Finally have Sales/but had to take PLs (Promoted Std) to 10-12% for ALL listings to Make it Happen

[katzrul15]

The title really says it all.

Have sales, but my PL percentages are killing me.  Played with it over and over on percentages and when I lower then to even 8%, sales stop.  At the 10-12% range, we have consistent sales.

Really dreading then the FALL update, additional fees and USPS increases.  Not certain how we (us) are going to be able to do this and remain profitable overall??  Anyone else concerned about this?

[valueaddedresource]

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@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:

@valueaddedresource 

Oh, Great Googly Moogly! But....it was pretty much inevitable. 

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@my-cottage-books-and-antiques yep. 😩

They said something about there will be the ability to select or target those middle and bottom of search areas specifically but didn't give any details at all.

Not sure if it's going to be another section of ad slots like the top 4 or if it's going to be banner ads in those areas or something else all together - they just said there will be ad areas for PLA in the middle and bottom of search.

So we shall see what that ends up looking like, but bottom line - hang on and get ready to open your wallet even further.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

@valueaddedresource  I might---stress, MIGHT---have a few things I'd consider using PLA on, but for the most part, PLS is it. I don't think this change convinces me that PLA is suddenly worth it for lower dollar single quantity long tail items just because they've added these slots. But this probably does make it even harder to sell without PLS....so, yeah, dig deeper, sellers.

But we've known for quite a while that ebay is leaning in to the ad space....aside from "the Verticals Strategy", there really doesn't seem to be any other strategy....

[katzrul15]

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@valueaddedresource wrote:

Good news sellers from eBay Open, coming soon PLA will also have dedicated spots in middle and bottom of search too!

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PLA as in only "advanced"?  If not all promotions, this is a death-sentence to PLS (standard)

[zamo-zuan]

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@my-cottage-books-and-antiques wrote:

@valueaddedresource  I might---stress, MIGHT---have a few things I'd consider using PLA on, but for the most part, PLS is it. I don't think this change convinces me that PLA is suddenly worth it for lower dollar single quantity long tail items just because they've added these slots. But this probably does make it even harder to sell without PLS....so, yeah, dig deeper, sellers.

But we've known for quite a while that ebay is leaning in to the ad space....aside from "the Verticals Strategy", there really doesn't seem to be any other strategy....

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PLA has been a horrible experience for us so far. Not one single sale from it. It targets completely different categories than the products - car and truck engine mounts getting shown in the BOATS category. And after testing with the rates, they literally don't even give you impressions unless you're investing more than 50% of their recommended fees. If you play with the keywords, it's more than obvious that their rates are 100% made up. 

Bet you never knew there was so much competition for your special engine mount, even with an exact match search?! lol

Don't worry though, if I check that again in a few hours or tomorrow, it'll give different (made up) numbers, but always exceeding $1.50.

[valueaddedresource]

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@katzrul15 wrote:

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@valueaddedresource wrote:

Good news sellers from eBay Open, coming soon PLA will also have dedicated spots in middle and bottom of search too!

---

PLA as in only "advanced"?  If not all promotions, this is a death-sentence to PLS (standard)

---

@katzrul15 the context of this slide was talking about PLA but the session was about "how to make search and promoted listings work for you" and in some places lumped both PLA and PLS together under the general term "search ads".

The context and the reference to be able to target those ad placements makes me think it's likely only PLA but they did not explicitly say PLS would be excluded.

I'll keep an eye out for when they post the replay on YouTube and link it here when it's up.

[zamo-zuan]

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@valueaddedresource wrote:

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@katzrul15 wrote:

---

@valueaddedresource wrote:

Good news sellers from eBay Open, coming soon PLA will also have dedicated spots in middle and bottom of search too!

---

PLA as in only "advanced"?  If not all promotions, this is a death-sentence to PLS (standard)

---

@katzrul15 the context of this slide was talking about PLA but the session was about "how to make search and promoted listings work for you" and in some places lumped both PLA and PLS together under the general term "search ads".

The context and the reference to be able to target those ad placements makes me think it's likely only PLA but they did not explicitly say PLS would be excluded.

I'll keep an eye out for when they post the replay on YouTube and link it here when it's up.

---

I'm almost certain that they basically give PLA the slots as a priority, and if no PLA, they give PLS the slot. Based playing with it, it seems to already be working that way right now.

[katzrul15]

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@valueaddedresource wrote:

---

@katzrul15 wrote:

---

@valueaddedresource wrote:

Good news sellers from eBay Open, coming soon PLA will also have dedicated spots in middle and bottom of search too!

---

PLA as in only "advanced"?  If not all promotions, this is a death-sentence to PLS (standard)

---

@katzrul15 the context of this slide was talking about PLA but the session was about "how to make search and promoted listings work for you" and in some places lumped both PLA and PLS together under the general term "search ads".

The context and the reference to be able to target those ad placements makes me think it's likely only PLA but they did not explicitly say PLS would be excluded.

I'll keep an eye out for when they post the replay on YouTube and link it here when it's up.

---

Thanks - pretty sure it looks like PLA......you'd be paying to be ALL over the page.  Crikes.  No idea how to do this before long.  SMH and hoping there is fully-leaded Pepsi in my future to get me thru this!

[craft-stash]

Pizza was good tonight!🍕

[katzrul15]

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@zamo-zuan wrote:

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@valueaddedresource wrote:

---

@katzrul15 wrote:

---

@valueaddedresource wrote:

Good news sellers from eBay Open, coming soon PLA will also have dedicated spots in middle and bottom of search too!

---

PLA as in only "advanced"?  If not all promotions, this is a death-sentence to PLS (standard)

---

@katzrul15 the context of this slide was talking about PLA but the session was about "how to make search and promoted listings work for you" and in some places lumped both PLA and PLS together under the general term "search ads".

The context and the reference to be able to target those ad placements makes me think it's likely only PLA but they did not explicitly say PLS would be excluded.

I'll keep an eye out for when they post the replay on YouTube and link it here when it's up.

---

I'm almost certain that they basically give PLA the slots as a priority, and if no PLA, they give PLS the slot. Based playing with it, it seems to already be working that way right now.

---

@zamo-zuan 

I think you are correct on the PLA slot now. 

This will be worse for PL standard.  AND for the Buyer - ads, ads and oh yeah, MORE ads!

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@katzrul15 wrote:

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@zamo-zuan wrote:

---

@valueaddedresource wrote:

---

@katzrul15 wrote:

---

@valueaddedresource wrote:

Good news sellers from eBay Open, coming soon PLA will also have dedicated spots in middle and bottom of search too!

---

PLA as in only "advanced"?  If not all promotions, this is a death-sentence to PLS (standard)

---

@katzrul15 the context of this slide was talking about PLA but the session was about "how to make search and promoted listings work for you" and in some places lumped both PLA and PLS together under the general term "search ads".

The context and the reference to be able to target those ad placements makes me think it's likely only PLA but they did not explicitly say PLS would be excluded.

I'll keep an eye out for when they post the replay on YouTube and link it here when it's up.

---

I'm almost certain that they basically give PLA the slots as a priority, and if no PLA, they give PLS the slot. Based playing with it, it seems to already be working that way right now.

---

@zamo-zuan 

I think you are correct on the PLA slot now. 

This will be worse for PL standard.  AND for the Buyer - ads, ads and oh yeah, MORE ads!

---

@katzrul15 

Guess they could offer ad(promoted) free for search but not sure how much they would charge for that feature?

-Lotz

[zamo-zuan]

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@katzrul15 wrote:

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@zamo-zuan wrote:

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@katzrul15 wrote:

@zamo-zuan 

That is really interesting - I am going to screen-shoot mine for a few days and compare.

Any idea "why" the data is evidently skewed to begin with and then corrects/reverts? 

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The only things that seem to make sense is either the numbers we're being given are estimates, or being adjusted afterwards. Or both.

I guess another option could be that they're totally made up lol, but I don't think it's fair to entertain that one without evidence. (Although I will be 100% transparent that the only reason it's even considered is that eBay has lost so much trust by having their PLS/PLA "peer/recommended" numbers being completely made up).

Taking daily screenshots of the traffic pages is a great thing to do, not just for monitoring issues but you could also notice trends and it's useful stat-keeping. Whenever it seems like there's issues going on, I try to do it daily. For major issues, sometimes multiple times daily.

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@zamo-zuan 

I have been tracking mine since the 19th.  Unfortunately, you are correct - they do reset/revise.  This is concerning to me.  On several levels.😵‍💫

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Hey, uh... Check out your traffic reports for today.

See anything strange...?

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

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@zamo-zuan wrote:

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@katzrul15 wrote:

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@zamo-zuan wrote:

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@katzrul15 wrote:

@zamo-zuan 

That is really interesting - I am going to screen-shoot mine for a few days and compare.

Any idea "why" the data is evidently skewed to begin with and then corrects/reverts? 

---

The only things that seem to make sense is either the numbers we're being given are estimates, or being adjusted afterwards. Or both.

I guess another option could be that they're totally made up lol, but I don't think it's fair to entertain that one without evidence. (Although I will be 100% transparent that the only reason it's even considered is that eBay has lost so much trust by having their PLS/PLA "peer/recommended" numbers being completely made up).

Taking daily screenshots of the traffic pages is a great thing to do, not just for monitoring issues but you could also notice trends and it's useful stat-keeping. Whenever it seems like there's issues going on, I try to do it daily. For major issues, sometimes multiple times daily.

---

@zamo-zuan 

I have been tracking mine since the 19th.  Unfortunately, you are correct - they do reset/revise.  This is concerning to me.  On several levels.😵‍💫

---

Hey, uh... Check out your traffic reports for today.

See anything strange...?

---

@zamo-zuan 

Not seeing anything "new weird" on ca side. And I watch fairly closely. It is back to basically 2 to 1 ebay vs external. Close to where it was pre all the insane item specific changes.

Of note if you compare views/traffic for your listings on ca and com, totally different numbers with same number of listings involved. Shouldn't that info mirror between all ebay sites?

-Lotz

[zamo-zuan]

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@lotzofuniquegoodies wrote:

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@zamo-zuan wrote:

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@katzrul15 wrote:

---

@zamo-zuan wrote:

---

@katzrul15 wrote:

@zamo-zuan 

That is really interesting - I am going to screen-shoot mine for a few days and compare.

Any idea "why" the data is evidently skewed to begin with and then corrects/reverts? 

---

The only things that seem to make sense is either the numbers we're being given are estimates, or being adjusted afterwards. Or both.

I guess another option could be that they're totally made up lol, but I don't think it's fair to entertain that one without evidence. (Although I will be 100% transparent that the only reason it's even considered is that eBay has lost so much trust by having their PLS/PLA "peer/recommended" numbers being completely made up).

Taking daily screenshots of the traffic pages is a great thing to do, not just for monitoring issues but you could also notice trends and it's useful stat-keeping. Whenever it seems like there's issues going on, I try to do it daily. For major issues, sometimes multiple times daily.

---

@zamo-zuan 

I have been tracking mine since the 19th.  Unfortunately, you are correct - they do reset/revise.  This is concerning to me.  On several levels.😵‍💫

---

Hey, uh... Check out your traffic reports for today.

See anything strange...?

---

@zamo-zuan 

Not seeing anything "new weird" on ca side. And I watch fairly closely. It is back to basically 2 to 1 ebay vs external. Close to where it was pre all the insane item specific changes.

Of note if you compare views/traffic for your listings on ca and com, totally different numbers with same number of listings involved. Shouldn't that info mirror between all ebay sites?

-Lotz

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I wish I could answer that but I haven't really checked the non-.com sites. I've only logged on to those on rare occasions for CS issues.

On .com I'm seeing something very strange, to say the least. Curious if this is happening to others...

[valueaddedresource]

More info on that "search placement in top, middle, and bottom of search" part of that presentation from eBay Open:

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/Changes-To-How-Promoted-Listings-Display-In-Search-Coming-Soon...

[iamalwaysright]

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@katzrul15 wrote:

The title really says it all.

Have sales, but my PL percentages are killing me.  Played with it over and over on percentages and when I lower then to even 8%, sales stop.  At the 10-12% range, we have consistent sales.

Really dreading then the FALL update, additional fees and USPS increases.  Not certain how we (us) are going to be able to do this and remain profitable overall??  Anyone else concerned about this?

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How long after making the PL change have you noticed the change in sales? And how long is your sample duration to determine it as 'consistent sales'? And what was the 'suggested percentage' ebay gave you on those?