Without any HTML knowledge or experience you are empowered by FreeForm to design custom templates for use in creating eBay auction item descriptions, About Me pages, eBay Store Custom Pages, or web pages. And, without having to learn or wade through and edit HTML, you can display more or less pictures, more or less text, use different backgrounds, etc. all on the fly as you create individual pages using your templates and avoid eBay hosting fees. (cont. below)
Launch FreeForm - Learn ''The Basics'' in the Startup Page. Nothing to download, nothing to install, FreeForm operates through your web browser so is available wherever you are from any computer with an Internet connection. Free to try and use for as long as you like (supported by voluntary donation).
Starter Templates - These are example templates you can load into the FreeForm Builder for use as starting points in creating your own custom templates. These use some of the many free backgrounds available for use with FreeForm.
Tutorials - Another good way to learn is by watching the Flash Tutorials you'll find in the tutorials page. Those are actual recordings of FreeForm being used from start to finish - all the way through to posting an item description on eBay.
EAPH.com Hosting - FreeForm does not require use of EAPH.com hosting but doing so sure makes things easier. EAPH provides great support to eBay sellers and includes web page hosting as well as picture hosting for use with FreeForm.
FreeForm and its predecessors have been helping sellers since 1999. As of 05-11-2008 over 1,491,494 presentations have been created using FreeForm, including about 66,394 currently listed on eBay.
FreeForm redefines what eBay templates can and should be... (continued)
FreeForm is unique in that it serves as a platform from which you may both create and save what you create (within FreeForm itself) for loading back into the Builder on future occasions to use as the foundation for creating other auction item descriptions or pages.
Replace the preexisting contents with new contents, remove some, leave some, add more, etc. Because you are working in the Builder you are also able to change anything and everything to produce presentations highly tailored to the particular item being sold or to the needs of the particular page being created.
FreeForm provides 20 separate 'containers' into which what you create may be saved. With EAPH.com Hosting membership, because of the additional storage space made available, saving is unlimited via use of the EAPH Save and EAPH Method loading.
HTML is free and so is FreeForm (almost - supported by donation)...
HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) is what enables colors, pictures, links, background wallpapers, and design layouts in web pages. Because HTML is allowed in eBay Store and eBay auction item listings, most of what is possible with full web pages also becomes possible within the description portions of the selling and custom pages eBay provides to sellers.
FreeForm's modular design interface is a shortcut to all that HTML potential without the need to learn a bit of it. Display as many photos as you want in whatever sizes you want, choose among the free backgrounds in FreeForm's built in libraries or use those you've acquired elsewhere, add borders around your photos, and even around the entire page using FreeForm's unique Frame Builder Tool.
Bottom line is you will be able to present your items for sale on eBay more attractively, effectively, and professionally than you ever imagined you could without hiring a professional. Building your own auction templates in FreeForm actually tends to be more effective than purchasing them from professionals because you are and stay in control. On the one hand, you can readily adjust your templates on an individual basis to showcase some items differently than others. On the other hand, you can adapt the same basic template to create an eBay About Me page, eBay Store pages, eBay auction auction item descriptions, and even web pages to give them all the same look and feel.
FreeForm is probably the most versatile program available on the web for constructing custom eBay auction templates and eBay pages without needing to learn or even edit HTML. It is almost certainly the most flexible such program you will find anywhere for the price. There is no absolutely no obligation or commitment required to give it a try and is free to use as long as you want without any nagging, third party advertising, spyware, or annoying emails. Supported entirely by completely voluntary donations you are trusted to do so only after FreeForm has proven itself useful to you.
FreeForm has been successfully supported by voluntary donations since 1999 because of its popularity, because it is not itself a hosting service (except for the templates you save within it and the free backgrounds), but mostly because it is completely independent of eBay and free of their transaction fees that would otherwise need to somehow be passed on to you.
You may use your own graphics, logos, and backgrounds
One great advantage of FreeForm's independence from any listing or template service is not being limited to the selection of graphics or template layouts available with any particular such service. While FreeForm does include libraries of public domain background wallpapers and a library of email link images, there is absolutely no need to feel restricted to using only what you find in FreeForm. Admittedly, most of us are not capable of creating professional appearing graphics, but the Internet is full of sites that offer them either freely or with credit given to the artist. With FreeForm you are empowered to use whatever you find that works best for you.
Lot's of formatting potential
Display as many images (graphics and photos) as desired, in any sequence, size, or position
Insert textual content wherever desired in templates - great for talking up and pointing out features in adjacent photos
Complete control over text fonts, sizes, and colors
Color pickers for background colors or use your own custom colors
Free background wallpaper libraries or use your own backgrounds
Frame Builder Tool to attractively frame pages with background color and wallpaper layers
What You See Is What You Get - WYSIWYG Text Editing Tool (with use of Internet Explorer only)
Easily create links to web sites, ''About Me'' pages, ''Sellers Other Items'', and to send seller an email
Gallery Builder Tool - provide eBay item numbers for click to visit eBay cross-promotion, or create click to enlarge thumbnail presentations, or create attractive list type galleries and menus
Easily save and use your own custom templates over and over again
Create eBay ''About Me'' and eBay Store pages
Code Input Areas enable including your own HTML, Shipping Calculators, Counters, etc.
Save what you create as stand alone web pages that you can publish to your own web sites
Requirements
The most important requirement is you! - If you've had any exposure to on-line tools for creating eBay auctions or have used templates provided with listing services then you'll have grown accustomed to limited options and, because of those limitations, to a path being laid out clearly before you. FreeForm is not like that. Instead, you are involved through the whole design process. FreeForm takes care of the technical matters but does not stand in the way of your imagination, creativity, and design goals.
FreeForm is an entirely on-line service, there is nothing to download and nothing to install. FreeForm has been tested thoroughly using Mozilla Firefox 1.0.4, Netscape version 4.8 through 7.1, Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5+ running through AOL version 6+. AOL users are recommended to upgrade to AOL 7.0 or higher. MAC users should use the FireFox web browser.
While there are absolutely no third party advertisements or information gathering third party cookies in FreeForm, ''First-Party'' cookies are used for member conveniences and JavaScript is used to create new windows.
It may be necessary to turn off pop-up blocking for the domain ''RobsHelp.com'' and ''RobsHelp2.com'' to be able to use FreeForm. Because the AOL browser does not handle multiple windows very well it is advised that AOL members use Internet Explorer instead.
To be able to display your own graphics and photos within the body of eBay auction item descriptions and pages requires the use of a web host for storage of those images. That requirement is completely unavoidable no matter what service you use yet is somewhat masked with less flexible ones. More about image hosting immediately below.
FreeForm is not itself a web host for pictures...
FreeForm can be using in conjunction with any web host (including free image hosting services) to enable the display of as many photos as desired, in any sequence, size, or position within the body of eBay item descriptions. By doing so you completely eliminate the need to pay any eBay Picture Services add-ons when listing items.
For best results use an image hosting service with which you retain full control over photo size and quality. For maximum convenience and ease of use with FreeForm use EAPH.com hosting. EAPH exists especially for use by eBay sellers and for use with FreeForm. With membership you gain a point and click interface from within FreeForm to choose photos and graphics stored there (no copy and paste required for URLs), unlimited saving capability in FreeForm, and you may create and publish web pages directly from FreeForm into your EAPH web space where you may create your own web site including use of your own domain name.
Do yourself a favor and give your eBay efforts their best chance to succeed by taking advantage of the tools provided with EAPH along with the power to create effective presentations using FreeForm. Every day over a quarter million pictures are displayed on eBay delivered by EAPH.com servers.
FreeForm's HTML will work wherever HTML is accepted
Along with taking the HTML created by FreeForm directly to the eBay site for use as auction item descriptions you can also use it with Turbo Lister or any other listing programs that accept HTML for the description portion of item listings.
In fact, a common practice is to use FreeForm in conjunction with eBay's Turbo Lister to store listings in Turbo Lister for posting on eBay at a later time. If it is your practice to create listings throughout the week then post them all on one day, that's a good way to go.
Along with using for eBay auction item descriptions FreeForm can be used to create eBay About Me pages, and eBay Store Custom pages. As far as FreeForm is concerned the process is exactly the same. The only difference is where you use the resulting HTML on eBay.
When using for web pages there is a difference. EAPH members have a way to publish web pages directly from FreeForm to their EAPH web space. To create web pages for use elsewhere it is required that the page you create in FreeForm be downloaded to your computer, then uploaded to your web host. A tool for accomplishing the download is included in FreeForm's Preview Page menu.
What to expect when learning to use FreeForm...
Here is a quote from an email that is typical of what you will experience when learning to use FreeForm:
I have to tell you that I'm absolutely THRILLED to have come across your site!! I Google'd ''backgrounds in ebay listings'' or something close and am glad to have landed where I did! I'm a seasoned ebayer buyer, have sold a few items here and there, but now am giving it a more serious try at the selling part. Just starting my ebay store, going to be very small scale, but I wanted something more than the plain-jane listings I'm used to working with. I've admired the listings I'd see that were so fancy and have always wondered, ''How'd they do that?''. Now I'm able to do the same, thanks to your site! And yes, at first glance, I didn't think Free Form would be something I could tackle on my own. After just a few minutes of playing however, I was having fun and loving the results! (Don't I sound like a commercial?!) I love it! Thanks soooooo much!
Summer
Although Summer is probably exaggerating by describing her learning time in 'minutes' instead of 'hours', what she describes is what I promise - if you stick with it you will be pleased with the results and you will have a tool that will serve you well for many years.
In the course of learning and using FreeForm please always feel free to write to me for assistance. FreeForm's saving pages even include a link you can use that will launch your email program with information to allow me to access what you are working on - look for the link labeled ''Please help with this description''.
Over the years it has been my great pleasure to assist in a hands-on way with fine tuning of templates. All I ask is that you meet me halfway by having learned FreeForm's basics especially saving and loading your work.
For best results use an image hosting service with which you retain full control over photo size and quality. For maximum convenience and ease of use with FreeForm use