1.) Take advantage of eBay’s photo hosting and get your pictures into your auctions. There is no excuse not to as the first one is free! You won’t need to have any more unless you need to be really detailed about the item you are selling for that particular auction.

2.) Get as close to your item when taking the picture as you can and still have a sharp focus –the grain of your kitchen table will not help sell your item.

3.) Clear away the background items that will clutter out the photo.

4.) If your picture is reflective, be sure it isn’t reflecting something you don’t want seen.

5.) Never copy pictures from other sellers or from any where on the Net.

6.) If you use manufacturers pictures or stock photos, cite the source. Nothing wrong with using other photos when you have permission, but cite where you got the pictures from.

Technorati Tags: make money on ebay, selling, auction, ecommerce, shopping, weblog, paypal, writing, ebay, ebay store

Egypt Pyramids – Beautiful!

But, if a news topic does have something to do with your blog or site, you would be remiss if you didn’t write about it. When you do, be sure to get the word out through your newsletter, comments on other blogs, pings and listings in the search engines.

Technorati tags: twitter, internet, blogging, writing, celebrities, internet, media, blogs, google, keywords

But today, blogging is huge. Where will it go from here? I think more mobile and perhaps more personal. I think families have a chance to get in on it and be closer with private chatter, like smaller twitters. I also think smaller better devices are going to be the rage in 5 years. It’s fun to speculate about, like maybe something that attaches directly to your eye or ears?

When you do a predict the future post, be sure to ask your users where they think the niche is going. On that note, where do you think blogging will be in 5 -1 0 years? Do you think it will be more mobile too? Let me know in the comments area.

More: Over 50 Blog Post Ideas and How to Write Them

Technorati Tags: blog ideas, blog post ideas, blog post tips, blogging, blogging tips, weblog, writing blog posts, writing, writing tips

Where do you get your supplies? I like to make my own, but my money from ebay goes to support my ebay buying habit – as I’m a blogger by trade. I’d like to hear from you, and where moms – who always ferret out the best deals – find their eBay inventory. Let us know in the comments area.

Technorati Tags: make money on ebay, selling, auction, ecommerce, shopping, weblog, paypal, writing, ebay, ebay store, garage sale

For the basics in selling on eBay, this is a great vid!

Technorati Tags: make money on ebay, selling, auction, ecommerce, shopping, weblog, paypal, writing, ebay, ebay store, garage sale

Your best defense against these possibilities is a good offense by using your description and then keeping good records. For instance, stating in your description that you will offer shipping insurance at what it cost, but you are not responsible for lost or damaged goods after you have shipped them is only good if you have kept the receipt for the goods you have sent. Then if someone says they want their money back because they have not received an item, you have proof that it was sent to them.

For buyers who refuse to pay, be tough. This is your business, you need to manage this situation. You will need to contact eBay and get your fees back, but you can only do this by reporting the buyer. You have to be prepared to do that, so state that you will in your description and follow through if you need to.

Make your return policy clear. Buyers remorse can run an eBay seller into the ground, so be sure you are willing – and able – to take items back from buyers. If not, make it clear in your auction description.

All in all, you need to not be lazy about your descriptions, record keeping and business management. Make your choices, based on your needs as a seller, then make the rules of your auctions clear. Your real buyers will appreciate that you took the effort to let them know how you do business.

Technorati Tags: make money on ebay, selling, auction, ecommerce, shopping, weblog, paypal, writing, ebay, ebay store, garage sale

1.) Video games for current systems. If these are in working order – you’ll need to check – they will sell.
2.) Collectable collections. Know what you are talking about before purchasing.
3.) Highend brand name business clothes for men and women.
4.) Highend brand name clothes for kids.
5.) Books by popular authors and first additions.
6.) Un-used highend brand name makeup.
7.) DVDs and CDs in good working order with cases.
8.) China and collectable glass – know your stuff.
9.) Leather goods, like handbags.
10.) High end children’s electronic toys, like Leapfrog, vTech, tec.

Technorati Tags: make money on ebay, selling, auction, ecommerce, shopping, weblog, paypal, writing, ebay, ebay store, garage sale

1.) Put your buyers first and don’t pull any sneaky selling tricks. I tend to think of reserve prices when I think about this tip. There really is no sense to them, and they seem very sneaky. Maybe that is why most people don’t bother to bid on something that is hidden like a reserved price. Don’t hide the flaws of what you are selling, being honest will make you a favorite seller – and that’s how power sellers get their lucrative repeat business.

2.) Use keywords in the listing title. The best titles bring prospective buyers in from the eBay search function. More bidding = more money for the sale. Really think through your listing and take the time to ferret out the best keywords.

3.) Look and act professional. While eBay is all about buying and selling as a personal experience, that doesn’t mean you should used every font color in the world in your description and for cheese-sake use a spellchecker. Find or create a listing template that looks nice and stick to it for consistency. Add a tag line at the top of your auctions that welcomes the viewer like: “Hi, this is Denise. Thanks so much for looking at my auction. Please read through all the details below.” and not something that says “BEST BRAS ON EBAY” blinking in lime green and a 72 pt font.

4.) Set a fair starting price. If you constantly set lower than what you want prices and then end up getting those prices for the sales, you will not want to continue in the business. you need to set a price that is not only fair to the buyer, but fair to you. Don’t undercut, unkless you are truely going to discount that item and let it go for that price.

5.) Talk about your other listings in your auction discription. Now here’s where acting like a usered car salesman is not a good idea. Talk about the listings using your personal voice: “I was at an estate sale last week and I got some fun looking glass vases similar to the one listed here. See my othr listings to check them out.”

Technorati Tags: make money on ebay, selling, auction, ecommerce, shopping, weblog, paypal, writing, ebay, ebay store

Each point he makes he is able to back up with credible examples and information. Even if you are not new to selling on eBay there are things you may hear for the first time and reminders on the other points he makes. And without further adieu, video after the jump:

The one thing I would disagree with is setting your price lower because of not wanting the fee. He takes that back when he is talking about not setting a reserve – which is my reasoning for disagreeing with him. All in all the video is very well thought out and should be read by those doing any eBay selling.

Technorati Tags: make money on ebay, selling, auction, ecommerce, shopping, weblog, paypal, writing, ebay, ebay store