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