More eBay Basics - Titles

In my last article I stated there were seven eBay selling basics: Titles, Descriptions, Photos, Pricing, Shipping/Handling, Order Fulfillment, and Customer Service.
This article focuses on the first basic - eBay Titles.

Previously I wrote that your eBay title contains critical keywords for the eBay search engine. Prospective bidders type in what they want to find, and the eBay search engine zips through listings to locate suitable matches. So every word or digit you add to your eBay title is significant.

Once again -

Every word or digit you add to your eBay title is significant.

An eBay title may be a maximum of 55 spaces in length. It is critical that you utilize all 55 spaces if possible.

Once again -

It is critical that you utilize all 55 spaces if possible.

This being said, it is imperative that you do not use unnecessary words.

I'd reiterate, but I'm not going to. I'm sure you understand.

My initial eBay titles were quite effusive and elaborate. My eBay listings were "the very best", "stunningly beautiful", and "supremely unique". Unfortunately, the eBay search engine didn't care. It was scrolling through and looking for "Coach shoulder bag" or "Blackberry Cell Phone" or "sterling silver bracelet".

As far as eBay titles are concerned, "get the facts, Jack". Delete any superfluous adjectives and replace them with precise descriptive words to catch the attention of the eBay search engine.

As an example of what NOT to do -- I surfed for a few minutes on eBay and located a very poor title: "Big Lot Of 4 Dragon Glass Finurines".

First of all, this eBay title contains an obvious typographical error. Secondly, there's the pointless phrase "Big Lot of". A title such as "4 Dragon Glass Figurines" conveys the idea that this auction is for one lot that includes four items. I've been trained as a professional auctioneer. And in a live auction that statement "a lot of (whatever the item may be)" provides a point of clarification when calling for bids. But in a written eBay title, they're unnecessary words.

In the photograph included with this eBay listing, I saw that the seller had four various colored dragons. Also, it appeared that the dragons were made of hand blown glass. Based on this, a better eBay title might be, "Dragon Figurines Black Blue Red Silver Hand Blown Glass".

Why is my eBay title better? It's because any of the following keyword searches will pull up this listing: dragon figurines, glass figurines, hand blown glass, glass dragon, black dragon … and there are many other possible keyword combinations that I might use. The title doesn't have to make sense to you, and it doesn't have to be grammatically correct -- it just has to be searchable on eBay. Remember, if you want to sell something on eBay, the prospective eBay buyer needs to be able to find and view your listing.