Online Guide to Auctioning   

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HTML Basic Guide & HTML Templates

Using HTML to jazz up your auctions

HTML can make your auctions look so much more interesting. Simply typing your description without using any HTML will simply result in a large paragraph of text with no formatting (bold type, italics, lists or colours), like this:

Now compare that to a description using HTML, like this:

The above two examples contain exactly the same text, but the lower one is much easier to read I'm sure you'll agree

How to write HTML

HTML stands allows you to add formatting to your text including colours, bold type, italics, lists and headings

HTML using 'tags' to show how each bit of text should be displayed. Each tag must be enclosed in 'less than' and 'greater than' brackets like <this> Most tags must be started and ended. A start tag will look like <this> and an end tag will look like </this>

Headings

Headings are used for titles and are displayed on a line on their own. There are various sizes of heading, numbered 1 to 6 with 1 being the largest. The text for your heading is typed in between the tags

Example

Typing <h4>Heading size 4</h4> will look like:

Heading size 4

• Start tag: <h4>
• End tag: </h4>

Colours

Simple colours can achieved easily using their name, such as 'red' or 'blue'. Shades of colours require a complicated code that I don't cover here. However, you might try any of the major colours such as red, blue, yellow, orange, purple, green, black or try your own!

Being an American based language, the tag for colours is spelled 'color' eg <font color=blue> will give you blue text

• Start tag: <font color=blue>
• End tag: </font>

Bold type

Bold type simply gives your text a darker, bolder look. So <b> will give you bold text. The text will continue to be bold until you end it

• Start tag: <b>
• End tag: </b>

Italic type

Italic type simply gives your text an italic font. So <i> will give you italic text. The text will continue to be italic until you end it

• Start tag: <i>
• End tag: </i>

Lists

Lists are slightly more complicated, as you to start and end the list, and also specify the lines of the list. Lists do, however, make your auctions much easier to read if you need to list contents of something etc

The list is started using <ul> and ended with </ul> then each item is started with <li> but doesn't need an end tag. Your list should, therefore look like this:

<ul>
<li>
<li>
</ul>

You can add as many items as you wish to the list, before ending the list

Line Breaks

Line breaks simply let you start the next piece of text on a new line. They have no end tag

The tag for line breaks is <br>

HTML Templates

HTML templates for you to copy and use in your auctions. Just copy the text from the template box you want and add your title and description where indicated

You are under no obligation, but I would request that you leave the link to my site in the description so others can benefit from these templates as well

Use of these templates means you agree to abide by the terms and conditions of their use, listed/linked at the bottom of the page

General Templates

General auction templates, can be used on any auction site for any item

Simple Title and Description (See example)

Description with list (See example)

eBay specific templates

Billpoint templates

Nochex templates

Nochex logo (add to end of description)(See example)

PayPal templates

PayPal international logo (add to end of description)(See example)

Your own Customized Templates!

Do you want your own customized auction template?

If so, you can make use of our free Customized Template service!

All you have to do is send us an email at info@totalned.com with 'Template' as the subject, and choose from the following options:

• Title colour (specify colour)
• Text colour (specify colour)
• Payment methods (please state your methods eg cheque, postal order etc)
• eBay 'My Auctions' logo (please state username)
• PayPal logo (please state your paypal email address)
• Billpoint logo
• Nochex logo

Your template will be compiled and returned to you as soon as possible. All you have to do then is type in your auction title and description for better looking auctions!

Each template will have a link to this page so that other peop,e can make use of the service. We would ask that you leave this link so that others can enjoy the services as well!

Use of these templates means you agree to abide by the terms and conditions of their use, listed/linked at the bottom of the page