Best Match is eBay.com.au's default sort order for search results. It helps buyers find exactly what they're looking for from sellers they can trust. For sellers, it helps them get their listings in front of the buyers who are most interested in what they're selling.
To show buyers the most relevant and popular items for their search, Best Match considers a number of criteria, which may vary based on the listing format and selected categories. Auction and fixed price listings are sorted separately according to the most relevant criteria and then combined to show buyers a good mix of both types of listings on each page of search results.
A listing's position in Best Match is determined by numerous factors, including seller track record or seller risk profile on eBay, competitive pricing (including postage costs), and the relevance of the listing to the buyer's search.
Maximise your position in Best Match sort
There is no single way to get the best position in search. eBay recommends using a combination of good business practices that will optimise your position in a search and maximise your sales:
Offer good prices and reasonable postage
List in the right format and the right categories
Write accurate and relevant titles
Write clear item descriptions
State your terms clearly.
Choose the best listing format
To ensure you get the best possible placement in search results, it's important to list your item using the right format.
Auction format:
One of the factors used by Best Match to sort auction listings is" time ending soonest". Use the auction 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 listings and your items typically sell the first time you list them.
Fixed price format:
One of the factors used by Best Match to sort fixed price listings in most categories is the listing performance score. In most categories, Best Match assigns this score to fixed price listings based on the listing's recent sales in relation to the number of impressions it received. An impression is counted any time a buyer sees a search results page that includes your listing. You can review your listing's performance, including impressions and sell through rate, by using eBay Listing Analytics.
A listing with 100 recent impressions and 10 recent sales will appear higher than a similar listing with 1,000 recent impressions and 10 recent sales. That's why it's important to make sure your listing is relevant to a buyer's search.
Newly listed fixed price listings may be given some impressions upfront based on the performance of other similar listings. It's important to remember that this advantage is temporary and the success of the listing—and your ability to leverage low fixed price insertion fees and manage listing costs—depends on your listings quickly building a good sales history.
Use the fixed price format when:
You have multiple items that you can group into one 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 minimise your insertion fees. Use 30-day durations and try automatic renewals (Good 'Til Cancelled) to boost your listing's efficiency.
You want your items to be available to buyers for more than 7 days.
Make your listing relevant to the buyer's search
In search results, eBay displays the listings that most closely match what the buyer is looking for.
Use Listing Analytics to review the performance of your listing.
Here are some tips for success:
Tips |
Here's how: |
Write a good title and description |
Use up to 80 characters to include words buyers use to find your listing. Include your item's brand name, artist, or designer. Avoid using words in your title that are misleading or irrelevant to your listing. For example, if you sell accessories and your listing appears in search results for a specific product, you'll get a large number of impressions and a lower number of sales. The low number of sales relative to the number of impressions reduces your overall visibility in search. Also avoid using relevant words like "wow" or "look." Buyers don't search for these. Include item specifics. For example, if you're selling shoes, include the size, brand, and colour. State exactly what your item is, even if your title repeats the category name. Use correct spelling, and avoid using punctuation marks and asterisks.
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List in the correct categories |
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Provide as many item specifics as possible |
List your item's features, attributes, and condition by using the item specifics provided by eBay or customising them. For example, if your item is new but you don't specify it, buyers who narrow their search to find only new items won't see your listing. Product condition is one of the top purchasing criteria for buyers, so be sure to provide the product's condition using item specifics.
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Use product details from our catalogue |
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. Also, if you use product details, your listings show up on our product details pages, making it easier for buyers to find your listing.
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Include high-quality pictures of your item |
Add pictures to your listing to help increase sales, give your buyers a more accurate idea of what they're getting, and distinguish your listing from others.
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Focus on customer satisfaction
When it comes to customer satisfaction, your buyers' opinions count. To determine who provides the best service, we look at your detailed seller ratings (DSRs).
Providing great service is key to your selling success. The better your customer satisfaction ratings, the better opportunity you'll have to become a Top-rated seller. As a Top-rated seller, you'll get increase in exposure in Best Match for your fixed price listings. Also, buyers will see your Top-rated seller badge in your listings and next to your listings in search results.
Note: If you're a Top-rated seller, there's no guarantee that your listing will appear above a more relevant or competitively-priced listing by a member who's not a Top-rated seller.
When it comes to customer satisfaction, your buyers' opinions count. To determine who provides the best service, we look at your detailed seller ratings (DSRs).
Detailed seller ratings (DSRs) let your buyers evaluate you anonymously on 4 criteria:
Postage and handling charges.
If you don't meet the seller performance standards, exposure to both your auction and fixed price listings may be limited.
To see where you rank in customer satisfaction, monitor your detailed seller ratings in your Seller Dashboard.
Price your items and postage costs fairly
When it comes to pricing fixed price items, it's rarely a good strategy to "set it and forget it." Keep a close eye on how price is impacting your status and make adjustments to stay on top. It's a good idea to watch your closest competitors on and off eBay to see what they're charging for similar items.
As you price your items, consider postage costs as part of the equation. If you offer free postage on fixed price listings, you may get a boost in search results in some categories.
If your postage and handling costs are excessive on auction and fixed price listings, your search standing will be lowered. To see how buyers rate your postage and handling charges and postage time, review your Postage detailed seller ratings in your Seller Dashboard.
Group multiple identical items into a single listing
You can list multiple identical items in one multi-quantity fixed price listing.
Note: From 22 September 2011, you will need to open an eBay Store, be a PowerSeller or be registered as a business on eBay to be able to list multiple items in one listing. Read more about multi-quantity listings.
When you create a fixed price listing, you specify a Buy It Now price for each item. Buyers can purchase your items immediately without bidding and waiting for an auction to end.
When selling multiple items at a fixed price, it's usually a good idea to choose a longer duration, such as 10-day, 30-day, or Good 'Til Cancelled.
You can create a listing with variations if you want to offer choices in your listing, such as a sweater in a variety of sizes or colours.
Some advantages of creating listings with variations are:
You don't need to create a separate listing for individual items, which saves time and money.
Buyers have the convenience of selecting one or more variations of the item without scrolling through a large number of search results.
You can track inventory for individual items to make sure you don't run out.
Currently, you can create a listing with variations in Clothing, Shoes, & Accessories. See if listings with variations are available in your category.
How your items appear in search results
A number of factors affect how your items appear in search results. Here are the details:
Do all my items appear in search results? |
Yes, eBay includes all items that match the buyer's search in search results.
Creating a listing with variations
helps you to list more items. For example, you can list a shirt in red, green, and blue in one listing. A buyer searching for a red shirt will see your red shirt in search results. |
How can I close the sale once interested buyers select my listing from search results? |
Review eBay's tips for writing good titles and descriptions to help sell your items. |
Among auction listings, which receive a higher search standing? |
There's no single factor that will determine top placement in auction listings. Relevance, end time of the auction, and a seller's performance rating all contribute to each listing's placement in search. |
Among fixed price listings, which receive a higher search standing? |
There is no single factor that will determine top placement in fixed price listings. Relevance, listing performance score (sales per impression), and a seller's performance rating all contribute to each listing's placement in search. |
Find out what works and what doesn't
eBay Listing Analytics helps you review the performance of your listings based upon numbers. You can see how many times your listings show up in a search, what the click through rate is, and how well items are selling.
You can compare the performance of your listings with each other, as well as see how your listings are doing compared to the top 5 listings in a search. You'll be able to see what works and what doesn't. If there's a problem area, Listing Analytics may help you find it. For example, a large number of buyers may be clicking on a listing, but not buying the item.
