Optimizing eBay searches to get the Best Results

eBay is the world's largest online auction site, with over a billion new listings in 2006. Finding exactly what you want can sometimes be a nightmare.  There are many ways you can compose your search keywords, and filter the results to give you the best results, so you can get the best bargains. Your goal should be to get the highest number of relevant results in your searches, so that you can either bid on, or purchase the item you're looking for at the cheapest price.  Unfortunately it is not always easy to zero in on exactly the item you are looking for.  Many auction titles that are not exactly what you are looking for may contain the keywords that you have chosen to search on. Also, many sellers use the strategy that if you are looking for one item, you may also be interested in similar items.  In a search for a 1969 red corvette you may get back results such as:

• jacket with 1969 red corvette emblem
• hot wheels 1969 red corvette car
• 1969 red corvette key chain
• 1970 blue corvette not 1969 not red

eBay searches return auctions that contain the keywords you specify.  As you can see, several auctions contain the '1969 red corvette' keywords, but are not actually selling a 1969 red corvette.  Using the tips below, you should be able to produce search results in eBay that mainly contain the item you are looking for.  There will always be some extra "relevant" items that show up in your search results, but our goal is to minimize those items.  Remember, your goal is to get the highest number of accurate search results, so that you can select from the lowest price available, or get several chances to win auctions at the price that you are willing to pay.

There are 3 formats for eBay auctions; 1) the traditional auction, 2) a Buy It Now
auction, and 3) Classified Ads.  I will only be discussing types 1 and 2.  In a traditional auction format, the highest bidder wins the item.  In a Buy It Now auction, the seller sets a fixed price, and buyers may instantly purchase the item for that price.  If you're in a hurry to get your item, you'll want to find auctions ending soon, or shop in Buy It Now auctions.  If you don't mind waiting until the auction is over, or if you just enjoy the thrill of winning an auction, then stick with the Auction format.

There are ways to limit your results to 'Buy It Now' auctions during your search.  Use the Search Options mentioned in Tip #  or even to select regular auctions or Buy It Now auctions from some results you have already created.  Choose the appropriate results tab directly above the search results to pick either 'Auctions' or 'Buy It Now' listings.

Tips

1) Choosing your keywords
Choose descriptive keywords, but not so many that you limit your results. When you enter a list of keywords, eBay searches for auction titles that contain all of the keywords that you specify.
2) Search in specific categories related to the item you're looking for.
3) Structure your keywords and choose keyword operators to tweak the search results.  

For example, use "xbox 360 console" (with quotes) instead of xbox 360
console (no quotes) to get more specific results.  

Use parens to designate a search for one term OR another. For example, using the keywords (ps3,playstation 3) console searches for ps3 console and playstation 3 console
4) Negate keywords to remove unwanted auction results.
Use the dash option to remove auctions containing certain keywords.

For example, searching on xbox 360 console -"playstation 3" removes any auctions containing playstation 3 from your search results.
5) Use sorting options to filter your results.

Some of the sorting options are Price - lowest first, Time: Ending soonest, Best Match, and Location.

Using these tips, you can more quickly find the most cost effective auctions that are selling what you're looking for. For more detail on these tips, more tips, search examples and illustrations, check out the free eBook "The Beginners Guide to Searching eBay".