Sellers and buyers rank security as a primary concern when doing business online, and going through the verification process will enable you to confirm your identity, which would increase the security of the eBay and PayPal networks.

Note: You will not be able to sell internationally if you do not meet the following two criteria:

• Have a PayPal Verified account
  
• Link your eBay account to your PayPal Verified account

Learn more about how to get PayPal Verified and linking your accounts .

Preparation is key! Make sure you do your research before you sell your item.

Use eBay's completed items search to find similar items that have successfully sold on eBay. Just click on the advanced search link in the upper right hand corner of every eBay page.

You can gain great insight into the price at which people start their items, the format they use (auction or fixed price), how they describe their items and what category they list in. This will give you ideas on how to list your own item to get the best price possible.

You're now ready to submit your listing to eBay. The easy to follow Sell Your Item Form guides you through the steps to a successful item listing.

• Category - Choose the category in which to list your item. Not sure? Let eBay help you by using the suggested categories feature within the selling form.
  
  
• Title - Attract more buyers by writing a title that is descriptive and uses keywords that are relevant to the item you are selling.
  
  
• Photo - Pictures tell a thousand words, so take clear photos of your items from several angles. Using eBay's Gallery Feature will ensure that your listing grabs their attention.


• Description - Your description needs to provide buyers with all the information they need. Include information such as brand, age, condition, features; the more complete the detail the better. Also ensure you include payment and postage information.
  
  
• Format - Decide what format you want to sell in, auction-style or at a fixed price, called Buy It Now. To use Buy It Now you will need a feedback rating of at least 5.
  
  
• Duration - You can list your item for 1, 3, 5, 7 or 10 days. Many sellers list items for 7 days which includes a weekend to capture weekend shoppers.
  

• Pricing: A start price should aim to attract as many potential buyers as possible. Many sellers start their item low, (for example $1) and experience great results with a higher final sale price.
  
  
• Payments: It's your choice on how you'd like to accept payments from your buyers. Buyers want a safe and easy way to pay for your item.
  
  
• Postage: Including all postage and packaging costs in the listing is highly recommended - buyers prefer to be aware of all costs prior to bidding.
  

Use My eBay to track all your activity; it is especially useful if you have more than one item for sale or if you are both selling and bidding on several items.

My Messages is a secure place to receive eBay alerts about promotions and eBay information.

Once the listing ends, it's time to collect your payment from the buyer and send the item. Here are a few things to remember:

• After the listing ends contact your buyer to arrange payment and delivery details
• Remember to only post the item after you've received payment from the buyer.
• Package your item well to limit the risk of damage.

Leave feedback for your buyer and encourage them to do the same for you.

Many sellers in Hong Kong use eBay to sell their goods to the world. Go to the Export Center to get detailed information about how to get started.