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eBay is divided up into hundreds of categories and
sub-categories and once you've decided on an item to list,
you must decide what category you will list it in.

For example, let's assume you have a Tonka truck that you
had as a child. Do you place it under toys, collectibles,
or automotive? And, once you've decided on one of those
three, you still need to decide what sub-category you will
list it under.

Choosing the category and sub-category you list your item
in is not a trivial decision. It can mean the difference
between making a sale and no sale at all. It can mean the
difference between multiple bidders and only one bidder.

Here are some tips to help you select the best category and
sub-category for your item:

1. Begin by checking all the categories that your item
might fit into. This may take some time, but it's time
well spent. And, as you become more experienced you won't
need to spend as much time on this in the future. Look at
each category and ask yourself:

-> Are there other similar items for sale here?
-> If there are, do they have bids?
-> How do final prices in this category compare to those in
other categories?

2. Look at completed auctions. Search completed auctions
for Tonka trucks. In what category and sub-category have
they sold well?

3. Don't make the mistake of thinking you should list your
item in a category where there isn't much competition. The
reason there aren't many similar items listed in that
category is probably that there aren't many buyers there
either.

4. Along the same lines, don't automatically list an item
in a category just because it has lots of listings. You
don't want to place your item in a dead category. Lots of
listings are fine as long as most of them are resulting in
sales.

5. Look at active auctions in the categories you're
considering. Depending upon what the
item you are selling is, if there are already a large
number listed, at times it may be to your advantage to wait
a week to list yours. One of the nice thing about eBay is
that auctions don't last all that long.

6. Undecided between two categories? When you write your
auction you have the option of listing your item in two
different categories or sub-categories. There are times
when this may be to your advantage.

7. If you have several of the same items, then try them one
at a time in different categories so that you can test how
they do in each one. This way you can inexpensively test
which category works best for your.


About the Author
Robbin K. Tungett is online marketing and eBay veteran
of 8 years. She is most widely known for her eBay expertise
and her website http://www.AuctionRiches.com. Please visit
her blog at http://www.AuctionHerald.com.