Just a thought about Subtitles

[brandeentertainment]

They should give all sellers free subtitles for months of November and December so sell to tell buyers Things like Possible slow delivery times in december or to Upgrade to Expedited or Xxpesspost to ensure Delivery time is met.

Good idea/Bad Idea/Already tried before

[pjcdn2005]

It might be easier to offer a suggestion if we knew what the word was.

Can you use it in your item details? Those are supposed to be searchable to some extent.

[rose-dee]

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@pjcdn2005 wrote:

It might be easier to offer a suggestion if we knew what the word was.

Can you use it in your item details? Those are supposed to be searchable to some extent.

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The word isn't really relevant, because there are potentially several key words or key terms involved.  It's rather the issue of whether using a term or word elsewhere than in the title (or subtitle) will cause the listing to appear in search results if a buyer searches by that word or term. 

I have a feeling that nobody truly knows the answer to this conundrum because eBay would have to give away some of its search parameter 'secrets' in order for sellers to know for sure.  Then what would be the point of text in titles or subtitles at all? 

[recped]

Then what would be the point of text in titles or subtitles at all?

When a buyer is looking at a page of search results the only things that can motivate them to click through to the listing is the Title, the Price & the shipping cost. add in a Sub-Tile and you now have twice as much space to entice them in. You might use that to convey an impression about the Seller, the Product, the Delivery or other factors.

Let's say you are selling electronics and many of the items listing on ebay are refurbished but yours are new factory sealed. A sub-title "Factory sealed NOT refurbished" is likely to draw some attention.

If you are selling something where condition is critical to the value, a listing on the search page that has a Sub-title all about the spectacular condition is probably going to get more views that ones with no sub-title.

Titles are for searchable keywords, sub-titles are for conveying a message to viewers...the "pitch".

[rose-dee]

Hi 'recped' -- I agree with everything you've said, but it doesn't really address the issue I was thinking of.

I suppose if I can put my quandary another way, it might be: are keywords just as powerful as "item finders" for buyers if they are in the description and/or item specifics area as when they're in the title?  

I've been told by eBay I may use certain terms within my listing descriptions, but not in the titles.  Does that mean they're a lot less effective in producing search results than if they're in the titles?  I assume so, otherwise this exception to the "prohibition" wouldn't make much sense.  

I'm really tearing my hair out over this problem -- policies I can deal with, because they're across the board, but this is targeted damage.   

[recped]

Unless a buyer selects Title & Description the words in your description are only of peripheral use as Search Keywords. If the buyers search terms produce a very limited number of results eBay may "fortify" those results by adding in some listings based on keywords contained in the description.

You might see more of an effect for keywords contained in the Item Specifics.

If a search produces lots of results then the keywords in the Description are not going to mean anything.

[rose-dee]

Thanks 'recped', this is just as I thought (feared).  I'm hooped. 

(By the way, I don't mean that sarcastically at all -- you're the only one in several days who has been able to give anything close to a meaningful answer to this question).