How to Write the Perfect Product Title on eBay

You’ve landed at this article, because you’re looking how to write the perfect product title on eBay. I respect that, as it really means that you’re real about wanting to become a better online seller. Before we begin, I will state that this entire article is only valid for the eBay marketplace and will help you increase your sales.

So, how do you write the perfect product title on eBay? We are looking for an effective, snappy title that attracts buyers to click your listing. So let’s get into this one, starting with the lines that you should stay inside of.

eBay Title Requirements & Rules

eBay have strict rules for all aspects of their platform. You aren’t allowed to sell pre-orders over a 90 day period before release, you can’t use ‘placeholder’ listings to pre-list your eBay promotions and they will actively de-list your listings that break their rules.

I’ve flirted with eBay’s rules in the past, and experience told me not to risk it going forward. I was advised this by email:

This was for a specific set of cards, called HRO Trading Cards. They were physical cards, but each card had a QR code on it which allowed for an NFT unlock. My account was temporarily restricted.

Just like listings have rules and requirements, this also applies to your product titles.

With listings, it’s prohibited to have two listing titles that are duplicated. eBay won’t always advise you that they have done this, but they shadow-ban one of your listings. If you have the Beta Seller page, you will actually see that it’s hidden by the Duplicate Title policy. This isn’t the only guideline to follow:

• Accuracy: Titles must accurately describe the item you are selling. Do not include any false or misleading information.
• Relevance: Titles should be relevant to the item being sold. Avoid using unrelated keywords or phrases.
• Keyword Spamming: Do not use excessive keywords or repeat words unnecessarily. Listings with keyword spamming may be removed.
• Brands and Trademarks: Do not use brand names or trademarks that do not belong to the item you are selling. Be aware of intellectual property rights.
• Capitalization: You can use both uppercase and lowercase letters in your title, but avoid using ALL CAPS as it may be considered shouting and can be against eBay’s policy.
• Punctuation and Symbols: Use punctuation marks and symbols sparingly and only when necessary for clarity. Avoid using special characters excessively.
• Avoid Special Characters: Do not use special characters, such as asterisks (*), hashtags (#), or ampersands (&), unless they are a part of the item’s name or brand.
• Item Condition: Include the item’s condition in the title if it is relevant (e.g., “New,” “Used,” “Open-Box”).
• Size and Color: Include the item’s size and color if applicable and relevant to the product. Be accurate in your descriptions.
• Compatibility: If you’re selling an item that is compatible with specific brands or models, mention this in the title (e.g., “iPhone 11 Case – Compatible with iPhone 11 Pro”).
• Listing Format: If your listing is for a bundle or multiple items, specify this in the title (e.g., “Lot of 5 Vintage Comics” or “Bundle – iPhone, Charger, Case”).
• Avoid Special Characters: Avoid using symbols, such as @, $, or %, unless they are part of the product’s name or brand.
• No URLs: Do not include URLs or website addresses in your title.
• No Phone Numbers: Do not include phone numbers in your title.
• No Promotions or Sales Phrases: Do not use phrases like “Sale,” “Special Offer,” or “Limited Time Deal” in your title unless it is part of an eBay promotion.
• No Offensive Language: Titles should not contain offensive or inappropriate language.
• Length Limit: eBay may have specific character limits for titles. Make sure your title fits within these limits.
• Local Pickup: If your listing is for local pickup only, indicate this in the title (e.g., “Local Pickup Only – Los Angeles, CA”).
• Item Identifier: If your item has a unique identifier like an ISBN, UPC, or EAN, consider including it in the title for better search results.

Interestingly, they haven’t yet banned Emoji’s, and I see lots and lots of listings using these. The right ones are powerful, too!

There’s a lot to comprehend above, but once you’ve read it once, it’s second nature. You can even narrow them down into a single rule; don’t cheat the game!

Best Practices when creating your eBay Title

When you’re creating your eBay title, remember that it’s for Humans to read. Although you need to play to the eBay algorithm gods, ultimately, it’s real people that you want to click your listings.

The above is not good enough. What game is it? What Condition? You’ve had a chance to really sell it to a customer, but you’re not going to… unless you price yourself far too low to force a sale.

The longer your title is, the more chance you have of encouraging the click. However, you only get 80 characters, so it’s important not to waste these. Whilst you can use sub-titles too, these come at an extra cost. You can turn the above, into the below with relatively low effort.

Isn’t that much better? You’re describing the game, the condition, and even adding a cheeky reference to both PS5 and Playstation 5… which means that it will show up for sellers who search for either.

It’s like having an exam, you can rush ahead and complete it in 10 mins… or take some time and use the full allowance (80 characters) and receive better results.

Another key thing to understand is that you should always put the keyword at the start. Think how your customers would search for this.

They wouldn’t search for “Brand New and Sealed Fifa 23”, they’d search the way I did in the above example. Having the keyword at the start helps you to get higher up the listings.

My next tip is to advise you to capitalise Every Single Letter when making your title. There have been so many studies that show it makes things easier to read. In fact, if you’re listing from a mobile device, eBay automatically capitalises the first letter… so they believe it too!

Ultimately, eBay will decide where your listing ends up. The thing is, if you follow their rules, you have a much higher chance of getting higher on the rankings. This in turn, gives you a much higher chance of earning a sale.

My next tip is to advise you to use a power word in your title. A power word? you might ask yourself. On eBay, you don’t have much time to encourage someone to click your listing. Although image is most important, title is a close second. You need to reel a customer in quick. And I like to do so with power words such as:

• Genuine
• Official
• New & Sealed
• In Stock

One of my peeves is when a seller lists their item as IN HAND, or IN HAND now. This means that it’s in stock, but in a strange lingo that always makes me think “Are you carrying it everywhere with you? In hand?”

Why use in hand, when you can use in stock? It’s so much nicer to use in stock. Also, if you are involved in Global Shipping, I’m not sure In hand translates… at all.

eBay algorithm uses the principles of ‘Best Match’. This means that they will provide the buyers with the listings that are best optimised for the keyword search.

If you search for a Red T Shirt, you’re never going to be shown a blue one. Or at least, not at the top of the results! This algorithm is great for sellers, and is used by buyers that just want to click and buy.

Buyers can alter the sort method from best match, to lowest first, or distance nearest first, but Best Match is default. The algorithm also uses these factors:

• Your Seller Performance – If you’ve been cancelling sales or receiving negative feedback, your listings will be suppressed. You’re not doing eBay any favours, so they won’t do you any
• Your Store Policy – If you accept returns and have a fast handling time, your listing will be bumped up the rankings.

So remember, although Title is important, there’s a mesh of factors which you need to use to create the perfect product listing.

We will be doing a complete breakdown of all modules that make the perfect listing, but you can also find eBay’s tips for optimising your listings.

eBay Title Real World Examples: Good and Bad!

Now we’ve spoken about what makes a good listing, let’s look at a good listing, followed by a poor one. A real world example makes the perfect pick here, so I’m going to provide two of the same items.

We’ve got a great listing below. I’m not a fan of the stock image, but they’ve done everything else spot-on and they’re reaping the rewards with a sell price around 10% higher than market value, and still time left on the auction.

The title is perfect. It explains exactly what the product is, explains the condition of it and reads perfect. It’s as simple as that.

However, now I’ve got a perfect example of a bad listing, so let’s take a look at it below, before we dissect it.

Firstly, I know we aren’t looking at the image in this article, but it’s part of the problem. The listing shows 4 individual booster boxes, yet they’ve listed as a sealed case. (Not only is this an eBay not as described waiting to happen, but it’s just the wrong listing entirely).

So the title is the wrong product. He’s added capitals, and an emoji. I know they’re trying to make out fast shipping, but it’s just fast in capitals and that’s it.

There’s lots of wasted characters with in hand ready to send, he could’ve easily added Brand New, Sealed & In Stock.

Mistakes to Avoid when creating a Product Title on eBay

Avoid Using Capitals. They just don’t read well, and studies have shown that it reads like being shouted at when browsing for an item to purchase. Let’s look at Amazon for example, the biggest e-commerce marketplace on the planet:

No mad rush of capital letters. They know how to make items sell, so take their advice… or mine for that matter!

Double check your title to make sure you haven’t made any spelling mistakes, too.

A spelling mistake can cost you all of your potential audience. Imagine you’re selling a Toy Snake. One letter incorrect, and your buyers will only find you if they search for a Boy Snake… or maybe a Toy Shake?

Conclusion: Making the Perfect eBay Title

It’s really not that tough to make a great eBay title. However, I do advise that, if you are struggling, check the sold items of the same item that you’re trying to sell and take some inspiration from there.

Other than that, you can follow the expert tips I have provided above, to ensure you craft the perfect ebay title. Your sales will increase, and so will your eBay rating. In turn, this will push you up the rankings for future listings.

Have you got any mistakes which you can contribute? We’d be entertained to hear about them in the comments below.