“A picture is worth a thousand words” is not just cheap talk, but smart thinking when it comes to taking pictures that will sell your eBay items. Taking quality photos for your auction items can either make or break your sale. Very little in the way of description is needed when you take a good picture, as the product will sell itself. The key to taking good quality pictures is focus. Focus on the item at hand. Blurry, distant photos are impossible to see and customers want to see what they are getting before spending their money. Due to the recent fall in economy people are trying to stretch their dollars. They are not making purchases unless they can clearly see what they are getting and if it is worth their money. They are looking for bargains.

You will want to have a clear, uncluttered background for your picture. The idea is to focus in on the item itself and not everything around it. Try to get a shot of your item as close up as you can without being too extreme. You will also want to have adequate lighting. If shooting a picture in the daytime, make sure that the light is behind you. You can take your picture near the window if you would like, but a filtered area, such as in front of sheer curtain or near it is best. It is best to use a digital camera if at all possible to shoot your pictures. Digital cameras are quick and easy, being able to download them on your computer. It is a great convenience. Cell phone cameras are a great invention and the convenience is incredible, but they do not always give the clearest of pictures. They will, however, suffice in a pinch.

Enhance your pictures today and make them clear and undeniably appealing to the buyer by using the right camera and the right techniques. Clear pictures will put you in the driver’s seat when it comes to being a top-notch seller as an eBay auctioneer. Load up your great pictures along with a detailed item description to make it clear about the item your customers are bidding on. Your success as an eBay seller is in the effort that you put into it.

Think back to your childhood. Do you remember your first business adventure of setting up your own lemonade stand? You would sell cups of lemonade for only cents, and life was good. Life was good up until that kid set up another lemonade stand right across the street from yours and stole your thunder, right? Unfortunately, that kid is back on the block. However, in this situation, the block is located on eBay. In order to prevent these types of kids from earning all the sales, you need to learn how to compete effectively.

Remember selling your lemonade for twenty five cents, only to realize that the other stand sold their lemonade for ten cents? Competitive prices can make all the difference in selling merchandise. Depending on what you are selling, you should search eBay for the same or similar products. Determine the average price for your product, among fellow eBay sellers. You will want to price your product in this bracket, or slightly below if you do not have much money invested in the item you are planning to sell.

Furthermore, the attractive signs advertising for the other lemonade stands really caught the attention of people. The same method works on eBay. Advertising for your eBay store or items is important. Make your existence known on eBay. This will result in an increase of traffic to your eBay store, which increases your chances of gaining sales. Advertise on the internet, such as social networking websites. You can also promote your eBay items or store in your community or through word of mouth. Advertise and promote your eBay store as much as possible through numerous methods.

Another way to direct prospective buyers to your eBay items is to list keywords for each item throughout the listing and the description. These keywords allow your item to be shown when a buyer searches that term on eBay. Make sure your keywords are relevant to your item and utilize the full amount allotted by eBay.

So when selling items on eBay, it is important to remember that an online business is still a business and requires good customer service. Good customer service is the reason all of those power sellers became power sellers. They’ve acquired their positive feedback for several reasons. Among these reasons may be things like prices, fast shipping, reliability, quick to answer questions and concerns, or the diversity of products they sell. Accumulating positive feedback is always a positive gain for your eBay business.

Buying wholesale merchandise can be like learning a new language. When searching through catalogs and viewing merchandise online the new wholesale buyer can be confused by the terminology and industry specific abbreviations.

I have compiled a small list of some of the more common wholesale packaging definitions for those who are new to the industry:

Case – This term describes to the wholesale buyer how many of an item will come in the original manufacturers shipping box. Many wholesale distributors will require you to purchase by the case.

Inner Case – Smaller box found in a Case. For example, a Case might contain 60 pieces which is comprised of five Inner Cases of twelve pieces. Five times twelve equals sixty total pieces.

Unit - A unit describes a single item or piece. For example, a case might contain 12 units or individual items

Gross - Term used to describe 144 of any one item. This term is often used to describe small, inexpensive items like children’s rubber bracelets. One gross equals 12 dozen. Abbreviated as “gr”

Dz – Abbreviation for one dozen (12) of an item

Poly Bagged – Refers to an item placed in a polyethylene or polypropylene plastic bag which allows for merchandise protection and consumer inspection. Often used with a colorful or informative Header Card.

Display Boxed – A box specifically designed to be placed on a shelf or retail counter. Display boxes will usually offer product information including merchandising graphics designed to “entice” the consumer into a purchase

Header Card – Cardboard folded card usually attached to the top of a clear poly bag in which the item is held. Offers the consumer an easy way to view merchandise contents.

Window Boxed – Cardboard box with at least one side protected by a clear plastic “Window” which allows the consumer to view contents. Used heavily in the retail toy industry.

Clam Shell – Retail packaging designed to open and close by a hinge along one edge. Clear plastic protective packaging also allows purchaser to view all sides of an item prior to purchase.