As an eBay seller, you are essentially asking perfect strangers to entrust you with their money in exchange for your promise to ship an item that they have purchased.  With this trust comes a certain amount of responsibility and the need to show potential buyers why you are one online seller that they can bank on.  Below are five things that online shoppers typically look for in a business transaction:

Reputation.  A solid reputation is always a good thing, and it gives a potential buyer the added peace of mind in knowing that their transaction with you will be a successful one.  If you’re new to eBay or the internet in general, don’t be discouraged.  Everyone is new at some point, right?  The best thing that you can do is to tell buyers that you’re new and hoping to build a longstanding relationship with a world of customers.  It never hurts to offer an incentive, such as free shipping, to garner interest.

Timely Shipment.  There are certain times of the year, such as near the holidays, when shipping times are extremely important.  Whether your buyers are looking for a last-minute gift idea or they are simply anxious to receive their order, it’s important to ship items in a timely fashion.  Most mail-order businesses promise delivery within 7-10 business days unless otherwise noted.  As an eBay seller, it’s important that you let your buyers know how long it will take for you to ship their purchase and which shipping companies you use.  Some people may prefer one delivery company over another, so it’s important to be flexible in terms of your shipping method.  Additionally, you should consider offering both standard and express delivery options for those who are in a hurry to receive their order.  Always remember to purchase and keep the tracking number, which your shipper will provide, incase there is a problem or delay with the delivery.

Selection.  As an eBay seller, one of your greatest assets is the ability to offer a large amount of products at a minimal cost.  You could conceivably start your own business with very little money paid upfront due to the fact that you can list a lot of products for sale without spending a fortune.  Instead of opening a physical storefront, paying rent, insurance and utilities, all you will need is a computer, an internet connection and the inventory ready for shipment.  When you make the decision to list an item on eBay, buyers may wish to see what else you are offering for sale and this means a wider selection could lead to a wider customer base and increased income.

Photos.  If you are buying something over the internet, one of the most important qualities that a product can have is a clear photograph.  When your buyers cannot physically touch a product, there is an added challenge in making them see how great the item is.  As an eBay seller, it’s up to you to paint a picture in their mind and an important part of that is to show them an actual photo of the product that showcases its best features.  Some things to consider are lighting, background and camera angle.  If you’re using a digital camera, you can instantly see which photos are good and which are not, but the task changes when using a regular camera.  In this instance, you may want to take several photographs so that, hopefully, at least one will turn out perfectly during development.

Payment Options.  When doing business online, it’s important to keep in mind that not everyone can or will use the same payment method when shopping.  This means that, as an eBay seller, you may wish to consider a range of payment options to ensure that your buyers can complete the transaction with ease.  Additionally, the more payment options you accept, the wider your customers base can become.  For instance, if you refuse to accept personal checks, the only people who could shop with you would be those who have credit cards or don’t mind getting out and going to the post office to mail a money order.  At the same time, if you were to rule out all payment methods with the exception of a money order, you would prevent those who enjoy the convenience of online payments from shopping with you.  Some tips to keep in mind with various payment methods include making sure to hold all personal checks until they clear (typically 10-15 business days) and to ship only to a confirmed address that matches the billing address.