Recommendations from Seller Sourcebook for Improving eBay Listings

Know More: eBay How-Tos auction templates, Kristen Rice, Seller Sourcebook

As part of "Guest Blogger April" here at Know More Media, we have another fabulous guest blogger helping us with finding success on eBay. Kristen Rice, founder and mastermind behind The Seller Sourcebook, provides some helpful tips about creating eBay auction listings. Kristen heads up The Seller Sourcebook, by far the best auction template service for online auctions offering thousands of professionally designed templates a low monthly fee.

Creating an Awesome Auction Listing

by guest author Kristen Rice If you want to get your items noticed, let alone bid on, creating an awesome auction listing is essential. It seems everyone is selling on eBay and items are not getting multiple bids like they used to. Each day auctions close with no bids on them at all. Granted some of these items are obscure or overpriced, but often many a good product, offered at a fair price, closes with no bids because the seller did not create a compelling auction listing.

If you want your auctions to get bids (and that is why we are all reading this right?) then your job is to "sell" your product to the potential buyer. To do this you need to follow some basic steps to list your auction correctly and present it well to potential buyers. So, let's get rolling on Creating an Awesome Auction Listing!

Put it in the Right Category

I cannot tell you how many times I have been browsing a category and have seen items that are clearly in the wrong spot. If I am browsing through the toddler boys clothing I probably will not have an interest in your listing for a hand painted birdhouse.

Some people have the notion that cross listing products in a target market category will get them more exposure. Sounds reasonable enough and if you wish to list your Fisher Price toys for sale in the toddler clothing category you may get some people to look at your auction. But I doubt many people looking for size 2T sweaters are going to stop their auction search to go read about your hand painted bird house.

Your Title is the Door to your Auction

I am sure you have heard the phrase "don't judge a book by it's cover". While that saying is very true most buyers aren't thinking that while scanning through auction listings. They see a mediocre title and in the back of their mind figure it is a mediocre auction. They will just continue moving on down the list of auctions and the opportunity to sell them your item is gone. You have to have an eye-catching and accurate title so the buyer takes notice. First, let's go over some things you DO NOT want to do.

1) Don't keyword spam

2) Don't waste space with garbage characters like @@@, ####, L@@K!!!, C@@L, ad nauseum. They don’t tell the buyer anything about your item and just use up space. 3) Do give as many details as possible – size, brand name, color, fabric, etc.

Size May Matter But So Do Measurements

If you sell clothing you should really include the measurements of the item as well as the size. Saying an item is a size Large does not tell the potential buyer enough information - we all know that not all Larges (or size 10s) are cut the same. I have a standard set of measurements I take on all clothing items. To make the listing process go faster (and so I remember which measurements to take) I keep a text document that lists the standard information I include in my clothing auctions. Then all I need to do is copy/paste this list in and fill in the numbers.

A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words

Want to kill your auction from the get-go? Then all you need to do is have a bad picture; or worse no picture at all. I don't know many people who buy things sight unseen so you just have to have good pictures. When taking your pictures try to get in as close to the object as possible. You want no extraneous items in the background. While you might have nice dining room chairs if they aren't up for auction make sure they are not showing in the picture.

Let's Talk Terms

It is important to list your Terms of Sale (TOS) in every auction. Types of TOS' are the payment methods you accept, when & how you ship your items, if you require insurance to be purchased and what is your return policy (if you have one). Also, if you restrict bidding you should detail that information as well. The most important thing you should do when writing your terms is to be succinct, don't ramble! Also try not sound harsh or unreasonable, all you will do is scare off buyers. This is your auction, your business and your rules - but there is no reason to be rude about it. As the old saying goes; you catch more flies with honey that with vinegar.

Good luck with your upcoming auctions! My hope is these ideas/suggestions have been helpful and your auction listings will be more compelling and receive more views & bids!

Kristen is offering 20% off any subscription to new members through April 30. Just mention coupon code C5A3E to get your discount.

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I've become an eBay Power Seller since I started using SSB! The selection of templates are outstanding & I like the ability to host my photos & launch my listings directly from the site. Great advice on how to write a top-notch listing! Thanks for sharing.

Posted by: Moomettes Magnificents | April 4, 2008 8:32 PM | Permalink to Comment

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