10 Steps to Becoming a Successful eBay Seller

Are you looking to make some extra cash? The online marketplace, eBay, may be just the ticket. Thousands of businesses and individuals use the internet auction site to supplement their income. These people have found becoming an eBay seller to be very profitable and an excellent way to promote their business.

At some point, you have no doubt visited the eBay website, whether intentionally or by clicking on search engine results. The company seems to appear in nearly every list of results entered into a search engine. The possibilities are virtually endless when it comes to what you can find on eBay.

Do you have things you would like to clear out and make a little pocket change to boot? Follow the outline below and you will be well on your way to joining the millions who have already realized the gold mine which is eBay.

1. If you have already registered on eBay as a buyer it is very simple to convert your account into a seller's account. Just click on the "Sell" tab located at the top of nearly every page. You will need to enter some additional information and they might ask for your credit card number. Once you've registered as a seller , you're adventure as begun!

2. Choose the item you wish to sell. Make sure it is clean and presentable. Clean off any dirt or dust. Test the product for operability. Measure the items length, width and depth. If the item has a serial number or other identifying marks make note of them.

3. Take a digital picture of the item. Ebay offers some "stock" photos of items, however it is preferable that you have a photo of the actual item so that buyers see the product they are bidding on. Your picture does not need to be of professional quality, it only needs to be clear and simple.

4. Weigh your item; estimate the weight of packaging you will be using to ship the item in. If estimation scares, you place your item in the package with packing material and get an actual weight.

5. Determine how you would like to be paid. Most sellers accept PayPal, this is not only the most common payment method but the fastest way to receive your money. To accept this payment method you must register for an account on the PayPal website. You will be required to enter your checking account information and/or credit card information. Be aware PayPal does charge fees when you receive a payment if you have a "Premier or Business" account. Personal accounts incur no fees. If you'd prefer a more traditional payment method you can choose to accept money orders or personal checks. If you choose the latter method be sure the check has cleared before you ship the item to your buyer.

6. List your item; choose the appropriate category. This step has been simplified by eBay. Just click on a category and each sub-category until you have found the category that matches your item. Choose a title for your item. Include the brand name of the item in your title, as well as what the item is and it's condition. For example; Playstation 3 Game System, New. You will notice that on some listings there are abbreviations like NIP or NIB, this means "new in package, or new in box" This lets your potential buyers know the product is new. If you are selling a used item, just be sure you specify it is used so that there are no miscommunications with buyers. The next listing step is to enter a description of the item. It is important to accurately describe your item and include as much information as possible. The more information you have on an item the more likely it is to sell. Upload your pictures to your listing using eBays simple upload tool. Decide how long you want your auction to be, you can choose from 1, 3, 7 or 10 days. 10 day auctions incur additional fees. Decide the auction starting price. This can be as easy or as hard as you make it. Some sellers start the auction at the minimum amount they are willing to sell the item for; others start the item low and hope that it sells at its true value. You do have the option to put a "reserve" price for an additional fee. The reserve ensures that your item will not sell unless you receive a specified amount. Decide what method you wish to use to ship your item and list it along with the items shipping information. You should also include a nominal handling fee for your time to package and ship the item. Submit your listing and it will be posted to eBay.

7. Check the status of your item often. Potential buyers will often ask questions about your product. Respond to these questions promptly. The better communication you offer the better your feedback will be. Your item will be more likely to sell if you communicate with your buyers.

8. Once your auction has ended you must wait to receive payment. Once you've received payment and it has cleared (if it is a personal check) you will need to ship your item. It is strongly recommended that you use a shipping method in which you are provided a tracking number or delivery confirmation. This is a great tool and you should provide your buyer with this number so that they may track their package. This will also serve as protection for you should the buyer claim they did not receive the item.

9. Once your buyer has received the item they will generally leave feedback. Feedback is a rating on the transaction with you. If you have described the item correctly, shipped the item timely and communicated with your buyer; the feedback received will be positive. You should leave feedback for your buyers as well. The feedback system is one of the only ways to determine if a seller or buyer is trustworthy.

10. Once the above steps have been completed, you can consider your eBay auction complete and successful. If you have a large amount of inventory you would like to clear out you may want to consider opening an eBay store. There are pros and cons to an eBay store. Research the good and bad before you make this decision. Once you've completed these steps you are well on your way to becoming an eBay pro. The process is easy to follow and it's a great way to earn extra income!