Get MORE Visitors To Your eBay Listings for FREE!

SEO is a process by which web designers attempt to improve their rankings on popular search engines such as Google. Since the same principles that apply to regular websites apply to eBay listings, it behooves eBay sellers to stay informed as to SEO practices. Keeping your SEO knowledge in up to date is a crucial step towards improving traffic to your listings; and therefore, improving your sales as well.

Search engines use two kinds of criteria when assigning search rankings: on page factors, and off page factors. An ideal eBay seller should be able to exercise a high level of control over both. First lets examine some “On Page” strategies.

On Page Factors

1.Use keywords in your item's title.
First off, if you haven't already done some keyword research using Google's keyword tool, now is the time. Once you have done this, try to include several of these keywords in your listing title. However, make sure not to overdo it! Your title must also look natural so that it will be appealing to REAL customers. Google might penalize your listing if it is abnormally saturated with keywords.

2. Use keywords in your listing description.
Follow basically the same advice for you listing. Include several keywords, especially your primary keyword, but don't overdo it. Make your keywords stand out without being overbearing.

3. Link your pages together with text links.
It is a great idea to put text links on each of your listings leading to your “About Me” page and “eBay Shop” page. Try to use keywords in these links. This will make it much easier for search engines to catalog each of your pages.

4. Keep flash applications to a minimum.
Flash can greatly improve the aesthetic quality of your listings, but using too much of it can hamper a search engines ability to catalog your listings. For this reason, use it sparingly.

5. Make your description at least 400 words.
I know this can be hassle, especially if you are averse to writing. However, longer product descriptions pay off in the end. Not only will it instill greater confidence in your customers, but it will improve your search engine rankings as well. But make sure that you write your own descriptions!

Copying from someone else's page is illegal and will actually hurt your search placement. If you don't feel confident about your writing skills, why not outsource?

6.Add content to your eBay account regularly.
Try using eBay's blog and review tools. These are easy ways to add fresh keyword rich articles on a regular basis and improve your search engine visibility.

Off Page Factors

Now lets move onto the “Off Page” factors. Search engines no longer evaluate your page purely based on “On Page” factors such as keyword density and page titles. In recent years they have developed more sophisticated methods which take into account dynamic factors such as the number and quality of links to your page from other websites.

In principle, you have no control over who links to your listing, but luckily there is one way around this. There are several websites that allow anyone to post free content. You can use these websites to post articles about your products or about eBay in general which contain links back to your listings or eBay shop.

Here are a few of websites that you might try posting content to: Ezinearticles.com, YouTube.com, Blogger.com, Squidoo.com, and HubPages.com. Make sure that any links you post to your listings contain relevant keywords. This will both attract more potential buyers to your listings AND improve your search engine ranking.