot from a little further away and cropping the image down using one of the graphics programs mentioned above.When selling objects where size is important, it can be a good idea to create a sense of scale by photographing your item alongside a common, well known object or even a ruler. Good lighting is so important. If possible, photograph in natural light as this will give as true-an indication of the colour as possible. It may also help eliminate the need for flash lighting which can reflect badly from some surfaces. eBay offer the facility to adjust the contract and brightness of your image, so you can either use this to your advantage, or if you want to go one step further, again, the use of a good graphics package is essential. Listing format and priceAuction Format when most eBayers are out for a bargain, the auction format listing really comes into play. There are a few different tactics that can be used when selling on auction format, and to get a good idea of which tactic to go for when selling your item, take a look through some similar completed listings for an idea of the best format for your type of item. By starting with a really low, say 99p, starting price you are more likely to generate interest and bidding wars (every sellers dream!) If you arent prepared to risk not getting your desired price for the item, you could try starting with a higher starting price. As with traditional auctions, eBay also offer a reserve facility which means that youre not obliged to sell to the highest bidder if bidding doesnt reach your set level. Remembering that a lot of buyers are surfing for a bargain, this kind of listing can put some people off. Without the prospect of getting a great deal, some potential buyers may not bid at all. Generally, auctions are best for stuff that you just want to sell (and dont mind what you get for it), and also for high demand-low supply items were buyers are likely to bid against each other resulting in great sales!Buy It Now format these are listings where you can decide on the price yourself and where a buyer can make an instant purchase. Because turn around time is quicker this type of listing can be more convenient for both buyer and seller. The Buy It Now option can also be set up to run alongside an auction, giving the buyer a chance to snap up the item without bidding/waiting for the action to finish. The Buy It Now option is removed as soon as the item receives an auction bid, so by using this format which does cost more than a simple auction you are running a gamble, but if you are looking for a fast turn around, this format is the one to go for.

Postage and packagingThis is the amount that youll charge to the buyer for the cost of carriage and packing materials. It is totally acceptable to increase their postage rates to above the mere cost of carriage in order to cover the cost of packaging materials. However, if the postage price is set too high on an item (and if a seller is trying to "make" on the P