Okay, so you think you know how to write some basic HTML code. The question is, what program do you use to write that codeand how do you get the code into your eBay item listing? Using eBay's HTML EditorIf you're inserting a small amount of HTML code, there's no reason not to use the HTML editor included as part of eBay's sell your item process. Just go to the Describe Your Item page, scroll down to the Description box, and click the View HTML link. When the box changes to the HTML editor view, as shown in Figure 5.6, enter your code in the box. You can switch back to normal text editing mode to view the results of your code. Figure 5.6. Entering simple HTML code into eBay's HTML editor.Even if you're creating more complex code, you still need to use eBay's HTML editor. That's because the HTML editor is how you get your HTML code into your item listing. You'll want to copy the code from whatever HTML editing program you're using, and paste it into the HTML editor box on the Describe Your Item page. Using Text Editors for HTMLThat said, when you're creating a lot of HTML codeor want to reuse your code in multiple auctionsusing the HTML editor won't get the job done. Instead, you'll want to use a dedicated text editing or HTML editing program. The advantage of using a text editorsuch as Windows Notepad or WordPadis that it's free and relatively easy to do. You'll have to enter all your HTML code by hand, as shown in Figure 5.7, and then save the resulting file as a normal .TXT file. Once your code is complete, highlight it all and copy it; you can then paste it into eBay's Describe Your Item page, as previously discussed. Figure 5.7. Using Windows Notepad to write HTML code.Note that you need to save your HTML code in a .TXT file, not in a .DOC format file, like Microsoft Word uses. That's because Word files contain hidden formatting commands that play havoc with the basic text you need for HTML. This is why I don't recommend using Microsoft Word to write your HTML; while it's doable (assuming you save your results in a .TXT file) it's just too tempting to save your code in Word's default .DOC format, which is a no-no. Once you save your code in a .TXT file, it's easy enough to reopen the .TXT file to reuse the basic code for future auctions. When you do this, you've created a reusable auction templatewhich is the best way to ensure consistently great-looking eBay auction listings over time. Using Third-Party HTML EditorsOf course, entering all that HTML code by hand is a lot of hard work. That's why some eBay sellers prefer to use a dedicated HTML editing program to do the coding for them. These programs let you design your page or eBay listing in a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) environment, and then automatically generate the necessary HTML code behind the design.
There are lots of HTML editing programs you can use for this purpose. They range from free or low-cost programs such as 1st Page 2000 (www.evrsoft.com) and AceHTML (software.visicommedia.com/en/products/acehtmlfreeware/), to high-priced, high-end programs such as Microsoft FrontPage (www.microsoft.com/frontpage/) and Macromedia Dream-weaver (www.macromedia.com/software/dreamweaver/). For your convenience, we've included the Nvu HTML editing program on the CD that accompanies this book. Nvu is a full-featured WYSIWYG web authoring program, based on the Mozilla Composer software, that works on any computer platformWindows, Macintosh, even Linux. You can learn more about Nvu at www.nvu.com, or just start it up from the accompanying CD. To use Nvu (or any other) editor to design your auction, follow these steps:
It's Step 3 that's the important one. When you use a freestanding HTML editor, you have to take care to copy only that code in the <body> section of the document. You should also avoid any special effects, JavaScript code, or CSS code that requires code within the <head> section of the document. Rememberyou're inserting your code into eBay's pre-existing <body> section. Any code that falls outside the body is unusable! |