Many people search for secrets to eBay success without realizing that some of the best information on how to succeed comes from eBay itself. Believe it or not, eBay wants you to do well if for no other reason than that the more money you make, the more profit for eBay. Unfortunately, many newcomers to eBay are put off at giving selling a try because it may seem too complicated and site itself to big. The fact is that the basics of eBay are not that hard to understand, and almost anyone can get started with minimal effort. This article will outline some of the key tips to running a successful auction.
Tip #1 Know the value of the product you intend to sell. You find this out by research in order to determine whether or not you can offer a competing price. Although there are some very sophisticated ways of researching eBay sales statistics, such as with Terrapeak, one very easy way is to simply use eBay itself. Do a search for the product you want to sell. When the auction listings come up, use the Advanced Search tool in the left column to mine the data. Click on Completed Listings to the end of auction final value statistics. The first thing to look at is whether or not the item is selling. Take note of how many auctions sold versus auctions ending in no sale. Of the successful auctions, note final selling price, initial listing price, shipping and handling fees, whether or not the seller used Buy It Now, and auction format (fixed price, multiple item, and so forth). I find it helpful to also not the whether the auction was a 3-day, 7-day, or 30-day auction, and on what day the auction started and completed.
Tip #2 Once you determine your product and how much it is likely to sell for, you need to figure out how you will price your item for auction. That is, will you start with a low starting bid, set a reserve fee, use Buy It Now, or off it at fixed price? How you set your starting price is a matter of strategy. Sellers who expect lots of bidding activity often start with a 99 cent price. Sometimes people list a 99 cent initial fee but set a Reserve price that is much higher. EBay often offer specials to encourage low starting bids by waiving insertion fees for a period of time.
Tip #3 Take full advantage of your opportunity to use your title and description of your item. You may want to pay for an extra subtitle to give you additional text to tell more about your product. Your title must not only be accurate and precise but also catch attention. Be sure to use your main keywords in your title as well as a thumbnail image of your product. I would also suggest using bold type to help make your listing stand out. Take the time to write a unique, clear and accurate description. Whatever you do, do not plagiarize someone else’s item description. If you write an original description that provides lots of accurate, descriptive data about your product, you stand a better chance of selling your item than if you just meet the minimum requirements of a description. Be sure to give all information about style, brand, size, color, serial numbers, any key identifying attributes, and item condition. Use clear headings and bullet lists to spell out all information in a clear and easy to read fashion. Take extra care to make your return policy easy to find, read, and understand.
Tip #4 Take the time and effort to write the best titles and item descriptions that you can. Titles should contain your keywords, be accurate and precise, and grab the viewer’s attention. Use bold face type, and I suggest also paying the extra fee to include a subtitle. Be sure your listing includes a thumbnail image of your item. If you can use an original thumbnail that is different from any other auction selling the same or similar item, that is even better. Your product descriptions are very important and should be unique, meaning that you need to write them yourself. Do not hype your product, but give accurate, factual information such as brand, style, color, item condition, key attributes, size, any serial numbers, and anything else that is important to the item. If you are selling collectibles, give as much detail as you can. Use clear and centered headings when appropriate, and use bullet lists to spell out key facts and characteristics of your product. Include images of your item, and if you can provide original images that you take yourself, that is a big plus. You must also spell out your return policy. Make it very easy to see, read, and understand. Be sure to write it in a professional yet friendly style.
Tip #5 Here is niche tip–collectors are vital to eBay and could be a real asset to your auctions. Collectors are people willing to take the time and effort and to spend the money to acquire a particular object of fascination. This could be oriental carpets, vintage Grateful Dead tickets, or antique model railroad trains. Collectors pay handsome prices for objects that often seem ordinary and lackluster to anyone else. Best of all, collector’s items are often found in ordinary locations, such as yard sales, junk shops, and even pawn shops. To get an idea of items in demand, you could log on to Internet forums for collectors and listen in on the kinds of things people are seeking and value.
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