18 /9/09 eBay Powersellers Secrets Newsletter

“In this week’s newsletter Amanda discloses a tip to stop your customers hitting the back-button.”

Hello!

I was looking to buy a new pair of wellies this week! Well, with winter on the way and the enormous amount of mud we seem to have out here in the sticks, I thought I had better get prepared for some wet and muddy dog-walking in the near future.

I seem to go through wellies at an un-natural rate - probably because I go out walking every day with my lovely black Labrador Finn, but I have yet to find a pair that last more than a season, are comfortable and keep my toes warm.

So naturally, I decided to look on eBay for my new wellies and I was pleased to find that there was quite a good selection available from both business and private sellers. I knew the type of welly I wanted and so simply entered those keywords in the search box and my selection came up.

Scrolling down the page, I spotted a pair that met my criteria in terms of the keywords I had searched for and alongside was a nice little gallery picture (small but adequate), showing me what these particular wellies looked like before I actually clicked through to the full description. The price and postage was reasonable too.

Great start I thought, and clicked through to the listing.

But oh, what a disappointment! No proper details, no indication as to whether they were ladies or mens wellies (I am a welly connoisseur and there is a difference you know!), no information on returns….

It did say that they were ‘Blue’ though and I did want a blue pair.

Anyway, I could go on, but the thing that disappointed me the most was the fact that there were no further pictures within the description. So, all I had to go on was the small gallery picture which didn’t really show me much apart from two welly shaped blue blobs. Underneath the gallery picture I tried clicking on ‘enlarge’ but all this did was show me a bigger white box with the picture of the wellies still the same size - small.

So now I had a dilemma. At a glance, these wellies looked like they might be suitable for me to purchase, but how did I know for sure? And at £64.95 they weren’t exactly cheap! Do I message the seller and ask all the questions that the seller should already have put in the listing and hang around wondering whether they will get back to me or not? Or, should I hit the back button and look elsewhere?

I’m sorry to say, the back button won.

Scrolling down the page further, I found the SAME pair of wellies offered by a different seller. The postage cost was a couple of pounds more though. So, I clicked through in to the listing and was met with three large photographs of the wellies. A front view, a side view and a view of the soles.

I discovered that they were Ladies Wellingtons, Size 6, Brand New, Blue, Neoprene Lined (for warm toes) and would be dispatched to buyers within 1 business day. I also discovered that they were hard-wearing and suitable for almost any outdoor activity. Oh, and the seller would accept a return if they didn’t fit.

I found ALL of this information in the first paragraph of the description.

So these wellies are exactly the same as the first pair I looked at, but they will cost me a little bit more to get them delivered. There’s no dilemma this time. They are exactly what I was looking for and I know this because I’ve seen three large photographs of the actual wellies taken from all angles!

I don’t care if I have to pay a little bit more in postage! I’d rather pay a bit more knowing exactly what I am going to receive and when I’m going to receive it. Plus I can buy these ones right now without hanging around waiting for answers to my questions that should have been answered in the original listing.

But my point here and the thing that really swung it for me was the photographs - good, clear, close-ups from all angles that showed me exactly what I was spending my money on.

So, the moral of this little story is that buyers just like me will not hesitate to hit the back-button if your listing description does not tell them what they need to know.

Photographs are supremely important and you are missing out on sales if you don’t include photographs in your main description. It’s not good enough to just include a gallery photograph. You wouldn’t buy something if you didn’t know what it looked like would you? No. So, here are a few tips on adding good photographs to your descriptions:

How to Create a Really Great Photo

• Use a decent digital camera
• Set your camera to ‘Medium’ resolution e.g. 1024 x 768 pixels) it will help you when you come to upload your photos to eBay because it will be a lot quicker.
• Make sure there is enough light coming in when you take the photo - the last thing you want is shadows and a really dark photograph that doesn’t show up on screen.
• Hook up a plain sheet or towel as a backdrop - avoid getting the children’s toys or the toaster in the picture - this is not a good look and puts buyers off.
• Hardwood floors often make a really good backdrop for items.
• Take photos from a range of different angles and as close up as possible without being blurred.
• Take multiple photos - the more pictures you include in your listing the more your visitors will be compelled to purchase.
• If the item isn’t new and has any defects, take photos of the problem areas and include those in your description too.
What Not to Do
• Never copy another eBay sellers pictures without permission. Likewise with manufacturers pictures.
• Never use flash if you are photographing a mirror, framed picture or other reflective material or object.
• Try to avoid using flash at any time if you possibly can - it lightens the image too much.

eBay offer a photo service where you can upload extra pictures, however you do have to pay for this. So, my advice is to use one of the photo-hosting sites (there are loads!). Upload your photographs there and then use html to add your extra photographs to your description (this is mentioned in the Powerseller Tips chapter of my home study course if you want to re-cap!).

Try this with your own listings and you will be surprised at the difference it makes.

Until next week as always I wish you the best of success,

Amanda

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I produce this newsletter on the understanding that these are my own personal opinions and experiences, which are as accurate as possible at the time of publication. I cannot be held responsible for any error in details, accuracy or judgment whatsoever.

© Amanda O’Brien 2009

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