Step #2 What category to use

Written by Texas Tracy on January 24, 2008

To proceed with step #2 you first need to register with ebay, if you have not already done so. This is quick and painless process, the hardest of which will be choosing your ebay name. Since ebay has gotten so large it may be a challenge to get the first name that comes in your head, so you might want to have a few backups before you get to this point.

Do you know what category you would like to list your item in? Ebay tries to help you with this, but I would suggest the old tried and true ‘Advanced Search’. Go to ‘Advanced Search’ and type in exactly what you have to sell, but make sure to check the ‘Completed Items’ box before you press enter. Check the items that have received the highest bids and see what category the sellers listed their item. Based on this research you should get a good idea of where you might get the most traffic.

How do I look up an item? Specifically by title. So, as much as ebay wants to sell you on the fact that listing in multiple categories will get you more bidders, I tend to lean towards the more accurate, descriptive type of title. I think it is the rare buyer who goes in and look at a the entire category, hoping to find one size 8 pair of pants. Instead, they would probably search for ‘The Gap Ladies Size 8 Jeans’. Now, the exception to this may be the collector of something, say, the Barbie Doll collector. This person may look for rare items and the only way to find them is to peruse the entire category. Time consuming but necessary for the buyer looking for something rare.

After you have decided on your title it is time to start typing. Ebay has now simplified the ‘Sell Your Item Form’ into a condensed series of steps, which leaves you little room for error. After you press the ‘Sell’ button on the ebay homepage it will take you to a page where you can press a button that says ‘Keep It Simple’. For the ebay rookie this is what you should do. Very simple and takes little time to complete. Tomorrow I will cover digital cameras and taking pictures, the real meat and potatoes of your auction.

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