How To Sell on eBay as a Career

Many people have discovered that they can make a good living selling items on eBay. By selling on eBay, you can potentially reach a worldwide market for whatever it is you're selling. Since eBay has a huge number of users, a posting on the site also has a huge potential audience.

The first thing you want to do before deciding to sell on eBay is figure out if it makes sense. Because you may get orders from all over the place, you'll want to consider if it makes sense to sell your item online. For example, if you are selling an item that is not hard to find in most places, and it will typically sell for $30, but it costs $20 to ship, then it may not make sense. If on the other hand, you're selling an item that sells for $15, but only costs $1 to ship, then it makes more sense. Also think about what sells best online and what doesn't tend to sell well online. Also, check eBay's list of prohibited items to see if you can even sell what you have in mind.

The first step is to go to eBay's home page and set up an account. Click on "Register" at the top of the page. Then you'll be asked to choose a username (avoid using anything too personal like your real name) and password and enter information about yourself. You'll be sent a confirmation email, which you need to open and click on an activation link. Then your account becomes active.

Now you need to set up a Payment Account. This requires you to offer PayPal or credit card payment options. PayPal is recommended, because it is more secure and easier for many buyers to use. To sign up with PayPal, visit their home page, and register, following all of the instructions. If you want to start out as a casual seller, choose Premier Account, but if you expect to sell a lot, choose Business Account. You can always upgrade later if you start to sell more.

Next you need to create an eBay seller's account. To create one, click here. You'll need to verify your identity by providing banking information. Now you'll have to select your preferred method for paying eBay selling fees.

Your eBay rating can dramatically effect whether or not people buy from you. People may be reluctant to buy off someone with no eBay history, so you might want to buy a few items off of eBay and pay promptly so that you can start to build trust among the eBay community. Start selling items of lesser value and be a good seller (ship quickly, in adequate packaging, and product consistent with description). Once you've done a few transactions and have a good rating then you can consider selling higher value items, since you'll be seen as more trustworthy.

You can either have an auction or a fixed price on eBay. It's best to use a minimum price if you decide to go with an auction. In determining a fixed price, you can see what your item or similar items have sold for on eBay by using the advanced search, your item's keywords and the completed listings only check box. This should help you price the item realistically. You can also look at other online retailers to determine fair pricing.

You'll need a good photo of what you're selling. Use a decent camera, and try to get the best lighting, angle, etc. Just try to convey the product with the best possible image. It is recommended that you upload your photo at 1024 x 768 pixels. If you have Photoshop or another good image editing program, you can sharpen the image and save it as high quality. This is important, since eBay reduces the image quality. If you opt for a Gallery photo in your listing (puts a thumbnail image in the listing, but costs extra), then you may want to take a separate photo, since the dimensions are different (96 x 96 pixels).

When you select duration, you'll want to think about what time it will end. Often the bids near the end of an auction push the price up. But if your auction ends at 4 AM in the east and 1 AM in the west, you're not going to have many of those last minute bids. Unless you pay extra, your auction will end at the same time of day that you started it, so keep that in mind.

When you create your listing, you'll have to choose a category. Usually, it's pretty obvious which category it should go in, so think about what makes the most sense.

Then you'll need to write a listing title. Think about what your customers would be most likely to search for when looking for you product. That is what you should use as your listing title.

Next, you need to add your photo(s) and write a product description. In your description, you need to be completely honest about what you're selling. For example, if it's a used item and it is damaged in any way, you need to be upfront about that, otherwise you may get a low rating from the buyer. On the other hand, you should still emphasize the positive. Basically, say what makes your product great and why the buyer should buy from you. Also list all of the features. Just don't make your description any longer than necessary.

Now you need to enter your selling price. It could be a minimum bid, or a buy it now option. You have to make a judgment call as to what is most appropriate for your item. When selecting duration, also remember that longer auctions tend to result in higher prices.

Next, enter your payments method. Then you can enter your shipping information using the Shipping Wizard. The more countries you offer the item to, the more potential buyers. If the price is dynamic, this means greater odds of selling at a higher price. You can also elect to exclude certain buyers from the potential buyer pool, for example buyers without a PayPal account. It's also a good idea to include a return policy. You should answer any questions from buyers or potential buyers. If you answer promptly, they'll know you're on the ball.

Once the transaction is completed, ship as soon as possible and make sure it is packaged adequately. This will ensure a better rating. Also leave a positive rating of the buyer if they pay quickly and the right amount.

For other options to sell on eBay, there is eBay stores, third party sellers who sell for you, or eBay Express, which is for experienced sellers.