Getting your eBay description right is a fundamental step in achieving good sales using eBay.

Article Reference: VS36DC3

** A Positive Tone

The tone of your auction listing must be positive in order to optimize chances of a potential customer bidding on your product. Many eBay sellers, even professional ones, place a list of demands in their descriptions projecting the feeling the potential buyer must either comply or not bid. This is highly unprofessional and an extremely bad selling strategy. You should be providing the bidder a list of reasons why they should bid, rather than why they shouldn't.

The ultimate goal is to attract bidders, not drive them off. More bids equal higher prices.

** Title

Your title should contain as much information about the item as possible, including keywords, but it also must make sense. A jumble of words just won't cut it - it makes your page look unprofessional.

** Structure

Identify your product by name in the first line, including relevant keywords. There is no need to write in formal sentences, as the customer is there to read about the product in the most concise manner possible, rather than admire your prose. So write on point, in list form, the features of the item, the dimensions, it's characteristics and capabilities, etc..

There are many websites out there that supply eBay templates, which alter the look of the standard eBay auction page into something more professional and unique without having to design something yourself using HTML, or going to the expense of paying someone else to do it.

** Detail

The more detail you supply about the product, the less questions you'll have to field from potential bidders, which saves you time. So put as much information as possible into the description. How big is it? How much does it weigh? What condition is it in? Definitely use a photograph. The buyer cannot physically see or touch the item, so describe it in detail.

** Condition

You need to be honest about how you describe a used or damaged item, as dishonesty can hurt your reputation on eBay. If your used item still has it's box and documentation, mention so here. Instructions can be vital. A customer isn't going to be very happy receiving a gadget he or she can't figure out how to switch on!

** Policies, Warranties and Disclaimers

Explain all of your policies, warranties and disclaimers clearly, again to reduce questions, but also so the customer gains a clear understanding of the responsibilities you, as the seller, are prepared to take on, and what areas are the responsibility of the customer.

** Testing the Finished Description

EBay contains the facility to test your description without actually auctioning anything, to see how it looks to the customer, how it reads, and to check it for errors that detract from the professionalism of the page. Make sure to make "TEST LISTING - DO NOT BID!" the title, however, so irate customers don't accidentally try to order your product!

The most efficient way to learn about creating item descriptions is by searching and viewing similar items already being auctioned on eBay. Take note of the ones that look the best to you, and try to recreate the best features in your own.