Inexperienced eBay sellers may find that eBay is a lot more complicated platform than social e-commerce marketplaces, wherein visibility within the online community and efforts to re-share own and others' listings could be enough to boost sales. On eBay, your listings are up against several others competing for the attention of the same target audience. So what exactly could help your items stand out?

First, let's start with the practical things you can do to improve your listings for free; You just need to allot time and pay attention to details. Apply these tips consistently so that they become second nature to you. These could also help your promoted listings perform better.

Craft complete and accurate item specifics. These are bits of information that describe your item (model, style, color, size, manufacturer, etc.). The recommended list of item specifics may depend on the category of the item you are listing, so it is always best to check eBay resources from time to time for any updates. If you post listings with complete information, you will show up on searches made by potential buyers using keywords present in your item specifics.

Ensure that your listing falls under the correct category. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's always worth the effort to double-check that your item isn't listed under the wrong category. eBay also sometimes creates new categories, merges two or more categories, or removes existing ones, so be informed of these changes.

Enrich your listing with potent, relevant keywords. Your title and description should be incorporated with keywords shoppers would likely search for. You may use a third-party keyword planner or do an old-school DIY search on eBay on your own by determining the important keywords in high-ranking listings of items similar to yours.

Price your items competitively. Some shoppers who use the price filter to narrow their searches to their desired price range may look for items on the mid or lower end of the spectrum. Keep this in mind in strategizing your price points.

Run a quality check before posting. Don't forget to proofread your listing for any typographical error and misspellings that could instantly make you lose your credibility to a discerning potential buyer. Make sure that the title, item specifics, and photos all match. It's easy to mix things up, especially when listing several items at once.

Now that you get the basics down pat, it's time to explore eBay's in-house promotional program available to all Above Standard and Top Rate sellers and shows up on searches with the "Sponsored" label.

There are four ways to use eBay Promoted Listing Standard, and each one doesn't require a fee upfront – you will only be charged when a buyer purchases an item under a promoted listing within 30 days. Sellers set the ad rate themselves, usually between 1% to 20% of the item's final price, which may influence the placement of your listing against your competitors in searches. Of course, other factors, such as current demand for your items and past performance, may likewise come into play.

Clueless about how much to set your ad rate? For every listing you'd like to promote, eBay will provide a benchmark or guide to help you gauge your rate. You may also change the ad rate throughout the 30 days. You will be charged the updated rate closest to when a particular buyer purchases your promoted listing.

Expect to make mistakes the first few times you use promoted listing as you are still learning the ropes. The bidding aspect and technical side of things – and all those performance metrics – may take some time to get used to, especially if you have no relevant experience such as digital marketing.

You may promote using any of these options. Whichever you choose, don't forget to review your settings and rate before launching your campaign!

1. Sell it Faster through Seller Hub. This is the simplest to use and ideal for beginners because all the seller has to choose the items to promote and decide on the ad rate.

2. Simple Listing Promotion using campaign manager. This is another simple option for beginners who would like to be guided with recommendations from eBay at every step of the process. This includes choosing which listings to promote and how much to set the ad rate for.

3. Bulk Listing Selection using campaign manager. If you have several items to promote, this option lets you upload a listing in a .csv file. You may also utilize selection by category.

4. Creating Automated Campaigns. Seasoned eBay sellers are confident about how this promotional program works. This option is best for you as it allows for flexibility in setting your own rules that best fit your sales and marketing strategy.

Once you launch your campaign or promoted listings, make it a habit to check and analyze the key metrics in your performance dashboard for important insights (e.g., impressions, clicks, sales). These will guide your future promotional efforts.

Happy listing – and promoting!