Credit Crunch Baby Boom Part 5

Listing strategies.

Back on track, how to get your auctions seen.

• Write a good title that will catch the eye. Look at the titles of power sellers selling the same or similar products. Look for the key words they are using. Take the lead from them not the title. Play around with the word order; use the thesaurus (not all of them died out at the end of the cretaceous).
• DON’T CAPITALISE ALL THE WORDS IN THE TITLE it looks unprofessional, don’t you agree?
• A good clear photo. Take your own photos, digital cameras are cheap these days and the quality of cameras on mobile phones are excellent. Don’t be tempted to use photos off other trader’s listings, or off suppliers or manufacturers websites unless you have express permission to do so. This is copyright theft and you will have your listings removed. You may even have your account suspended.
• Include more than one photo. But don’t use eBay’s own service this will cost you and it is designed to make eBay even more money. I use a service which I have mentioned before called auctiva. Auctiva is a listing tool with templates, auction scheduling and it allows you to include as many photos as you like all for free. Get an account at www.auctiva.com
• Write a good listing; again look at the power sellers selling the same or similar items. Depending on what you are selling there are a number of options on the listings page. Size, material, new, used BNWT (brand new with tags) BNWT (brand new without tags) etc. Make good use of these as it give the buyer information instantly without having to read further. This is your second opportunity to hook them, your title being the first.

Things to include in the description: 

• Brand new (only if it is).
• Carefully describe any used item accurately e.g. cleaned to a high standard.
• From a smoke free home (only if it is).
• From a pet free home (only if it is).

Clearly state your returns and refund policy in the box provided on the listing template. Distance selling regulations do not apply to auctions only BINs.

More in part 6.

Rob