posted on March 6, 2005 12:11:45 PM
Thought those of you with large stores might be able to make use of this. (actually you don't even need a store - you can use this same method just to increase traffic to auction listings too)
My store sales have always been good but I finally got around to doing some side work and after looking at my reports I realized that I have doubled my daily sales average over just a month earlier.
A few months ago someone showed a store here where the side navigation bars were used to create additional custom search categories. I thought this was an amazing idea and started working on it myself. First I went thru all of my inventory listings and wrote down the keywords that would apply to each item. In order to keep the final list from getting too long I put tick marks beside each term and once I was done weeded out the ones that only had one or two ticks. Once I had a final list I assigned a unique three letter code to each search term then went into each listing and added the appropriate code (or code as the case may be) at the end of each items description.
With that done I created the navigation box. I listed each term with a link to an in store search of it's three letter code. Wala! Now you can have as many categories as you want... but not done yet.
That helped increase sales but what made them really pick up (and the reason a letter code rather than a common word is important) is that I then inserted that search box into my auction templates. Now someone who clicks on a widget auction can also see, and search thru my inventory of thingamabobs, whosiwhatsits, whatchamajigs and the like.
From the day I added all of this my visits have doubled as have my sales and I know it's not sheer coincidence because when I look at the top referring search terms, the top 25 (80% of total)are codes.
This may not be of much help to everyone but off the top of my head.. jewelery (you can enable search by style, metal, stones, or type), clothing sellers (size, style, type)and postcard (type, topics, eras, etc) sellers could probably use something like this to kick sales up to the next level.
It does take some time and patience to get everything set up but once the set up work is done everything else is a breeze. To make it easy to remember what the codes are when doing new listing I just made a list of every term and its code on a narrow sheet of paper and taped it to the frame on my monitor.
Hope this helps someone!
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 6, 2005 02:54:39 PM
I am working on the navigation bar on my store now, but how are you getting this into your auction template without being accused of KWS?
posted on March 6, 2005 03:17:52 PM
That was my question too. It would be KWS unless it's a graphic file and not text.
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on March 6, 2005 03:30:03 PMKeyword Spamming
Keyword spamming is the practice of including brand names or other inappropriate "keywords" in a title or descriptionfor the purpose of gaining attention or diverting users to a listing.Keyword spamming is unfair to members who may be searching for a specific item and receive search results of listings that are not selling the item. Users often are confused and frustrated by such tactics.
You are not trying to divert traffic deceptively and you are actually selling the item.
Do people actually item search via title and description anymore?
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Mar 6, 2005 03:31 PM ]
posted on March 6, 2005 03:40:30 PM
Thank LT - I wish I had taken the day off. I have a vague memory of that experience...I seem to remember it as being pleasurable
I've been packing stuff up for the post office and writing the descriptions and such for new merchandise that's due in next week so that I can just plug in the pics and start selling as soon as they arrive.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 6, 2005 03:44:44 PM
"Do people actually item search via title and description anymore?"
And they are searching in what other way?
"You are not trying to divert traffic deceptively and you are actually selling the item."
If a buyer is searching for a topaz and they come into one of your auctions for diamonds or jade but not topaz because you have topaz in the description, that is KWS.
Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own secret battles.
...Author Unknown
* Lists of words
o The inclusion of words that are simply listed to attract viewers via our search engines and are not part of a context based item description. For example, it would not be permissible to state the following in your item description: "oil reproductions, art recreations, gallery, art gallery, impressionist, impressionism, oil paintings, reproduction, painting, recreation, copy, quality, reproductions, recreations, realistic, copies, paintings, old masters, replica, posters, prints, video..."
o The inclusion of words that are simply listed to promote your other items to your other eBay items. For example, it would not be permissible to state "Please view my other eBay listings for Beanie Babies, vintage Barbie's, Rolex watches, and Chanel scarves." It would be acceptable to state, "Please view my other eBay listings."
In other words, you aren't allowed to say "see my widgets, gidgets, and gadgets" if you are selling wodgets in that listing.
I remember when one store owner had her auctions pulled just for that (and it wasn't using brand names - it's unfortunate the example uses them).
You CAN include all those things inside a graphic with clickable links however. JPG's are not picked up by ebay search.
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on March 6, 2005 04:08:31 PM
Neglus - hmmmm... from that part you may be right.
Buttons... I HATE buttons! Talk about tedium...but then some cool rollover effects might be nice...but that means TWICE as many buttons...
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 6, 2005 04:10:02 PM
Hi fenix ... thank you for taking the time to explain your set-up ... I am bookmarking this for when I revamp listings in the near future ... good stuff to "study up" on!
posted on March 6, 2005 06:12:32 PM
Yes, I am referring the same discussions on the Ebay board.
Lots of people have tried putting links to their other items in their auction listings and Ebay has ended all and even suspended some.
Jay and Marie continue to get away with it (much to the displeasure of a few who post on that board) but the rest of the world gets cancelled.
As far as invisible keywords goes...thats a big no-no and will get you suspended.
Since Ebay is important to me and my livlihood I try to avoid anything that would cause me to get a mark against me.
I am working on an image map that looks like regular buttons or I can use links with words with * or x between them to prevent them from showing up in search.
And, yes in the fields I sell in...records, movie memorabilia, postcards, etc. people do search by title and description.
Unfortunately, KWS is a big issue with Ebay right now. They are pulling listings right and left even when the words are used to explain what you are selling.
[ edited by lindajean on Mar 6, 2005 06:14 PM ]
posted on March 6, 2005 06:27:03 PM
Can you put hidden text in the description though that doesn't make any sense but to yourself?
I just started doing that for my trading assistant items. For example, I'll put in a " ta_insert name here " hidden so that I can pull up all of her items in a search title and description. I can then send her the link and she can moniter her items.
posted on March 6, 2005 07:30:22 PM
EWORA...I'm sure that is OK. That couldn't affect searches in any way.
crowfarm...some people are just lucky I guess or haven't been turned in to the right Ebay employee. If you do a search on the Ebay boards and the PS Ebay boards for KWS you'll find tons of posts and complaints about having auctions ended.
I'm not trying to be argumentative...in fact I wish they would actually read the listing before just ending it as most of them sound like they are OK. But, it is a major problem for lots of sellers so I just avoid it.
posted on March 6, 2005 09:24:26 PM
uuuuuh....yaaaknoooowww...
Ebay needs a better subset search for stores then, if kws has to be resorted to.
If I search for passier saddles under a seller who has 300 listings and come up with all passier equipment AND their line of courbette tack, it's certainly a spam.
I think we all know ebay has a double standard, but kws is ruining some catagories.
What is the point of a search if it comes up with a bunch of stuff you are not looking for?
posted on March 7, 2005 01:30:51 PM
Update - got one of those - "how can we help you increase you business" calls today and took the opportunity to ask if this was ndeed KWS. Ebay rep stated that it was not considered KWS. Now it's just a question of... what if he's wrong
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on March 7, 2005 01:50:45 PM
An alphanumeric code in your auctions in not keyword spamming. It won't result in a search hit (other than your own internal search) so there's no problem. It's a great idea.
posted on March 7, 2005 01:53:46 PM
However, if your menu contains keywords, that could get you in trouble. Use graphics buttons instead of text if your menu looks like this:
posted on March 7, 2005 02:16:01 PM
It works, we do it on the second ebay store, we use links to sizes of the same item in a clickable box right in the template, we've been doing it for about 3 weeks.
I may try it on my first store, it really helps too, with the Ask the Seller a Question, and its ALWAYS do you have this in another size (and we do) so the table of sizes to click come in really handy
posted on March 10, 2005 02:26:13 PMtwinsoft I've been to the "eBay Alternative" link twice, and read any seemingly applicable topic, and I don't see any "eBay alternatives" listed.
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fenix03
I wish I knew exactly what you are talking about doing for your store, and how to do it - I must be blank this morning, as I don't grasp how to creat such.
Thanks!
~"It does not matter what I think, it does not matter what you think. The only thing which matters is: What is the TRUTH!"~
posted on March 10, 2005 03:07:52 PM
Heck if I know if it IS or it ISNT KWS. It seems to be by the definition given in the ebay regs but who KNOWS??
I don't think you would get the same answer from any two ebay reps either!! Also Fenix, did you talk to a REAL ebay employee? They have had contract phone solicitors make some of their client calls.
I'd bet you'd be fine unless a jealous competitor reports you..it IS a good idea! Can't you just put it in a jpg file to be on the safe side? I think I read on that store board thread that if you used astericks on either side of the word, it would not get picked up in a search and would not be considered KWS...ie **GEMSTONES**.
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "...holy sh@#...what a ride!"
posted on March 10, 2005 04:32:29 PMtwinsoft I've been to the "eBay Alternative" link twice, and read any seemingly applicable topic, and I don't see any "eBay alternatives" listed.
JWPC, the site is just getting started. The goal is to help eBay sellers get their own online stores set up.
It's a forum-type platform and I hope folks will share their ideas and experiences. Right now I'm recommendingOSCommerce (free store script) and some other free/open source tools.
I don't like to copy/paste, but here's an interesting fact: Google AdWords costs you just $.05 cents per click through. If you're paying $100 bucks a month to eBay, for the same amount of money you're paying eBay you could have 24,000 unique visitors to your web site/online store per year. What's more, they're your customers, not eBay's. You keep the profit. And no featured, bold, gallery, etc., fees either.
Anyway, hopefully folks will realize they shouldn't put all their eggs in eBay's basket. You can set up your own store for free and domain hosting is just a couple of bucks per year.
posted on March 10, 2005 06:17:12 PM
NTS, that would be great. If you have any experience with Vendio stores, maybe you can share that. I imagine lots of users are looking for other store options since the fee increase.
