| One of the features of eBay is that with | | | | categories, you will be fine. |
| so many members, 193 million at 31st | | | | Incidentally, one tip is to list your |
| March 2006, there will always be buyers | | | | item in the lowest level of category |
| interested in what you have to sell no | | | | possible. This is because items listed |
| matter what the item is. | | | | in a sub-category are also included in |
| It will be very difficult not to find an | | | | every category above. For example, if |
| eBay category which perfectly reflects | | | | you're listing a wedding dress which is |
| your item. | | | | size 14, place it in |
| Sadly, I once counted the number of | | | | Clothes-Wedding-Wedding Dresses-Size 14. |
| categories on eBay. To give you some | | | | If someone searches for a size 14 |
| idea of the numbers, there are around | | | | wedding dress, your item will appear in |
| 2,000 computing categories and 1,350 | | | | the search return list along with the |
| clothing categories. The point is, there | | | | other size 14 wedding dresses. This is |
| will almost always be category which is | | | | the best place to be, as there is the |
| exactly appropriate for your item. | | | | least competition. If someone searches |
| Is it important to find the right | | | | on wedding dress without specifying a |
| category when you're listing an item? | | | | size, your item will appear in the |
| When you consider that around 30% of | | | | search return list along with other |
| buyers select a category to browse | | | | wedding dresses of any size. So your |
| through when looking to buy or bid on | | | | dress will be up against more |
| something of interest, getting in the | | | | competition on this search. |
| right category is worth the effort. | | | | There will be occasions when you might |
| Also, if you're listed in the wrong | | | | want to place your item into more than |
| category, or in an inappropriate | | | | one category, which you can do for an |
| category, you're going to miss these | | | | additional fee. But please make sure |
| browsers. | | | | this is really worthwhile. If your item |
| Plus, don't forget listing items in the | | | | is a genuine fit into one category, this |
| wrong category is against the rules. | | | | is the one to go for. If it is a |
| eBay will remove auctions that are | | | | marginal fit for a second category, it |
| wrongly categorised and reserve the | | | | may be a waste of your fee in using the |
| right to cancel the membership of | | | | second category. |
| persistent offenders. | | | | It's definitely worth taking time to |
| The good news is that there's no reason | | | | determine the best category for your |
| why you should ever wind up with your | | | | item. |
| item in the wrong category.eBay's | | | | Let's say you're in the UK, and you have |
| category suggestion tools which you see | | | | a set of golf clubs to auction. You see |
| when you list an item are particularly | | | | there are 8,000 sets of golf cubs |
| useful. With the category search | | | | currently for sale on eBay. But your |
| facility, all you need to do is type in | | | | clubs are left handed. Do you think |
| a few keywords related to your item, and | | | | you'll have better success placing your |
| eBay comes back with suggested | | | | golf clubs in the left handed golf clubs |
| categories together with a percentage of | | | | category? |
| the number of items which match your | | | | It's an absolute certainty! |
| keywords. If you use one of these | | | | |