Here are 3 tips to getting your stuff sold on eBay – and fast. (If you’re new to e-commerce, check out this article on how to make money with eBay).
1. Post Quality Pictures (a lot of them)
Pictures are worth 1,000 words (and in e-commerce pictures can be worth much, much more). Having the right pictures can be the difference between having someone click on your listing or not, or between between making the sale or not. Here’s what you need:
- Use clear pictures – not blurry or old-looking. If you can see the background in the image, make sure the background is nice to look at as well.
- The more pictures, the better. If you’re buying something from an unknown eBay seller, your confidence goes up with the number of photos of the item in question. (eBay allows 12 free pictures per listings. This is enough. You do not need to spend money on the extra images, but if you do, try an an outside app (like Garage Sale) to upload photos to your own server so you don’t have to pay eBay for the extra photos.
2. Use Keywords in your Description and Title
Keywords are hot button words that people may enter in their search bar when searching for an item on eBay. Here’s an example. Let’s say you’re selling this piece of fitness equipment.
Would it be better to list this product as:
A) Fitness Equipment?
or
B) Home gym weight loss pull up bar fitness equipment?
The better option is Option B. Option A is not rich in keywords. Option B – although a mouthful – is more likely to get your listing found!
The best way to think of keywords is to think of what a potential buyer for your item would actually type in the search box. This buyer might be searching for a “home gym”, or they be looking for “weight loss”, or simply trying to find a “pull up bar.” These are all appropriate keywords. There is no such thing as keyword overdose. The more, the better.
As far as the title, you are limited by space. Just fit in as many keywords as you can. If there’s room, throw another keyword on the end. Never leave empty space in your description. What’s the point of doing all this? It’s for search optimization.
- Search optimization: The idea behind search optimization is simple – The more closely your description matches that search query, the more likely for your product to show up in the results. Note: If you think a potential buyer would search for a particular brand name, that brand would definitely qualify as a keyword. Put it in your title –eg. [Eddie Bauer fleece jacket] versus [fleece jacket].
3. Time Your Listing Appropriately
There is nothing wrong with a 30 day listing, but a 10 day listing can create a sense of urgency. Here’s a tip we picked up from iwillteachyoutoberich.com – “List your item for 10 days starting on a Thursday, that gives you two full weekends of eyeballs. Weekends typically have the highest traffic.”
These 3 strategies (posting a lot of quality pictures, using lots of keywords in your title and description, and paying attention to your listing times) are all essential to getting your items sold on eBay.
Do you have experience selling on eBay? Please share your tips below!
