mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
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"I believe there may be something odd happening that is affecting our impressions, traffic, and sales - especially for promoted listings."
I think that I have found the answer as to why you are seeing a dramatic drop with your Promoted Listings impressions and traffic.
As of right now at this moment in time (09-04-2020 4:35 pm pdt) eBay is no longer displaying the one or two Sponsored Listing carousels within individual listings, which have always been predominantly displayed generally right above the fold (above the listing description). Sometimes it's two Sponsored Listings carousels and other times there is just one Sponsored Listings carousel. I have never been able to figure out the how and why behind why some listings show two advertising carousels and others just show one. But I digress.
It appears that eBay is either currently experiencing a glitch, testing a new display feature for buyers within individual listings, or implementing another unannounced change with regards to how Promoted Listings are displayed within individual listings.
What I am seeing right now is instead of "Sponsored Listing" ads in those top two advertising carousels are carousels titled "People who viewed this item also viewed" and "Frequently Bought Together"
This to me points to the how and why behind why you are currently seeing a dramatic drop in your Sponsored Listing's traffic as well as their impressions. And if this change is happening in this one location on the eBay site then more than likely this change is probably happening elsewhere as well.
Prior to today this is what I would expect to see when I click on individual listings.
This is what I am now currently seeing today when I click on individual listings.
You do realize it is only mid day in many parts of the US. The numbers would be no where near ready for adding to the results you are seeking. It is not on Real Time reporting.
@valueaddedresource wrote:@mam98031 yes I do. And I also realize I already said this is not normal for this time of day on a typical Friday.
But you are depending on the reporting of numbers being the same as you are use to seeing at this time of day. I'm sure there are things that can delay the updates from time to time. Maybe there is a problem but maybe there isn't and it just hasn't updated as you are use to. I hope it resolves soon for you and is what you expect to see.
@mam98031 - not depending on them being the same, as obviously fluctuations happens. But a very large drop compared to fairly consistent averages over a period of time is something I think is worth looking into.
And no, I'm not comparing a previous whole day on the chart to a partial day today. That is all that eBay shows when you take a screenshot, but I am in the habit of checking it periodically throughout the days and weeks and that is nowhere near where we see it on average. I don't have screenshots of that, you're just going to have to take my word for it.
As far as it not being real time, again, that is understood. However, it does update more than once a day and again, I'm in the habit of checking and have a good general idea of our averages. If it was just a small dip I wouldn't have said anything.
I don't believe it is just a reporting error or delay. Our internal order management system (which I can use to run reports and comparisons down to the minute if I want to) also confirms we are about 80% down in eBay sales when compared to fairly consistent averages across appropriate time periods. Much lower impressions would logically lead to much lower sales - not absolute proof I know, but enough to suggest there may be at least a possibility something is going on today.
I understand this may not be happening for everyone, as that is the nature of algorithmic changes, but I would appreciate at least not having my credibility questioned when I say I believe there may be something odd happening that is affecting our impressions, traffic, and sales - especially for promoted listings.
