One good way to choose a developer is to ask for a recommendation from someone whose site you admire. It doesn't have to be someone you know in real life. Most people are flattered to get an email telling them how much you like their site and would they please give you name of developer.

Alternatively, there are online directories that list web designers and programmers. Some of these directory sites give you ability to request quotes from several developers who will respond to you online. If you find a developer on one of these directory sites, ask him or her for a list of sites they have done. Then call or email webmaster or other contact person listed on some of those sites. Ask if those clients were satisfied with quality and timeliness of developer's work, and whether developer showed an understanding of their requirements and a willingness to listen.

If you're willing to deal with people strictly by email, phone and IM, there are programmers in India and Russia who charge very little. Many of them frequent these online directories, so be aware that person answering your bid request may be half a world away.

Some dont's in picking a website designer

•Be a Professional: Present yourself as a friendly professional. Make sure your descriptions and policies are clear. Make sure your auction is inviting and friendly. Strive for efficiency in very aspect of what you do. If you’re lacking in a system of organisation your whole business is going to be threatened.

•Keep it Concise: Avoid lengthy descriptions or worded sales pitches. Although these approaches might work elsewhere, they have no place in online auctions.

•Include a Photo: Photos add to authenticity. Try to include one if you can. Remember to keep it focused and relatively compact.

•Answer Questions: Include an email address and answer questions promptly and thoroughly. People will buy from sources that they can trust.

•Finish It Up: Don't drop your buyers at moment of purchase. Be prepared for follow up emails and inquiries. You may have sale now, but you might not in future.

•Don't Be a Stranger: Don't keep yourself too anonymous. Anonymity creates suspicion and suspicion is auctioneer's worst enemy.

•Ship it Right: Don't rip people off in shipping. Try to bundle items together and package them properly.

•Your auction headline and item description: Your headline is your advertising and your item description is your salesperson. On web, how you’re potential buyer perceives you and your product is everything.

•Use Power Words: Be sure to use power words in your auction title (headline) Rare, Unique, Powerful, New, Unusual, Stunning, Top Notch, First Class, etc. Just be sure not to exaggerate. Don’t call something ‘rare’ if it is not. Remember 65% of eBay bidders find what they are looking for by using search function.

•Search Lising on eBay to see what is selling: Go to http://pages.ebay.com/buy/index.html to see what is being listed and sold on eBay. The number is parentheses after category title is number of auctions for a given item.

•Set up a PayPal Shop: PayPal offers a service to all of their users called PayPal Shops. A PayPal shop is nothing more than a link to your eBay

•Set up a web site and use eBay to drive business to it: Every eBay seller should have a web site. Remember sales you make from your web site do not incur eBay fees. eBay has cracked down on sellers using auctions to drive hits to their web sites, but there are still some loopholes and techniques you can use without running afoul of eBay. These details are explained in this book

•Learn to sell information products on eBay: People will pay good money for information they can use. If you can write reasonably well, and you have a topic you have some expertise in, you can probably write a reference guide or “how-to” manual and sell it on eBay.

•Create an Opt-in newsletter: Create an on-line newsletter for your customers. Instead of sending newsletter out, just send out table of contents with a link to a page on your web site where newsletter is posted. This drives traffic to your web site, which is whole point. Your newsletter should also include a link to your active auctions.

The most effective method to drive traffic to your auction, and ultimately to your own website. eBay Keywords’ is a powerful online marketing tool that brings buyers right to your listings through targeted ads linked to "keyword" search terms

https://ebay.admarketplace.net/ebay/servlet/ebay How eBay Keywords work?

If you have some internet background then you would have heard term pay-per-click (PPC).

Here is a short lesson on PPC.

PPC is basically paying for traffic legally. You bid for highest position on a keyword or phrase on search engine(s).

eBay Keywords are based on same principle, in that you bid to be on number one spot for your keywords.

You bid maximum cost-per-click (CPC) that you are willing to pay when a user clicks on your banner ad.

I will not go into depth regarding this option but will say that driving people to your auction is a good thing. I would highly recommend doing so.

Auction Lingo

•"As Is": Also known as "as is, where is" and "in its present condition." Typically, this is a sign that no return privileges will be granted.

•Bid Cancellation: The cancellation of a bid by a seller. During online auctions, sellers can cancel a bid if they feel uncomfortable about completing a transaction with a particular bidder.

•Bid History:: A historical list of all bids made on a particular auction during or after auction.

•Bid Increment: The standardized amount an item increases in price after each new bid. The auction service sets increment, which rises according to present high bid value of an item.

•Bid Retraction: The legitimate cancellation of a bid on an item by a bidder during an online auction.