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Traffic accident and Fortunately Tricycle

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Thu, 20 May 2010 07:06:00 +0000

How does a laser pointer work, and why do people say that

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Tue, 18 May 2010 03:27:00 +0000

A laser pointer works on the laser principle. It can be dangerous to your eyesight to look into one.

1) "A laser pointer is a portable, pen-sized laser designed to be held in the hand, and most commonly used to project a point of light to highlight items of interest during a presentation. Most laser pointers have low enough power that the projected beam presents a minimal hazard to eyes for incidental exposure. Consequently, beams from laser pointers are generally not visible from the side in normal clear air, but only visible as a point of light where the beam strikes a diffusely reflective surface. Some higher powered laser pointers are faintly visible via Rayleigh scattering when viewed from the side in moderately to dimly lit conditions."

"The output of laser pointers is generally limited by ANSI to 1 mW or 5 mW in order to prevent accidental damage to the retina of human eyes. Usually, pen lasers are class 2 or class 3a lasers, which require extended viewing times to damage the retina severely. "The risk to the human eye from transient exposure to light from commercially available class 3A laser pointers having powers of 1, 2, and 5 mW seems negligible." The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that Class 3a lasers could cause injury to the eye if viewed directly for approximately 0.25 seconds, although it has cited evidence that exposure to visible lasers is "usually" limited by the blink reflex of the eye, which they have timed at just under 0.25 seconds.

In the late 1990s, the laser pointer became a fad amongst adolescents as an irritant to be pointed stealthily at a movie theater screen or even at a person's eyes. In January of 2005, a New Jersey man was arrested for pointing a green laser pointer at a small jet flying overhead.

Despite legislation limiting the output of laser pointers in some countries (such as the United States and Australia), higher-power devices are currently produced in other regions (especially China and Hong Kong), and are frequently imported by customers who purchase them directly via internet mail order. The legality of such transactions is not always clear; typically, the lasers are sold as research or OEM devices (which are not subject to the same power restrictions), with a disclaimer that they are not to be used as pointers. DIY videos are also often posted on Internet video sharing sites like YouTube which explain how to make a high-power laser pointer using the diode from an optical disc burner. As the popularity of these hazardous devices soared, many manufacturers (mainly in China) began manufacturing similar high powered pointers. The FDA has published a warning on the dangers of such high powered lasers. Despite the disclaimers, such Lasers are frequently sold in packaging resembling that for laser pointers. Lasers of this type may not include safety features sometimes found on laser modules sold for research purposes."
Source and further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_pointer

Further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_safety

2) "A laser is an electronic-optical device that emits coherent light radiation. The term "laser" is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A typical laser emits light in a narrow, low-divergence monochromatic (single-coloured, if the laser is operating in the visible spectrum), beam with a well-defined wavelength. In this way, laser light is in contrast to a light source such as the incandescent light bulb, which emits light over a wide area and over a wide spectrum of wavelengths."
Source and further information:

Nokia targets low-end users

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Mon, 17 May 2010 10:08:00 +0000

Although Nokia is proving slow in launching a smartphone to rival the iPhone, Blackberry or Gphone, it is being quick in its efforts to bring new services to low-end non-smartphone users.

The world's biggest cellphone maker hopes by providing low-end users with services that previously were only available on expensive smartphones, these users will take longer to mirage to the high-end market where Nokia no longer has an advantage, thus giving the company extra time to defend its position in the high-end market.

Last week, Nokia announced the launch of its new Life Tools Service in China, which provides users in rural areas with customized services in the fields of agriculture, education and entertainment. The service will be delivered through short messaging services, Nokia said.

"In China, only 10 percent of mobile phone users have access to the Internet," said Chris Leong, Nokia's senior vice-president for China, South Korea and Japan. She said the company has "a huge ambition" to connect the remaining 90 percent of users in the country with the Internet.

According to the company, the Nokia 1616 and the Nokia 1800 will support the new service across China. "At least 10 handsets" will be launched in China to support the service, Leong said.

Nokia sold 107.8 million mobile devices in the first quarter, an increase of 16 percent over last year and a 15 percent fall from the previous quarter, according to the company's quarterly report.

In China, the company sold 21.1 million units, about 19.57 percent of Nokia's global sales volume. This was an increase of 20 percent compared to the fourth quarter last year, the only area with positive growth quarter-on-quarter.

"In countries like China, the price of the smartphone needs to be reduced to below 1,500 yuan to be accepted by most users," said Pang Jun, an analyst at research firm GFK China. He said only about 15 percent of cellphones sold in China are smartphones. The number is about 30 to 40 percent in the United States.

In China, where cellphone users have surpassed 700 million, smartphones are still used mainly by city dwellers. In the country's vast rural areas, most users still have handsets that cost less than 1,000 yuan, meaning that they are unable to surf the Internet as conveniently as smartphone users.

Earlier this year, Nokia launched a marketing campaign to promote its low-end C and X series products in China.

According to GFK, Nokia's market share in China is nearly 40 percent. That percentage is even higher in rural areas.

"I think Nokia's strategy is to bring its nascent Ovi services down to low-end handsets to expand its user base," said Fang Li, an analyst at research firm Analysys International. But she said that Nokia also needs to quickly launch innovative products in the high-end market because users' migration to smartphones is just "a matter of time".

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Change the item list mode to CSS+Repeater

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Thu, 13 May 2010 06:36:00 +0000

Just changed Itemlist mode to CSS + Repeater, delete the GridMode because it will take a long time to open the page.

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Apple’s China Supplier Foxconn Roughs Up Reporter

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Sat, 08 May 2010 02:51:00 +0000

Apple’s love of keeping a lid on product details before officially unveiled is not a secret. Now comes word that demand for secrecy has spread throughout Apple’s supply-chain, including its most prominent, China’s Foxconn. The supplier went so far as to rough-up a reporter investigating the company’s Guanlan, China factory.

After a Reuters reporter began taking photos outside the factory, Foxconn guards grabbed him and tried to drag him into the factory. Police later told the reporter: “This is Foxconn and they have a special status here. Please understand.”

In 2009, a Foxconn worker committed suicide, jumping off a dormitory at the Taiwa-based company’s Shenzhen, China factory following reportedly being interrogated by Foxconn security. The worker, Sun Danyong, 25, was being blamed for allegedly stealing an iPhone prototype. The worker’s family was later given $44,000 and a MacBook in compensation.

Three year before the suicide, Foxconn sued two Chinese reporters, asking for $4.4 million, after the duo revealed substandard working conditions.

Although Apple has said its requires suppliers to “treat all workers with dignity and respect,” a 2009 report by Apple found more than half of its partner factories in China did not fairly pay workers and 23 of 83 factories checked failed to even pay China’s minimum wage.

Foxconn’s behavior may be an extreme example of the lengths companies will go to retain lucrative contracts with Apple. Such contracts are laced with confidentiality requirements, including fines for companies believed to have leaked product information. Apple will often pick a supplier just weeks before a new product is unveiled, provide fake products and divide the work among multiple companies to lessen the chance of leaks.

For workers, Apple’s insistence on tight security sometimes means passing through metal detectors and frustration over the Cupertino, Calif. firm asking for unique designs that after being manufactured cannot be used elsewhere.

IPhone Maker in China Is Under Fire After a Suicide

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Sat, 08 May 2010 02:47:00 +0000

SHENZHEN, China — When a closely guarded prototype of a new Apple iPhone went missing at a huge factory here two weeks ago, an internal investigation focused on a shy, 25-year-old employee named Sun Danyong.

Mr. Sun, a college graduate working in the logistics department, denied stealing the iPhone. But he later complained to friends that he had been beaten and humiliated by the factory’s security team. On the night he was questioned, he sent an anguished text message to his girlfriend.

“Dear, I’m sorry. Go back home tomorrow,” he wrote, according to a message she later posted online. “I ran into some problems. Don’t tell my family. Don’t contact me. I’m begging you for the first time. Please do it! I’m sorry.”

Soon after, in the early-morning hours of July 16, Mr. Sun apparently jumped to his death from the 12th floor of an apartment building in what his employer, Foxconn Technology, says was a suicide.

Apple and Foxconn, one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of consumer electronics and a major Apple supplier, issued statements last week expressing sorrow for the death. Foxconn said it suspended one security officer, pending a police investigation, and that the company was now considering counseling services for its employees.

The Apple statement said: “We are saddened by the tragic loss of this young employee, and we are awaiting results of the investigations into his death. We require that our suppliers treat all workers with dignity and respect.” The company would not comment further.

The local police bureau declined to answer questions about the case. But reports of the apparent suicide have set off a firestorm of criticism of Foxconn’s treatment of Mr. Sun, labor conditions at its factories and the pressures Apple places on suppliers to abide by the culture of secrecy that surrounds its development of new products.

The case also underscores the challenges that global companies face in trying to safeguard their designs and intellectual property in the hotly contested smartphone market, particularly here in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, an electronics manufacturing center known for piracy and counterfeiting.

Apple’s popular iPhone is already widely imitated and counterfeited in China. And there are regular rumors on Chinese Web sites about new Apple prototypes leaking out of Chinese factories.

“When you outsource to a third party, you lose some control,” says Dane Chamorro, general manager in China at Control Risks, a global consulting firm. “And if you’re outsourcing to China, it’s going to be even more challenging. There’s going to be a bounty on every design.”

Labor rights groups say the worker’s death should compel Apple to improve conditions at its supplier factories in China and prevent worker abuse.

Foxconn, part of Taiwan’s Hon Hai group, has also been sharply criticized because of suspicions about unduly harsh treatment of the worker.

Foxconn, which produces electronics for some of the world’s best-known brands, like Sony and Hewlett-Packard, operates a cluster of sprawling factories in southern China. One of its Shenzhen campuses has nearly 300,000 workers.

But some labor rights activists say the company treats employees harshly, routinely violating labor laws.

In an e-mail message on Thursday, China Labor Watch, which monitors Chinese factories and is based in New York, blamed Mr. Sun’s death on “Foxconn’s inhumane and militant management system, which lacks fundamental respect for human rights.” The group said it published an in-depth study of Foxconn last year, detailing its abuses.

James Lee, general manager of China operations at Foxconn, defended the company’s labor practices in a lengthy interview on Friday, and also said the company would strive to improve management of its facilities.

“It’s very difficult for the company to defend itself against such charges,” Mr. Lee said of complaints from labor rights groups. “You’re welcome to look at how employees are treated here.”

A reporter toured two of the company’s campuses in Shenzhen on Friday, including the one where Mr. Sun worked. The campuses were so large they contained retail stores, banks, post offices and high-rise dormitories with outdoor swimming pools.

The reporter was not allowed to see manufacturing lines because the company said it had to protect trade secrets.

Outside the gates of one campus, most workers interviewed independently of the company said they were well treated. One of about 15 workers questioned admitted to being forced to work overtime above the legal limit.

In his interview, Mr. Lee, the Foxconn manager, said the company also had a duty to protect the intellectual property of its customers, and that it was honestly seeking answers to what happened to the product.

Foxconn said it still does not know what happened to the missing iPhone. The company said Mr. Sun was given 16 prototypes on July 9 or 10 to deliver to research and development, and failed to report one missing until three days later.

The company says his explanation for the missing phone did not seem credible and that he had had problems before.

“Several times he had some products missing, then he got them back,” Mr. Lee said. “We don’t know who took the product, but it was at his stop.”

In an interview with Southern Metropolis Daily newspaper last week, the security officer suspended by Foxconn denied beating Mr. Sun, saying only that he “became a little angry” and grabbed Mr. Sun’s right shoulder.

Even so, the company paid compensation to Mr. Sun’s family. It declined to say how much, but Mr. Sun’s brother cited a figure of 300,000 renminbi, or more than $44,000, and said Mr. Sun’s girlfriend was also given an Apple laptop computer.

Mr. Sun’s brother doubts he stole the prototype.

“He was honest and modest. He would never steal anything,” said Sun Danxiong, 28, his brother.

Mr. Sun grew up in a small, impoverished village in southwest Yunnan province and ranked first in his high school, his family says. He graduated from the Harbin Institute of Technology, one of the nation’s top schools, before joining Foxconn about a year ago.

On Thursday, with his son Danxiong standing nearby, holding a box with Sun Danyong’s ashes, the father, Sun Yangdong, said Foxconn had treated the family well. But he said he was still in shock that his son could leap from a building because he was so gentle and tender.

Soon after, a security guard, who was joined by two men wearing Foxconn shirts, threatened to “beat up” a journalist’s translator if she persisted in asking the family questions. Foxconn officials later said the guard was not on their staff and might have been with the police bureau.

Back in Yunnan, Mr. Sun said that on the night of his brother’s death, he had e-mailed friends, angry about Foxconn’s questioning of him. In one message, Mr. Sun said he was locked up and beaten. “A Fortune 500 company even has these things,” he wrote.

On Sunday, Danxiong said some of his brother’s friends told him Mr. Sun killed himself out of anger at Foxconn. His brother said: “They told me he was extremely angry at Foxconn; they humiliated him and he wanted to resist the company, and planned to do something big.”

Shanghai in final sprint for World Expo – A Preview of Pavilions

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Fri, 07 May 2010 09:06:00 +0000

: The 63-meter-high China Pavilion known as “the Crown of the East” at Shanghai World Expo 2010

More than 50 incumbent heads of state or government have expressed intention of visiting Shanghai to see the World Expo that is scheduled for May 1 to Oct. 31, organizers told Xinhua Thursday, which witnessed the 100-day countdown for the six-month-long mega event.

Five trial operation activities will be held at the end of April to check up exhibition pavilions, security and volunteer arrangements, visitor services and logistics for the Expo, sources with the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination said.

The whole city would be motivated for the last trial, and 500,000 people will take part in the drill, the sources added.

Most of the new transportation construction for the Expo, including a central ring road and new subway lines, have already been completed and put into use. Ferry and streetcar lines that cross the Huangpu River will be complete within three months.

More than 90 bus routes and five subway lines run through the Expo area, and 42 buses will run within 2.4 km of the area. The public transportation system would be able to meet visitor demand, though traffic jams are still possible during rush hours.

ABOUT THE 14TH CHINA BEAUTY EXPO HELD IN SHANGHAI

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:57:00 +0000

Yesterday i went to take part in the 14TH CHINA BEAUTY EXPO HELD IN SHANGHAI New International Expo Centre.As i am not in perfumery & cosmetics field, when i went to register as a visitor by my card, i was refused! Service people there told me i had to buy a ticket, so i could't enter in the main hall for free. Austin is a nice guy,with his help finally i enter into the Hall freely

There are so many different kinds of products for my eye to take in, total 3 kinds, 1st are perfumery,cosmetics and Toiletries, personal care products,2nd are professional beauty salon products and equipment, 3rd are Packaging raw materials, machinery, priviate label and contract manufacturing, we went through from the Hall W5 to W1 and collected many catalogs and samples, both of us felt very tired Meanwhile, i also took some photos for the beauties we met there:

Search engine SPAM detector

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Thu, 06 May 2010 03:23:00 +0000

This tool analyzes a web page reporting characteristics that search engines could consider SPAM
URL: http://tool.motoricerca.info/spam-detector

From bzsale.com

eBay's 'Best Match' Test to Limit Exposure for Some Features

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:26:00 +0000

eBay is doing away with certain optional listing features on October 1, 2009, as part of its changes to Best Match search that were announced as part of the "SR2" (Seller Release 2) in July. The company told AuctionBytes it has been testing Best Match under SR2 changes, and that the testing was going well. It is kicking off a new test today in which it said some visitors to the site would see search results under the new feature presentation.

In October, eBay will discontinue Featured Plus and will make Featured First available only to eBay Top-rated sellers and only for Best Match sort, and it will remove some other features including the Gift icon, Border and Highlight.

During the test, which runs from today through September 19th, eBay will get a preview of the how its updated Best Match algorithm performs against the new feature presentation that will come with SR2. eBay said a maximum of 20 percent of users would be getting the test experience, and less than 20 percent for some features.

Because the test impacts sellers who are paying fees for these features, eBay will be proactively crediting sellers for listings impacted by the test. Sellers will be credited for 20 percent for listings with featured fees (Featured Plus, Featured First, Gift icon, Border, and Highlight) for the period of the test. Sellers won't have to do anything to receive credits and should see them on the next invoicing cycle.

When asked why not credit the entire fee for features being tested, eBay said it would still be delivering at least and in many cases more than 80 percent of the value sellers have paid.

The reason for making some of these SR2 changes to the optional features is because the exposure features (Featured First and Featured Plus) push the core results set sorted by Best Match further down the page, which hampers the impact of Best Match, eBay said.

Please visit our other best march article on bzsale.com

Google Nexus One falls flat in spite of Android success - 5/4/2010 4:15:00 AM
Best match optimization - BMO for eBay - 5/2/2010 8:54:00 PM
Decoding eBay’s Best Match - 5/1/2010 8:27:00 AM
How To Get Better Best Match Results On eBay - 5/1/2010 8:11:00 AM
How to Make Your eBay Listings Appear Higher in Best Match Search Results - 4/30/2010 11:21:00 PM
How to maximize your position in Best Match search results - 4/30/2010 11:19:00 PM
Introducing eBay's Best Match Search Method - 4/30/2010 11:18:00 PM
Best Match Item Details (BMID) API - 4/30/2010 11:13:00 PM
eBay Best Match, Questioning eBay’s Head Office How It Works - 4/30/2010 11:12:00 PM
Best Match on eBay - 4/30/2010 10:10:00 PM
EBay's 'Best Match' A Bad One For Small Retailers - 4/29/2010 11:44:00 PM
Wellcome to BzSale.com - 4/29/2010 9:13:00 PM

Google Nexus One falls flat in spite of Android success

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Tue, 04 May 2010 11:15:00 +0000

Nexus One, the Android-powered smartphone bearing the Google brand excited the mobile phone market earlier this year, but has since fallen flat, amounting to what some would call a flop. This disappointing product has marred what has otherwise proven to be a very successful product, the Android mobile operating system.

Android Devices

Sales of Android-powered devices continue to skyrocket, confirmed by the latest quarterly data. As of the last period, 60,000 Android devices are being sold daily, a number falling short of Apple’s nearly 100,000 daily sales of the iPhone, but still an impressive number that continues to grow.

Android Apps

Android users have the ability to purchase apps from the Android Marketplace in ways similar to the way iPhone users buy apps from the Apple store. Apple’s store boasts nearly a quarter million titles, offering incredible options to iPhone users. That same flexibility is necessary for Android to be successful, and – so far – it has encouraging numbersr. 81% of mobile application writers are interested in building Android apps. In fact, over 50,000 apps are already available for Android, a strong showing for such a new product.

Flash – Apple’s Achilles Heel

Apple’s falling out with Adobe has crippled iPhone users’ ability to access Web-based content including video. Android is building Adobe Flash support into version 2.2, incorporating Flash Player 10.1 for Smartphones. Apple may have good reasons for leaving Flash out of its OS, but Android is going to win in the market when it boasts its Flash capability, distinguishing it from other popular platforms.

Android handsets have received rave reviews from critics and consumers alike. Consider for example the HTC Evo 4G and the HTC Incredible: two phones that took the market by storm by their high tech looks, power-packed features, and large, crisp displays. HTC’s lineup, Nokia’s recently announced N8 phone and Motorola’s Droid are just a few examples of the industry’s rapid development of Android hardware as opposed to those coming out for other operating systems.

Google Nexus One: RIP

With such a rosy outlook for Android, why has Google’s Nexus One been such a dud? In the first 74 days of availability, Google sold just 135,000 units compared to Droid’s million plus units sold in its first 74 days. After receiving good reviews during its prerelease days, Nexus One failed. In a sign of capitulation, Google has scrapped its plans to launch Nexus One with Verizon.

The cause of the Nexus One fiasco is attributed by many to the decision to sell the phone from Google’s online store. Others point to Google’s nonexistent technical support. Nexus One is manufactured by HTC, maker of phones hotter than Nexus One, so maybe HTC held back on Google so its own brand would outshine Nexus One. Regardless, with its platform becoming antiquated compared to the newcomers to the market, Nexus One appears to be relegated to the junk pile of good products that failed.

Best match optimization - BMO for eBay

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Mon, 03 May 2010 03:54:00 +0000

BMO tackled by SEO expert
As an seo expert I used my skills to work out how eBay best match works, and, more importantly,
how you can optimize your listing to increase your position.

I am not much for talking so here it is, this is how you get a top placement on eBays best match - please
don't be fooled in to paying for this kind of info - everything you need to know is right here free of charge.

How it's done...

After concluding my tests, I found that these are the top 20 methods for optimizing your eBay listing.

1/ The listing title
Your title is one of the most important parts of best match optimization.eBay's filter is very complex - it
seems to favour listings that have the keyword, and words related to the keyword in the title

for example - if you are selling a harry potter book you not only add the title of the book (keyword) but also related words such as "paperback" "JK Rowling" etc.

Don't go over the top, don't add the keyword more than twice in the title as it is likely to have a negative
effect on your best match placement.

click here to view example

2/ The Write up
Feature your keyword and related words frequently but naturally, again going over the top is likely to
have a negative effect on your listing.

When it comes to write up's, the more information the better, be thorough and detailed.

3/ Listing designer
As strange as it sounds using the listing designer can increase your position in the eBay best match
listings. I only found this out by trying every variation they offer - believe me the listing designer is a few
pennies well spent.

4/ Pictures
The more pictures the better - not on your own hosting but on eBays hosting.
This REALLY bumps your listing up in the rankings - one of the most important parts of best match optimization.

5/ Options
When creating your listing, eBay has lots of tick boxes asking you about your item. For example...

If you are selling an MP3 player, eBay will ask you (via tickboxes) how many gigabites it has, what
color is it, is it new etc....

It is VERY important that you fill in as many boxes as possible - I know it's a pain going through all
the options but it really does help.

click here to view example

6/ Dispatch time
The faster the better - again, this is a very important part of optimizing eBays best match results.

7/ Delivery service / courier
Select a fast delivery service from the list, again the faster the better.

8/ Delivery costs
Overcharging for postage on eBay is almost standard practise among many eBayers. If you want
to climb the best match results then you need to make sure you are not overcharging, if you can afford
to post for free then by all means do so.

Fast affordable delivery is one of the key factors in getting a good position in eBays best match results.

9/ length of listing
The longer the better - 10 day listings or (if available in your country) 30 day listings are definitely the
way to go.

10/ Price
Be very competitive in your pricing. This is not a major factor in allot of areas however if you sell items identical to ones being sold by other people you really need to price competitively.

11/ Authenticity
There are loads of counterfeit items out there, eBay try to keep them out so make sure you include
the words "genuine" and "authentic" in your listings especially if you sell branded items such as
shoes and electronics.

click here to view example

12/ returns policy
Make sure you accept returns and state the amount of days people have to return an unwanted item.
14 days minimum - 28 days is the best.

13/ Quantity available
The more the better. If you've got 1000 of them, put 1000 up for sale.

14/ Relist successful items correctly
If an item sells well it gets preferential treatment in the results. Click the relist button and then
add the revisions I am talking about before confirming your listing.

15/ Feedback
Work hard to keep your customers happy, we all know some customers can be a real pain in the
backside but your feedback is not only important for credibility but it also plays a part in eBays
best match search results.

click here to view example

16/ Local pickup for free
Adding this option is a big plus as the best match filter seems to take the buyers location in to account.

17/ Combined postage costs
Free or discounted postage costs for additional items is another big player in best match optimization.

18/ DSR stars (detailed seller ratings)
eBay buyers can now rate sellers using a 5 star system. High stars 4.5 or better will automatically get you better positions in best match search results.

If you have low stars for dispatch time and postage costs you need to rectify the problem asap.

click here to view example

19/ Powersellers
It helps if you are a powerseller but not massively, you will get slightly preferential treatment in eBays best match results but you still need to optimize.

20/ And last but not least - spelling and punctuation
Spelling is easy but punctuation is abit more iffy, (depending on wether or not you paid attention in
English class). write your listing properly with the correct punctuation as a final touch to your best
match optimization work.

What to expect
After using the info above, your listing should jump to the first page of eBay results.

What not to expect
Don't expect to get the very top position unless you have impeccable feedback and dsr ratings.

You can certainly get on the first page of results but don't be supprised if there are still a few listings
above yours.

The best selling items automatically get high positions, so, if you haven't sold alot don't expect to get
the very top position overnight.

My research is ongoing so please bookmark and revisit regularly.

Decoding eBay’s Best Match

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Sat, 01 May 2010 15:27:00 +0000

eBay’s Best Match search algorithm has sellers up in arms because, in many cases, their auctions never make it to the first page of eBay’s search results. There’s been speculation on what the eBay Best Match algorithm considers when generating the order in which search results are listed. Forbes Magazinespeculates that search results are predominately a factor of seller feedback and powerseller status (effectively squeezing out the small eBay sellers). AuctionBytes has suggested that eBay’s Best Match algorithm might be a function of many things including: powerseller status, shipping options, feedback ratings and Detailed Seller Ratings, and use of item specifics in the description and the titles. A number of sellers on the forums have speculated even more conspiratorial theories of the factors they think are influencing the ranking algorithm. I’ve always been a fan of facts vice speculation and guesses, so I hit Google looking for some answers. After a few hours of research, I managed to track down eBay’s Best Match patent application.

The bulk of the patent application describes the relationship between search terms, the text in the auction title and how relevance and desirability are determined. The Best Match patent does describe other factors that can influence search result rankings including (but not limited to):

pictures available
seller ratings
price range
geographic proximity of searcher to seller
shipping prices
time left in an auction
number of bids
Buy it Now
Update - For a less technical explanation of Best Match, view Best Match Made Simple

The Best Match patent application describes how these factors can be included and weighted in the basic algorithm to influence the search results. Indeed, eBay has already announced that sellers with low Detailed Seller Ratings for shipping and handling would no longer rank highly in their search results — so we know this a factor that influences the algorithm.

But the base algorithm involves strictly auction titles and this is was we need to have a fundamental grasp of as we decode the eBay Best Match search algorithm.

The patent application describes the eBay Best Match algorithm as “a system and method to sort search results based upon [a relevance score and] a desirability value.” It goes on to say…

This desirability value may be based upon the difference between a demand value and a supply value. Demand may be based upon user activity such as click-through, purchases, price, or location. Supply may be based upon a supply of keywords that may be the number of times a word is used in search or item title. The system and method may include receiving a search query, associating a first numerical value with a keyword that is a part of the search query, tracking user activity associated with the keyword, associating a second numerical value with the keyword based upon the user activity, finding a difference value between the first and second numerical values, associating this difference value with the keyword, sorting keywords based upon the difference values, and returning the search results of the sorting.

Huh?

Please allow me to attempt an explanation…

Determining Relevancy Score
When a visitor to eBay inputs one or more keywords into the search box, the search algorithm returns the auction listings with keywords in the title that match those included in the user’s query. The eBay Best Match algorithm now assigns a point value to each and every word in the title text string displayed to the user. Initially this point value is zero, but this will change based on the actions of the searcher.

Good Keywords Get Rewarded
If the user clicks on an auction title in order to view a particular listing, each of the words in that auction title are awarded a point. These points are used to evaluate the relevance of auctions in future searches. If the user takes further actions such as adding to watch lists, placing a bid, or actually purchasing the item up for sale, those words are awarded additional relevance points.

For example, if a visitor to eBay.com searched for “iPod nano,” the default search results would return all auctions with the words “iPod nano” in the listing title. If the user then clicked on an auction with the title “Brand New iPod nano 4 GB Black MP3 Player Sealed,” each of the words in the title would be awarded a relevancy point. These points would accumulate over time and keywords that accrue more points would be considered more relevant in future eBay Best Match searches for the query “iPod nano” and help determine the sort order when the results are presented on the results page.

Bad Keywords Get Punished
The converse is also true. The eBay Best Match algorithm identifies unique key words in auction titles that don’t get clicked and assigns a negative point value to those words. It will only assign a penalty to those words that don’t match keywords in the auctions that do get clicked.

For example, if when our eBay user searched for “iPod nano” and clicks as described above, but does not click on the auctions entitled “New iPod nano leather case” or “Used iPod nano USB charger,” the words “leather,” “case,” “used,” “USB” and “charger” would receive negative points towards their relevancy score because the searcher did not click, add to watch list, bid or make a purchase auctions with those words in their listing title.

Keyword Relevance Scores are Determined over Time by User Actions
Over time, keywords develop a relevance value by accumulating positive and negative points. The more visitors to eBay that click on auction titles, place bids, add to watch lists, and ultimately buy, the more positive points are awarded to keywords in those auction titles and these words are considered more relevant to future searchers.

When eBay visitors fail to click auction listings with certain keywords in their titles, those keywords are considered less relevant and points are deducted from their relevancy score.

Keywords can have a negative score. If, over time, users who search for the “iPod nano” just are not interested in auction titles with the word “used” them, and thus hardly ever click on titles with that keyword, “used” will accumulate a significant negative relevancy score for that search query.

Calculating an Auction Listing’s Relevance Value
Although this is a simplification of the eBay Best Match algorithm, part of an auction listing’s relevance value is the sum its title’s keywords scores for that particular search query. Let’s say for the search query “iPod nano,” the keywords below have accumulated the following relevance scores:

iPod (1.39429)
nano (1.10132)
MP3 (1.11403)
New (1.08399)
Sealed (0.553271)
Case (-0.107664)
Used (-0.117723)
Charger (-0.173231)
4GB (0.530753)
Player (0.86456)
USB (0.00000)
Note: These are hypothetical scores

Hypothetical Examples

Therefore the Best Match relevance value for an auction with the title, “New iPod nano MP3 player ~ sealed” would be 5.010141(1.08399 [new] + 1.39429 [iPod] + 1.11403 [MP3] + 0.86456 [player] + 0.553271 [sealed] = 5.010141).

A relevance value for an auction with the title “Used iPod nano USB charger” would be 2.204656(-0.117723 [used] + 1.39429 [iPod] + 1.10132 [nano] + 0 [USB] – 0.173231 [charger] = 2.204656).

Interestingly, the relevance value for an auction with the title “4GB iPod nano with charger and case” would only be 1.351178(0.530753 [4GB] + 1.39429 [iPod] + 1.10132 [nano] – 0.173231 [charger] – 0.107664 [case] = 1.351178). Even though this is probably a better value than the first example (because it includes some accessories), this auction has a lower relevance score because it includes the words “charger” and “case” in the listing title. In our hypothetical example, these words have a negative relevance score for the search query “iPod nano,” because bidders who use this term have been more interested in the actual MP3 players than auctions for just accessories.

Determining Desirability
Another factor influencing eBay’s Best Match search results is something termed “desirability.” This is a relatively basic function of supply and demand. If most searchers using the query “iPod nano” are actually looking for the MP3 player vice accessories then demand for auctions selling MP3 players is high. If most of the listings with the keywords “iPod nano” in the title are actually auctions for accessories, then the supply of iPod nano MP3 player auctions is low.

Supply and Demand

Thus auctions for items in which demand is high and supply is low are considered “desirable” and score highly for desirability. Auction listings with a high relevance score and a high desirability score are going to rank higher in the Best Match search results than auctions with a lower combined score.

Auction where supply is high and demand is low are going to score poorly for desirability.

How Supply is Calculated
According to eBay’s Best Match patent application, “the total occurrence of every unique keyword in all the titles is first determined. Then the percentage occurrence of each keyword in the result set [(the auction titles)] is determined. For example, if there were 1000 items in the results [for the search query ‘iPod nano’], and the word ‘charger’ occurs in 900 items, then the supply percent of charger is 90%. If the keyword ‘player’ occurs in 50 items, then its supply percentage is 5%.”

How Demand is Calculated
“The percentage that each keyword is used in an activity data set, [‘demand’], is calculated in the following manner. Activity data is collected on a daily basis, data that includes activities such as clicked, bid, bought, or added to watch list… are associated with keywords used in item titles. For example, if for the query ‘iPod nano’ 1000 click-throughs are collected and we know the item title of each one, then the occurrence of every unique keyword in this set of titles is calculated. The percentage occurrence of every keyword in the same set is calculated. Thus, if the keyword ‘charger’ occurred in 100 of these 1000 titles, the percentage of charger in the ‘demand’ is 10%. Similarly, if ‘player’ occurs in 950 titles, its demand percentage is 95%.”

Calculating Desirability
The formula provided in the Best Match patent application for calculating “desirability” is as follows:

Desirability = log2(1.0+(dw*d))-log2(1.0+(sw*s))

Where:

d= demand
dw = demand weight
s = supply
sw = supply weight
The patent application notes that demand weight “is set to 3 by default,” while supply weight “is set to 1.” This means that demand is three times as important than supply when calculating desirability in the eBay Best Match algorithm.

Putting it All Together

The patent application is particularly vague in how the Relevance Score and Desirability Score are combined to produce a value that is used to determine the ranking in the Best Match search results. Obviously, a higher combined relevance and desirability score will rank higher in the search results than lower scores.

Additional Factors Affecting Best Match Search Result Ranking
Recall that the patent also mentions other factors that can influence the final Best Match search results placement. The factors specifically mentioned include:

Price range
Geographic proximity of seller to searcher (as determined by the seller’s address on record and the IP address of the searcher’s computer)
Time until auction close
Number of Bids
Seller Feedback
Pictures
Buy it Now
Current price compared to average sale price (is it a bargain?)
The patent specifically mentions that these factors could be weighted differently or not at all depending on corporate decisions and that additional factors could be included. We already know that sellers with low scores in their Detailed Seller Ratings for “Shipping and Handling Charges” are receiving, according to eBay “considerably reduced visibility.” This means that their auctions are buried in the search results. Therefore at least one aspect of the Detailed Seller Ratings is a factor (with substantial weight) in the eBay Best Match search algorithm.

Optimizing Your Auction Listings for eBay’s Best Match
Just as webmasters optimize their web pages for Google, eBay sellers can optimize their auction listings for Best Match search results. Your objective here is to be at the top of the first page of the search results.

The area in which the seller can exert the most influence on their Best Match ranking is the title. The title has always been important, but now it’s even more critical.

You’ll need to do a little investigating to determine what words to include in your title, and just as importantly – what words to exclude.

Search for an item on eBay, but put yourself in the buyer’s shoes when you think of the term that you are going to enter into the search box.

Next, sort by Best Match if the search results are not already sorted in that manner.

Take a note of the words used in the titles of the auction listings returned on the first page of the Best Match search results.

Now go to the middle of the Best Match search results and note what words are in the titles of the auctions listed. Does anything stand out?

Finally go to the last page of the Best Match search results and note the words included in the auction titles there? Does anything stand out?

Determine the Good Keywords

Are there any words that are more prevalent in the titles near the top of the search results that are less prevalent in the middle and the bottom of the search results? If so these are good keywords that have a high positive relevance score.

Determine the Bad Keywords

Are there any words that are more prevalent in the titles near the middle and bottom of the search results that are less common in the titles of the auctions that made it to the top of the list? These are bad keywords that have a low or negative relevance score.

Include the Good and Avoid the Bad

You want to avoid including keywords you suspect have a low or negative relevance score and include those keywords that you think have a high relevance score.

Important– Only include keywords that apply to your auction listing. Including keywords that are irrelevant or misleading just because you suspect they have a high relevance score is considered keyword SPAM. eBay is quick to cancel auctions that SPAM their auction titles and competing sellers are quick to report offenders. As eBay’s Best Match search algoritym matures, auctions with titles like “like NEW MP3 PLAYER better than IPOD NANO” are apt to be cancelled or penalized in some manner as to make them irrelevant.

Other Factors You Might Influence
As you explore sample auctions that rank well or poorly in eBay’s Best Match sort results, take note of other things that might be influencing the results of the algorithm.

Are there pictures? How many? Are they hosted by eBay’s picture services or some external host?
Is there a Gallery image? Any other features?
How long until the auction ends?
What are the shipping costs?
Etc.
You might just notice patterns that will tip you off to some of the different factors that are currently influencing the Best Match search algorithm. Some of them you may be able to influence and some of them you might not. Concentrate on the affecting the things that you can change.

Experiment. Build on your successes and learn from your mistakes.

Star Wars Comic Case Study

Briefly examining the Best Match search results for the query “Star Wars Comics,” a couple of things jump out at me. The keyword “lot” (ie more than one comic) is obviously a term with a high relevance score because the majority of the titles on the first page of the search results include the term. Jump back to page five of the search results, we see many of the same comics, closing during the same timeframe that have the keyword “pack” or “pak.” They are offering the same deal (a bundle of comics), but obviously the algorithm considers the keyword “lot” more relevant than “pack.”

Lesson:Sell comics in bundles and use the term “lot” in the title. Avoid the term “pack.”

Additionally, the time until the auction closes is also a factor influencing the listings search rankings. The first 4 pages of search results are pretty much limited to auctions closing in the next 48 hours. The next 4 pages include auctions that are closing in 72 hours.

Lesson: Consider the 3-day auction span to keep my auction near the top of the listings throughout.

All but two of the listings on the first page had shipping prices specified. As you went deeper into the search results, a greater percentage of the results listed the shipping costs as “not specified.”

Lesson: Specify the shipping and handling rate in the form when you are listing an auction. Simply including the shipping charge in the item description appears to be insufficient under Best Match.

The Bottom Line

Just remember, the Best Match search algorithm is about making eBay money. They want to feature the auctions that are most likely to result in a click, in a bid, and ultimately a purchase. So they want to put the auctions in front of the potential bidder that are most likely going to result in those actions.

Your objective now is to make sure that eBay puts your auctions at the top of their Best Match search results – so you, along with eBay, get the click, the bid, and the sale.

Good Luck!

How To Get Better Best Match Results On eBay

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Sat, 01 May 2010 15:11:00 +0000

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!

How to Make Your eBay Listings Appear Higher in Best Match Search Results

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Sat, 01 May 2010 06:21:00 +0000

Best Match is eBay's sorting technology that displays search results based on various factors such as key words, listing end time, seller DSRs, shipping price, etc. The Best Match system is based on customer's historical behavior for similar searches.

Learn how you can make your listings appear higher in the Best Match sort order.

1.When a buyer performs a search on eBay, the results are returned in the order that eBay determines,namely, based on buyers' historical behavior for similar searches. The sort order can be changed by the buyer (price high to low, ending time, etc.), but 80% of eBay users do not change the search order. Therefore, you must take proactive steps to make sure that your listing is near the top of the search results, or your listing will not be seen.

2.Be very specific with your key words in your title. eBay allows only 55 characters for the title. Use these characters wisely and don't waste space with silly characters like @, WOW, L@@K, !!!!, etc. These characters are not considered in the search. You want to maximize your chances of the search finding your items and placing them at the top of the search results. Only use characters that buyers search with.

3.List your item in all relevant categories. For example, let's say you are selling a men's tie with a fish theme. You can list the item in the clothing/mens/accessories category, and the collectibles/animals/fish category. Listing in two categories costs more, but your item will be exposed to more buyers. A collector may not even be looking for a tie, but a fish fanatic might see it in the collectibles category and buy it on impluse.

4.Fill out all the item specifics and include relevant details. For example, include size, color, brand, condition, etc. If there is a space under Item Specifics, include the information. If the listing has no item specifics, you can't add them later and you can't use bulk editing to revise a listing without item specifics. You will have to end the listing and relist it, making for more work later.

5.Include shipping costs. Some buyers will sort by "Price + Shipping (lowest)" to determine their total cost for an item. Include your shipping fee so that your item will receive a higher priority than those without shipping information, and so that it will be returned in search results when a buyer searches by "Price + Shipping."

6.Offer free shipping if possible. Now, you aren't really shipping the item for free. You will build the shipping cost into the price of your item. But for the sake of eBay Best Match and sort order, you want your item to be coded for "Free Shipping." Items with free shipping get a boost in Best Match search results.

How to maximize your position in Best Match search results

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Sat, 01 May 2010 06:19:00 +0000

The goal of Best Match, eBay's default sort order, is to help buyers find just what they're looking for from sellers they trust. For you as a seller, this means getting your listings in front of the buyers most interested in your products.

There's no "silver bullet" for getting a good position in search. Many factors are considered in Best Match and can vary with different circumstances. But the bottom-line best practices for optimizing your position in search are consistent with good business practices for maximizing sales. And, it's important to follow these best practices better than your competition:
Offer good prices and reasonable shipping
Provide good service
List in the right format and the right categories
Write accurate and relevant titles
Write clear item descriptions
Include great photos
State your terms clearly
Focus on business basics
Understanding some principles of how Best Match works can help you optimize your listings for search. But it's important to remember that Best Match considers a number of factors which may vary by category and continuously evolves and improves in response to buyer interests and behavior. The real key to getting and keeping a good position is to focus on sound business practices and delivering great value and service to your buyers.

How Best Match works
To show buyers the most relevant and popular items for their search, Best Match considers a number of criteria. Some are consistent for all categories and listing formats and some are unique.

Auction-style and Fixed Price listings are sorted separately according to the most relevant criteria and then intermingled to show buyers a good mix of both types of listings on each page of search results.

Key factors considered regardless of format or category include seller track record, competitive pricing (including shipping cost), and the relevance of the listing in relation to what the buyer is looking for.

7 Best Practices to make Best Match work for you in any listing format:
Price competitively
The price of your item is key for Fixed Price listings. When it comes to price, it's rarely a good strategy to "set it and forget it." Keep a close eye on how price is impacting your status and make adjustments as needed to stay on top.

Quick tip: Watch your closest competitors on and off eBay and look at what they are charging for similar items. Buyers know how to find the best deal.

Focus on customer satisfaction
Become an eBay Top-rated seller. As a reward for consistently providing great service, eBay Top-rated sellers get an exclusive increase in exposure in Best Match for their Fixed Price listings that can make a significant difference. Plus, buyers see this badge next to your listing in search results and on your item page.

Note, Top-rated seller status does not guarantee your listing will appear above a more relevant or more competitively priced listing from a seller that's not Top-rated. But all things being equal, you'll have advantage.

Stay at or above eBay's minimum standard for all sellers. If you fall below, both your Fixed Price and Auction-style listings will be lowered in search results. Use your Seller Dashboard to keep close tabs on your status and learn what you can do to improve.

Free shipping can also give your Fixed Price listings a boost in search results in some categories. Note, Auction-style listings are not given an advantage in search for free shipping, but regardless of format, free shipping can also improve your Detailed Seller Ratings (DSRs) for shipping cost, an important factor in the requirements for Top-rated seller status. Excessive shipping, on the other hand, causes your Fixed Price and Auction-style listings to be lowered in search.

Write effective titles
Relevant keywords get your listings in front of interested buyers and that means more sales. As a general rule, include all the relevant information about your item and exclude irrelevant keywords:
Use multiple, descriptive keywords that clearly convey what you are selling. Use all 55 characters.
Include your item's brand name, artist, or designer. However, don't include too many brands, or list all possible uses of an item. Put the brand names or uses in the subtitle or split into multiple listings, each with only two or three brands or uses.
Include item-specific attributes. For example, if selling shoes—include size, color and condition.
State exactly what your item is, even if your title repeats the category name.
Use correct spelling.
Omit punctuation marks and asterisks.
Try not to include non-relevan words like "wow" or "look." Buyers don't search for these.

List in the correct category List in the category that's most relevant to your listing. If you list in two categories, make sure your item is relevant and likely to sell in both categories.

Provide as many item specifics as possible
List your item's features, attributes, and condition by using the item specifics provided by eBay or customizing them. For example: if your item is new but you don't specify it, buyers who narrow their search to find only new items won't see your listing.
Because product condition is one of the top purchasing criteria for eBay buyers, be sure to provide the product's condition using item specifics.

Use product details from our catalog
Product details can help you create complete listing descriptions that are more visible and appealing to buyers. When you use product details in your listing, they:
Make listing easier and descriptions more complete
Also show up on our product details pages—making it easier for buyers to find your listing

Group multiple identical items into a single multi-quantity fixed price or multi-variation listing
You can list multiple identical items in one fixed price listing. When you create a fixed price listing, you specify a Buy It Now price for each item. Buyers can purchase your items immediately without bidding and waiting for an auction to end.

When selling multiple items at a fixed price, it pays to choose a longer duration, such as 10-day, 30-day, or Good 'Til Cancelled.

You can create a listing with variations if you want to offer choices in your listing, such as a T-shirt in a variety of sizes or colors. Listings with variations are always fixed-price listings.

Some advantages of creating listings with variations:
You don't need to create a separate listing for individual items, which saves time and money.
Buyers have the convenience of selecting one or more variations of the item without scrolling through a large number of search results.
You can track inventory for individual items to make sure you don't run out.
Currently, you can create a listing with variations in Clothing, Shoes, & Accessories, Home & Garden, and many others. See if multi-variation listings are available in your category.

Choose the right format:

Auction-style Format:
A main factor to sort Auction-style listings is time ending soonest. Use the Auction-style format when:
You're unsure of the value of your item and want it to sell right away, allowing the eBay Marketplace to determine its value.
You have unique and hard-to-find items that could attract demand and spur a bidding war, maximizing profits from your listing.
You are currently using Auction-style listings and you have a high sell-through rate (your items typically sell the first time you list them).
Fixed Price Format:
A main factor to sort Fixed Price listings in most categories is the listing performance score (sales as related to impressions the listing received)

Listing performance score: sales in relation to impressions
In most categories, Best Match assigns a score to Fixed Price listings based on the listing's sales in relation to the number of impressions it received. An impression is counted whenever a buyer sees a page that includes the listing. A high listing performance score = a high sales to impressions ratio.

Newly listed Fixed Price listings are given some impressions upfront based on the performance of other similar listings. It's important to remember that this advantage is temporary and the success of the listing-and your ability as a seller to leverage low Fixed Price Insertion Fees and manage upfront costs-depends on the listing quickly building a sound sales history.

Fixed price listings in Art, Antiques, Coins & Paper Money, Collectibles, Dolls & Bears, Pottery & Glass, Toys & Hobbies, Stamps, Sports Memorabilia, Cards & Fan Shop, and Entertainment Memorabilia use time recently listed as an important factor in Best Match sort.

Choose Fixed Price when:
You have multiple items that you can group into one listing.
You know the value of your item or know the exact price you need to get for it.
You have a lot of inventory and want to minimize your upfront Insertion Fees. Use 30-day durations and try automatic renewals (Good 'Til Cancelled) to boost efficiency.
You want your items to be available to buyers for more than 7 days.

Other best practices to help you close the lead:

There are other best practices that can help you close the sale once your listing is on front of an interested buyer.

Write a great description

Here are some questions you may want to consider when writing your item description:
What is the item?
What material is it made of?
When was it made?
What company/artist/designer/author made it?
What condition is it in?
Is the item new, used, or still under warranty? Be sure to mention any flaws or repairs.
What are its dimensions?
What country/location is it from?
Does it have any notable features or markings?
Does it have a special background or history?
When you are finished, spell check your description for accuracy.
State your terms clearly
Including clear terms and conditions in your listing can help set buyer expectations and improve your transactions.
Make your terms of sale easy to find and understand, so buyers know what to expect before making a purchase.
Make sure you include this information in your listing:
Shipping and handling costs and shipping services offered
Forms of payment accepted, including how long the buyer has to pay
Return policy
Restocking fees, if applicable
Taxes or other fees that may apply
Include information on the buyer's responsibility for taxes and custom fees, as well as whether they're responsible for shipping costs on returned items.
Be sure the information in your listing form is consistent with what's listed in the item description. A common mistake is specifying shipping costs on the form, but then listing a different amount in the item description.
Include high-quality effective photos

Adding pictures to your listing helps you increase sales, gives your buyers a more accurate picture of what to expect, and distinguishes your listing from others of its kind. We recommend that all images clear and in focus, and be at least 1000 pixels on the longest side. If they're in JPEG format (most common), they should have a quality of 90 or greater on the standard 0-99 JPEG quality scale.

Introducing eBay's Best Match Search Method

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Sat, 01 May 2010 06:18:00 +0000

Recently eBay changed the default way in which search results are presented to visitors and potential bidders. Instead of sorting them by time, with auctions that are ending soonest listed at the top of the search results, they are now sorted by an algorithm called Best Match that considers a number of factors including:

- Listing Type - Fixed-price or auction style listings change the dynamic depending on the listing's category.
- Trust Factors - Including Feedback scores, Detailed Seller Ratings and other metrics.
- Product Information - Including listing attributes, shipping methods and charges, category, and other information.
- Demand Data & Relevancy - This factor involves what buyers are doing on the auction site relative to the products you have listed for sale.

Understanding eBay's Best Match is important because your auction listings can be rewarded or penalized in the search result listings based on the factors listed above.

If your listings are penalized, you may never find your way to the first page of the eBay search results. This is a precarious fate for an eBay seller, because that means bidders aren't seeing your listings. And if they aren't seeing them, they're not bidding on them and you're not making the sales.

Conversely, if your listings are rewarded because you have mastered these factors, they may linger at the top of the search results for much longer than they would have under the old default search algorithm and sort method. For most sellers, this result directly correlates into additional sales and higher final bid prices.

One of the easiest ways to improve your Best Match ranking is to identify and select the proper keywords to include in your listing's title. These words are used to determine the relevancy score of the auction listing.

eBay tracks the words in the particular titles of auctions that: (1) get clicked, (2) get added to watch lists, (3) get bids, and (4) ultimately get sold. For certain search query's (the particular words that potential bidders type in the search box) eBay has determined that these particular words appear more often in the titles of listings that get that desired bidder activity (click, watch, bid, buy) than those that don't. The more often these bidder activities occurred, the higher the relevancy score for the keywords in a particular auction title.

Examples of keywords that typically score well include "new," "lot," "mint," "rare," "autographed," etc.

Not many sellers are aware that eBay Research Labs has a public and free web page where you can optimize the keywords in your eBay listing title for the Best Match search algorithm. Visit the "BayEstimator" on the eBay Labs website to test how your keywords score for a particular search query.

The address is: http://labs.ebay.com/raghavgupta/demoto/to

Best Match represents a fundamental shift in the eBay marketplace. Sellers who adapt to these changes can see marked improvements in their online sales. Identifying and including the appropriate keywords in the title is the single action that will greatly improve your rankings in the Best Match search results with relative simple effort.

Doug Feiring is the author of the FREE 123 page eBook, Best Match Made Simple. Learn how to rank highly in eBay's Best Match by downloading your free ebook at http://www.auctioninsights.info/bestmatchbook today.

Best Match Item Details (BMID) API

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Sat, 01 May 2010 06:13:00 +0000

The Best Match Item Details (BMID) API enables developers to understand key factors affecting their search ranking when sorted by Best Match.

Best Match is the default sort order for search results on eBay. Using the Best Match Item Details API, developers can write applications that help sellers understand their item rank for a given key word, identify factors that impact their listing performance score as well as allow them to analyze their business at a category level.

Supported Features

Formats: XML and SOAPProtocols: HTTP POST

APIs supported

findBestMatchItemDetailsAcrossStores: Returns Best Match information about items in eBay stores based on a specified set of keywords, a category ID, or both.
findBestMatchItemDetailsAdvanced: Returns Best Match information about items based on a specified set of keywords, a category ID, or both.
findBestMatchItemDetailsByCategory: Returns Best Match information about items based on a specified category ID.
findBestMatchItemDetailsByKeywords: Returns Best Match information about itemitems based on a specified set of keywords.
findBestMatchItemDetailsByProduct: Returns Best Match information about items based on a specified product ID.
findBestMatchItemDetailsBySeller: Returns Best Match information about items associated with the authorized caller.
getBest Match Item Details: Returns Best Match information about items matching specified item ID values.
getVersion: Returns the version of the eBay Best Match Item Details server.

Documentation

: Browse all calls and the fields they use.

Making a BestMatchItemDetails API Call: Look at the format and parameters of a Best Match Item Details call.
User Guide: An overview, use cases, and best practices for the Best Match Item Details API.
Release Notes: View enhancements in each release.

Support

Production System Announcements: See the latest system announcements regarding eBay Best Match Item Details API
eBay Developer Forums: Free support from your fellow developers and Developer Technical Support
Developer Support: Choose from paid support offerings, including
Support Requests

eBay Best Match, Questioning eBay’s Head Office How It Works

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Sat, 01 May 2010 06:12:00 +0000

Recently I was invited to attend a telephone conference and put a few questions to some of the heads of the eBay Best Match European Team and I asked a couple of awkward questions about eBay best match tips and eBay best match optimization. Some of the main points I will mention here.

How does the eBay best match work?

If you are ‘tech savvy’ you will know that search engines operate based on a mathematical formula namely an algorithm and eBay’s best match search is no different.

Key factors that influence eBay Best Match Optimization

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•Free shipping helps. Buyers like to see free shipping and eBay’s again rewards listings with free shipping. Yes if you include your shipping costs in your selling price you will pay a percentage to eBay in fees. eBay say “The amount of extra sales you generate by using free shipping will offset the small increase in the amount of fees you pay”
•It was confirmed that Feedback percentage is not as important as Dsr’s when it comes to determining search standing in eBay best match. High dsr ratings and seller status will affects search standing more than your feedback percentage.
•Keywords are important. Do not include any keywords in the title which are irrelevant to the product. If your listing obtains more search impressions and the buyer is not looking for that particular product this will have a negative effect on search standing.
•DO, include as many laser targeted relevant keywords in the title as possible. Basically anything that a buyer would type in to buy the exact product you are selling. For example people looking for Ipods are not looking for ipod skins so you would not include the word skins in your listing title and vise versa.
Some of the main points which came directly from the horses mouth (Tom Wagstaffe from eBay’s European best match team) are summarized here;

•Sales history is important, listings with more recent sales get more best match points
•The number of search impressions divided by the number of sales a listing receives is important. The eBay best match algorithm calculates a conversion rate for every buy it now listing. When a potential buyer types in a relevant keyword into the eBay search bar, every time a listing is displayed on the search page it gets an impression count. If the buyer clicks through and buys the product then that counts as a sale. Suppose your listing had 50 search impressions and generated 2 sales from those impressions, the conversion rate would be calculated like this;
(Number of Sales) ÷ (Search Impressions) x 100 = (conversion rate percentage)

2 Sales ÷ 50 Search Impressions x 100 = conversion rate of 4%

Listings with higher conversion percentages receive more eBay best match brownie points and the eBay Best Match Boost listing strategy shows you exactly how to make your buy it now listing conversion rates soar.

Anyone who grabs a copy of the eBay Best Match Boost listing strategy will also get to download the complete 50 minute conference call on MP3, where I get to ask a couple of questions confirming these key points with eBay’s top dogs. On this MP3, Tom Wagstaffe from eBay’s head office also reveals insider information on how to make sure you’re an eBay best match maverick!

Best Match on eBay

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Sat, 01 May 2010 05:10:00 +0000

Definition: “Best match” is the name of eBay’s updated search engine, and specifically, the proprietary set of processes that it uses to determine the order in which items are listed by default in shoppers’ search results. Unlike eBay’s previous system, the current system doesn’t simply return results in one of several sorting orders related to time or price. Instead, the “best match” system gives each listing a score based on a number of factors, showing the highest scoring items first.

The scoring of the “best match” system is not well understood and has not been publicized by eBay, but experimentation by many eBay sellers and commentators, along with a patent application made by eBay for their search ranking system, gives some clues about how listing scores can be increased:

By maintaining high detailed seller ratings, especially on shipping cost.
By listing items using the keywords that buyers most often search for and purchase.
By using a low shipping cost or offering free shipping.
By becoming and remaining a power seller with good feedback.
By offering a Buy It Now price.
- By including multiple high-quality pictures in your listing.
- By starting auction listings at a $1.00 minimum-bid to allow for and encourage high numbers of bids.

By using a system like “best match,” eBay hopes to provide buyers with more immediately relevant search results, targeting those who under eBay’s previous system were frustrated by many-pages-long groups of similar search results from just a few large sellers, often with very high shipping prices.

After the introduction of eBay’s revamped search system, buyers were for a long time able to opt out and use the old search system instead. As of 2009, however, eBay is phasing out buyer access to the previous search system.

Also Known As: New search

More General eBay Help

eBay for Beginners All about eBay eBay Rules and Fees Become an eBay Seller

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Guide to eBay Jargon Guide to Listing Upgrades Quick Guide to Feedback Evaluation Quick Guide to Item Condition Ratings Frequently Asked Questions Glossary of eBay Terms

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EBay's 'Best Match' A Bad One For Small Retailers

noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 06:44:00 +0000

Smaller eBay retailers might just have been dealt a swift one-two punch from the auctions giant.

At issue is a new sorting option for customers searching eBay (nasdaq: EBAY - news - people ) listings. Until now, they had two choices: sorting the search results by price or by the date/time the auctions end. But the new option, called "Best Match," uses a ranking system that eBay will not discuss (only to say it includes a "wide variety of factors from listing sellers as well as buyers") to list items in an order that will supposedly mirror the priorities of the customer.

This goal of successfully sorting large numbers of items according to "relevance" is of course what Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) devotes millions of person hours a year to. It naturally wants to deliver the most appropriate results based on the keywords a searcher has entered. But even the king of all search engines--and this is its core business, remember--admits that it has a long way to go to find the "perfect" algorithm for establishing relevance. Am I allowed to express my doubt that eBay has found the secret sauce?

But no one could accuse eBay of undue modesty. After all, it is boasting that "[Best Match] actually learns and never stops learning. ... [It] learns from aggregated buyers' activity over time and accordingly adjusts product rankings. ... Product rankings are dependent on what buyers are looking for and clicking on."

OK, let's try to translate that into plain English. As I understand it, the eBay search engine will perform an analysis that incorporates historical buyer behavior information, words found in the auction product listing title and description and keywords customers entered into the "search" box. Taken altogether, these factors will judge which auction items are the most likely to interest a particular customer.

But there's a little hidden assumption: The most "relevant" items will be the ones that have previously been the most popular. So a customer types in "Barbie dolls" in the search field. What is likely to show up at the top of the page? My guess is--and it's just a guess, mind you--items from sellers who have sold the highest volume of Barbie dolls to date. If you're a newer entrant into that market or have a smaller volume online retail business, you will probably see your listing fall well below that.

Again to quote eBay: "The default search results on eBay Express are based on what we're calling Best Match, which means that best selling items are ranked higher." (EBay has already implemented Best Match on eBay Express, although it has not yet been rolled out on its main site.)

Seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me. If best-selling items are ranked higher, they are likely to become even better selling, thus perpetuating a system that will increasingly favor the bigger sellers. Sounds like something that should alarm any small business.

And I have another concern, which revolves around what will become inevitable attempts to "game" the eBay search results system. Just look at Google. Because of the importance of a Google ranking to businesses around the globe, a whole industry (search engine optimization, or SEO) has grown up around trying to outguess and generally outwit Google. Of course, Google does not divulge how it calculates rankings, but a number of very smart people have written books, organized seminars and built highly lucrative consulting practices around their professed inside knowledge of how to boost your ranking.

The problem with this happening in the eBay sphere is that it costs people a tremendous amount of time and effort to worry about such things. Not to mention there's a certain amount of technical finessing that SEO efforts require. Do you have time, or funds, for this? Again, won't it be the bigger players who will be able to hire the experts who can tell them how to get even higher in the rankings?

No wonder the eBay message boards are aflame with criticism of the proposed new search option.

So what's the answer? Of course eBay will roll out this feature. There's no way to stop that. So are the little guys and gals completely powerless?

I don't think so. What we lack in individual size we make up for in numbers. And eBay would simply not survive without all the individual and small business sellers. So I say, let's keep an eye on what happens. Let's keep monitoring and adding to the message boards. And let's start complaining loudly and clearly if we find ourselves getting pushed aside due to this new way of doing things. EBay can--and should--be put on the hot seat if its new algorithm unfairly punishes smaller sellers.

Alice LaPlante is a veteran freelance business and technology writer who lives in Palo Alto, Calif. She is the author of four books, including Playing for Profit: How Digital Entertainment is Making Big Business out of Child's Play .

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noreply@blogger.com (bzsale) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:13:00 +0000

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