How to Improve Your Online Auctions

Online auction sites, are great places to sell your unwanted items and generate a bit of extra cash for your budget. However, a poorly designed and set-up auction can be a recipe for failure - and can lead to a lower sale price or not being able to sell the item at all. Learn what steps you can take to have a great (and successful) online auction.

Mistake #1: Blurry Photos

With online auctions in particular, buyers want to see clear photographs detailing the condition of the item. If a buyer sees blurry pictures they will assume you are hiding something, and the condition is not as indicated by you. Take one photo of the whole item, and several close-ups detailing the condition. You do not have to post every photograph you take but keep them on hand - potential buyers will contact if they are unsure about their condition or decision.

Mistake #2: Slow Loading Time

Auction templates can look professional, but can slow your webpage loading time - and large photographs can do this as well. Before you post your auction online, check the preview and verify that it loads quickly. A slow loading time will deter potential buyers from your online auction because they will not wait for the page to load completely.

Mistake #3: Incomplete or Insufficient Details

When a potential buyer views an online auction, they want all the details in front of them. Some will contact you (the seller), others will search for another auction with a similar item - and if the auction is about to end, you may not get their question in time. List all the details about the item in as few words as possible. Next to taking photographs, this will be the most time consuming part of creating your auction. Your details should include (and are not limited to) the condition of the item, if it works, and details specific to the item. For example, if you are selling a laptop you would state the screen size, processor, processor speed, amount of memory, and the size of the hard drive.

Mistake #4: Not Using Keywords in the Title

Most searches will pull online auctions up based on the keywords in the title, so choosing the proper keywords is essential to your success. For example, let's say you have a camera you want to put up for auction. If you title it, "Brand New Silver Camera, Excellent Quality" your auction would be very difficult to locate. But if you title it "New Silver Kodak Digital Camera with 8GB Memory" it will be easily found and prospective buyers will know exactly what you are selling. Also, double check your spelling - poor spelling will cause search engines to miss your item, and is a bad refection on you as the seller.

Mistake #5: Choosing Poor Templates

Flashy (or flashing) templates, too many colors or designs, and the template not fitting on the screen (like the ones you have to scroll left and right in addition to up and down), are all deterrents to prospective buyers for online auctions. The online auction and its details should be the focus, not the template. There are several sites that have templates available if you are unfamiliar with HTML and web design.

Paid Auction Template Sites:

Both of these sites have a low monthly fee for their use, and are ideal for those who post online auctions frequently. All of their templates are easy to set-up and alter if needed.

Katscorner's Auction Templates

Photeto

Free Auction Template Sites:

These templates are ideal for those who post online auctions rarely or for those who prefer free templates, after all these work just as well as the paid templates!

ebayGEN

All Free Templates

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