How To Increase eBay Sales: 16 Simple and Effective Ways

eBay is the second-largest online marketplace by monthly visits, attracting a diverse array of buyers and sellers worldwide.

Whether you’re just starting or have been at it for a while, all eBay sellers want to make more. Let’s cover how to increase eBay sales so you can grow your business like a pro.

If you’re entirely new to eBay dropshipping, start with our guide on how to get started in 2024, and then return to this article to advance your knowledge.

Now, let’s dive in and boost your sales!

How to increase eBay sales: 16 expert tips

You don’t have to implement each of these tips at once to get more sales on eBay. Instead, focus on key areas that align closely with your business goals and customer needs. 

Gradually incorporating these strategies allows you to observe their impact and adjust as needed, ensuring a smart and sustainable approach to boosting your eBay sales.

1. Create a compelling About Me page

A well-crafted About Me page adds a personal touch and builds confidence in your brand, encouraging customers to shop from your store.

Here are 3 tips to get the best results:

• Tell your story: Share your journey, why you started selling on eBay, and what makes your store unique. Personal stories resonate with customers and create a connection.

• Be transparent: Include information about your business practices, such as product sourcing, quality assurance, and your commitment to customer satisfaction.

• Include customer testimonials: If you have positive feedback or testimonials from happy customers, include these on your page to build credibility.

2. List new designs or products regularly

Updating inventory frequently attracts attention, maintains buyer interest, and can lead to repeat sales that will establish a loyal customer base. 

New eBay users usually have a 10-item monthly limit for published products set by eBay. Users who have been active on eBay for at least 30 days can request a limit increase here.

Adding new products to your eBay store is one of the simplest ways to boost sales. 

3. Pick the right keywords for your niche

Like other search engines, eBay’s search algorithm plays a crucial role in ranking products. Picking the right keywords for your niche ensures your listings align with specific search terms used by your target audience and increases visibility, directly impacting sales.

To find your keywords, use tools like Keyword Generator, Keyword Tool Dominator, or Keyword Tool.

Source: KeySearch

Once you’ve made a list of 3–5 keywords per product, include them in the store description, product titles and descriptions, page titles, meta tags, and image alt tags.

Valuable read: eBay SEO: How to Optimize Your Listings and Boost Your Cassini Rankings

4. Provide good listing titles and descriptions

Having accurate and detailed titles and descriptions helps your eBay listings appear higher in the eBay search results. And the higher you are in the search results, the more potential shoppers see your products.

Key things for a good title:

1. Use relevant keywords

2. Organize the keywords in an easy-to-read way  

3. Avoid using acronyms and writing in all caps

4. Use less than 80 characters

In the description, you provide important product details and answer potential questions in advance. Add detailed item specifics like size, color, style, fit, etc. 

Some tips for writing descriptions to get your product listings to rank:

1. Make the description easy to read (use bullet points, short sentences, and separate sections with headings)

2. Use all the relevant keywords at least once

3. Keep it short and to the point

Consider integrating your keywords strategically within the first 100 characters to optimize for the eBay algorithm. It will further enhance search relevance and visibility.

5. Use high-quality images

The eBay marketplace uses the Best Match algorithm for ranking products. Image quality and quantity also play a pivotal role in the algorithm’s decision-making process. 

Draw inspiration from other eBay sellers—check out how your competitors showcase their products. What are they doing well, and what could you do better?

According to eBay’s research, listings with high-quality pictures are up to 5% more likely to sell.

You can create true-to-life mockups with Printful’s free Mockup Maker or take photos yourself. If you decide to take photos yourself, here are some eBay photo tips. If you want to generate product images with the Mockup Maker, here’s a short video to help you do that.

Also, be generous with the images. You can add up to 24 images for free; take advantage of that! Show your product from different angles to give eBay customers a good idea of what your product looks like.

6. Offer great customer service

Excellent customer service ensures customer satisfaction and builds your reputation as an eBay seller. You encourage customer loyalty by prioritizing customer service, leading to repeat purchases and positive customer feedback. Here are three effective ways to achieve this:

• Optimize customer communication: Fast, clear, and kind communication with customers is crucial. Address queries and concerns swiftly to build trust and reliability.

• Listen to customer feedback: Considering both positive reviews and negative reviews is the fastest way to build customer loyalty. This shows customers that their opinions are valued and helps you improve your service.

• Resolve issues fast: Efficiently resolving any customer issues is essential for maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction and the backbone of great customer service.

Incorporating these strategies can significantly raise your standing as an eBay seller, attracting more customers and boosting sales.

7. Get Top Rated Seller status

eBay rewards sellers with a Top Rated Seller status for providing superb service and meeting specific performance standards. 

Top Rated Seller requirements. Source: eBay

This prestigious status can significantly boost eBay sales, building buyer trust and confidence. 

Top Rated Seller badge on eBay. Source: eBay

Top Rated Sellers benefit from enhanced visibility in search results, potential discounts on final value fees, and access to exclusive promotional tools. These advantages make it a coveted status for sellers looking to increase their sales on eBay and grow their online business presence.

8. Consider free shipping

Offering free shipping on eBay enhances listing visibility and buyer appeal, as listings with free shipping often stand out in search results. Plus, some shoppers filter for listings with free shipping, so your products are more likely to be seen and considered by a significant segment of online shoppers who prioritize free shipping options when browsing.

Free shipping filter on eBay. Source: eBay

Free shipping can also reduce cart abandonment. Last year, almost half of US shoppers abandoned their orders during checkout due to extra costs, like shipping, being too expensive.

Valuable read: A Complete Guide to Ecommerce Shipping Pricing

To ensure the shipping costs aren’t coming out of your pocket and diminishing your profits, include them in the product price. 

9. Set competitive pricing

Setting competitive pricing is crucial for online sellers to attract and retain customers. It balances between ensuring profitability and offering value that appeals to buyers. 

Competitive pricing can lead to more sales by positioning your listings attractively compared to similar products.

Here’s how you should go about it:

• Use the eBay research tool to see the price of similar items sold in the past 90 days

• Include shipping in your price

• Account for all of your costs (subscriptions, fees, etc.)

Learn more: How to Price Your Print-On-Demand Products

10. Use eBay’s promoted listings to gain visibility

If you have the resources, getting paid promotions like promoted listings to put your products in advantageous spots is a fantastic way to increase your eBay sales. A sponsored listing looks like a regular listing but includes a “Sponsored” badge at the bottom.

Source: eBay

There are 2 spots where your eBay promoted listings appear: at the top of search results and at the bottom of product pages as suggested and related items.

Source: eBay

Adding an eBay promoted listings campaign to your marketing strategy can significantly enhance your product visibility and boost sales.

11. Optimize listings for mobile users

Last year, mobile sales made up the majority of ecommerce sales.

Source: Statista

eBay is showing the same trend. eBay’s total gross merchandise volume (GMV) in Q3 20231 was $18B. An astounding $11.6B of that came from mobile devices. According to Oberlo, eBay will place significant emphasis on its mobile apps in the future. 

Source: Oberlo

Here are a few tips to make your listings mobile-friendly:

• Keep the tiles clear and concise: Use straightforward, descriptive titles that are easy to read on smaller screens.
• Optimize images: Provide high-quality images that load quickly and are easily viewable on mobile devices.
• Use bullet points for product descriptions: Use bullet points in your product descriptions for easier readability on mobile.
• Ditch dense text blocks: Keep paragraphs short for them to fit on smaller screens.
• Test on mobile devices: Regularly check your listings on different phones to ensure they appear as intended.

12. Engage in seasonal promotions with themed designs

Engaging in seasonal promotions with themed designs is a powerful strategy to boost interest and sales on eBay. Use these promotions to make your products more appealing and align with potential buyers’ seasonal shopping habits. 

Valuable read: The Ultimate 2024 Ecommerce Holiday Calendar

Here are some tips to nail in seasonal promotions: 

• Plan ahead: Prepare your themed designs well before the season to capitalize on early shoppers.

• Tailor your promotions: Offer special deals or discounts on seasonal items to encourage purchases.

• Update your listings: Revamp your eBay listings with seasonal themes and keywords to attract more viewers.

• Market through social media: Use social media platforms to promote seasonal items and direct traffic to your eBay store.

• Leverage eBay tools: Use eBay’s promotional tools like Promotions Manager to highlight your seasonal offerings.

Capitalize on the excitement and demand of different seasons to boost your sales on eBay. 

13. Analyze sales data using eBay analytics

Analyzing sales data using eBay analytics is crucial for understanding your business performance and making informed decisions. eBay provides various analytical tools that allow sellers to track and analyze metrics such as sales trends, buyer demographics, and listing performance. 

By leveraging these insights, you can identify what works and what doesn’t, enabling you to optimize your listings, adjust pricing strategies, and hone your marketing efforts.

eBay Seller Hub. Source: eBay

To use eBay’s analytics tools, you can access the eBay Seller Hub, which offers a comprehensive dashboard of your sales activities and trends. The Seller Hub provides valuable data on page views, watch counts, sales conversion rates, and more, enabling you to fine-tune your selling strategies for better results.

14. Bundle matching products or designs

Bundling products on eBay is an excellent strategy to increase the perceived value of your offerings and encourage larger purchases. By grouping related items, you can entice buyers looking for convenience and value.

T-shirt bundles on eBay. Source: eBay

For example, you can combine wardrobe staples like custom t-shirts and custom hoodies with matching bottoms or a complementing accessory like a tote bag.

Valuable read: 40+ Best Selling Items on eBay in 2024

15. Keep an eye on market trends

By staying informed about market trends, you can make strategic decisions and tailor marketing campaigns to align with shoppers’ interests.

Here are some tips to monitor market trends and increase eBay sales:

• Use eBay’s research tools: Use tools like Terapeak, available in the eBay Seller Hub, to analyze sales trends, hot categories, and competitor strategies.

• Follow industry news: Stay updated with ecommerce news sources and online forums relevant to your niche.

• Engage with your customers: Listen to customer feedback and requests, as they can provide insights into changing customer preferences.

• Observe seasonal patterns: Pay attention to seasonal variations and plan new products or designs for peak shopping periods like holidays.

16. Use social media

By mastering social media, you can significantly boost your online presence, attract customers, and make more sales. 

Through social media, you can also:

• Share your eBay listings on social media to increase visibility and drive traffic to your store

• Create engaging content that reflects your brand’s personality, helping to establish a loyal follower base

• Interact with customers through comments, messages, and posts, providing fantastic customer service and building relationships

• Use social media to observe trends, gather customer feedback, and understand what products or promotions are resonating with your audience

• Connect with other eBay sellers and industry influencers to learn new strategies and tips

Ready to boost your eBay sales?

As we established in the beginning, pick the tips that align with your strategy and business goals. 

eBay requires a continuous process of learning, adapting, and evolving. Regularly reviewing your strategies will help you stay ahead of the competition. Keep experimenting with different approaches, track your progress, and don’t be afraid to innovate. You got this!

Read next: Effective Tips for Selling on eBay: Sell Smarter, Not Harder