By Kirsten Hawkins

Some people think it is easy to choose the right eBay category, and often it is. Sometimes, though, it might not be quite clear exactly where to look.

Why is it Even Important?

Many people use the category system to find items, when they are not looking for something specific. If you list the item in the wrong category - or you have just given up and listed it in 'Everything Else' - then these people are not going to find your auction.

In addition, listing items in the wrong categories is against eBay's rules. EBay says they will remove any auctions that are in the wrong categories. They do not often do this, but it is not worth the risk - especially since breaking any rules can cause them to penalize your account, including losing PowerSeller status if you have it.

So What Can You Do?

EBay will suggest categories for you when you sell your item, if you type in a few words to describe the item on the category selection page and click 'search'. You can make the best of this feature by typing in exactly what your item is, with brand name and model number (if any), so that eBay can find the best category for you.

If that does not work for you, then search yourself for items like yours, and pay attention to which category most of them seem to be in (you can see this near the top of each item's description page). Try different words and see which ones come back with the most results. You can also browse through all the available categories from eBay's front page.

Remember the more specific the category is the better - use as many subcategories as are appropriate. Do not just list your HP laptop in the 'Computers' category, for example - list it in 'Computers > Laptops > HP'. Do not worry: your item will still appear in the 'Computers' category, as well as 'Computers > Laptops', because items listed in subcategories will list in every category above.

Take some time to look through all the categories and get familiar with the way eBay, as a whole, is structured. After all, that is better than a few months down the line and you find that you still think of eBay's category system as some scary jungle.

What if More Than One Category Fits?

Do not worry, eBay has you covered. For a small extra fee, you can list your item in an extra category, to increase the number of potential buyers who will see it. This is not always worth it, though - some items only really fit properly in one category, and listing them in extra categories is a waste.

Once you know where to list your item, the next step is to write your auction's title. The title is the most important thing about your auction - the difference between a good title and a bad title can be the difference between $10 and $100. That is why I will take you through the dos and don'ts in the next email.

Kirsten Hawkins is an EBay and internet auction enthusiast from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.auctionseller411.com/for more great tips on how to make the most from EBay and other online auctions.