Optimisation, optimisation, optimisation! It seems that we cannot say the word “optimisation” enough when we talk about eBay these days. But just in case you didn’t get the memo, optimising your eBay listings should be your number one priority in 2022 if you want to stay relevant and continue to enjoy healthy sales on the online marketplace. Regular readers of this blog will know that we’ve been inundated recently with messages from sellers telling us that their eBay sales have fallen off of a cliff. However, as we’ve dug a little deeper, we’ve also discovered many other eBay sellers enjoying a significant spike in their sales. The main difference between these two groups of sellers is their attitude to employing… Read more »
Category: Seller Releases
eBay Seller Release – September 2019
eBay has today announced the September / Fall 2019 seller release update. Rob Hattrell, VP of eBay.co.uk, outlines the updates here: The full list of changes are here: Changes to Promote your listings Updates to Seller Hub Offer for new Seller Hub Promotions Enhanced seller protection Simplifying eBay Policies Updates for Item specifics requirements Category and classification changes Important changes – work may be required: As a regular business seller, the important changes that may affect your day-to-day listing are the updates to Item Specific requirements. In order to update or revise listings in affected categories, you may need to add newly required item specifics. The actual requirements aren’t announced until the 8th of October. While the changes mean you… Read more »
How To Win the eBay Buy Box
What is the eBay buy box? The eBay buy box is part of the new product focused shopping experience on eBay. Not all products are included, but for ones that are, searches will lead to a grouped listing product landing page with a clear overview of buying options. Ebay’s algorithm assesses offers, and the best will be on the front of the product page with “buy now” button. How does the eBay buy box work? The item in the buy box is not random. Ebay has not published steps for sellers wishing to win the buy box, and like eBay’s secret ranking algorithm, the workings of eBay’s buy box algorithm remain a secret sauce. What we do know, is that… Read more »
HTTPS on eBay
Back in October 2017, externally hosted content such as CSS, images, or HTML5 that didn’t use HTTPS started to be displayed on eBay with a not secure icon in Google Chrome and many other browsers. In order to retain Google’s secure label and maintain customer confidence, eBay removed non-secure content and put item descriptions with non-secure content 1-click away. In the Autumn 2018 seller update, eBay announced that they will start blocking listings that contain non-secure (HTTP) content from late January 2019. But what is HTTPS? Why is it so much better than HTTP? And why do eBay care about it so much? What is HTTP? HTTP stands for hypertext transfer protocol. This is the protocol over which data… Read more »
Ebay Guaranteed Delivery
Ebay says that 63% of purchases are currently delivered in three days or less, but 63% is not enough for today’s customer, empowered by unparalleled choice in an increasingly competitive e-commerce space. That percentage will undoubtedly increase now that eBay are expanding their guaranteed delivery scheme and backing guaranteed delivery times for more sellers. The guaranteed delivery scheme is great news for sellers running e-commerce businesses from eBay, as it’s a serious move to dispel any remaining ideas customer’s may have about eBay being an auction only site where members of the public sell used items; and let them know that eBay is a reliable, fast, secure marketplace where 80% of items are new. With eBay guaranteed delivery, in the rare instance that… Read more »
Ebay catalogue product focused shopping experience
Ebay has introduced product based search results for one simple reason; what works for buyers, works for sellers. The buyer experience improvements which encourage customers to buy more items, and to buy more frequently, result in higher turnover for sellers. But what improves the experience for customers in one category will not always be an improvement for customers in another category. The great thing about eBay is their commitment to creating a truly diverse marketplace that works for all sellers and all customers. With over 26 million sellers and 170 million active buyers, that’s no small feat! Ebay has to constantly monitor buyer behavior and respond with changes to create the best eBay for all buyers. The latest change that… Read more »
eBay Links Policy 2017
eBay links policy From October 2017, eBay links policy states that sellers are no longer allowed to share contact information in item descriptions, images or eBay Shops. Ebay sellers now need to remove contact information from both active and new listings. This includes information included in images such as phone number, email, or even a store physical address. Ebay messaging tools, such as My Messages or Best Offer, make it easy to communicate with customers and create a clear record of interaction in case of disputes. Fraud on eBay is very low, but scams still happen, and eBay want to stop them completely. Most fraudulent eBay sales happen because a customer has been convinced to take the sale off eBay. When… Read more »
Frooition Active Content Compliant eBay Design
eBay announced in the Spring 2016 Seller Release that they are stopping the use of Active Content in eBay Listings. Active content includes JavaScript, Flash, Form Actions and plug-ins. This active content inhibits purchases on mobile devices and also poses potential security risks. From Spring 2017 eBay will limit the use of this content in new listings. By Fall 2017 eBay will block and remove new and existing listings. This means that sellers with active content will need to update their listings to become compliant with eBay’s new rules. As an eBay certified provider of design, we have been hard at work re developing our services to offer the same great functionality on an Active Content Compliant platform. As of… Read more »
eBay.com Seller Release 13.1:: Global Shipping Program
EBay want to make it easier to connect sellers with buyers and they don’t want a little thing like an ocean to stand in the way! That is why they have introduced the fantastic Global Shipping Program. The global shipping program allows sellers to reach international buyers without the worry of customs, insurance and all the typical paperwork involved with international selling. All the seller needs to do is simply ship the parcel to eBay’s local shipping center and eBay handle the rest. Seller Release 13.1 sees the Global shipping program opened up to more sellers as an optional service that will open many sellers up to millions more buyers! Key Features: Sellers can ship to a local center and… Read more »
eBay.com Seller Release 13.1:: Introduction of Same Day Handling
This Feature applies to eBay.com & eBay.co.uk. EBay are introducing an option to offer same day handling times for sellers that can provide this level of service. Currently sellers may be able to provide same day handling but have to state a minimum of 1 day handling to buyers, this means the buyer receives great customer service but the seller cannot shout about a feature that will put them ahead of the competition. The same day handling time will allow sellers to set a 0 day handling time but also set a cut off time; so any items sold before 3pm will be eligible for same day dispatch, after 3pm it will be next day dispatch. Key Features: EBay will… Read more »