eBay is the premier marketplace for individuals to buy and sell goods. If you're not sure which marketplace to sell your items on, that’s okay. Google eBay, and you’re sure to find that it’s one of the most effective places to sell your stuff. Initially, people used eBay to buy and sell used items that they no longer needed.

eBay has evolved into a more comprehensive marketplace. Today, eBay is used by everyone from people looking to sell used items, to stores and brands seeking to leverage eBay’s massive user base and traffic to sell new items. If you’re asking yourself, “how do I sell on eBay” the information below should be very helpful to you.

If selling your items online is a door you’d like to open, eBay website traffic will provide you with plenty of interested users to sell your items to. eBay selling can be a great way for you to make additional money. Now, let’s look at how to list on eBay, step by step.

Establish Your Account

Before we get into how to start selling on eBay, we’ll need to set up an account. Your first step will be to go to eBay, create a user account and complete your profile.

First, go to ebay.com and click the register link in the upper left corner.

Next, fill in the necessary information to create an account on ebay.com. My eBay will be the section of the site you’re transferred to once you enter this information.

Once you’ve created your account, eBay takes you to the My eBay summary page. The my ebay.com summary page is the main dashboard for everything you do on eBay, and you’ll use it to navigate to other areas of the site, like my eBay selling, which is where you’ll see your eBay sold items as well as the my eBay all selling section.

Get to know this portion of the site, because you’ll go to my eBay often to complete different tasks. Click the account tab towards the top of the page, which will allow you to fill in the rest of the information necessary to get your account ready to use.

Fill in your PayPal information next. If you already have a PayPal account, click the button on the bottom right to link your PayPal account with eBay. If you don’t have one yet, you can create one using the sign-up button to the bottom left.

Now that your PayPal is linked to your eBay account use the My Account links in the upper left corner to fill in the rest of your necessary information, like your personal information and ship to addresses

Make Purchases to Establish Credibility

If you’re interested in learning how to sell on eBay, this is the first place to start. Buyers on eBay rely on seller feedback to know that they’re doing business with a reputable party. It can be difficult to sell your items on eBay with a feedback score of 0.

So, consider using eBay to make some purchases. When you make purchases on eBay, the seller will leave you feedback regarding their experience with you. The more feedback you have, the more comfortable eBay users will feel about purchasing items you sell in the future.

PayPal Is the Way To Go

eBay offers several different ways to check out on the site, but PayPal is still the quickest, easiest and safest method of checkout. It’s also the easiest way to get paid for the items you sell on eBay. We highly recommend that you use PayPal as your preferred checkout and payment method on the site. So, if you’re wondering “how do I get my money from eBay” once you’ve sold an item, PayPal is going to be the answer.

Research Your Market

Before you get started selling your items on eBay, you’ll want to research the market. If you’re wondering “how does eBay work” when you sell your items, this research should answer some of your questions. Identify the items you wish to sell, then, search for those items on eBay. Take note of the price other sellers are asking for the same items. You’ll also want to take note of the way they present the item in photos, and how they’ve described the item.

One tip I have when it comes to how to sell items on eBay is to offer free shipping. Items that offer free shipping are more likely to sell on eBay. Remember, just because you’re offering free shipping doesn’t necessarily mean you need to absorb that cost. Find out how much your item will cost to ship, and include that cost into your starting or asking price on your listing.

Find Packaging Beforehand

Nothing is more frustrating than learning how to sell on eBay, getting your item sold, then realizing you have no way to ship the item out. Your reputation on ties in closely with how quickly you can ship your items out and how well you’ve packaged the item for shipping.

Always have packing materials like tape, packing peanuts, bagged air or even newspaper on hand to protect your item in transit. Save shipping boxes you’ve received from other purchases to use again when you ship items you’ve sold.

Some shipping carriers offer free packing supplies as well to promote their services and encourage you to use them as your shipping carrier when you sell your items. You’ll want to take advantage of these free supplies as it’s an excellent way to keep your shipping costs low. You can even order free Priority Mail shipping boxes from the USPS right through eBay.

Consider Your Timing

You don’t want to be the 400th seller listing the same item all at once. This creates too much competition, and it makes it easy for your item to get lost in the fray. Instead, try and list your items at a time when competition isn’t as high so that the item you’re selling stands out to potential buyers. When it comes to how to sell on eBay, posting your items at the best possible time to promote a sale is one of the most useful things you’ll learn.

Create A Title for Your Listing

A crucial step towards knowing how to sell something on eBay is going to be creating a memorable title. eBay gives you 80 total characters to create your title, so you’ll have to be economical. Try and pack your title with as many descriptive keywords as possible, so that your item is easily searchable.

Try to include as many of the following attributes in your title as possible:

  • Brand
  • Size
  • Color
  • Condition (new, like new, used, for parts, etc.)

Photos Are Critical – Take Your Own

When it comes to how to sell things on eBay, quality photography goes a long way. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and that’s particularly true when it comes to eBay. Take time to photograph your item in as much detail as possible. Chances are, the camera on your smartphone is more than powerful enough to produce quality photos for your eBay listing.

Not everyone is a photographer, but with very limited abilities, you’ll be able to take quality photos for your listing. These tips will help ensure that you’ve done a thorough job photographing your item for sale.

  • If you have a room available with good interior lighting, take your photographs there.
  • If you don’t have enough lighting available inside, you can head outside to take your photographs. You should find ample lighting for your photos outdoors, even on cloudy days, just be sure to stay out of the shade.
  • Consider taking a trip to your local craft store and purchase a large piece of white oak tag to use as a background for your photos. A stark white background will help your item stand out, and it will ensure that you're portraying your items in the most accurate way possible.
  • Use the built-in photo editing software on your phone to adjust your photographs, so that you can be sure you’re presenting the item in the most accurate way possible.
  • If you're selling a used item that shows wear, be sure to photograph those worn areas to give potential buyers an accurate idea of what to expect from your item.
  • For items which are new and still have tags attached, take photographs that show the attached tags to show potential buyers that they’re looking at a brand-new item.
  • Photograph key features of your item to make sure potential buyers can see the most important selling points of your item.

Know Your Fees

eBay offers you a powerful and easy to use marketplace to sell your items. In exchange, they get a cut of your sales. Typically, eBay charges a small fee to add your item to the site. eBay also offers some additional features you can add to your listing designed to help your item sell faster for a small fee.

Often, eBay will run promotions where you’re able to list your items for free for a period of time. If your item sells, eBay assesses a final value fee, which is a percentage of the total you sold your item for. Typically, that fee is 10% of the final sale price, but that number varies based on the category you list your item in.

Before you list your item, use eBay’s handy fee calculator to make sure it’s worth it to use eBay to sell your item.

Pick A Selling Format

You’re able to sell your items on eBay in different ways. Items for sale on eBay are available can be sold at auction, or for a fixed price. There’s also variations on each style of listing.

  • Auction – With an auction-style listing, you set the length of time the auction will go on for and the starting price for your auction. Then, eBay users bid on your item in small increments until the close of the auction. Sellers can set a reserve price that must be met by the winning bidder for the sale to be complete. At the conclusion of the auction, the item sells to the highest bidder. This style of listing can be especially useful if you’re selling an item that’s difficult to find or highly coveted, as these types of items on eBay sell for higher prices than the seller originally anticipated.
  • Auction With Buy It Now Option – With this style of listing, the seller lists the item for a predetermined amount of time and sets the starting bid price and the reserve. But, the seller also establishes a buy it now price, which specifies the amount they’re willing to sell the item for, right now. eBay users can purchase the item outright if they wish, but they also have the option of bidding on the item instead. If users begin bidding on your item, the buy it now option disappears as soon as the bids meet your reserve price for the auction.
  • Fixed Price Buy It Now – With a fixed price buy it now listing, the seller lists the item on eBay and sets the price they’re willing to sell it for. With this type of auction, the buy it now price is the only price the seller is willing to accept, and there’s no option for users to bid on the item.
  • Fixed Price Buy It Now With Best Offer – This style of listing is the same as the fixed price buy it now option, but with the addition of the best offer feature. With these listings, the seller specifies their asking price with buy it now. But, the seller is also willing to accept other offers for the item. eBay users can then submit their best offer for the item. The seller can either refuse, accept, or counter the offers they received. When it comes to getting the items I have listed on eBay sold, this is my favorite style of listing for selling stuff on ebay.

Setting Your Price

When setting your price, there are some factors you’ll need to consider. First, consider how much you paid for your item. Did you purchase your item new or used? Did you use the item, or is it still in brand new condition?

If your item is used, does it have any blemishes or damage which would lower the price of your item? You’ll also want to consider how much time it’s going to take you to list and ship your item. Finally, consider the cost of eBay’s fees and any shipping costs you may incur shipping the item if the buyer isn't paying for them.

Enter A Description for Your Item

Describe your item in as much detail as possible. A thorough description will help your item sell and will help answer questions buyers may have before they even need to ask them. For most items on eBay, you can even pre-populate your listing’s description with important details, which makes it easy to quickly and accurately describe what you’re selling.

When describing your item, be sure to fill out as many of the additional fields as possible. A strong description will help provide your listing with more exposure. Remember, in this case, there’s no such thing as too much information! If you’re looking to know how to sell stuff on eBay successfully, a strong description is a great place to start.

Keep A Friendly Tone

As you describe your listing, make sure you’re keeping a friendly tone. By creating an inviting listing, you’ll promote trust between you and potential buyers, and they’ll feel at ease when buying or bidding on your items.

Double Check Everything Before Saving

Before your listing goes live, go over it in detail to make sure you’ve listed the item as thoroughly and accurately as possible. Double checking your listing will help you avoid potential miscommunications between yourself and the buyer.

Use Social Networking to Promote Your Listings

Now that your listing is live use your social networks to promote your items. eBay makes it easy to post your items to social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and more. The more eyes you get on your item, the more likely it is to sell. When selling on ebay.com, my favorite way to increase my exposure is by leveraging my social networks.

Encourage Feedback

Once you sell your item, reach out to the buyer once they’ve received the item. Make sure the item they received was as expected and they’re happy with it. Encourage them to tell other eBay users about their experience by leaving feedback on your page. A strong feedback score is crucial to your success as an eBay seller, and a strong feedback score is common among all eBay sellers.