Newbies Guide To HTML For eBay Listings

May 31st, 2008

Jenny How

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) codes may seem difficult for newbies without any technical background. But in fact there are very easy as the language is pretty self-explanatory.

Customizing your eBay listing is not a difficult thing, you won’t want to pay a designer to tweak your codes for just a minor modification.

So, it’s at least worth giving it a try. Don’t be too tempting to use copious amounts of HTML to spice up your listings. Somethings are better keep to the minimum.

The following is a guideline on how to use HTML in order to produce certain effects. Most HTML codes work in pairs. Each of the codes are contained within opening brackets <> and ends with </>. We call them tags.

1. Open a new paragraph

This is a new paragraph.

2. Put your text in the center, left or right

your text in the center (to align the text left or right, just replace the codes)

3. Break or open a new line

(Unlike the rest of the codes, this one do not have a closing tag)

4. Underlines, italic and bold text

This is my underlined text

italic text

I am making my text bold

5. Changed font color and size

and

6. Adding Images and Links

In order to save eBay listing fee for adding more than one image, it is advisable to learn how to add images using HTML. First you need to set up a picture hosting account which can be created free with a system such as Photobucket.

<img src=”http://www.yourwebaddress.com/images.gif”> (This tag has no closing tag either)

<a href=”http://www.yourwebsite.com”> NAME OF WEBSITE </a>

7. Make Moving Text

<marquee behavior=”alternate”>My moving text</marquee>

8. Make text blink

<blink>Look! My text is blinking!</blink) (May not work with every browser)

9. Creates smaller text

text

10. HTML comment

<!– A comment –> (This text within the tags will not be displayed. This is for your own reference what the code or scripts will perform.)

Nobody really hard code their HTML anymore nowadays with the availability of tools like Dreamweaver and MS Frontpage. Yet, you still need to know some HTML because sometimes these software just sucks and doesn’t create things exactly like you like it. And it’s great help if you want to amend your listings straight from eBay revision page.