Artist Guide to Setting Up an Ebay Auction Listing

ebay auction listing In the last 3 articles in this series, I have been covering many of the most common questions about auctioning art with Ebay and some great tips artists can use. There are some who say Ebay is not what it used to be for artists. They say there are just too many artists to choose from. While true, it is not too difficult to stand out from them by following the tips in my last post.

With consistent posting of auction listings, people will eventually come to recognize you. The fact is, Ebay can be a great resource for artists if used properly, especially in conjunction with an art blog.

These are our previous posted Ebay articles.

How to Sell Art on Ebay Series

Part1: Is Selling Art on Ebay Possible?

Part2: How to Sell Your Art on Ebay – Popular Questions Answered

Part3: Tips and Tricks for Auctioning Art Online at Ebay

Part4: Artist Guide to Setting Up an Ebay Auction Listing

Part5: Coming Soon!

This is a continuing series, so to know when the next post arrives, please subscribe here!

Steps to posting an Ebay Art Listing

Log into Ebay and go to Sell at the top, then Sell an Item.
Choose a descriptive title for your artwork.

Use keywords that people search for when looking for certain artwork. For ideas, look at other art auction listings. Click Start Selling.
Select a category that matches your painting.

For artists, choose Art – Direct From the Artist, then narrow down your category. Hit Continue at the bottom. You will be taken to a page to fill out the listing form.
Title:

People will find your auction listing depending on what you have in the title, so make it count! Include general keywords that describe your piece, but do not include your name – unless you are a well known artist. The character count is limited to 80 characters, so spend some time reflecting on good words. Do not include adjectives such as rare, amazing, etc. in your title. Also avoid words such as the, and, etc. These words take up important real estate space for your title.
Original/Reproduction

If you created the artwork, then choose original.
Listed by

Select Artist, unless someone else is listing it for you.
Signed?

State whether the artwork is signed or unsigned with an artist signature.
Medium

Select a medium from the list – watercolor, pastels, oil, gouache, colored pencils, or acrylic. If your medium does not fit into any of these categories, choose your own.
Subject

There are quite a few subject options here. Choose the one that matches your artwork. Again, if your subject is not listed, write your own.
Style

Select the style of your piece, from abstract to urban art, and fill in your own if noting matches.
Size Type/ Largest Dimension

Enter in an appropriate size type according to the chart. Measure the largest dimension of your painting, and select the best option.
Date of Creation

This is not a specific date, but a general time period. For recent art, pick 2000-Now.
Region of Origin

Choose your continent. If yours is not here, enter it in the box.
Add your own item specific

This is here in case you have additional information about the piece. If you are including a certificate of authenticity, enter this information here.
Add pictures

Include at least one good photograph of your artwork. The first image is free, and any extra will cost you. If you have more than one photograph, one trick to save on fees is to combine the images in a collage with Photoshop, or another similar software.
Describe what you are selling

This is your chance to explain what your artwork is about, and what inspired it. Keep it short and to the point. Also state additional information that the buyer needs to know. Make use of the different font sizes and text alignments to make the description look more interesting.

Also, include an email address so people can easily contact you with questions.
Online Auction or Fixed Price

Select online auction if you want people to places bids on the artwork. Insert a starting price and buy it now price. Determine the starting price by how low you can feasibly sell the painting, but still be satisfied with selling it for that price. The lower that price, the easier it will be to get people to bid on your artwork. Fill in the buy it now option with a target price that Ebayers can instantly buy the artwork without bidding. You have to fill in one or the other, but can choose both if desired.

If you do not want bidding on your painting, choose fixed price. Fill in your full price for the artwork.
Timing Your Auction

When timing your auction, set it so that it ends when most people are at home on their computers. This is generally in the evening and on the weekend. Also, choose the longest time period for the auction, as this will give people more time for bidding.
Paypal email address

A Paypal business or premium account is needed for all Ebay transactions, so if you do not have one, its best to apply now. Enter your Paypal email address in the box.
Shipping Details

Include all the details of your shipping to the customer here, or choose Free Shipping. With free shipping, not only do you not have to bother with calculating specific rates, but the item may be easier to sell. Many Ebayers search for items according to the free shipping option. If choosing free shipping, just include a general shipping rate on the final price.
Return Policy

Give your own return policy. This is important, as many will not buy without a returns guarantee.
Click Continue

On the next page, review your Ebay auction. Include additional enhancements at your discretion, but they will add a cost to your Ebay listing. When ready, click the blue List your item button at the bottom.

Congratulations on your new auction listing. If you decide to follow this tutorial, please come back a tell us a little about your art, and include a link to your listing.

What do you think of Ebay? Do you think it is worthwhile for artists to auction art there? If you have any specific questions about Ebay, please let me know, and I will post an answer.