Promoted Listings - How are you using them?

[worldapexsales]

Hoping I can get a lot of honest, detailed responses about what is working well for you. Do you use standard or advanced? Do you have specific rates for different categories and what are they? I currently have mine automated at the daily suggested rate + 0.2%, up to a max of 8%.  I like that it's automatic but am considering turning this off since there is the occasional rare/high demand item that I do not want to promote because I know it'll sell quickly. I cannot find a way to pull one listing out of the automated promotion. Thanks! 

[iart]

Those of us who have mortgages to pay and find that the increased exposure leads to higher prices that cover the cost of PL?

Or maybe we just don't know basic math.

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@isaiah53-57 wrote:

"...how is it that anyone can find this acceptable?

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[ogaugeminiaturefigures]

If you have like items listed more than once promote the one item at a higher price (to get the views in your store) and the non promoted items at a normal price you want, The buyer may purchase the lower price item of yours and save you fees.

[1tuna]

I am real good at basic math but I just dont feel like trying to understand the promotion thing

I do realize that there are two types of PL

I write plenty of auctions at $1 start that end up selling  around $20-30$

every single time I write an auction I am offered a promotion for $1.49 and I pass

last night i put on a rolex band and a rolex watch at one dollar start

I do realize that $1.49 is a good rate /bargain  so I used it on both

I guess I figure I cant lose on these auctions but I really dont know how to tell if I am getting extra eyes on my stuff

[stainlessenginecovers]

Here is a 3 year set of numbers for Mid Jan to Mid Feb 2021, 2022 and this year 2023. Note one of the REALLY important numbers is EXTERNAL Views- how many are brought in from outside search engines, which is what the 'Item Specifics' and GTC were all about.

Criteria: 500 same new items using Minimum PL Standard (1% until 2% was required last summer)

Impressions: (are counted even if on page 200 and not even seen by buyer but comes up per search): 

2021-1,600,000

2022-2,162,000

2023-2,219,300

Page Views" (the one that matters-buyer actually 'sees and clicks' the listing)

2021-10,388 Total. 35% Promo (3636)/ 55% Organic (5713)/ 10% External (1040)

2022-8,739 Total. 30% Promo (2622)/ 60% Organic (5244)/ 10% External (874)

2023-8,566 Total. 28% Promo (2399)/ 52% Organic (4454)/ 20% External (1714)

Seems like Item Specifics is working comparing this year from the previous 2 years. 

Promos seem to decrease a bit this year, even though minimum was increased

Impressions- not sure why these are down yet 'views' were up in 2021??

Overall, about 30% of my sales are charged (therefore coming from??) Promotions.