eBay

chariot_badges · ‎02-28-2024

I've been experimenting with my listing strategy. After ending a listing, I wait 24 hours and then do the 'similar' relist. To test different scenarios, I sometimes use gibberish or random letters in certain fields, wait 24 hrs after uploading, and then search by that gibberish 'keyword' - and the listing comes up.

For instance, I noticed that some fields, like "manufacturer warranty," are not relevant to my emblem listings. Instead of leaving them blank, I input something like "aigm manther" in that field. After waiting for 24 hours and performing a search using the term "aigm manther," my listing successfully appeared in the search results.

Think about that. An entry of "aigm manther" in a 'Warranty' field is searchable.

Does it really matter what the title of the field is? Just put something in there.

Here's my approach: when creating or updating a listing, I fill every field with keywords related to my inventory. These include terms like Exterior Auto Trim Parts, Auto Body Repair, Small Auto Parts, Car & Truck Parts & Accessories, Exterior Parts & Accessories, Body Moldings & Trims, and Emblems & Ornaments.

For example, in the "placement on vehicle" field, I add 'Exterior Auto Parts' in addition to 'Rear.' If I HAVE a part number I load them if not I put "Auto Body Repair" in the that field. If there are duplicate fields, like two prompts for 'color,' I input "Exterior Parts & Accessories." into one of them. I believe these prompts are just reminders for keywords, and the algo doesn't care ...

I've noticed a significant increase in traffic and external search results after implementing this strategy. It seems like Google is directing more traffic to my store. Metrics are up sharply across the board since I been doing this.

Additionally, I've copied my description, had it SEO-optimized by Chat GPS, and incorporated it into the listing's "Description" field.

I've also tested the "add extra" fields and found that they are not searchable, so entering data there seems to be a waste of time.

While I've only been doing this for a couple of months, the change in metrics is noticeable and positive.

There is a lot more to it than just this ... but, I think you get the idea.

What are your thoughts on this approach?

anjofak · ‎02-29-2024

#1,best, rare massive amount, flip..

simply-the-best-for-you · ‎02-29-2024

Sure, It IS possible to police it. I have had an error flag when I had something in the Condition field, that was not directly related to the condition & they can easily do the same with the IS's. Personally, I see this as a way for buyers to get confused & claim SNAD.

This one goes to Eleven - Nigel Tufnel

Simply-the-best-for-you Volunteer Community Mentor
eBay Seller since 1996

toomuchstuffagain35 · ‎02-29-2024

Really? You support keyword spam in the IS fields?

Aren't you one of the posters here regularly complaining about the search here?

"If a product doesn't sell, raise the price" - Reese Palley
"If it sold FAST, it was priced too low" - also Reese Palley

chariot_badges · ‎02-29-2024

@pjcdn2005 wrote:
How does a seller unknowingly put brand names in their item specifics that have nothing to do with the product?

If they're smart, they are doing it intentionally.

Can you imagine that someone who is considering buying golf balls might also want to buy sunscreen?

Is it spam to offer that option?

Did you know that it is proven (maybe not now, but a few years ago when our economy was healthy) that within six months of a new vehicle purchase, a surprising percentage also buys real estate? True.

I used to buy lists of people from car salesmen who recently purchase a new vehicle, and I would send them offers via US Mail to buy real estate ... and I would get listings and sales that way.

The more people you ask ... the more 'yes' you hear.

It's not luck. It's not spam.

It's marketing.

chariot_badges · ‎02-29-2024

@redlinear wrote:
@chariot_badges
Rookie 😂
Check out eBay item number 386778462741

I figured this out about a year ago. It has A LOT to do with what is wrong with the search function / search results. Instead of 80 characters in a title, sellers now have THOUSANDS of digits to keyword spam (correctly or incorrectly).
With Item Specifics, Compatibilities, and Promoted Listings? Sellers are now doing anything and everything they can JUST to be SEEN. Regardless of relevance.
And, in this instance, they should.

Wow. Now THAT is overload.

It doesn't look good, and I wouldn't do that for that reason alone.

But, it has to make ya wonder what the views are.

Ya know, the drawback to lots of views is ... if you get a hundred views and nobody clicks it makes your click thru rate very bad, which gives eBay less incentive to send you eyeballs.

It would be like a Sales Manager telling a salesperson "Why should I give you leads? You can't close them."

chariot_badges · ‎02-29-2024

@winterpalace25 wrote:
I was about to write the same message, that you were referring to Item Specifics and not the main title. Thank you for your research, especially the part about the additional item specifics. I'll just keep that information in my description, which nobody reads.

That is not necessarily true my friend.

I think that someone searching for your stuff on Google has a better chance of staggering into your store, than if they'd searched on Ebay.

I suggest you do the following:

Copy the description you use.

Go to Chat GPI

Tell him "Rewrite this SEO optimized using keywords of 'emblem', 'logo', 'fender', 'back', 'grill'.

(or any others specific to your use)

Paste what you use and let the bot fix it.

Look it over and make a few changes ... and use it.

You'll get more from Google.

cardxcraft · ‎02-29-2024

The seller is probably creating new listings, speed listing, by "sell similar" function and not altering item specifics.

redlinear · ‎03-01-2024

@pjcdn2005 wrote:
How does a seller unknowingly put brand names in their item specifics that have nothing to do with the product?

Have one to sell? Sell Now (which is basically, copy somebody else's listing for the most part, including their mistakes, or intentional spam)

redlinear · ‎03-01-2024

@simply-the-best-for-you wrote:
Sure, It IS possible to police it. I have had an error flag when I had something in the Condition field, that was not directly related to the condition & they can easily do the same with the IS's. Personally, I see this as a way for buyers to get confused & claim SNAD.

Not even ai is capable of knowing every part number of every manufacturer and every part number assigned by the user, and every superseded part number, and ever "other" part number.
Or interchange (compatibilities) on the billions of parts that have no known interchange.
OR what a generic toggle switch fits? (it fits nothing, but it fits everything).
It's not possible to police this

redlinear · ‎03-01-2024

@toomuchstuffagain35 wrote:
Really? You support keyword spam in the IS fields?

Aren't you one of the posters here regularly complaining about the search here?

Yes. eBay does not hear complaints. That's obvious. Then again, not many companies this size do.
But, they will eventually hear the sound of dollars leaving.
This mess cannot be policed, and it effects search results. To the point of shoppers giving up and shopping elsewhere.
I would like to that's what will happen when it gets bad enough, but it's already happening now.
As more sellers are doing everything possible to get views. It's just going to get worse.
The only way it changes, is for it get even worse it appears.
If you can't beat em', join em'

redlinear · ‎03-01-2024

@chariot_badges wrote:
@redlinear wrote:
@chariot_badges
Rookie 😂
Check out eBay item number 386778462741

I figured this out about a year ago. It has A LOT to do with what is wrong with the search function / search results. Instead of 80 characters in a title, sellers now have THOUSANDS of digits to keyword spam (correctly or incorrectly).
With Item Specifics, Compatibilities, and Promoted Listings? Sellers are now doing anything and everything they can JUST to be SEEN. Regardless of relevance.
And, in this instance, they should.
Wow. Now THAT is overload.
It doesn't look good, and I wouldn't do that for that reason alone.
But, it has to make ya wonder what the views are.

Ya know, the drawback to lots of views is ... if you get a hundred views and nobody clicks it makes your click thru rate very bad, which gives eBay less incentive to send you eyeballs.
It would be like a Sales Manager telling a salesperson "Why should I give you leads? You can't close them."

@chariot_badges , IMO, I wouldn't think anybody would say hey "I need a ford lapel pin!" and go look for one.
Well, there's a market for anything, SO....I replace with anybody with "not many".
But, a classic car ford fanatic might see the lapel pin listings when searching for actual car parts, and THEN think "I want one".
So, that seller's marketing is rather genius (although I would think against ebay rules). But eBay would do nothing if reported.
Although, it sure screws up search results seeing ford lapel pins when trying to find car parts, or maybe even socks in this case...LOL (he's sure got every word spammed in there)

chariot_badges · ‎03-01-2024

@redlinear wrote:
@chariot_badges wrote:
@redlinear wrote:
@chariot_badges
Rookie 😂
Check out eBay item number 386778462741

I figured this out about a year ago. It has A LOT to do with what is wrong with the search function / search results. Instead of 80 characters in a title, sellers now have THOUSANDS of digits to keyword spam (correctly or incorrectly).
With Item Specifics, Compatibilities, and Promoted Listings? Sellers are now doing anything and everything they can JUST to be SEEN. Regardless of relevance.
And, in this instance, they should.
Wow. Now THAT is overload.
It doesn't look good, and I wouldn't do that for that reason alone.
But, it has to make ya wonder what the views are.

Ya know, the drawback to lots of views is ... if you get a hundred views and nobody clicks it makes your click thru rate very bad, which gives eBay less incentive to send you eyeballs.
It would be like a Sales Manager telling a salesperson "Why should I give you leads? You can't close them."

@chariot_badges , IMO, I wouldn't think anybody would say hey "I need a ford lapel pin!" and go look for one.
Well, there's a market for anything, SO....I replace with anybody with "not many".
But, a classic car ford fanatic might see the lapel pin listings when searching for actual car parts, and THEN think "I want one".
So, that seller's marketing is rather genius (although I would think against ebay rules). But eBay would do nothing if reported.
Although, it sure screws up search results seeing ford lapel pins when trying to find car parts, or maybe even socks in this case...LOL (he's sure got every word spammed in there)

@redlinear

Yea, like I said, that IS a bit over the top.

But, I can see where someone would search for a "Ford Blue Oval Emblem F150" because it got lost off the front of their favorite 4x4, and end up with that lapel pin in the mix. And, some guy thinking, "Yea, that'd look pretty cool on my hunting cap," and buying his emblem and the lapel pin.

"Oh, and there's a pair of socks with the Ford logo on it - I could rock those socks ..." and buy it too.

I stick to relevant key words ... and for me, socks isn't one of them.

Can't have too much Ford regalia ya know.

iamalwaysright · ‎03-01-2024

@winterpalace25 wrote:
I was about to write the same message, that you were referring to Item Specifics and not the main title. Thank you for your research, especially the part about the additional item specifics. I'll just keep that information in my description, which nobody reads.

A while back, someone posted about using the superfluous Item Specifics for your own details. They also suggested filling up the Condition Box, because that is valuable real estate that shows more than the Description Box.

Thanks again for your research. That was very clever.

Hm. Does the Condition Box accept HTML and unlimited characters? 🤔🤔

simply-the-best-for-you · ‎03-01-2024

@redlinear wrote:
@simply-the-best-for-you wrote:
Sure, It IS possible to police it. I have had an error flag when I had something in the Condition field, that was not directly related to the condition & they can easily do the same with the IS's. Personally, I see this as a way for buyers to get confused & claim SNAD.
Not even ai is capable of knowing every part number of every manufacturer and every part number assigned by the user, and every superseded part number, and ever "other" part number.
Or interchange (compatibilities) on the billions of parts that have no known interchange.
OR what a generic toggle switch fits? (it fits nothing, but it fits everything).
It's not possible to police this

I admit, I don't know Auto Parts & I know it's a pretty specific marketplace, so I will amend to say that in many categories it is policeable via programming, but I'll take your word for it in Auto Parts 🙂

This one goes to Eleven - Nigel Tufnel

Simply-the-best-for-you Volunteer Community Mentor
eBay Seller since 1996

brightlightbookseller · ‎03-01-2024

No it does not, only the Description field allows HTML, and it doesn't have unlimited characters but the limit is very high (don't recall it right now). The Condition field is much more limited and we've every once in a while hit the limit, but it's rare because it does have a fairly high limit. That said, I don't believe either are searched by default (you can choose to include the Description field when searching, but it's not included automatically).