eBay Store Check List
The following is a quick Check List of suggestions that we usually have for those who ask us to critique their stores once the first open their eBay Store.
Hoping to assist you avoid those first pitfalls, this is for new Store owners to review the suggestions below and compare them with your Store.
Don't try to do everything all at once, or you will get overwhelmed. Take one at a time and work your way through each suggestion.
Basic Store Design
Store Theme
Select a Store theme that includes your Store description! The two Classic themes (ONLY) include a designated slot for showing a Store description and this will increase your chances of appearing in search results. For more information refer to our Basic Store Design Tutorial.
Quick Tip: Use a Store theme that includes your Store description in the header (for example, the "Classic Left" theme), because this increases your chances of appearing in search results.
Store Description
Use this limited space wisely. Be sure to use keywords that accurately describe your Store and the items you sell. Use words in your description that you think people might enter when they search for a product. For more information refer to our Store Description Tutorial.
Quick Tip: Keep in mind that people often use search engines such as Google or Yahoo to find products they are looking for. If your eBay Store appears prominently in the search results, your Store will be more accessible to potential buyers.
Listing Frame
Use this page to set up a custom listing frame that will be applied to all of your listings. It can include a Store listing header with links to your eBay Store and a left-navigation bar with links to your Store categories. For more information refer to our Listing (Frame) Headers Settings Tutorial.
Select a Store theme that includes your Store description! The two Classic themes (ONLY) include a designated slot for showing a Store description and this will increase your chances of appearing in search results. For more information refer to our Basic Store Design Tutorial.
Quick Tip: Use a Store theme that includes your Store description in the header (for example, the "Classic Left" theme), because this increases your chances of appearing in search results.
Store Description
Use this limited space wisely. Be sure to use keywords that accurately describe your Store and the items you sell. Use words in your description that you think people might enter when they search for a product. For more information refer to our Store Description Tutorial.
Quick Tip: Keep in mind that people often use search engines such as Google or Yahoo to find products they are looking for. If your eBay Store appears prominently in the search results, your Store will be more accessible to potential buyers.
Listing Frame
Use this page to set up a custom listing frame that will be applied to all of your listings. It can include a Store listing header with links to your eBay Store and a left-navigation bar with links to your Store categories. For more information refer to our Listing (Frame) Headers Settings Tutorial.
Additional Store Design
Store Categories
Create and organize categories for your listings so potential buyers can easily browse your store to locate your items easily. Use sub-categories when you have a lot of listings in one category.
Quick Tip: When trying to decide on categories, write them out on paper first, before you set them up in your store. Planning and organizing them first, will save you headaches later on and make it much easier to set up!
Search Engine Keyword Management
Customize Search Engine Keywords to improve your Store page rankings in search engines. Refer to our Setting Up Search Engine Keywords Tutorial.
Quick Tip: Don't forget if change or add new store categories, don't forget to update your keywords!
Promotion Boxes
Grab buyer interest and spur add-on sales by highlighting special offers, email newsletters and more with customizable Promotion Boxes. For more information refer to Using Promotion Boxes in Your eBay Store.
Custom Store Pages
Make use of your free custom pages - Basic Store (5 pages), Featured Store (10 pages) or Anchor Store (15 pages). You can use these custom pages for just about anything. They can be for your Terms of Sale (TOS), Store policies or for information about your products, services or crafts. This will also increase your search engine ranking as these pages get indexed into the various search engines.
Me Page
Use your Me page is to introduce potential buyers to you and/or your business. This will also increase your search engine ranking as this page get indexed into the various search engines.
My World Page
As an eBay member, you get publishing space to tell the community what makes you ... you. eBay My World lets you share all your favorite things, what you sell, what you buy, and so much more.
Accuracy
Take care with your spelling, grammar and capitalization, be accurate and maintain consistency. Check your store description, category names, listing titles, listing descriptions, etc. A little attention to detail reflects positively on your attitude as a Seller.
Create and organize categories for your listings so potential buyers can easily browse your store to locate your items easily. Use sub-categories when you have a lot of listings in one category.
Quick Tip: When trying to decide on categories, write them out on paper first, before you set them up in your store. Planning and organizing them first, will save you headaches later on and make it much easier to set up!
Search Engine Keyword Management
Customize Search Engine Keywords to improve your Store page rankings in search engines. Refer to our Setting Up Search Engine Keywords Tutorial.
Quick Tip: Don't forget if change or add new store categories, don't forget to update your keywords!
Promotion Boxes
Grab buyer interest and spur add-on sales by highlighting special offers, email newsletters and more with customizable Promotion Boxes. For more information refer to Using Promotion Boxes in Your eBay Store.
Custom Store Pages
Make use of your free custom pages - Basic Store (5 pages), Featured Store (10 pages) or Anchor Store (15 pages). You can use these custom pages for just about anything. They can be for your Terms of Sale (TOS), Store policies or for information about your products, services or crafts. This will also increase your search engine ranking as these pages get indexed into the various search engines.
Me Page
Use your Me page is to introduce potential buyers to you and/or your business. This will also increase your search engine ranking as this page get indexed into the various search engines.
My World Page
As an eBay member, you get publishing space to tell the community what makes you ... you. eBay My World lets you share all your favorite things, what you sell, what you buy, and so much more.
Accuracy
Take care with your spelling, grammar and capitalization, be accurate and maintain consistency. Check your store description, category names, listing titles, listing descriptions, etc. A little attention to detail reflects positively on your attitude as a Seller.
A Few Store Promotion Tips
Listing Strategy
As Store Inventory items have less visibility, you still need to have core listings (Auction-style, Fixed Price) to drive traffic to your Store. It may take a little time for you to figure out your core vs. SIF ratio, some sellers may require more core listings than others. For more information refer to Listing Strategies for eBay Stores Sellers.
Listing Feeds (RSS)
eBay provides eBay Store owners with this powerful tool, so why not make the most of it? It's free and how you promote it is free also. For more information refer to our Setting Up your RSS Feeds Tutorial.
Store Referral Credit
Store Referral Credit is a credit that Store sellers are eligible to receive when they successfully drive buyers to their eBay Store directly from a location outside of eBay (website, emails, flyers, etc). For more information refer to About the Store Referral Credit.
Write a Guide or Review
Guides enable eBay members to share their expertise on any topic or category. Reviews is a place for eBay members to rate and share their opinions about products such as books, DVDs, and more.
For more information refer to Reviews and Guides.
Using Your Newsletter
Although I found this, along with many other sellers as a lot of work with little return, why not give it a try? It might work for you. For more information and tips, refer to Profit Booster #4 - Using You.
Doors2Stores
Once you have established your eBay Store (open at least six months), sign up for Doors2Stores.
AvidCat Store Search
Your Search Engine to Online Stores. Premium or Standard Listings, Banner Ads and more. For more information refer to the Avidcat website.
Promote Your eBay Store
A great article to read at How To Promote Your eBay Store V.6 by Beadhappy.
As Store Inventory items have less visibility, you still need to have core listings (Auction-style, Fixed Price) to drive traffic to your Store. It may take a little time for you to figure out your core vs. SIF ratio, some sellers may require more core listings than others. For more information refer to Listing Strategies for eBay Stores Sellers.
Listing Feeds (RSS)
eBay provides eBay Store owners with this powerful tool, so why not make the most of it? It's free and how you promote it is free also. For more information refer to our Setting Up your RSS Feeds Tutorial.
Store Referral Credit
Store Referral Credit is a credit that Store sellers are eligible to receive when they successfully drive buyers to their eBay Store directly from a location outside of eBay (website, emails, flyers, etc). For more information refer to About the Store Referral Credit.
Write a Guide or Review
Guides enable eBay members to share their expertise on any topic or category. Reviews is a place for eBay members to rate and share their opinions about products such as books, DVDs, and more.
For more information refer to Reviews and Guides.
Using Your Newsletter
Although I found this, along with many other sellers as a lot of work with little return, why not give it a try? It might work for you. For more information and tips, refer to Profit Booster #4 - Using You.
Doors2Stores
Once you have established your eBay Store (open at least six months), sign up for Doors2Stores.
AvidCat Store Search
Your Search Engine to Online Stores. Premium or Standard Listings, Banner Ads and more. For more information refer to the Avidcat website.
Promote Your eBay Store
A great article to read at How To Promote Your eBay Store V.6 by Beadhappy.
eBay Stores News
Stay informed about the latest eBay Stores News.
By joining the official eBay Stores group, eBay will notify you about new features and special events that pertain specifically to eBay Stores.
By joining the official eBay Stores group, eBay will notify you about new features and special events that pertain specifically to eBay Stores.
My Other eBay Tutorials
Guestbook Feedback
I hope you found this helpful, and good luck with your eBay Store!
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PenneysCollectibles
Another great lense! I love your lenses! Posted September 13, 2007 |
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PenneysCollectibles
Oh there is so much here! I will return and read more! Posted September 13, 2007 |
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katlupe
Wonderful advice Kathy. Thanks alot! Posted September 09, 2007 |
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fleur_de_lis_rising
Most excellent info here, Kathy! 5*s and a lensroll, of course! --MiMi Posted August 23, 2007 |
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Freaknoodles
Great tips! A lot of this info is hard to find in eBay's help pages, so it's nice to see it so well organized. Posted August 23, 2007 |
