Part 1: Understanding Promoted Listings

Have you ever wondered why some listings appear at the very top of the search results, marked as "Sponsored"? That's the work of Promoted Listings Standard, eBay's built-in advertising tool.

• What it is: Promoted Listings is a system where you agree to pay eBay an extra fee, but only if your card sells as a direct result of a buyer clicking on that sponsored placement. You get to choose the exact ad rate percentage you're willing to pay.
• How to use it: When creating or editing a listing, you'll see the "Promoted Listings Standard" option. We recommend always setting a rate of at least the 2% minimum. For highly competitive cards or bulk lots, you might consider going up to 5-10% to ensure your listing stands out from the crowd.
• When is it worth it? Here’s where a bit of strategy comes in. While you might think promotions are only for high-dollar cards, the opposite can be true. A popular $50 Charizard will likely sell regardless, but what about a $2 card with hundreds of identical listings? That's where promotions shine. Applying a small promotional fee to your lower-value cards is the best way to jump to the top of a crowded search results page, making your card the first one a buyer adds to their cart. As a general rule of thumb, the more listings a specific item or search term has, the more beneficial promotions will be.
• The Golden Rule: You only pay the ad fee if a buyer clicks the sponsored ad and purchases your card within 30 days. It’s a low-risk way to get a huge visibility boost.

Part 2: Making the eBay Algorithm Your Friend

The eBay search algorithm, nicknamed "Cassini," is a complex system that decides which listings to show to buyers. Your goal is to send signals to the algorithm that you are a serious, active, and reliable seller.

Here are the key factors the algorithm loves:

1. List Consistently: The algorithm rewards activity. This signals to eBay that your store is active and constantly offering new items. This does not necessarily mean to schedule listings out for the next 30 days, as it would be better to just list everything you have ready immediately, and have it available for sale. While we aim to list over 100 new cards a day, even a small, consistent number of new listings is a powerful signal.
2. Complete All Item Specifics: When you list a card, eBay asks for details like Card Type, Rarity, Graded, and Character. Fill out as many of these as you possibly can, not just the required ones. These specifics act as extra keywords, allowing the algorithm to precisely match your listing to the right buyer.
3. Offer Competitive Shipping: The algorithm gives a significant boost to listings that offer "Fast N' Free" shipping. One day handling time is key. I would also recommend adding 30 or 60 day free returns (paid by the seller). If you sell a lot of low-value cards, consider offering a combined shipping deal, like a $1 flat rate for any number of cards. It's a huge draw for buyers.
4. Use High-Quality Photos: This isn't just for buyers; the algorithm analyzes photo quality. Use a plain background and ensure the card is in focus, with no distractions. For sellers who list a high volume of cards, we personally recommend a dedicated scanner like the Ricoh fi-8170 to get crisp, perfect images every time.
5. Engage with Buyers: Respond to questions and offers quickly and professionally. Good communication is a strong positive signal to the algorithm.