Tips To Optimize eBay Listings
Last updated
Last updated
Unlike Amazon, we need to make our own listings on platforms like eBay. Having better and more optimized listings than your competition can set you apart, garner you more sales and can even allow you to command a higher price than the current market as most eBay buyers buy with their eyes. These are our top tips to help you better optimize your eBay listings: (These tips are primarily focused around Buy It Now listings as that is primarily how we utilize eBay however many of these can also apply to auctions).
Piggy back off of previously sold listings & optimize your title keywords I would always recommend finding items that have already sold and clicking the "Have one to sell? Sell it yourself" button as mentioned in our guide here: This will populate your listing with most of the backend data you need such as categories etc. After this, I would ensure you have a clear title and try to utilize as much of it as possible with only relevant information (include the condition if new or parts, include the brand, model number, size etc.) Example of a good listing title: Samsung Model BD-P1600 Blu-Ray Player with Remote Example of a bad listing title: Samsung Blu-Ray Player
Take distraction free photos. Ensure your photos are clear, are against a solid neutral color wall/background, do not have other objects in the photos etc. Always be sure to point out any flaws or imperfections & try to make sure the pictures are looking dead on to the item (most buyers don't care about fancy photos & backgrounds, they want to see the item they are considering purchasing). You can also utilize a tool like eBay's built in background removal tool or the multitude of other free background removal tools to enhance your photos even further by removing the background and leaving you with a crisp, clean, stock like photo.
Include multiple photos. Always include at least 3 photos whenever possible, typically the more the better.
Change your phone camera to a 1:1 ratio. This gives you a square photo that fits better onto eBay listings & is what is preferred by eBay. You can change pretty much any phone camera to this by simply going into your photo/camera settings.
Use proper lighting. This is not required but can help elevate your eBay listings above the competition. Utilizing something like a photo box with diffused lights (such as this for an example /) or making your own and having lights such as this () can really help to enhance your photos. I personally have a wooden dowel hanging on the wall with the help of some coat hangers. On the towel I have a roll of white kraft paper that we can pull down onto the table creating a seamless white background that I utilize along with a light set similar to the above.
Allow offers. Allowing offers allows the potential buyers to feel like they are potentially getting a deal. I have sold many items for just a few dollars less than our listed price & I likely would have lost those sales without the ability to allow offers. You can always review & deny any offers that you don't like although I would always encourage you to send a counter offer as you never know what may happen. Pro tip: when you have listing "watchers", you can also send offers to these watchers as well. I would encourage you to regularly send out offers to help increase sales.
Offer returns. I would always recommend offering returns & choosing the option that buyer pays return shipping. This helps instill more confidence in your buyers and realistically if they are not happy with something they receive, they could get their money back from eBay anyway if they really wanted. See my template at the bottom of this article to see what we include for our return policy in the description of every listing.
Enter proper dimensions. I would always recommend measuring & weighing your items whenever possible & input them into the listing (slightly over guesstimating) to ensure proper shipping is calculated and you don't need to pay out of pocket for additional shipping costs. Don't go too overboard with over guesstimating; we are not here to make money on shipping costs & the higher the shipping cost, the less likely you will have a buyer.
Offer international shipping & multiple shipping options. Always offer international shipping and include as many shipping options as possible (we have a guide on how to ensure you get Canadian shipping options here: ). This will ensure you have the most potential possible to sell your items. Personally for me, I only include shipping options that have a tracking option included for expensive items (typically $100-$150+) just for my own personal protection.
Review the market & refresh your listings. It is imperative that you monitor the eBay market to see what other items are currently listed for and actively selling for which we have a guide on here: . You will want to ensure your prices are in line with the market to ensure you have a better chance at selling your item. I would also recommend periodically (about once per week or so), "ending" your listings and then relisting them. This helps to refresh your listing, bump it to the top and get additional eyeballs on it. This is the template that we have saved on our eBay account and that I include in the description of every eBay listing:
Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to make an offer. If you would like to purchase multiple items from our store and combine shipping, please ask us for a combined shipping estimate before making an offer. 30 Day Returns We offer 30 day returns on most of our items, no questions asked, so you can be confident in your purchase. All items must be in the same condition as when they were purchased. Buyer is responsible for return shipping charges.
International Buyers – Please Note
Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.
