Listing Best Practices
Understand how you can help drive more traffic to your listings and potentially see them perform better in search results with these tips.
Master the essentials of creating great listings
Creating listings starts with adding the fundamentals. From adding studio-quality photos, searchable titles, detailed descriptions, and competitive pricing, these key basics can make all the difference. Revisit what to include every time you create a listing.
Go from good to great with these listing musts-haves
Now that you’ve mastered the fundamentals, it’s time to refine your listings. Make sure you’re including the right details to boost visibility and help reach potential buyers in search results.
Choose the right category
Buyers can browse or search by category, so selecting an item category can help you reach the right buyers. Use eBay’s suggested categories to save you time and give your items the boost they may need.
Don’t skimp on the details
The more relevant details you include, the easier it is for buyers to understand what they’re getting and make an informed purchasing decision. When you list, you’ll be prompted to add required information, like size, colour, brand, and style, but don’t stop there. Add extra product identifiers to help your items show up in more search results.
Product identifiers can help boost search results
We’re constantly monitoring buyer browsing behaviour to see how they search for products and use eBay filters to find what they’re looking for. We’re using this data to help you list your items in a way that will help them be found faster and increase the chances of making more sales.
Most items sold on eBay include product identifiers. Adding them helps your listings appear in more relevant search results, and can speed up the listing process by auto-filling key item details.
What’s a product identifier?
Manufacturers create unique codes to help identify a specific product. These could be barcodes like European Article Numbers (EANs) or Global Trade Item Number (GTIN-13), International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs) and Manufacturer Part Number (MPN). Learn more
Save time when listing
Enter a product identifier, and if your item is in the eBay catalogue, we’ll suggest a match. When a match is found, key listing details will auto-fill, saving you time.
Build buyer trust
Make sure to use product identifiers that match the exact product you’re selling. Choosing a similar but incorrect item version, like a model from a different year, can mislead buyers. The right catalogue entry helps build buyer trust and reduce return requests.
Edit current listings
If your live listings are missing product identifiers, it’s worth spending some time to add them. Even a small update can help improve your item’s visibility, and a buyer might be searching for that exact item right now.
Additional tips on listing electronics
Whether you’re selling New, Used, or Refurbished smartphones, laptops, tablets, or smart watches make sure to include as much detail about the item as you can. Below are some examples you may consider when listing electronics.
Optimise your listings with item specifics
Improve search visibility with a detailed title
|
Electronic example |
Recommended item specifics |
|
Smartphone |
Network, camera resolution, screen size, operating system, lock status, processor, connectivity, RAM, SIM card slot, contract, and features |
|
Laptop or desktop |
Model, Graphics Processing Type, Connectivity, Computer Type, Features, RAM Size, Most Suitable For, Processor, OS, Certification (if any), Form Factor, Processor Speed, Computer Series (if any), Hard Drive Capacity, Storage Type, Computer Brand, and Monitor Size (if available) |
|
Smart Watch |
Network, operating system, lock status, connectivity, case material, band material and features |
|
Tablet |
Network, operating system, lock status (if applicable), connectivity, processor, RAM, Screen Resolution, case material, battery run time and features |
Remember to use all 80 characters and focus on relevant keywords.
|
Electronic example |
Title Example |
|
Smartphone |
Apple iPhone 11 Pro 256GB Midnight Green Carrier Unlocked Grade A |
|
Laptop or desktop |
Dell Desktop Computer 16GB RAM 512GB SSD Card, Intel i5 3.4GHz QuadCore Grade A |
|
Smart Watch |
Apple Watch Series 8, 45MM GPS, Space Grey with Black Sport Band, A2289 |
|
Tablet |
Apple iPad Air 4th Gen. 256GB WiFi, Space Grey |
Tip: Attract buyers with photos
43% of consumers said better product images would make them less likely to return the item.* Check out our tips on getting the most out of your photos.
* eBay consumer research, 2019-2020
Utilise diagnostic services on electronics before you list
When listing electronics like mobile phones, laptops, tablets, smart watches, airpods, loose drives or servers, using diagnostic software helps ensure they meet our quality standards and Refurbished on eBay programme grades. This can help build buyer trust and reduce return requests. Learn more about the Refurbished on eBay programme including how to apply.
Continue your eBay journey
Ready to grow your business and boost your buyer experience? Here are two powerful ways to upgrade how you list on eBay.
List in bulk
Start Up Scale Up
New eBay business sellers can get onboarding support from Marketplace Advisors.