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Announcement here: https://community.ebay.com/t5/Announcements/Introducing-seller-videos-on-storefronts-and-item-pages/ba-p/31750277
I had posted about this some months ago, when an ebay exec had mentioned something like this in one of the monthly seller check-ins. Looks like they are in beta with it now. Unfortunately, as much as I appreciate that ebay is getting better at actually posting announcements when they do something like this, I really dislike these announcements that actually raise more questions than answers.
Today (before this change) we can upload a video to YouTube and then insert a clickable link (can be a thumbnail) into a listing. The video will open in a new page. But if we want to call attention to it, we need to use up space in the title, or include a subtitle. And, of course, there’s no way for buyers to filter for listings with videos.
My best guess as to what this change might mean (but its only a guess): 1. ebay will host the video, so upload directly to ebay (or maybe a designated third party) 2. Video will be available within the photo gallery of a listing(and no, it won’t start automatically) . 3. There will likely be rules about the nature of the content and the duration of the video. 4. There might eventually be an easy way to indicate within search that the listing contains a video.
Also, store landing pages are getting a redesign, and it appears we’ll also be able to upload a video onto the store homepage, maybe something general about our business.
This all appears to be in early stages, and I’m guessing about the details….but I think this could be a big step forward for those sellers who are comfortable with video.
As the Announcement says, for now, only a few sellers have this ability, and it only appears on the mobile app….but if you come across a listing on the app that uses video in this way, please post here so we can check it out….
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Etsy started promoting the use of videos a few months back. Amazon has had them for years. If you have a multi-quantity item with a supplier for restocking, or you are an artist and make something over and over again, it makes sense because it is a commercial for your product. For vintage and one off sellers like most here, it doesn’t make sense except for more expensive items. Steve often makes one for his high end stereo equipment.
I recently did one for a Smith Corona typewriter showing that all the keys worked. I did it in one shot, it was easy to upload, and I used Fitshipper to post it to my listing. It does add time, but not that big of a deal. I did get my asking price.
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The younger generation seems to be all about video. I looked into Depop last week to see if I wanted to list some of my cooler 90s vintage clothing labels over there but the site, which promotes itself as the fashion marketplace app for the “next generation” allows only 5 photos and strongly encourages 1 video for every single listing. The Tik Tok generation has no problem shooting and editing a quick video. As for my 40+ year old self, I noped right out of there.
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Jay, Well, again, I don’t KNOW that ebay will be hosting the videos. That’s just my guess.
I do use videos for some items with movement and/or sound, such as music boxes. I’ve seen some sellers using video (with narration) to show a small item on a rotating spinner—buyer can see all sides, narrator can mention and even point to flaws, etc. I can see it being used for lots of things if the duration is sufficient…..some fashion items look better on a model, especially a model moving (for example, to show the “flow” of a dress). I would think if you are selling a “lot” of items (20 books by the same author. for example), a short video might be easier to shoot than still photos.
I remember the studies coming out on Facebook posts a while back—generally speaking, text gets the least views, images get more, and gifs/videos get the most. Of course, just as with photos, the video has to be decent quality.
The video on the store homepage would depend on the seller (and would depend on whether you can switch videos in and out). With small sellers in particular, many buyers like to get a sense of who the seller is—-depending on just what the ebay rules permit, you and Ryanne could put together a short video about how you started your ebay business, maybe even mention how you also now rent out AirBnBs and promote your local downtown with your coffee shop, etc. A crafter might put together a short demo of an item being created…or maybe talk about how she learned to crochet from her grandmother….
Depending on just what all of this entails, what rules ebay puts in place, etc, I think there are a lot of opportunities to “stand out from the crowd” with video. Especially since , at least initially, most ebay sellers probably won’t embrace this…they rarely do. With your background in video, you might even find other sellers asking you to create their home page video for them…
The devil is in the details, and that’s why I wish ebay had provided more information about exactly how this is going to work. I think this has real potential to be something of a game changer, but it could also be nothing much….we’ll just have to wait and see.
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Oh, want to add, one reason I haven’t really used video for anything but music boxes, etc, is that there’s no good way to really communicate that a listing has a video…if ebay would maybe add a “video camera” icon to search results pages, and maybe eventually a filter, so buyers could easily find listings with video, I’d consider trying some other stuff.
Also, one reason I suspect ebay might want to host the videos is because they could (if they want to) probably have a way to vet them (before they go live). Undoubtedly, some of the same sellers who put lengthy anti-ebay rants in their descriptions would also put video rants onto their store home page…..or they could put up a home page video that simply says something like “All these items are available on my non ebay store for a reduced price…” LOL
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Julie B,
Yep, I think appealing to the younger generation is part of the reason for this. I read an article this weekend, I think in the New York Times, about teenage and 20 something gals using TikTok to “review” books….for example, if a popular TikTok reviewer actually cries about the ending of the book (a real tear jerker), publishers are finding book sales jumping. So much so that publishers are now sending free copies to some of them or even paying them to review….
So, while my 60+ self reads erudite book reviews in the Times, the younger crowd is watching a short TikTok video to decide whether to buy the book or not….
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