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Best Match is eBay's default sort order for search results. The goal of Best Match is to increase sales and reduce bad buyer experiences, making sure that buyers are happier and more likely to return to eBay for future purchases.
Best Match considers a number of factors, which may vary based on the listing format and selected categories. These include:
Relevance to the buyer's search
Item popularity with buyers
Value to buyers
Listing completeness and quality
The listing's terms of service (such as return policy and handling time)
The seller's track record or risk profile on eBay
A vehicle history report from AutoCheck by Experian for vehicles listed on eBay Motors
Items are given a "score" and then sorted. Auction-style and fixed price listings are sorted separately according to the most relevant criteria and then combined to show buyers a mix of both types of listings on each page of search results. Best Match is regularly updated, but the keys to success for sellers remain the same: follow best practices and optimize for clicks and sales.
There are many factors used in Best Match. Some, like how relevant your item is to the buyer's search are outside of a your control. For example, if you're selling a prom dress and the buyer is looking for a power drill, you aren't going to be a match.
However, other factors like having a complete listing with a fair price and offering great customer service are completely within your control. This is the area that should be your main focus. Having a complete and high-quality listing will not only help you attract buyers, it will ensure your items are evaluated and ranked properly against the competition.
Sellers who follow basic listing best practices and optimize their listings using the tips below are most successful in Best Match.
There is no single factor that will boost your listings to the top in Best Match. However, there are some key concepts you should keep in mind when listing.
Here are some tips for success:
Tips
Here's how:
Choose the right selling format
Use the auction-style format when:
You're unsure of the value of your item and want it to sell right away
You have unique and hard-to-find items that could attract demand and start a bidding war
You're currently using auction-style listings and your items sell the first time you list them
Tip: Use 7- or 10-day duration to get the maximum exposure for your listing
Use the fixed price format when:
You have multiple items that you can group into one multi-quantity or multi-variation listing
You know the value of your item or know the exact price you need to get for it
You have a lot of inventory and want to minimize your insertion fees
You want your items to be available to buyers for more than 7 days
Tip: Use 30-day durations and try automatic renewals (Good 'Til Cancelled)
Write a good title
Do:
Use up to 80 characters to describe your item
Make your title clear, concise and professional
State exactly what your item is, even if your title repeats the category name
Use sentence or title case
Use correct spelling
Don't:
Use all capital letters
Use special characters like punctuation marks or asterisks
Include multiple synonyms (like purse, handbag, and bag)
Use words that don't describe your item (wow or l@@k)
Use words that are false or misleading
Write a good description
Make your description clear, concise, and professional
Use sentence case or title case—use correct capitalization and don't write in all caps
Use a single, simple font in a single color
Organize your description in paragraphs or bullets with like information grouped together:
First describe your item. Include the relevant details about your item, and be clear about what will be in the package the buyer receives
In a separate paragraph or bullet you may want to include a story about the item, or information about why the item is unique or appealing
Use all capital letters, multiple fonts, or multiple font colors
Use negative or anti-buyer language
Make false or misleading claims about your item
List in the correct category
Selecting the right category is crucial to accurately describe your inventory. Be precise when you select your category so it is the most relevant one for your item.
Provide as many item specifics as possible
Complete as many of the recommended item specifics as possible to insure your items are returned in search and ranked properly.
Use product details from our catalog where possible
Product details can help you create complete listing descriptions that are more visible and appealing to buyers. Using product details helps make listing easier and your descriptions more complete.
Include high-quality pictures of your item
Upload at least one picture for every listing.
Take high quality photos that will showcase your items.
Photograph your item at different angles.
Include photos of any scratches, flaws, or other parts of your item that a buyer would want to see.
Don't add borders or text to your photos.
Don't use the stock photo as your main picture when using the eBay catalog if your item is not brand new.
Price competitively
Price competitively, including shipping. When it comes to pricing fixed price items, it's rarely a good strategy to "set it and forget it." It's a good idea to watch your closest competitors on and off eBay to see what they're charging for similar items. Remember to consider shipping costs as part of the equation as you price your items.
Focus on customer satisfaction
Offer the highest levels of service possible to your buyers. Reduce your low detailed seller ratings (DSRs ) and the number of buyer claims against you. Achieve Top Rated status.
More information
Seller performance standards
Becoming a Top Rated Seller and qualifying for Top Rated Plus
Creating your return policy
Improve performance by shipping items promptly
Use Listing Analytics to optimize your listing
With Listing Analytics you can see how many times your fixed price listings are shown to buyers, what the click-through rate is, and how well the item is selling.
Include a vehicle history report in your eBay Motors vehicle listing
If you list fewer than 7 vehicles in a year, you'll get a free AutoCheck report from Experian. You don't need to do anything.
If you've listed 7 or more vehicles in a year and you currently subscribe to AutoCheck by Experian, you'll need to supply them with your eBay and AutoCheck ID.
If you've listed 7 or more vehicles in a year and don't currently subscribe to AutoCheck by Experian, just visit AutoCheck to sign up.
What is the most important factor in Best Match?
There are many important factors in Best Match, and no single one will boost your item to the top of the list. Making your listing complete, pricing competitively, and offering great service to buyers gives your listing the best chance for visibility.
Why do you rank auction style and fixed price listings differently?
Different factors are more important for each format. For example, end time may be a buyer consideration for auction-style listings, while the end time of a 30-day Good 'Til Canceled fixed price listing is not important to buyers.
If popularity with buyers matters, what about new items?
We compare new items to similar sold items to get a similar item popularity score. This score is used until we've collected enough observations about an item to rank it based on performance history.
Do my listings get a benefit in Best Match if I offer free shipping, returns, or am a Top-rated seller?
The level of services each listing offers to buyers, and the past performance history of sellers, including seller standing and bad buyer experience rates are considered in ranking. However, no single factor will boost a listing to the top of search results. Making your listing complete, pricing competitively, and offering great service to buyers gives your listing the best chance for visibility.
Why does Best Match change all the time?
eBay regularly gives Best Match a tune-up to make sure we're doing the best we can to meet our objective of highlighting relevant items that follow best practices and offer great value and service to buyers.
Have a question? We can help.
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