AuctionCUT - Auction and eBay Forum

Mark · Site Admin Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 729

If you are an eBay seller, then you already know that there is nothing more important to the success of your business than customer interest. When it comes to increasing sales, it's a good idea to know just what will make your listings stand out above all of the rest. Take a look at the following 10 suggestions for increasing your eBay sales:

- Create a title that will stand out to shoppers. The first thing that any buyer will see is the title of your auction, so make it good. You should provide a brief description using limited words, along with one phrase that really grabs the buyer's attention. Some examples include 'No Reserve,' 'One-Time Only' or 'Clearance.'

- Add a quality photo. If you are using a camera to capture your images, consider taking the photo outdoors with the flash turned on. This will greatly enhance the color and quality of your image.

- Be creative with your description. It isn't enough to simply spell out the basics of your auction. Instead, you need to paint a picture in the mind of the potential buyer to depict why they need this product, how they can use it and why it is such a good deal. It's also a great idea to suggest why your product would make a great gift and, at the same time, which holiday(s) are ideal for giving this particular product. For example, a heart necklace would be ideal for Valentine's Day and a snowglobe would be terrific for Christmas.

- Use words that pull the buyer in. Rather than just simply describing an item, use words that will describe the item in better detail. Instead of simply saying something it's old, call it vintage. If your item has a pleasing appearance, describe it as captivating.

- Begin your auction with a low minimum bid, which will capture the interest of more shoppers who are in the market for a real bargain. It is, afterall, the good deals that are often too hard to resist.

- Select the option that allows your auction to run for the longest period. On eBay, auctions can be placed for 1-7 days at no additional charge or, for a small fee, some sellers prefer to list their items for 10 days. The longer your auction runs, the more opportunity individuals will have to see your auction.

- Ship worldwide in order to accommodate international buyers. When choosing the locations that you will ship to, you may find that your auction gains better exposure and more bids if you are willing to ship worldwide. Selecting this option will open the door for more bidders, which means more interest and possibly a higher selling price.

- Be clear on shipping and handling fees. If you choose to ship worldwide, be sure to differentiate between local and international shipping rates. This will prevent any misunderstandings when it comes time for your winning bidder to pay for the auction. International rates are likely to be higher than local shipping costs, so be sure to let buyers know how much shipping will be or offer to calculate the cost for them if they ask before bidding.

- Be responsive. During the course of your auction, potential buyers may post questions that require your response. Such inquiries may include the condition of an item, it's age, authenticity, etc. Generally, you should attempt to answer all questions within 24 hours to show bidders that you are responsive to their concerns. This means setting aside time to check your e-mail and/or auctions at least once every day.

- Announce it! If you are a regular seller, create a free e-mail announcement list and invite potential buyers and current customers to sign up. This will help consumers to be reminded of your new listings and also keep them informed of any upcoming sales or specials that you may be offering in the near future. From time to time, offer discounts and/or contests exclusively to subscribers. This approach is likely to persuade former customers to continue buying your products and/or service.

Article by Mark Kenny, AuctionCUT.com

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expitlad · Power Member Joined: 25 Nov 2006 Posts: 103

Very useful article...Thanks

pspdropship · Contributor Joined: 04 Dec 2006 Posts: 11

great info! sometimes using a dropshipper could save a lot of time and hassle..

vgt · Contributor Joined: 15 Feb 2007 Posts: 10

Very good information. Thanks.

TheWinnersRow · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:01 pm Post subject:

Very good - Thanks for sharing this info.

anneim · Just Registered Joined: 06 Apr 2007 Posts: 1

Thanks for taking the time to post your top 10 list. As a newbie I really appreciate it.

stevew8975

bonesuk · Just Registered Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 3

Excellent tips thanks.

kwazycool · Contributor Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 5

Tips that I could immediately use in my ebay listings, thanks for the great free information! Smile

gabet123 · Just Registered Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 3

Thanks for the advice. I think it will help alot. The whole no reserve thing works I have read about that before.

jimb12 · Contributor Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 7

I think the picture and bold print is the key to sell on ebay.

sadannr · Contributor Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 10

Thank you for taking the time to post this. Very interesting. I think that very clear pictures with minimal background interference is a big key in selling your items. Crop out as much of the background as you can.

shipmate · Just Registered Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 4

Thanks for taking the time to write this up and post it. It would be nice if these suggestions would appear when users log into eBay as a refresher or training tool.

Frebte · Contributor Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 5

These are main things, of course.

amy2004marie · Contributor Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Indiana

Thanks for the info Very Happy