Listing Best Practices
Drive more traffic and have your listings perform better in search results with these tips.
Master the essentials of creating great listings
Creating listings starts with adding the fundamentals. From adding studio-quality photos, searchable titles, detailed descriptions, and competitive pricing, these key basics can make all the difference. Revisit what to include every time you create a listing.
Go from good to great with these listing musts-haves
Now that you’ve mastered the fundamentals, it’s time to refine your listings. Make sure you’re including the right details to boost visibility and help reach potential buyers in search results.
Choose the right category
Buyers can browse or search by category, so selecting an item category can help you reach the right buyers. Use eBay’s suggested categories to save you time and give your items the boost they may need.
Don’t skimp on the details
The more relevant details you include, the easier it is for buyers to understand what they’re getting and make an informed purchasing decision. When you list, you’ll be prompted to add required information, like size, color, brand, and style, but don’t stop there. Add extra product identifiers to help your items show up in more search results.
Product identifiers can help boost search results
Most items sold on eBay include product identifiers. Adding them helps your listings appear in more relevant search results, and can speed up the listing process by auto-filling key item details.
What’s a product identifier?
Manufacturers create unique codes to help identify a specific product. These could be barcodes like a Universal Purchase Code (UPC), Stock Keeping Unit (SKU), International Standard Book Number (ISBN), and Manufacturer Part Number (MPN).
Save time when listing
Enter a product identifier, and if your item is in the eBay catalog, we’ll suggest a match. When a match is found, key listing details will auto-fill, saving you time.
Build buyer trust
Make sure to use product identifiers that match the exact product you’re selling. Choosing a similar but incorrect item version, like a model from a different year, can mislead buyers. The right catalog entry helps build buyer trust and reduce return requests.
Additional tips on listing electronics
Whether you’re selling New, Used, or Refurbished smartphones, laptops, tablets, or smartwatches make sure to include as much detail about the item as you can. Below are some examples you may consider when listing electronics.
Optimize your listings with item specifics
Improve search visibility with a detailed title
|
Electronic example |
Recommended item specifics |
|
Smartphone |
Network, camera resolution, screen size, operating system, lock status, processor, connectivity, RAM, SIM card slot, contract, and features |
|
Laptop or desktop |
Model, Graphics Processing Type, Connectivity, Computer Type, Features, RAM Size, Most Suitable For, Processor, OS, Certification (if any), Form Factor, Processor Speed, Computer Series (if any), Hard Drive Capacity, Storage Type, Computer Brand, and Monitor Size (if available) |
|
Smart Watch |
Network, operating system, lock status, connectivity, case material, band material and features |
|
Tablet |
Network, operating system, lock status (if applicable), connectivity, processor, RAM, Screen Resolution, case material, battery run time and features |
Remember to use all 80 characters and focus on relevant keywords.
|
Electronic example |
Title Example |
|
Smartphone |
Apple iPhone 11 Pro 256GB Midnight Green Carrier Unlocked Grade A |
|
Laptop or desktop |
Dell Desktop Computer 16GB RAM 512GB SSD Card, Intel i5 3.4GHz QuadCore Grade A |
|
Smart Watch |
Apple Watch Series 8, 45MM GPS, Space Gray with Black Sport Band, A2289 |
|
Tablet |
Apple iPad Air 4th Gen. 256GB WiFi, Space Gray |
Tip: Attract buyers with photos
Check out our tips on getting the most out of your photos when selling electronics.
Utilize diagnostic services on electronics before you list
Our diagnostic partners
We’ve partnered with third party diagnostic services, Phonecheck and Blancco, who’ve customized their tools to include eBay’s Refurbished conditions. Using these services can help give you a clear picture of your electronics’ condition and assist you to grade your device accurately, whether you’re in the eBay Refurbished program or not. Learn more about eBay Refurbished including how to apply.
Phonecheck and Blancco offer services such as functional diagnostics, battery health, data wiping, checks on stolen, carrier lock, or financial locks etc. Learn more about our partners below.
Meet our partners
We've partnered with diagnostic experts to assess & grade your tech, so buyers can shop confidently.
Blancco provides the most globally trusted data erasure and diagnostics for the widest range of devices—and the most comprehensive Apple support in the market.
eBay sellers can list smartphones, smartwatches, desktops, laptops, tablets, servers, HDDs, SSDs, NVMes, and removable media confidently and at scale.
Contact Blancco to get cost-effective solutions, accurate descriptions mapped to eBay’s grading scale, and special pricing incentives for eBay sellers: www.blancco.com/ebay/
Phonecheck can help bring trust and transparency to buyers and sellers of used smartphones (iOS and Android), iPads, smartwatches, computers, and airpods.
Phonecheck helps eBay sellers certify the condition of used phones with professional diagnostics—making it easier to meet grading standards. eBay sellers get 30% off their first month with free ESN checks included.
For more on Phonecheck device certification, visit https://www.phonecheck.com/demo-ebay.
Continue your eBay journey
Ready to grow your business and boost your buyer experience? Here are two powerful ways to upgrade how you list on eBay.
Upload a video
Help buyers understand what they’re purchasing with videos that show your item in action.