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| Update on how Best Match will work in Collectibles & Toys |
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In July, eBay announced changes to refine and improve the technology for surfacing the most relevant, best-quality listings at the top of search results—and give you the best possible exposure for your listings. Here's an update on how Best Match, eBay's default sort order, will work in Art, Antiques, Coins & Paper Money, Collectibles, Dolls & Bears, Pottery & Glass, Toys & Hobbies, Stamps, Sports Mem, Cards & Fan Shop, and Entertainment Memorabilia starting September 22 - October 1.
- Auction-style listings will continue to receive a boost in search results when they're about to end.
- Fixed Price listings: To keep the freshest inventory on top and surface a broader selection, the main sort factor for Fixed Price listings in these categories will be recency of listing instead of listing performance score.
- Seller performance counts: Top-rated sellers will get promoted in Best Match for Fixed Price listings. Sellers not meeting the new minimum standard will be demoted for both Auction-style and Fixed Price listings.
- Shipping counts: As always, shipping costs are considered. Keeping costs reasonable and offering free shipping continue to be best practices although Auction-style listings with free shipping will no longer receive added exposure. Fixed Price listings with free shipping will continue to receive added exposure. Both Auction-style and Fixed Price listings with excessive shipping will be demoted.
- No silver bullet: Many factors are considered in Best Match and can vary with different circumstances. But the bottom line best practices for optimizing your position in Best Match will be the same: List in the right format and the right categories, write accurate and relevant titles, offer good prices and reasonable shipping, and provide good service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Best Match?
Best Match is eBay's default sort order to present search results. The goal of Best Match is to help shoppers find just what they're looking for from sellers they trust. For you as a seller, this means getting your listings in front of the buyers who are most interested in your products. Delivering great value and service to your buyers is key in determining your position in Best Match.
What's changing in Best Match for Art, Antiques, Coins, Collectibles, Dolls & Bears, Pottery & Glass, Toys, Stamps, Sports Memorabilia, and Entertainment Memorabilia categories?
In these categories (as in all other categories), Auction-style listings will continue to get a boost when they're about to end ("time ending soonest"). Fixed Price listings in will get a boost based on how recently they were listed ("time newly listed").
How is this different from how Best Match is changing in other categories?
In other categories, Fixed Price listings will be assigned a listing performance score based on the listing's recent sales in relation to the number of recent impressions it received. An "impression" is any time a buyer sees a search results page that includes the listing. For example, in the new Best Match, a listing with 100 recent impressions and 10 recent sales will score higher than a similar listing with 1,000 recent impressions and 10 recent sales.
Why are Fixed Price listings in these categories given a boost based on how recently they were listed instead of a listing performance score?
In these categories, where buyers are looking for unique, one-of-a-kind items, new listings are the most relevant. Sorting by newly listed will also surface a broader selection.
Will Fixed Priced listings in these categories ever be assigned a listing performance score?
A listing performance score will be assigned and used only when a buyer's search cannot be identified with these categories.
I sell in multiple-quantity Fixed Price listings. Will my listings have a listing performance score or be ranked by recency of listing?
A listing performance score will be assigned and used only when a buyer's search cannot be identified with these categories.
How do the Best Match changes affect Auction-style listings?
Auction-style listings will continue to receive a boost in search results when they're about to end. Given the new guidelines for Auction-style listings with Buy It Now, it will be even more important for sellers to use Auction-style listings the way they work best—with a low start price to attract buyers and stimulate bidding.
Do DSRs matter in determining my position in search?
Yes. Seller performance continues to count. Top-rated sellers will get promoted in Best Match for their Fixed Price listings. Sellers not meeting the new minimum standard will be demoted for both Auction-style and Fixed Price listings. Note only the number of low DSRs (1s and 2s) count toward promotion or demotion in Best Match, not a seller's average DSR score.
Does offering free shipping help my position in search?
Yes. Fixed Price listings with free shipping will receive added exposure. Auction-style listings will no longer receive added exposure. As always, keeping costs reasonable continues to be a best practice. Both Auction-style and Fixed Price listings with excessive shipping will be demoted in search.
Best practices to get maximum exposure for your listings
Take a fresh look at your listing strategy in light of the recent Best Match changes to make sure you get the best position in search and the best value for your fees. For most sellers, the best practices to get visibility in search results haven't changed, but there are some new insights that may help you take your business to the next level.
- Stick to the basics. List in the right format and the right categories, write accurate and relevant titles, offer good prices and reasonable shipping, use item specifics, and provide good service.
- Choose the right listing format.
- Use the Auction Format when:
- You're unsure of the value of your item and want it to sell right away, allowing the eBay Marketplace to determine its value.
- You have unique and hard-to-find items that could attract demand and spur a bidding war, maximizing profits from your listing.
- You are currently using Auction-style format listings and you have a high sell-through rate (your items typically sell the first time you list them).
- Choose Fixed Price when:
- You have multiple items you can place into one Fixed Price 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 up front Insertion Fees.
- You want your items to be available to buyers for more than seven days.
- Focus on customer satisfaction: Providing great service is key to your selling success. Bear in mind that Top-rated sellers will get promoted in Best Match for Fixed Price listings, and sellers not meeting the new minimum standard will be demoted for both Auction-style and Fixed Price listings. Make sure you follow all the best practices for minimizing 1s and 2s DSRs and keep close tabs on your Seller Dashboard.
- Price competitively—including shipping charges: Your item price—including your shipping cost—counts. Remember that Fixed Price listings with free shipping will continue to receive added exposure in search. Excessive shipping cost will cause your auction and Fixed Price listings to be lowered in search results in search and pull down your DSRs. Plus, many shoppers sort by total cost (price plus shipping). For Fixed Price items, go lower than the competition. For Auction-style listings, start pricing low to encourage bidding.
- Make your listings relevant and write high performing titles: Listing in the right categories and writing accurate, relevant titles has always been a best practice. Now to maximize position based on "time newly listed" for your Fixed Price listings, you should use keywords relevant to these categories. Always use item specifics. List with product details whenever available (coming in September to in Coins and in late October to Radio Control, Die Cast, Model RR and Barbie).
- Create a bidding frenzy. Use Auction-style listings the way they work best: With a low start price to stimulate bidding.
- Give buyers options. Consider moving some of your Auction-style with Buy it Now listings to the Fixed Price format. You can also use Best Offer with Fixed Price.
- List with item specifics.
- List with product details whenever they're available to make sure your listings appear on product pages (coming in September to in Coins and late October to Radio Control, Die Cast, Model RR and Barbie).
- Sell internationally! Now you'll have more control over specific ship-to destinations and only your domestic DSRs will count towards PowerSeller and eBay Top-rated seller eligibility.
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