| The words you select to describe your item will have | | | | Another possible title might be 2002 Minnesota Twins |
| a tremendous impact on the final price it receives or | | | | Bobblehead Bobble Head". People searching for this |
| if it receives any bids at all. This is because no matter | | | | item type bobblehead into the search engine, while |
| how great the item is you have up at auction, if you | | | | others type bobble head. A search for one will not |
| use words that don't lead prospective buyers to it, | | | | bring up any results for the other, so at times it's to |
| no one will ever see it. You have a total of 45 | | | | your advantage to list two different spellings of the |
| spaces to use for your auction headline to get people | | | | same word. |
| to visit your auction, so it's extremely important that | | | | Take a few minutes to think about who would want |
| you use each space wisely. | | | | the item you are selling and, if they were searching |
| The vast majority of buyers search through eBay | | | | for it, what words would they be most likely to type |
| listings by entering the item they are looking for into | | | | into the search engine. |
| eBay's search engine. The main auction search engine | | | | You will find many sellers using what some call Power |
| only searches for words listed in auction titles. If a | | | | Words. These are words such as RARE, LIMITED, |
| person selects a word that isn't in your auction title, | | | | VINTAGE, UNIQUE, WOW, GREAT, WONDERFUL |
| your auction won't come up as a result of their | | | | and AWESOME. Many sellers seem to think that using |
| search. | | | | words such as these will attract more bidders to their |
| This means that by far the most important task you | | | | auctions. |
| have when composing a title for your auction is to | | | | I''ll guarantee you right now, that no one types any |
| use words that are relevant and specific to the item | | | | of these words into eBay's search engine. The use of |
| you are listing. While this may seem obvious, a lot of | | | | words such as these does nothing but take up |
| sellers don't do it (in fact, searching for listings in | | | | valuable space that could be used for words buyers |
| which people have ineffective or mis-spelled titles can | | | | do search for. Avoid them like the plague. |
| often get you some great items which you can resell | | | | The same applies to the symbols so many sellers use |
| for a profit). | | | | in their headlines. They try to make their headline |
| If you are going to spend any extra time on your | | | | stand out by using symbols such as $,#, %, and @ in |
| auctions, thinking through the best key words for | | | | their auction titles. A particular favorite of many is |
| your title is where you should spend that time. | | | | L@@K!. Once again, all of these are a complete |
| With a limit of 45 spaces, writing everything you | | | | waste of valuable title space. |
| want in the title just isn't going to be possible. For | | | | The only symbols you should ever use are & or |
| example, say you have a consignor with a complete | | | | + when their use will save you valuable title space. |
| set of four bobblehead giveaways, sponsored by | | | | Acronyms and abbreviations are another matter |
| Mountain Dew, that the Minnesota Twins gave away | | | | however. Collectors of certain items have developed |
| at select home games during the 2002 season. | | | | their own abbreviations and acronyms for certain |
| Although accurate, that description is way too long | | | | commonly used phrases within their specific collecting |
| for the allowable number of spaces. The key is to | | | | specialty. It is to your advantage to learn at least |
| think through an accurate description that includes | | | | some of these. |
| everything and then taking the most important | | | | NR, for example, means "No Reserve." To a Star |
| words out of that and using them. | | | | Wars collector ROTJ means "Return Of The Jedi." |
| A simple title might read "Minnesota Twins | | | | Becoming familiar with some of these that are |
| Bobbleheads". However, that title would be | | | | common with the type of items you sell will allow |
| ineffective because it isn't specific enough. While | | | | you to get more key words into the limited space |
| there are many buyers who are looking for | | | | which will result in more people viewing your auction. |
| Minnesota Twins memorabilia and bobblehead dolls, | | | | Spend some time browsing the titles that others |
| the categories are too large and your auction will be | | | | have created for their auctions. Look for both good |
| lost among all the listings. You will have a very limited | | | | and bad examples of titles. Just spending a few |
| number of people who will ever see your auction. | | | | hours doing this and thinking about where the seller |
| A better title might be "2002 Complete Set | | | | could have improved their title will help you |
| Minnesota Twins Bobbleheads". This title uses every | | | | enormously in writing titles for your own auctions. |
| available space and gives a specific description of | | | | Never forget - the first step is getting buyers to |
| what you are selling. It will also now appear in results | | | | your auctions because if they can't find them, they |
| for a narrower search. | | | | can't buy anything from you. |