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This article is intended to explain how to, as well as the importance of, using pictures in eBay. Please leave us comments, questions, or success stories so that we can improve this guide.

We are a very visual society. There is great truth to the idea that “to see is to believe". Conversely, if we do not see something we tend not to believe it exists, or that it exists in the form that we are told it does. That's why there are those newspapers out there that publish pictures of aliens. They are saying with the picture, “See, the alien? That proves that aliens exist!” (Or at least it proves that they can take a picture of someone dressed like an alien.)

Pictures of your Items on eBay are a Must
Showing a picture of an item in an auction is a must. Most bidders on eBay will not believe you have the item you are auctioning in the condition you are claiming if you do not have a picture of it. As well people envision things such as color differently. There are a lot of shades between blue and purple and what you might determine is a light blue color another might see as more of a pale purple. Many other descriptive words have the same problems in translation. So pictures on your auctions? You have got to have them.

Keep in mind another old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” On the other hand, a bad picture is worth a thousand frustrations.

Besides a picture showing what the item is, it also gives a feeling about the item. A well done picture creates a desire to own the item. With the right picture a bidder cannot only imagine(feel) they own the item, they imagine how they would actually use that item.

Seeing is not only believing it is “owning.” If you don’t believe this, observe your self the next time you watch a TV commercial or see an ad in a magazine that displays something you want. “Hey, I’d look great in that car!” is exactly the response a car dealer is wanting, which is why ads display cars going where you'd want to go and use people that appeal to you. They are either a representation of the 'average Joe' just like the average consumer or are very attractive, giving the impression that if you owned this car you too could look that good and own Armani suits.

As you research other members’ eBay auctions and examine their item picture(s) ask yourself these questions:

• Is the picture(s) clear?
• Is there enough light to see the item clearly and not too much to burn the image out?
• Are there enough pictures to show the item, it's features, details and the flaws if any?
• Bottom line – by looking at the picture(s) am I clear on what the item is and it's general condition?

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