Being a eBay Powerseller for several years, I have determined that there are several components to having longevity and just overall success selling products on eBay. If a seller lacks any of these then it could be a very short-lived career in the auction-selling business. For the purpose of this discussion, I’m going to refer to 7 of these, what I believe, crucial components.

1. You Need a PayPal Account.
Nowadays, it is almost impossible to sell on eBay without having a PayPal account because eBay has made that way. But, every once in awhile I still see sellers that do not accept PayPal as a form of payment, mainly in auto auctions. I guess it can work temporarily, but buyers have come to expect this as the form of payment.

2. Have Good Pictures For Your Auctions.
A clear image where potential buyers can see all angles of your product will go a very long way in helpful you make a sale. And, the more images the better, especially if we’re talking about a high-ticket item.

3. Obtain and Maintain Good Feedback.
Your feedback score on eBay is as good as gold, and you should treat it that precious. Bad feedback can ruin your business very quickly because you won’t make a good first impression with potential customers.

4. Serve Your Customers.
This sort of falls under good feedback, but I think it deserves its own category. This simply involves answering messages from people looking at your auctions, following up with customers after the sale, and just overall “being there” for people. Treat people like you would to be treated and you’ll reap rewards.

5. Profitability
This goes without saying, and is probably the most important key to being successful as an eBay seller. If you’re going to devote your time and energy to selling on eBay, with the purpose of making an income, then it must be worth it to you, which means you need to make money. I realize some people may do it for fun, and that’s great. But, if you’re doing to make money then you must sell items that will bring your business a profit.

6. Have Outstanding Shipping Practices/Costs.
It seems like every year eBay makes policy changes that are aimed at giving buyers the best possible deals on shipping costs. The reason they do this, is because they have found that buyers are sensitive to shipping costs, and they LOVE free shipping. This one factor can make or break a sale. Be sure to ship cheap (for the customer), ship out quickly (within 48 hours), and provide tracking if at all possible.

7. Sell What People Buy.
People are buying millions of different products every year on eBay. There is no need to try to sell something that people don’t want. Find out what they want to buy the most then sell that. Your life as a seller will be so much easier.

So, there it is, my 7 “must-have” component to have success selling on eBay. There probably are more, but I think this covers most of them, in my opinion. In the near future, I’ll dive into each of these necessary components to help you understand them individually better. Stay tuned….