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Getting Started My original intention was just to include some basic HTML code to assist people in improving their eBay listings but then I thought I would cover HTML in more detail. The reason for this is that it is a bit of a shame to purchase a domain name and hosting package just for your eBay listings when you can use HTML for so much more. For this reason, I have tried to include a rather comprehensive guide to HTML. First and foremost, and I can not stress this enough, using HTML is not difficult. After a very short time you shall see that it is in fact very easy and straight forward to use and the benefits are tremendous. Absolutely anyone can create a simple webpage or eBay listing using HTML. There is a great sense of satisfaction in creating a webpage even if it is only for personal use. Using HTML can greatly improve your success on eBay. It can enable you to list many more pictures on you listing, as many as you like in fact, without encountering any additional eBay fees - they charge 12p for each additional picture using their picture hosting service. More pictures usually produces more bids. You can also use your webpage to direct traffic to your eBay listings or shop. What is HTML? What does HTML stand for? Please don't be put off by the name but HTML stands for "Hyper Text Mark-up Language". This probably means about as much to you as it does to me. It is just a name. There is no need to confuse yourself from the start by trying to understand exactly what it means. It is not so very important. All you need to understand, is that HTML is the code that we shall be using. It is important not to be put off by the sight of HTML. To use HTML you do not need to be an expert programmer. Many programs now have a feature called "WYSIWYG". This stands for "What You See Is What You Get". It is a HTML editor that puts in the HTML code for you. So basically, you can design a webpage or eBay listing in much the same way as you would create a Word document using Microsoft Word or MS Works. I used Microsoft FrontPage for creating this website but I realise that that may not be available to everyone. With this in mind, I shall try not to make reference to FrontPage and shall try to include only relevant HTML code. You may like to try this HTML editor. It is fairly basic but it does the job and it is free. There are 3 views: Normal - The Normal view is where you can insert text and pictures in much the same way as you would when using Microsoft Word or MS Works. HTML - Click on HTML and you can view the HTML code. Preview - This is what your webpage would look like. To save any HTML code you create you shall have to open Notepad, which can usually be found under Accessories from your programs menu, and copy and paste the code into it. You should then save the file using .html instead of .txt. For example, test.html not test.txt.
In order to create a webpage there are a few things that you require. 1 - First, and before anything else, read through and complete the practical tests here. There is no point in jumping the gun and spending money on anything unless you have created your webpage and/or eBay listing. If you are buying a domain name and hosting package for storing your eBay pictures on then please continue to step 2 below. 2 - If you decide to go ahead and create a webpage you shall need to purchase a domain name and a hosting package. I would recommend asking friends and/or family that have a webpage which company they would recommend. I have tried several personally and have found them to be very much alike. I can recommend a few for you to look into though. Easyspace - This site is hosted with Easyspace. You get a free .co.uk domain name with the cheapest hosting package. Good service overall but you have to wait a few hours for just an email address to be added to their servers. UK Domains - A very good up and coming web hosting company. 1&1 - Probably offering one of the cheapest hosting packages around. Streamline - They are cheap but personally I find their control panel a little confusing. I guess it depends on what you are use to. 123 Reg - Use this company a lot for buying domain names. Not tried their hosting service yet though.
Step 1 - When you have signed up for a hosting package you should be sent your FTP settings. Open up a web browser, as if you were going to surf on the Internet, and type in the FTP hostname. My ftp hostname is ftp.onlineauctionhelp.co.uk so I just type that in the browser, like below, and hit enter.
Then you will be asked for your username and password which your host should have also sent you.
Now click on "Log On". If you are using Easyspace then the "www" folder is the one you should double click on. You can now copy and paste your webpage and/or pictures over to your domain name. That is all there is to it.
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