Picking the Right Category

Picking the right category sounds simple, and it used to be a bigger deal than it is today. When eBay was a lot smaller, potential buyers used to browse through the various categories to see what was available. Today, however, there are so many listings in every category that browsing is no longer practical; most items today are found via searching.

That said, the category you choose for an item can be used by potential buyers to help narrow their search. Unfortunately, not every product fits neatly within a single category. Maybe you're selling a model of an American Airlines jet airplane. Does it fit better in Collectibles: Transportation: Aviation: Airlines: American, or in Toys & Hobbies: Models, Kits: Air?

Where you put your item should be dictated by where the highest number of potential bidders will look for it. In the model airplane example, if there are more bidders traipsing through the Collectibles category, put it there; if there are more potential buyers who think of this as a toy or model kit, put it in the Toys & Hobbies category. Think like your potential buyers, and put the item where you would look for it if you were them.

You can also use various third-party research tools (such as those offered by Ándale and Mpire) to provide data on where other sellers placed similar items. Most of these research tools will tell you which category provided the best results, in terms of success rate and highest selling price.

If you determine that you can improve your results by listing your item in more than one category, take advantage of eBay's offer to list your item in two separate categories. It doubles your listing fees, of course, but it also potentially doubles your exposure. (You make this choice when you create your item listing, right at the start.)

Note

Learn more about third-party research tools in Chapter 2, "Researching Your Business Model."