Success or Failure on Ebay

Ebay is an online auction site that boasts millions of users per year. It has fast become one of the most popular ways for internet surfers to buy, sell and trade items for less than stores. Some users even make a living off of Ebay transactions. On the flip side there are users who use this service simply to supplement income or for a rainy day fund. There are a few things one must look at before listing an item for sale on Ebay. The object is to attract customers to your items, and show why they should buy from you as compared to another user.

Appearance

A picture is worth a thousand words as the old saying goes. This is so true in the Ebay community. When advertising your goods or services, it is imperative that you create an eye pleasing picture for potential buyers. Pictures of your product should not only be clear and look professional but also offer several angles of the product for sale. By including several angles, the customer can get a feel for the condition of your item. Foggy, one angled pictures will only make customers click the next seller in line because they need to see what they are bidding on. In my experience, an HD still frame digital camera is a precious commodity for Ebay sellers. Take the time to create a beautiful background that won't take away from the quality of your product and provide front, side and back views of every item.

Description

How you present yourself and your goods is important to creating a successful client base as well as receiving positive feedback scores from your buyers. When typing in your product description there are two things to consider. Does Ebay provide a detailed specs page on your product? What shape is the product in? Its always best to include the Ebay specs page with your own description for optimum views. Be as detailed as possible; for example, if your product has a few scratches from general wear and tear, let the buyers know this in the product description box. List anything that is offered with the product such as carrying cases, neck straps or games.

Popularity

Before listing anything for sale, peruse Ebay to find out what is popular at the moment. Popular items are easier to sell and often fetch you a better price than items not as sought after. Electronics are always a safe bet on Ebay. Users seem to snag up cell phones, cameras, MP3's and gaming systems at lightning speed. Antiques are also very popular such as pre-war cameras, jewelry, dinnerware and knick knacks. When you know whats trending now on Ebay, you can create an ideal catalog of goods for potential buyers to delight in.

Pricing

You also have the capability to peruse pricing from other sellers on your products. This will give you a base idea of how much you should charge when creating your listing. Over priced items simply will not sell if the average Joe seller beside you has it for even $1 less. Pay attention to pricing so that your buyers see you offer the best value for their money. The best way to help is to offer both auction style listings and the Buy It Now option. You can set a starting bid price as well as offer your products for a flat fee to anyone not wanting to bother with bidding wars.

Feedback

You may have noticed I mentioned feedback scores earlier. What is a feedback score? This is a score based on positive, neutral and negative feedback from both buyers and sellers. When you participate in a transaction, either as a buyer or seller, those whom have done business with you have the option to rate your performance. Users with 95% to 100% positive feedback scores are more likely to have a larger customer base and successful selling record. To ensure positive feedback, always keep the lines of communication open and solve any problems immedieately. Work with your buyers to create a lasting partnership. You can't win them all, though. Sometimes you will encounter a buyer who is simply displeased with everything although nothing is amiss for them to be upset about. These are the ones whom you can block from doing business with again such as those who don't pay on time or at all, complain about minor things that they knew before buying were present or who just generally are rude.

These tips are some that I have learned in my two years as an Ebay seller. By creating an ideal selling environment, you can attract people from all walks of life to your products. You may also find some are repeat customers if you do it really well. Don't let the Ebay environment overwhelm you. Look around before posting, read product descriptions from other sellers to get a good understanding of how to write one and look at the picture clarity of other sellers. You may find you have what it takes to be successful on Ebay.