Promoted listings

[pj0443]

Hi - I am currently running a 12% promoted listings on all of my clothing. I have over 1200 items and I feel like that is still not enough or maybe I've just not listing as consistent or whatever. 

what is a good solid promoted listings percentage? 

[katzrul15]

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@pj0443 wrote:

Hi - I am currently running a 12% promoted listings on all of my clothing. I have over 1200 items and I feel like that is still not enough or maybe I've just not listing as consistent or whatever. 

what is a good solid promoted listings percentage? 

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We have never used anything above 5%.

At 12%, you should be seeing amazing results??

[lepke1979]

Blanket 1% on everything after it has been listed a few days. Some stuff I might make higher if it's a slow seller, an unknown brand, I want to get rid of it, or if it's nearing the expiration date. Think the highest I've done is 7.5%. But usually no more than 5%.

[artfrom89]

Clothes are weird, man.... I rarely sell them myself but the return I do get from them is Fan-freaking-tastic. Since I have been back on Ebay (and prior to) I can't say that I have ever promoted clothes. People like to have a good description that has personality more than they like to see that sponsored listing tag.

I feel like 12 percent is a pretty big investment that should be showing you a return in Aces. Word your listing the way someone looking for what you are selling would search for. I mainly sold Jerseys and womens clothes. (Plus size usually) because there just isn't a lot of plus sizes out there it seems like. Nobody wants to pay the extra 2 bucks in shipping I guess.

Maybe try to back off a little bit if you aren't getting a good return at 12. Use some of that savings to cut throats a little. (That is an amazing amount of clothes to have to list)

Another thing that has worked for me EVERY SINGLE TIME is to RAISE your prices.

My last clothing item was listed at like...49? I think

A buyer said she would be trying to buy my vest in a day or two, so to reserve it for her  I went ahead and upped the price to 70 and it sold in a hot minute.

I guess what I am saying is.... I am underqualified to answer this question. I just thought I would throw my 2 cents in.

My gut and brain and wallet all tell me 12 percent is a good Solid number already.

I would be interested to see how you got sales rolling again once you get it figured out.

[my-cottage-books-and-antiques]

Since I don't sell a lot of clothing, I won't address the percentage...just do want you to know (in case you missed it) that come June 1st the way the PL is calculated will be changing.

Right now, PL is calculated by the percentage x the item price, so a $20 item at 12% is costing you 2.40 in PL fees alone. As of June 1st, PL will be calculated on the total, the same way the standard FVF is calculated, so a $20 item with $6.00 shipping plus 1.00 sales tax will be figured as $27.00 (20+6+1) x 12%= $3.24 ...an increase of 84 cents. 

I'm guessing you have strong margins on most of what you sell, but it's still important to know that come June 1st, the PL will be taking more from your margins if you maintain the same PL percentage.

[pj0443]

Then i will have to reduce it by a percentage - thank you

[simply-the-best-for-you]

12% is not a lot in clothing, it's respectable though.  Also, rates change daily, so it's impossible to give you a specific rate.   They are also different for each type of item & seasonally, sweaters garner high average rates in winter & very low ones in summer, etc.   I would suggest looking into using a %age above current rate.  

You still have to list consistently to get sales.  Using PL's doesn't really help if you aren't still listing.  What percentage of your sales are PL sales?  That should tell you if it's working for you or not.   Mine are between 60-70%.  If you have everything promoted & aren't seeing results, I would consider whether your items are in demand.  I do sell clothing, but not much mens, so not so sure on mens brands. 

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@pj0443 wrote:

Then i will have to reduce it by a percentage - thank you

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Well, if you reduce it, your results are going to be worse. 

[simply-the-best-for-you]

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@artfrom89 wrote:

Clothes are weird, man.... I rarely sell them myself but the return I do get from them is Fan-freaking-tastic. Since I have been back on Ebay (and prior to) I can't say that I have ever promoted clothes. People like to have a good description that has personality more than they like to see that sponsored listing tag.

I feel like 12 percent is a pretty big investment that should be showing you a return in Aces. Word your listing the way someone looking for what you are selling would search for. I mainly sold Jerseys and womens clothes. (Plus size usually) because there just isn't a lot of plus sizes out there it seems like. Nobody wants to pay the extra 2 bucks in shipping I guess.

A buyer said she would be trying to buy my vest in a day or two, so to reserve it for her  I went ahead and upped the price to 70 and it sold in a hot minute.

I guess what I am saying is.... I am underqualified to answer this question. I just thought I would throw my 2 cents in.

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About 70% of my clothing sales (which is pretty much all I sell) are PL sales, so I would disagree strongly that people don't shop from the sponsored listings.   Most of them do & most of them don't even realize it!  

Also, plus sizes are the only thing I can't keep enough stock of, they sell like crazy.  If you know what to buy.   What an odd thing to say, that there aren't many plus sizes out there.  I wouldn't be surprised if plus sizes outnumber Misses 2:1, since the average woman's size is already almost a plus size & has only been creeping up over the years. 

Also, listings with "personality" are not what clothing sellers look for.  Unless you sell only Ugly Christmas Sweaters, those listings people wanted personality, but that's not exactly a hot trend anymore. 

Respectfully, if you feel you are "underqualified" to answer the question, perhaps leave it to those who specialize in the category.