The eBay Fall Seller Update for 2021 is live.
Happily for sellers, it’s mostly good news. However, there are a few new initiatives that cry out, “Seller, beware!” I boil it down for you here as I “decode” the Fall Seller Update. I let you know what requires your careful attention. For more details, check out my YouTube video eBay Fall Seller Update 2021: Good, But Watch Out!
To see the 2021 eBay Fall Seller Update, go to ebay.com/SellerUpdate. That’s the URL where you will always find eBay’s most recent Seller Update, along with a link to the previous update.
eBay Seller Updates are simpler
Seller Updates in the past resembled an encyclopedia. They were so many moving parts, crammed with so much information that it took hours to get through it all. It was easy to miss something in all that fine print. Fast forward to 2021. Kudos to eBay. This 2021 Fall Seller Update is huge step forward in clarity and brevity.
Many previous Seller Updates featured changes that weren’t coming for a year or more. And sometimes the promised changes never came at all. In contrast, this Fall Seller Update is all about initiatives that are rolling out now. Or changes happening in the next few weeks, or at most, a couple of months.
For the most part, these pending changes benefit sellers. But there are a few things that eBay more or less glosses over. And you know me: I don’t gloss over!
eBay Fall Seller Update – eBay Stores
Fresh enhancements are rolling out to eBay Stores. These include an upcoming dedicated Stores tab in Seller Hub. There’s also a new About tab coming to your store itself. So, put that new feature to good use. It’s an aid for branding your business! Last but not least, there’s a newly robust store newsletters tool.
More good news: new research and performance tools in Seller Hub!
The Listing Quality Report is most useful if you’re a commodities seller. However, sellers of unique items (e.g., collectibles) should not overlook this data.
eBay may not compare apples to apples, oranges to oranges, where your items are concerned, but you can get a sense of what other sellers are doing and what seems to be most successful. For example, you can look at free versus paid shipping as well as see which of your listings might benefit from adding more photos.
Listings & Promotions: Changes to Categories and Item Specifics
The not-so-good news is under “Listings & Promotions” on the 2021 Fall Seller Update’s home page. Actually, changes to categories and item specifics are good news/bad news. All of the changes to category names and structures as well as to item specifics are designed to make it easier for buyers to find your listings via eBay, Google, and other search engines. Unfortunately, thee changes roll out during Q4, the busiest time of an eBay seller’s year!
Pay close attention to this part of the 2021 Fall Seller Update
Starting in October, if you have listings in a category impacted by the changes, eBay will automatically move them to what it thinks is the most relevant category.
Furthermore, new soon-to-be-required item specifics will become available starting on October 12. They are required in early 2022. Once mandated, eBay will not let you submit a listing unless you’ve filled in its required item specifics.
So, if you see notifications in Seller Hub about adding required item specifics, do so ASAP. Especially for those labeled “Soon to be required”. There are tools to help you do this. I tell you all about them in my 2021 Fall Seller Update video on YouTube. While updating your item specifics, it’s a good time to optimize your entire eBay Listing. The tips in “Start Selling on eBay. the ABC’s of Success!” will help.
These ABC’s to successful eBay selling will start your selling with a bang!
New Coded Coupons!
Sellers have long clamored for the ability to create coded coupons. Well, now you can! To read all about this terrific new functionality, which is only available to eBay Store subscribers, click on “Learn More” under “Listings & Promotions”.
eBay Fall Seller Update – Promoted Listings Expansion and Rebranding
eBay’s pay per sale advertising model, Promoted Listings, is rebranded as Promoted Listings Standard.
Meanwhile, Promoted Listings Advanced has launched in Beta. It’s a pay-per-click model. Pay-per-click advertising charges a fee whenever your listing is clicked on, not just when your item actually sells. This can be expensive. Be careful if you decided to give PL Advanced a tryout.
eBay Fall Seller Update – Your Bottom Line
eBay Fall Seller Update 2021 decoded for you!
With the changes announced in eBay’s 2021 Fall Seller Update, many sellers will be busy revising listings during Q4, adding soon-to-be-required item specifics and preparing for category changes.
Read through eBay’s 2021 Fall Seller Update in its entirety And remember, my YouTube video will help walk you through it. There are many new changes rolling out. However as always high-quality listings that follow eBay’s best practices will always do just fine.
