The eBay search engine is now based on Best Match. Best Match is the system according to which listings are returned in response to searches to ensure a better experience for eBay buyers. Although the best match algorithm does not entirely depend on keywords for your auction to rank high, surveys showed that using specific keywords did help sellers get more exposure when buyers search for a particular item.

BayEstimate – the new tool in town which help to estimate what are the best keywords to use in your eBay listing titles. There seems to be many positives comments for this tool, and many sellers agree that their item visibilities went up.

Let’s see how this thing works. Now I want to list a new Coach Designer handbag.I simply entered the item title “COACH HANDBAG NEW SIGNATURE LEATHER” as the item title. Click submit.

A resulting page shows:

1. Buyers Search Query Matching Keyword

There’s a Modified Item Title which tells me a better way to organize my title compared to my originals. No difference noted here. Now I browse through the search query and see which keyword has the highest popularity number. “Coach” seems good. I clicked on it.

2. A breakup of my item title into individual keyword

Over here, you can the see desirability score for each keyword based upon the chosen buyer search query. This is the tricky part. The desirability score of the individual keywords can be totally different to the buyer’s search query. Over in this example, when a person search for a “Coach” handbag, the word “Signature” have higher desirability than leather.

3. The BayEstimate

This table contains a list of all the buyer search queries the system could find, that would lead to your item being found in search results.

The BayEstimate shown for each search estimates how well your title will perform when a buyer performs that search. i.e It estimates how relevant your item’s title is to a search. It does NOT estimate how relevant that search is to your title.

3. Keyword Suggestion Data Table.

Obviously, the keyword with the largest green dot shows that is the keyword buyers like most when searching for a Coach handbag.

4. Listing Category Suggestion Table

Besides that you also get which category to best launch your listing. This is based on the currently chosen search query and your item title.

The overall details when combined can give you more search visibility or none at all. It depends very much on how you use the results to your best advantage. It may not be the easiest and most comprehensive tools for a newbie, but you’ll be missing a lot if you overlook the BayEstimate. With some practice, I’m sure you’ll begin to get the hang of it.

P/S: Do remember that keyword is only part of the requirements for eBay best match. Remember to work on other parts of your eBay business too!

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