How to Categorize and Describe an Item You Want to Sell on eBay

When you're listing an item for sale on eBay, the category you place it in will greatly influence how people will perceive it and, as a result, how likely they are to buy it. You must choose an appropriate category and compose a precise, detailed description for your goods. Follow this model to attract buyers.

Things You'll Need

• Internet access
• Computer

Instructions

1. Sign up for an eBay account. You cannot enter into any transaction (buying or selling) on eBay without an account.

2. Sign up for an eBay seller's account. It is free and requires that you provide billing information (a credit card or bank account number) so that eBay can collect their fee with each transaction.

3. Fill out the "Sell Your Item" form on your seller's eBay account page.

4. Look at the prices for items similar to the one you're selling on eBay. Check to see how other sellers are describing their items to get an idea of how you should describe yours.

5. Describe the item you're selling. Use detailed and precise language so that searches for the item return your item without a lot of other irrelevant matches.

6. Use the suggested categories from eBay. If you find one that you think matches your item, select it, then hit the "Save and Continue" button.

7. Assign more than one category to your item. This way, if people are doing searches for something other than your item's descriptive category, they may still find it.

Tips & Warnings

• Exclude words like "and," "but" and "or." The eBay search mechanism will put equal worth on these words.

• Use the most precise language you can to describe your item-provide buyers with the brand, size, color, year and any other pertinent information.