posted on November 5, 2000 07:53:47 AM
I was surfing around in ladies apparel, just checking the prices and seeing if the other sellers who offer the same things I do are getting higher prices, and I came across one that has in each and every description, keywords that dont look like its deliberate, but I think is. For example, it says "I also have a variety of styles, consisting of blahblah, yaddayadda, thisnthat, morestuff, etcetra, thingamajigs, doohickies, whatchamacallits". Each of those words represented an apparel style that folks punch in for word searches. Is that a no-no? Just curious, because if it isnt, Im gonna do the same dam thing!
posted on November 5, 2000 08:08:15 AM
It is referred to as "Keyword Spamming" and is against the rules on Ebay. You can only add words that apply to that particular item.
Key word spamming
Excessive use of key words, including (but not limited to) brand names, which are referenced
for the purpose of attracting or diverting bidders to a listing will be considered key word
spamming and is not permitted. Please click here for further clarification on this policy.
Policy: These types of listings are not permitted and will be ended. The insertion fee will be
automatically credited for that listing.
posted on November 5, 2000 08:37:44 AM
Bummer. I wanted to do that REALLY BAD, since shes getting some great bids. But, I have been struggling along for 2 years with just my regular ol schpeel, so guess I will stay the same ol plodding way.
Toke...this gal did this as deliberate. There is NO WAY the one item I read about that would contribute to all those other words. Wish I could think of a way to do it without getting in deep doodoo.
"This is a wonderful skirtset, that really reminds me of the Carole Little outfit I used to have. My Sister had a Platinum outfit similar, and she considered it her cruisewear and wore it dancing on the deck of the ship because it was so flowing and reminescent of herhippie era. This one is made by blahblah and its sorta of a gothic style, with poet sleeves and would be excellent, since its also similar to stevie knicks style of apparel with sheer sleeves. Material feels like silk but its rayon from an exotic country like India. It is a small size but will fit plus sizes and medium, due to its style."
posted on November 5, 2000 08:52:22 AM
I would say you are straddling the fence with this description. [b]The since its also similar
to stevie knicks style of apparel with sheer sleeves part won't pass[/b]
posted on November 5, 2000 09:18:31 AM
I found a another seller who lists similar items to mine. He/she used a preformatted template with a background color. He/she inserted his keywords in the same color as the background as to divert prying eyes(mine..sorry, just curious). The only way you cound find them was to view the page code. Pretty smart...huh?
posted on November 5, 2000 09:23:53 AM
Smart, yes. Sneaky, definetly. I wouldnt do that myself. I know..competition is competition. But still seems unethical to me. I rely on my repeat customers and they keep me in floating, but I meet new ones everyday. To me, the competition is in the TITLE...thats what draws them in. Hard to do with that itty bitty space, too, so it takes talent to get someone to click on it, or even find your item in the sea of plenty.
posted on November 5, 2000 10:08:11 AM
Yup, I think after a broad search yields 3000 listings most people narrow and remove the search of descriptions.
posted on November 5, 2000 11:24:32 AM
It just makes people mad, IME. I was searching for books and items on breastfeeding, nursing (the maternal/baby sort of nursing), and pregnancy. Someone was listing some adult video (in the regular) and had the white-on-white text full of words such as "pregnant", "pregnancy" "breast" "nurse"
"nursing" "lactation" "baby", and so on, to sell some video titled something like "Amazing Triple D Big Butt T&A woman" (you get the idea). Every search I did for the book I was looking for brought up 50 of this guy's auctions and I reported him for it.
posted on November 5, 2000 11:58:46 AM
But ebaY has provided a MUCH better and safe way to keyword SPAM. You list an item using as many keyword SPAMs as you like. You carefully keep track and as soon as the item indexes in Title search (2-6 hours depending on the day) you go back and revise it, so that NONE of the keyword spam is there any longer. Since ebaY has decided to NEVER index revisions in auctions, no one can SEE your spam words (because they are no longer there) and no one can prove you did it intentionally ("but I CHANGED them as soon as I saw they appeared to be keyword spam"BUT the auction will SEARCH as if all the spam words are there. Thank you ebaY for making keyword spamming easy and foolproof.
- Rosalinda
(and for Glenda's erudition - no I do not approve of using this practice, it is just a way of pointing out how, when ebaY disables a system that seems unimportant - IT ISN'T)
TAGnotes - daily email synopsis about the Online Auction Industry http://www.topica.com/lists/tagnotes
Rampage. Its a dummy description. T'was tongue in cheek post
BUT the auction will SEARCH as if all the spam words are there. Thank you ebaY for making keyword spamming easy and foolproof.