How to Sell Your Stuff on eBay

Selling your stuff on eBay can be awesome. But you have to know what you are doing, or it could actually cost you! I love eBay because it reaches a HUGE amount of people, far more than if I try to sell anywhere else. I’m not a pro or anything, but I’ve found when I follow these simple steps, I make so much more money than I would otherwise. And the best part is, it’s pretty dang simple!

1. A Good Title: Sounds like a given, but I can’t tell you how many spelling errors of vague titles I’ve seen. It’s your first shot at getting your item noticed, so make it count. Give specific brand names and info, but don’t go crazy. For example:

• Bad title: Ford Focus
• Good title: Focus SES 2006 ZX4 Sedan 4-Door 2.0L, blue
• Over-the-top title: Focus SES 2006 ZX4 Sedan 4-Door 2.0L, blue with leather and low miles and 8-disc cd changer and built-in GPS and it’s clean and it’s in perfect condition and ohmygoodness I just fell asleep while reading this.

2. Good Pictures: I can’t stress enough how visual eBay shopper are. Take and use your own photos, not stock photos of the item you’re selling. Take clear photos and do not alter or photoshop them in any way. Take multiple photos of multiple angles so the seller can can see the item from all sides.

3. Good Description: This is a great time to use the K.I.S.S. motto. You want to give your seller all of the pertinent information so they can make an educated decision, but you don’t want to write a novel. Keep it simple and concise, yet include any information you’d like to know when buying something. How long was it used? Why are you selling it? Are there any issues at all with the item? What are specifics about the item itself that make it unique?

4. Timing is Everything: If at all possible, end your auction on Sunday night. Seems odd, but I have had hands-down, so much more traffic on Sunday nights than on any other night. Everyone seems to be winding down from their weekend plans and settling in in front of their computer. If you can’t make Sunday night work, just make sure your auction doesn’t end at some crazy time in the wee hours of the morning. It does matter. Also, I’d highly suggest keeping the auction short and adding a Buy It Now feature. I’ve had much more success that way.

5. Price to Sell: Setting a starting bid and your reserve price should be carefully considered. Try not to set your reserve price below $10 because your listing fees will be more than that, causing you to possibly lose money. And always opt for $9.99 instead of $10 or $19.99 instead of $20, etc. Humans are wired to chose the $.99 price over the whole dollar price. Our brains tell us we’re getting a better deal, even though the prices are practically identical.

6. Know When to Hold Em: If you’re trying to get rid of your fake Christmas tree, selling it in March is probably not the best idea. You’ll see much better results if you stick to seasonal selling and sell it in November. If you can’t hold off and need to make some fast cash, be prepared to make less in the off-season.

7. Keywords are Key: Load your post up with applicable keywords, but don’t cheat the system. If your item has nothing to do with Tickle me Elmo but you know that’s the hottest toy trend, don’t throw Tickle Me Elmo in as a keyword to fish for traffic. EBay frown upon it and it will make sellers less likely to trust you. But throw as many versions and variations of keywords into your post as possible. Put yourself in your buyers shoes and try to image what they would type into the search bar to find your item.

8. Reputation Matters: Ship when you say, communicate in a timely manner, do not falsely advertise, do not try to swindle or cheat customers, and leave quick, honest feedback for your buyers. Some eBay customers won’t even consider buying your items if you have a poor ranking, even if they are smoking deals.

And there are my eBay tips. Do you buy/seel on eBay often? What advice do you have?