No eBay listings at all show up in Google search sponsored results?

[Temudgin]

Out of curiosity I did a Google search for “shark business card holder” to see if one of my listings appeared. Well, no eBay links at all show up until the second page of Google search results. Back at the top of the first page of Google search results, it says “See shark business card holder” and displays a row of photo links as “sponsored” results. Shown are listings from Etsy, Vistaprint, and Zazzle.

Clicking on the See shark business card holder link (or View All at the end of the row) takes you here:
https://imgur.com/LOdHsxh
This is only the first page of sponsored results but suffice it to say there are no eBay sponsored listings, anywhere. The list is almost all Etsy and Zazzle. I tried basic Google searches using key words that should pull up a couple other of my items and they also do not appear in Google search results. (Except for one item that showed up on the third page of results – but on the eBay Canada site.) Depending on the item I’m searching for, other commercial sales sites such as Chairish and 1stdibs also show up in sponsored results. I guess I haven’t been paying much attention to the eBay – Google relationship but this was a disappointing discovery.

Funny how it looks just like an eBay search results page.

My sales are way down this season compared to previous years (I am a part timer- typical scavenger entirely random inventory, mostly). Perhaps no direct correlation but I guess it’s time to try some crossposting on Etsy and see if it helps. But do sellers pay extra on Etsy to show up in Google sponsored results?

[Jay]

We’ve had a down year too. Reminds me of four years ago when Google punished eBay for being scammy in the search terms. Our sales also dropped.

But these are things we expect eBay to improve on. Really nothing we can do except hope eBay does better.

[Nancy]

Sellers do not pay extra to show up in Google search results.

[bcfol440]

You are correct! This is one reason I cross post to Google happy Poshmark and Mercari.
I typed in “Vintage Nirvana Tee Shirt” – something ebay should be #1 or at least visible in.
NOPE, all Etsy and Poshmark listings. I finally found 1 ebay listing.
The funnh part is google telling all ebay sellers “use white backgrounds, here is the order of keywords” OK, FINE. But uh – all the listings that are showing up not all meeting your standards so……..?

[twizzle]

Yep correct! We pretty much gave up on eBay listing after the missing photo fiasco months ago, had almost 100 listings affected, canceled our store sub and never went back.

Started to list on Etsy again (established store) and locally on Offer up and Craigslist. Sales on Offer up and Craigslist are for us are pretty good, sell things most weekends. In fact Sold three items last (Perfume sets) just last night on Offer up. Offer Up is rocking right now for us.

Started listing on Mercari two months ago, 28 sales already.

Recently started listing clothing on Poshmark last week ,Stuff that didn’t sell on eBay. Three sales already.

Ebay is in a little trouble I think. Cheers!

[Jay]

You’re the first seller Ive spoken to that quit eBay to only sell on other platforms.
–Are you crosslisting everywhere or listing certain items on certain platforms.
–Can you share examples of sales on Offer Up? I always found that prices were super low as if it was a yard sale.
–How much time are you spending dealing with local people for pickup?

[twizzle]

Hi Jay Ryanne. Was a powerseller on eBay up untill 207 -8 things were great made good money, since then not so much, quit. Way too many eBay glitches, difficult to scale up.

Very little to no crosslisting. Different items to different sites.

Etsy, we sell vintage denim jackets, chore coats, Ski pins, badges, patches, rubber stamps, cuff links, razors, antique buttons, craft supplies, Ephemera, lots of vintage stuff, all kinds. Get at least one sale per day, don’t promote.

Craigslist, NWT sneakers, work boots, shoes, old tools, antiques, home goods. Do great never had a problem, yet. lol.

Mercari, younger crowd, sell video games, vintage sports shirts, Any thing Nike, Adidas. Certain collectibles.

Offer up, Antiques, Collectibles , mid century furniture, Perfume, make-up sets, both old and new. Sneakers too, new of course. Be prepared to haggle so price higher end, worth it for us.

Poshmark, Denim, Canvas chore coats, jeans, work wear , scrubs, shirts, coats, lots of men’s clothes. Great sales so far for us, just had two more this morning, love Posh, think its going to put the squeeze on ebay.

Final note, We think that Ebay listing , working on store took way too much of our precious time, takes minutes listing elsewhere. Worth it!

Cheers!

[ChristineR]

@twizzle do you mind sharing what collectibles you do and don’t well with on Mercari. I’m going to put more vintage on Mercari and I have some man cave stuff but mostly home decor appealing to ladies. I also like to put kids’ stuff on Mercari. Thanks for sharing!

[twizzle]

Good morning everyone! Hi, Christine we always read your posts here. We also sell locally on FB Marketplace mainly small furniture and craft supplies, children’s toys Dolls etc (Barbie). Porch pick up, cash is king. lol

Funnily enough we have sold Pottery Barn Sheet sets on Mercari, vintage Barbie dolls and dolls accessories sell very well also. Cheers!

[bcfol440]

ChristineR – My Pottery Barn gets lots of likes on Mercari , esp. PB Kids. I think there are some younger moms buying stuff for littles on the app.

I love hearing about the successful cross-posting – WOW! I am inspired by some of these Instagram sellers as well.

[T-Satt]

I have noticed this as well with Google shopping. When learning Poshmark, I would use Google Shopping to get an idea of current pricing for new items. I can find my own listings on Google shopping…from TrueGether, Bonanza, Etsy…buy not eBay..

Again, another reason why we crosspost now. Everything is on eBay, and I am working to crosspost to other platforms. Ebay is still king overall, but if we can start seeing steady streams on Poshmark/Mercari/Etsy, then it helps us with visibility, especially on Google…

[IndySales]

I plugged 4 items I have for sale into Google and landed on the new catalog pages for 2 of them and “Currently sold out” pages for the others. Neither allowed me to easily click off to a general eBay query, so my listings are effectively hidden if someone is coming straight from a Google search.

What worries me most is why my items aren’t available on the catalog pages. There’s a button for “See <x> other pre-owned items” that takes me to a search page that should have my item, there’s only 4 – none are mine. Manually typing in the name of the item into search returns over a dozen in the same condition that should be in the catalog. I could maybe see this being an issue with older items, but I listed one of these earlier this week.

It seems Google is only picking up catalog pages, which would be awesome if eBay actually put my items into the catalog.

[ChristineR]

I think I just had a little ah ha moment after reading IndySales post. I posted about this in another thread. #53192 Promoted listings and catalog pages are conflicting programs in Ebay. What good does it do you to pay for promotion if you are going to end up in an Amazon style race to the bottom product page? I like how promoted listings at 1% seem to be working for me in best match, and for now I’m going to stay off the product page for Home and Garden. Outside hits will hopefully be enhanced by pinning my items on Pinterest. I am using best offer and pricing more aggressively lately but I’m not sure I want to race for box placement. Also how does best offer work with product pages? Hmmm. I think I like the old way of Ebay search better… I don’t want Ebay to make it easy for my buyers to comparison shop on price.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 5 months ago by ChristineR.

[bcfol440]

I have seen people Pinning their ebay items to help boost their google search. I have no evidence if this actually works except I pinned many unpopular items I have and they have not sold yet.

[ChristineR]

I sell some of my better brand, new items to buyers with zero feedback and I’m pretty confident that pinning does help. Impossible to know if they originate from Pinterest, Google or elsewhere. Ebay’s traffic page shows that the vast majority still come from inside Ebay search.

[twizzle]

Once had our shopify website connected to the Pinterest buy able pins program, never even got one sale, so discontinued doing that.

However have had very good luck selling vintage items on Instagram, lots of sales. Just the paypal fee, works great!

Cheers!

[T-Satt]

Twizzle: What is the most important part of getting your sales on IG? Having a large following (and how are you growing that)? Are hashtags your best friend in doing that?

I would love to hear more about that…

[twizzle]

Hi Troy. Hope your wife is feeling better soon.

Yes you need to cultivate a following, does take time but very doable.
Yes hashtags are your best friend.

Seller posts photos of item using a brief description, price you want and very important hashtags.
Buyer will reply with mine, me or claim it.
Buyer then sends you DM (direct message) with paypal email address and zip.
Seller marks item sold. Buyers claim was accepted.
Seller sends a paypal invoice to buyer.
Buyer pays, seller ships item easy peasey!

I follow Instagram sellers who post cool stuff that we like too, also some celebrities like Chip and Joanna Gaines. If you are persistent it will work!

So many sites to list for free or cheap. really no need to pay listing or store fees anymore!

Cheers!

[twizzle]

Hashtags are searchable. Instagram groups use similar or the same hashtags to find each other.

try searching hashtags, #vintagelinens #vintagedolls #vintagepens #vintagelevis to get a feel for instagram. I also purchase items (vintage) from insta, never had a problem. Most items show up wrapped well and in tissue paper.

Cheers!

[T-Satt]

Thanks a TON twizzle! Great to know!

[Author]

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