Promoted Listings - Experiment #2

[oldwestgold]

I use the promoted listing option on all of my listings.  I have tried experimenting with different set rates several times in the past few months that I find interesting or should I say disappointing.  I have attached my most recent report for your review.

The late evening of March 15th I more than tripled the promo rate set on my items from 3.1% to 10.1%(some higher). As you will note by the report it shows the opposite effect with impressions.  The number of impressions was more than 3 times lower by increasing the promo rate 3 times higher. I will continue to play with the numbers to amuse myself but was wondering if any others have experienced the same or ?

Please, no sticks and stones reply as some always find the need for posters here. Nothing critical as I understand some don't use it, some have positive and negative results. Just throwing it out there. Have a good day all.  And remember - "In a hundred years it ain't gonna matter."

[joesoucie22012]

I tried this also, promoting listings super high like 15 percent or higher. They did not sell. But when I lowered them back down, they still didn't sell. When I lowered them to one percent even, there they sit. As for the impressions on them, the more you promote them the fewer impressions you get.  

[oldwestgold]

Interesting. The no logic zone I guess. Thanks!

[juststuffisell]

I will just point out that there was some pretty darn good baskedball on and a lot interest in the games. All us old sellers need to remember that for the next couple weeks. Cannot wait until Thursday 🙂

I only use the 1%. I am not willing to give eBay any more right now. Traffic flow, category demand all play a roll in impressions, clicks and sales. Relevance is huge to CTR also. Random adds don't do well unless you are giving a ways free money 🙂

If your CTR is dropping, work your title and images. Beyond price, that is what gets you clicks when the advert is relevant. Your description is what gets your conversions - well - along with price 🙂

Cheers

[cashvaluerecovery2011]

Promoted listings is just another way to get more in ebays pockets by taking it out of the sellers pockets while doing nothing.

[markdown-media]

My own experiments in the past were slightly different than yours. When I raised the % rate, my impressions didn't drop like yours, but didn't increase any as one would expect from increase the %. Who knows.

What I have noticed though, is that I think eBay uses some of the same factors it uses to determine your placement in the organic search results ("best match") as it does when deciding when to show your promoted listing. For example, the general consensus is that offering "Free Shipping" will boost your best match listing placement. I think it will also increase your promoted listing impressions as well.

Below is my promoted listings impressions graph:

That huge drop you see around the 18th lines up pretty well with when I fell from "top rated" seller status to "above standard". There was no other significant change around that time period. Not in my promoted listing fee %, inventory amount, etc.