How to List Your Stuff on eBay

Overview

This job aid is a tool that helps people create better listings on eBay. The goal of this job aid is to provide a concise and helpful tool for periodic eBay users to reference as they are listing their items.

Audience: People who periodically sell on eBay and need help remembering key steps

Responsibilities: Instructional Design, Graphic Design

Tools Used: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe XD

Problem and Solution

I often get asked questions on how to list an item on eBay. These questions range from the best way to write a title to what is the best shipping method for their items. To help address these common questions, I created a job aid with tips on how to create a well-rounded listing on eBay.

As a regular seller on eBay, I have learned many rules for creating solid, professional listings that drive traffic and give buyers confidence in what they are purchasing. I decided that a step-by-step job aid that can be printed and placed by a computer or referenced on a mobile device, would be the most efficient way for users to keep these important tips in mind as they list their items.

Process

Storyboarding

As someone who regularly lists on eBay, I needed feedback from less familiar users of eBay’s listing process to make sure that the information was easily understandable and practical for periodic eBay users. I received this feedback throughout the writing process from different people who fit this profile. This allowed me to tailor the information into easily understandable and actionable items for beginner and periodic users.

Visual Mockups

I created the visual mockups using Adobe XD. Using this program allowed me to quickly design multiple versions of the job aid. I continued to iterate and adjust the design language, receiving feedback from my peers throughout the process. After multiple versions and adjustments, I settled on using shades of green with colored illustrations. The light shades of green serve a couple of purposes.

First, this color hints that by following these five steps, users will be able to sell their items and make some money. Second, based on conversations with new eBay listers, the process can be stressful. The light green shade conveys calmness and optimism as listers engage in a potentially stressful activity.

The final design is in a visually appealing and minimal style that focuses the user’s attention on helpful information, without giving them more information than they can handle.

Development

This project was created in Adobe Illustrator and required me to expand my skills in the program. I started by creating the guidelines that I used to create the boxes for each step. I lined up the text using these guidelines and then imported the different illustrations into the design, removing parts and changing colors as needed.

Takeaways

As a subject matter expert on this topic, this project challenged me to create a helpful and direct job aid to beginners and periodic eBay listers. I worked with various people with different knowledge and understanding of the listing process to provide a genuinely useful job aid that provides actionable tips for better eBay listings. This project impressed upon me the importance of real user testing in the instructional design process.