You’ve probably heard about the great money making potential that is available via selling on eBay. And what you’ve heard is no myth.

There is money to be made on the site, and this sell on eBay tutorial can help you get started in just a few easy steps.

Step #1: Picking Items to Sell

While many amateur sellers will auction off anything they find around their homes during spring cleaning, if you’re going to do this as a part-time or full-time gig then you need to choose products whose stock can be easily replenished. You might be tempted to work with wholesalers who offer their goods to you at a lower price, you sell them at a higher price, and the wholesaler ships the items on your behalf. Unless you find a really good deal through one of these drop shippers, consider starting elsewhere.

Some of the best places to find potential items for eBay include garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, in-person auctions, going out of business sales, and storage unit auctions (after renters fail to pay their fees). Another option is to auction off other people’s items and keep a percentage of the profits – this is known as consignment.

Step #2: Taking Photos

Buyers are usually more interested in your listing if photos are involved. They want to see what they are getting ready to purchase. That means you should always add pictures, even if it does cost you a few extra pennies in fees. You’ll typically earn two to three times as much on the item just by having the picture so you’ll get a good return on your investment.

Take the picture using your own digital camera, tweak it a bit using Photoshop, and add them to your listing. While some sellers add tons of photos, you only need one or two quality ones.

Step #3: Establishing Policies

Before you begin preparing your first listing, you should set down some ground rules about how your operation is going to work. That’s because you’ll want to pass these policies on to your buyers in the listing. Make sure you follow this part of the sell on eBay tutorial because it will save you a lot of hassle and distress down the road.

One policy to establish is your guarantee. You don’t have to offer one but buyers are more likely to purchase goods from sellers who do. When you do choose to offer a guarantee, you can select the length of time that guarantee should last. My recommendation is 30 days because it’s very standard and doesn’t require you to hold back the paid money for very long. Some sellers go as long as 90 days to 12 months for some items. Mention your policy in the listing and what you offer to correct problems (i. e. a replacement, repair costs, full refund minus shipping costs).

Some of the other policies, such as accepted payment methods and shipping methods, will be discussed later in this article.

Step #4: Preparing the Listing

When you first get started with your item’s listing, you will need to choose at least three keywords that describe your item. Remember that these keywords are important because they should reflect what buyers would search for to find what you’re selling. They also help eBay suggest categories for your product.

To make sure the most people possible see your listing, consider paying the extra money to be listed in more than one relevant category. This is another secret that most How to Sell on eBay guides cover.

Another thing you might want to consider is to use professional-looking templates for your listing. You can get these free of charge through Auctiva. They will make your listings look nicer and that goes a long way with buyers.

Potential buyers will look sharply at your ebay listings and the professionalism in which they are presented will play a big part in how many sales you actually get.

Finally, pay close attention to your copywriting. You need to provide as much information as possible in a concise, straightforward approach but you don’t want to neglect the basic rules of good copywriting: attention, interest, desire, action.

The title and opening line of your listing should grab the browser and make them want to give your item a closer look. Then you need to generate interest for your product. For example, you might want to discuss why it’s unique or what makes it special for buyers.

Finally, provide all of the relevant details to seal the deal. Then ask buyers to place a bid. And don’t forget to list your policies at the end of your listing so there’s no confusion if any problems occur after your customer has received their purchase.

Problems include faulty stock, lost items through postage or simply a problem customer buying your stock. This is very rare but the average of 1 in 200 – 300 people will cause you problems on ebay.

Step #5: Receiving Payments

As part of the sell on eBay tutorial, you should already be thinking about some of the big decisions you need to make before getting started. One of the easiest is how to receive payments. Hands down the best method is through Paypal.

Do not accept checks or money orders via mail because this will only slow down the process and frequently results in problems for you. Fees are involved in the payment transactions but you’ll have a hassle-free experience.

And there’s nothing wrong with establishing a deadline for payment. A maximum of three days from the end of the auction seems reasonable.

Step #6: Shipping

We could probably do an entire sell on eBay tutorial just on shipping because it causes the most problems for the most sellers. The best approach is to research how much your shipping is going to cost before you start the auction. Keep in mind that postal rates fluctuate based on the buyer’s proximity to you.

UPS delivery costs more but does have some advantages, including at-your-door pick-up. One way to reduce your own costs is to obtain shipping materials for free. The postal service offers this service and some stores will give you empty boxes for free. Consider getting creative ideas from other sellers via the forums on eBay.

Step #7: Getting Feedback

Chances are you’ll have a few difficulties in selling in your first items because your feedback score will be low. That tends to make buyers nervous as well. Make sure to send a follow-up message to all buyers thanking them for their business, hoping they enjoy their purchase, and asking them to leave feedback for you.

As your feedback rating begins to climb so will the number of buyers and your potential profit.

For insider secrets on How to Sell on eBay the right way make sure you check out my reviews of the Top eBay Selling Guides here.

Wishing You Great Success,

HowOMG.com