TABLE OF CONTENTS


Top Tips for Selling on eBay

Selling on eBay can be highly successful when your listings are well-presented, accurately described, and easy for buyers to find. The following tips will help you optimise your listings, improve visibility, and increase your chances of converting views into sales.


Keep Your Inventory Updated 

Regularly update stock levels and ensure your listings reflect what is actually available. Overselling leads to cancellations—which can negatively impact your seller performance.


Choose the Right Category

Selecting the correct eBay category ensures your product appears in the right searches and filters. If the category doesn’t match your product, buyers may not find it—even if your title is strong. 

See Overview of category mapping


Use Clear and Accurate Product Titles 

Your title is one of the most important factors in eBay search. Make sure it is clear, descriptive, and includes essential keywords buyers are likely to use. Avoid unnecessary words and keep the most important information at the front.

You can edit individual titles under ‘Products’

You can also add rules to apply to all titles.

See: Optimise product title(s) for eBay



Add Item Specifics 

Item Specifics (e.g., brand, size, material, colour) help your product appear in eBay's search filters. Complete as many Item Specific fields as possible, especially mandatory ones, to maximise visibility. 



Optimise Your Product Description

Your description should be accurate, detailed, and easy to read. Highlight key features, include model numbers or specifications, and avoid unnecessary formatting. Be honest—buyers rely on descriptions to assess the product.

See: How do I edit my product description(s)?



Select the Right Shipping Options

Offer sensible and realistic shipping choices. Faster delivery can improve conversion, but only if it's feasible for your store.

Ensure your handling time is accurate to avoid late shipment defects.

See: Setting up & managing shipping



Use High-Quality Photos 

Clear, well-lit photos help buyers understand exactly what they’re purchasing. Use multiple angles, include close-ups, and avoid distracting backgrounds. Ensure your primary image meets eBay’s requirements (plain background recommended).

See: the eBay images



Price Competitively

Check what similar products are selling for and price accordingly. Competitive pricing helps you rank better in search and improves conversion rates. Consider offering promotions or volume discounts to encourage purchase.

See: How to I change my product price(s) for eBay?



Maintain Excellent Customer Service

Respond politely and promptly to buyer enquiries. Clear communication helps build buyer trust and often prevents disputes. Handling issues quickly and professionally can improve your seller rating.

See: eBay Customer Service Tips, eBay Top Rated Seller



Variations

Listing products with variations on eBay can save you time and reduce your listing fees. It can also improve your visibility in best match search results, as products in a variation format have the sales history of one item in the variation, carried over to all of the items.

See: Listings with variations



Promotions

Consider using our promotions feature, or the eBay promotions manager, to run eBay specific sales or promotions.

This can be very useful as different types of products may sell better on eBay versus your own store.

See: How to use our Promotions feature, or alternatively consider using the eBay promotions manager.



Use Promoted Listings to boost your visibility in search results. Simply choose which listings you want to promote, set a competitive ad rate and your listings will be boosted in search results. Note that best results are obtained on listings that are already fully optimised.

See: eBay Promoted Listings



Manage Returns Effectively 

A clear returns policy helps buyers feel more confident about purchasing. Offering a reasonable return window can improve visibility and appeal in search.

See: Managing eBay returns and Modify and create returns policy for eBay.