So, you’ve managed to turn an occasional, unwanted item of yours into cash by selling it on eBay, but you’re not really sure how to turn this into a profitable business venture?  No problem!  There’s no need to “re-invent the wheel,” all that’s required is some direction, and a little polishing to give your eBay listings that professional look.  Here are a few tips that will get you on your way to eBay PowerSeller status:

Find your niche:

It all begins with finding the right thing to sell, and only you know what that is for you. Selling something that you are knowledgeable about or interested in is more important than trying to find the next hot item. Avoiding expensive mistakes in selecting inventory will be much easier if you are already familiar with the market.

Whatever you do, don’t fall into the trap of letting other people tell you that they’ve got the next, big, can’t-lose item to sell on eBay. Sell what you know, and know what you sell.

Say it with pictures:

The importance of good pictures to the creation of a successful eBay listing is almost impossible to overstate.  Don’t worry if you’re not a professional photographer—you don’t have to be.  With just a little time and patience, you will soon be taking pictures that will let your buyers know exactly what you’re selling.

First, make sure you have adequate lighting.  This is easy with smaller items because you can create your own mini photo studio in almost any room of your home where you can control the lighting.  Bathrooms work great for this!

Once the lighting is taken care of, play with your camera to get your pictures looking just the way you want. With a digital camera, there is absolutely no reason not to keep snapping until you get it right.

Write to sell:

Too often, a great item sells on eBay for far less than it could have because the seller didn’t take time to write a clear and thorough description. Avoiding this pitfall isn’t only a matter of accurately stating color, size, condition, or other obvious traits, either. When you’re selling, don’t just tell people what you have; tell them why they want it. Features don’t make the sale—benefits do.

The more active listings you have, the more good descriptions will pay off. Not only will buyers be more confident about what they’re getting, but you’ll have fewer questions to answer about your products. Confident shoppers are buyers; nervous ones are just lookers.

Also, keep in mind that it isn’t just what you say, but how you say it. A professional presentation is vital. Making sure that your spelling and grammar are correct should become as important as making sure your inventory is accurate.

Finally, remember, when you’re selling on eBay (or anywhere else for that matter) you aren’t just selling an item, you’re also selling yourself as a provider.  Persuading your potential customers that they want what you have is only half of the job.  You also have to convince them that you are the one they want to buy it from.  Having the right mix of product knowledge, vivid pictures, and complete descriptions will help you do just that.