March 2011

There's still time to get in on the action—as a buyer or a seller—of the NCAA basketball tournament, one of the year's hottest sporting events. The last four teams will face off in just a few days. Watch the eBay homepage for tournament-related opportunities to score great deals from great eBay sellers in Electronics, Sports Apparel, Sports Memorabilia, and Tickets.

Find everything you need on eBay - whether it's a new wide-screen TV with surround sound to watch the game, tickets, or the coolest stuff to host a finals party. Have team memorabilia you can part with? Now is the time to sell. Just be sure to offer quick shipping so your buyers can celebrate the games with your items in-hand.

Watch the Daily Deals to score slam-dunk deals on game-related merchandise. If you haven't already, sign up to get daily alerts so you don't miss out. Keep on top of your email for special offers on team and game-related merchandise.

eBay presents Style Stories
To bring even more attention to our unparalleled selection of fashion items for sale, eBay buyers with a unique sense of personal style are walking the runway. Each week, we'll be showcasing one eBay buyer's style story on the eBay Fashion site. Each story will highlight the buyer's top eBay finds, beauty tips, saved searches, favorite music, among other topics, and will feature links to the items the buyer wears. So check them out to get ideas of what to list to take advantage of this exposure.

Picture perfect: tips for photographing your fashion items
Buyers depend on photos to evaluate an item's size, fit, quality, condition, shape, and style, and should be able to make purchase decisions based on the photos alone. A great photo can be enough to sell your item on the spot, but a poorly photographed item can send a potential buyer packing. Here are some photography tips to put your items in the best light:

Some basics for good photos:

• Clean items photograph better. Clean and wipe down your item, especially if it's shiny. Iron or steam your fabric items to eliminate wrinkles.
• Good lighting. Whenever possible, shoot your items in daylight. Otherwise, use full-spectrum compact fluorescent light bulbs to create natural flat lighting. Desk lamps that can clip onto chairs or table tops are also a good, inexpensive option. Avoid using a flash unless absolutely necessary. Learn more quick tips about lighting in this 2-minute video.
• Use a quality camera. You don't need a professional-grade camera, but if you plan to sell often, consider investing in a 4 megapixel or higher digital camera. A tripod adds stability. Check photos as you go to make sure they are not blurry.
• Model. Ask someone to photograph you, or find a friend who'll model the items while you take the pictures. Think about the whole outfit - not just the item you're selling.
• Think about backdrop. Avoid busy or cluttered backgrounds. Create a white, black, or gray backdrop using clean paper or fabric, or go to an outdoor location that won't distract from the item being photographed.
• Big pictures and lots of them. 1,000 pixels or more will give your buyers a clear picture of your item. Find more recommendations on photo size here. Take a "hero shot," (the main photo), as well as additional supportive photos. The more detail you can show, the more confident your buyer will be. Take close-ups to show pattern and texture, or a distinguishing feature such as unique buttons on vintage clothing, signature stitching, popular brand labels, hems and seams. When appropriate, take photos of the front, back, and side of your item.
• Fill the frame. An item needs to be as prominent as possible within the frame to give a sense of the whole item. Get close to your subject and take several shots. If you didn't get it right, you can crop the photo tightly using a photo editor.

When listing your clothing, shoes or accessories on eBay, be sure to list item specifics like brand, style, color, size type and size to help buyers find your items faster. New item specifics values will be added April 4.

Bonus tip: Use cash from your sales to invest in photography gear. After all, a great photo can mean a quick sale. Make your items pop and sell today!

Jessica Jones has had a long-time fascination with all things vintage. She's turned her new favorite hobby into a way to pay for extra help around the house and more quality time with her children.

As ca_jessica, she sells fun and funky blasts from the past on eBay and hopes to save up for bigger and better things. Read more.

Buyers come to eBay every day in search of the best deals on the hottest electronics. And it just got easier to list your cell phones, cameras, video game systems, and video games. Now, when you list cell phones, cameras, video games, and video game systems and enter product details such as UPC or ISBN, you'll see a number of product matches to choose from. If there's an exact match, product details and a stock photo will fill in automatically - it's that easy!

Tip: If your item is not new, remember to be very clear about your item's condition, call out any flaws, and add your own photo.

Start selling today!

Check your coat closets and dresser drawers for some of these items that will be selling this spring:

• Men's and women's sunglasses
• Silk scarves
• Tote bags
• Backpacks and book bags
• Key chains (for men)
• Toddler girls' shoes
• Women's vintage clothing

With the Masters Golf Tournament approaching, tee up your listings for irons, drivers, club covers and golf bags. Maybe sell that golf travel case you never used or the golf shirts you never wore.

Plus, high school prom season means high demand for dresses or tuxedos. Grab those dazzling garments (plus jewelry, shoes and accessories) from your closet or attic and sell them on eBay.

Get your vehicle parts and accessories in front of buyers faster. Plus, save time listing and answering buyer emails, and save on upfront fees at the same time.

With Parts Compatibility, you can create a listing (Auction-style or Fixed Price) for an item and—for no extra cost—add a complete list of compatible vehicle makes and models, and year(s). It's available in most Car & Truck and Vintage Car & Truck Parts & Accessories subcategories.

When you list, just look up your item by manufacturer or keyword (for example, part type or number). If there's a match, you can choose the item from our eBay Motors Parts & Accessories catalog and compatibility information will be added to your listing automatically! Check over the details and you're on your way. No match? Use the drop-down menus to add makes and models manually.

Buyers can quickly verify compatibility from right within your listing, which makes for a quicker sale and fewer buyer questions. Spend even less time answering emails by always specifying your shipping and handling time, return policy, and item condition.

If you've had an interesting experience selling on eBay, we'd love to hear about it. Write to editor@ebay.com and share your story.

We'd love your feedback on the redesigned newsletter. Please take this very short survey and let us know what you think.

Didn't sell the first time? Relist it FREE.
Even the most successful sellers don't close the deal every time. Try adding pictures or product details to enhance your listing and help you make the sale the next time around. Plus, if your relisted item sells, Auction-style, you might be eligible to get your Insertion Fees back - learn more!

Hit the ground running with the New Seller Guide. Learn how to list it, sell it and ship it with eBay's New Seller Guide. You'll find everything you need to sell successfully in this easy-to-follow guide that walks you through the selling process. Learn how to write a winning title, a captivating description, and how to price your items competitively. You'll see tips for taking great pictures, shipping and how to best communicate with your buyers. With the New Seller Guide, you'll be a seasoned seller in no time.

For even more tips, check out the Quick Start Guide and start selling today!

The new USPS Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope is a great low-cost option for mailing your fragile items like jewelry, DVDs, or small electronics. You'll save money on packaging costs, and can ship your item anywhere in the US for only $4.95.

Whatever USPS service you choose, order all shipping supplies online through USPS - FREE! Learn more at USPS.

Where should I put color when I list clothing?

Answer: When buyers shop for clothing on eBay, knowing the color of the item is very important. There are several places you can add your item's color when you list. Start by including it right in the title. Next, take advantage of item specifics - choose the color from the Color drop-down menu, just after you create a title and specify your item's condition. As of April 4, you'll be able to specify the "Color" and "Shade" of your item. Starting in May, specifying Brand, Style, Color, Size Type, and Size will all be required. This will help your buyers find the items they need faster.

You should also add details about the color in the Item Description area, such as multiple colors, stripes or patterns. Lastly, take a close-up photo without the flash to show buyers the actual color of the item. Adding your item's color in all of these places can increase the number of interested buyers who see your listing. See more tips on listing fashion.