The Web is awash with hints and tips for eBay sellers
I have my own Greenhorn’s eBay Seller’s Tricks, cooked in the boiling, bubbling cauldron that’s eBay. So let me scoop out a few ladles of it for you…
1 Reward Prospective Bidders With a Good Offer — That’s right, reward. Why should anyone want to bother being the first bidder on your item? So entice someone to bid first — make your entry-level bid baitingly low.
2 Titles Are Very Important — I didn’t know how to list some Tupperware items. So I tried an “innovative” title: Two Tupperware … ah … Boxes With Snow Flakes. No sale. When I relist it, I’ll try a different title. Maybe something like Freezer-Safe Tupperware Containers | Guaranteed Nice — clear, informative, accurate, keyword-rich, reassuring, easy-to-read. And it’s within eBay’s 80-character limit. In fact, I could add another 27 characters (including spaces) to that title. Hmmmm. What should I add…?
3 Gussy Up Your Descriptions — Don’t just use plain text; use simple HTML mark-up. If it isn’t a Free Gallery day, show images that you have hosted elsewhere. Make your description easy to read with paragraph breaks, lists, and restrained use of enhanced text (italic, bold, color). Give plenty of useful information; answer questions before they’re asked. (Just don’t get too windy!)
4 Be Creative With Images — Use props, for instance. In one of my listings I included a photo of my babyhood teddy bear holding the collector plate I wanted to sell. Another time I had in mind to show a Fenton basket positioned on a doll as a hat; my wife thought that would be dumb; I listened to her (though I may still try that stunt). Of course, all this presupposes good lighting, crisp focus, and helpful detail.
5 Try to Be Unique — Your description, your photography, in your pricing — these each offer opportunities to stand out in an attractive, enticing, and/or … ah … endearing way. Visit one of my current auctions and see if my efforts at uniqueness captivate your attention, if not your money. 🙄
6 Be Alert for Special Listing Days — On those days, you can increase your bottom line with free listings, free Buy It Now, free Galleries, and who knows what else. Sign up for eBay’s free email announcements to receive such notices.
7 Not Everything Sells on eBay — I read somewhere recently that anything sells on eBay. No. It. Does. Not. Well, I suppose if you weren’t trying to make a profit… What sells, then? How should I know?! 😯 But maybe if I read What to Buy at Thrift Stores to Sell on eBay
8 If at First You Don’t Succeed, Relist — After all the work you put into crafting your listing, why give up after just one try? Wait a week or so, then relist. If you think a different title or an additional photo might help, do it! Oh, and while you’re waiting, add some similar items to your watch list. If you see some action develop, relist your item!
Yes, I know how to count. It seems I gave you a bonus. Another bonus is presently found in the rotating header images on this blog — it’s a cropped version of one of the images I used in a listing I had for a (“vintage,” of course) compass.
Disclaimer: I don’t have much experience as an eBay seller. My earnings are tragically uninspirational. But I offered some good eBay selling tips, didn’t I? 😉
Original opening, downgradedAhoy, eBay sailor…er…seller!
Anchor your sale 🙄 boat here and reel in some life lessons that might help you net a real haul on your next online auction excursion. (Yeah, pretty cheesy, I know.)
Way to go! You might just become the latest eBay sensation.