eBay promoted & organic impressions drop over 50% in last 30 days. Why?

[oldwestgold]

I have noticed the lack of sales over the past 1-2 weeks and recently reviewed the stats of my listing impressions.  I use the promoted listing feature also. I found over the past 30 days promoted listings impressions have dropped 51% and organic impressions have dropped 56%. Has anyone else experienced this or have any ideas as to why? Is eBay messing with their algorithms again? Thanks and have a good day!

[jewelbiz]

There is a pandemic Which ravages America & the world.

We are in a seismic shift!  Everything has changed forever...

And lastly some states Now are enduring protests & violence.

 I’m in lockdown almost 3 months and have a 8 P.M. curfew.
Maybe some are not interested in buying stuff as they are in survival mode.

[oldwestgold]

All of this has nothing to do with impressions.  Thanks though.

[terrycece62]

I agree with jewelbiz people r buying essentials working less and just do not have the extra money right now so sales for certain hobby and luxury items r down totally makes sense
stuff that r indoor activity -- games puzzles books and the like r selling well
Stay safe

[oldwestgold · Accepted solution]

The state of the economy has nothing to do with eBay impressions. Impressions are how many times eBay promotes your item by displaying. It has nothing to do with clicks by potential buyers, etc. Thanks though

[qualityrandomitems]

The pandemic actually increased my sales of random items by 4 fold.   Problem is, this past week, the impressions and click through dropped like a rock (anywhere from 60-80% depending upon the comparison timeframe).  I whole believe eBay pics the winners and losers with some random algorithms and throttles on accounts accordingly.  Also, it seems if you are not listing new items constantly, your items that sell regularly start suffering too.  I've called them about this several times and always get the same answer: do a mass update of all your listing (not actually changing anything), and run a sales promotion, add promoted listings (more money for them).  It happens at least once per year where EVERYTHING stops for no reason.  I have about 700 items and sold ZERO for 5 days where I normally have 5 sales EVERY day.   One thing I think triggered this is I emptyed out my paypal account.  That may be a trigger.   EBay will never admit to this logic and application of 'winner/loser' algorithm, but I know what I have experienced over the past 7 years.   Basically you have to take your punishment until eBay decides to let your listings show up.

[chapeau-noir]

Wait...did you mark your own post as a 'solution'?

[femmefan1946]

I may be late to the discussion, but I got a big surge in sales between March and June.  About 300 to 400 per cent higher than 2019 according to eBay and I was able to confirm that from my own records.

This was in addition to a definite but harder to pin down rise in sales from November, usually a horrible month in my categories, which was when I started using Promoted Listings.

PL did not sell the Promoted Listings though. I was getting more Views - dozens more on the Promoted Listings, but then selling other items.

From November to March I paid less than $20 in PL fees (at one percent, btw).

But as the US states started opening up again, those sales dropped away and things are back to my summer normal (based on over 20 years on eBay).

I expect that the surge will return when the US is forced to shut down again in a month or so.

[qualityrandomitems]

Just proved my theory again... added 10 new items the past two days and impressions went from 11-13K/day and shot up past 38K/impressions per last two days.   Lesson to all:  keep a few listings at hand to add periodically to drive traffic back up when it falls off the cliff.

[coolections]

Your in a very saturated category. Buyers do not have the patience to search more than one page, maybe two. If you are lower in search and on page 5 you will BNEVER see an impression or a view. The ONLY option you have is lowest price first. IMO most buyers skip through promoted listing like the plague. In fact I hate them and wish I could search without ever seeing them.

[qualityrandomitems]

absolutely astounding... listing 15 new items and my impressions in ONE DAY shoot upto 130K?!!  (from 10-12K).  my take-away confirmed, list new often!

[qualityrandomitems]

so just promote ANYTHING, even things you willing to give away for free, and it pays off?  thanks for the insight, as I can imagine the algorithms pickup on it somehow

[chapeau-noir]

I've had it proven out year after year that the best boost is fresh listings on a regular basis.

[qualityrandomitems]

I see solution  selected, but have NO DOUBT, machine learning and AI in play here.   I work for a software company and i can  assure you these ML/AI are controlling much of what comes up in search results.  SO we need to learn what the AI is learning.  The hints in categories and attributes are likely giving the path

[qualityrandomitems]

I WILL NOT WEAR THE MASK, SOCIALIST!