[disneysteve]

You rang.

Absolutely a good, clear, close-up photo. If it is relevant to the item, have photos from different angles. You can use a photo editing program like Photoshop Elements to combine 2 or more photos into one file so you don't pay added photo fees.

Before listing an item, do a search for it. See how others have titled their auctionsm in what categories they've listed and what the starting bids are.

Spell everything correctly. Your antique desk won't show up in a search if you spell it "dask".

Write a clear, detailed description. Just the facts. Nobody cares that it was a gift from your grandmother when you were 12. Tell what the item is, who made it, how old it is, exactly what condition it is in, measurements, etc. The better the info, the more likely an interested party is to bid. People don't like surprises when the item arrives.

Don't say an item is Mint unless it is. Mint means brand new, perfect condition, never used, still in the original packaging. If the box is damaged or written on, even if the item is just fine, it isn't mint. If the item is in perfect condition but no longer in it's original packaging, it isn't mint. Collectors are VERY picky (I say that with all due respect, being a collector myself). The box can be as valuable as what's inside.

Avoid cutesy things to get people to bid, like "LOOK" or "RARE" or "UNIQUE". All you need is an accurate title with the right keywords that people would search for if they were looking for that type of item.

Set fair shipping costs. There is nothing wrong with charging a reasonable fee on top of actual postage. I used to oppose this but I've changed my mind in recent years as fees have risen. An extra dollar or two is fine. It covers your time, your shipping supplies and your fees.

Use a postal scale to weigh your items. You want to be sure you set accurate postage charges and don't gyp yourself out of money or overcharge your customers.

Start your auctions at the lowest price possible. $0.99 is perfect. If the item is worth more, it will get bid up to a fair price. If it doesn't, it just wasn't as valuable as you thought or wasn't in much demand.

If an item doesn't sell, think hard before relisting. If you can't come up with a good reason why it didn't sell, like a mistake in the original listing or a lousy photo, don't waste money relisting it. Give it to Goodwill and take a tax deduction and move on.

That's all I can think of at the moment.