Search Manipulation - Key Word Spamming

What is Search Manipulation?

Search manipulation is any practice that results in searches on eBay returning irrelevant listings or that otherwise inhibit a user's ability to accurately locate specific items. It is a violation of eBay policy and may result in item removal or suspension. This violation most often consists of the use of brand names or other inappropriate "keywords" for the purpose of gaining attention or diverting users to a listing. Search manipulation is unfair to members who may be searching for a specific item and receive inaccurate search results. Users often are confused and frustrated by such tactics. Certain uses of brand names may also constitute trademark infringement and could expose sellers to legal liability.

Types of Search Manipulation:

Keyword Spamming

Keyword spamming is the practice of including brand names or other inappropriate "keywords" in a title or description for the purpose of gaining attention or diverting users to a listing. Keyword spamming is unfair to members who may be searching for a specific item and receive search results of listings that are not selling the item. Users often are confused and frustrated by such tactics.

eBay guidelines - All words used to describe an item, whether in the title or description of the View Item page or any other way that may be found using Search, must be strictly related to the item being sold and adhere to the below guidelines. In addition, items contained in a listing as bonuses or gifts may not be described in the title.

Clarifications on Keyword Spamming:

• Compatibility: If an item sold is mechanically or electrically compatible with multiple, specific brands or products, the compatible components may be listed, within reason. This does not apply to universally compatible items.

• Motors: With vehicular compatible items (such as Xenon headlights for an automobile), three compatible brands/products may be included in the title, provided the title still accurately describes what is being listed. In the same scenario, reference to 15 compatible brands/products may be included in the description.

• Books and Other Printed Media: Books and other forms of printed media may use the necessary means to describe their contents. However, these items may not use excessive keywords to do so.

• Compilations and Informational Items: Keywords that relate to a specific item may not be used in a title unless the listing is selling the item in question.

  • Any listing that offers general wholesale items may not use any specific brand or keywords words in the title.

  • The listing description may not contain the excessive use of keywords to describe the contents of the compilation or informational media.

• Catalogues: Catalogue titles and descriptions may not contain extensive lists of specific items included within the catalogue.

• Filmographies, Discographies and Bibliographies - Specific names, locations, etc. may be included in a listing for a book, movie, or album, however excessive use of keywords will not be permitted.

• Bonuses and Gifts - Conditional bonuses, free gifts and other items that do not significantly affect the value of the item for sale may not be listed in the title.

Examples of keyword spamming that are not permitted:

• Lists of words. (1.) The inclusion of words that are simply listed to attract viewers via our search engines and are not part of a context based item description. For example, it would not be permissible to state the following in your item description: not just related but clearly against the policy "oil reproductions, art recreations, gallery, art gallery, impressionist, impressionism, oil paintings, reproduction, painting, recreation, copy, quality, reproductions, recreations, realistic, copies, paintings, old masters, replica, posters, prints, video..." (2.) The inclusion of words that are simply listed to promote your other eBay items . For example, it would not be permissible to state "Please view my other eBay listings for Nokia Mobiles, Diamond Jewellery and Bollywood posters." It would be acceptable to state "Please view my other eBay listings."

• Hidden HTML text. Sellers may include hidden text (for example "white on white") or source tags (meta or header tags), however such text may not include keywords unrelated to the item listing or to promote your other items. Keywords "hidden" within the title, description or through other means are not allowed. Such deliberate attempts to keyword Spam may result in suspension without prior warning.

• Drop down boxes. Inclusion of a drop down box in order to provide buyers with a list of items offered in other listings. Because the search engine will pick up words listed within the box, this interferes with the search results, and is thus not permitted. As an alternative, sellers may include drop down boxes on their About Me pages, as this would not interfere with the search engine.

• Certain uses of brand names may also constitute trademark infringement and could expose sellers to legal liability.

Brand Name Misuse

Do not include any brand names or company logos in your listings other than the specific brand name used by the company that manufactured or produced the item you are listing. Certain uses of brand names may also constitute trademark infringement and could expose sellers to legal liability.

Examples
The following are examples of items or listings that are not permitted on eBay:

• A homemade product that incorporates in its name another company's brand name

• An Internet domain name that contains in it the brand name of another company (such as www.disneymovies.com).

• A listing that contains the logo of a company that did not make the item offered.

Exception 1:
In your description only, you are allowed to compare the item you are offering to one other similar product, so long as your listing is not misleading in any way as to which company made the item offered.

Examples:

• "This vacuum cleaner does a much better job at cleaning ground-in dirt than Acme brand vacuum cleaners."

• "This watch is similar in style to Tag Heuer watches."

Exception 2:
You are allowed to list other brand names items with which the item you are offering is compatible.

Examples:

• "This software is compatible with Microsoft Windows XP."

• "This faceplate fits all Nokia cellular phones."

Warning: Listings that include unrelated brand names or logos may be ended early by eBay. Multiple violations of eBay's brand name misuse policy could result in the suspension of your account.

Comparisons

Do not compare items in your titles.

On eBay, sellers are not permitted to make comparisons between items in a listing title. For example, the title "Gold Rolex at a Swatch price" is not permitted on eBay because it makes a comparison between the item you are offering, a Rolex watch, to a Swatch watch.

Please be aware that listings containing comparisons in the title may be ended early by eBay. Multiple violations of this policy could result in the suspension of your account.

Use of words such as "like," "style," and "not" in the title of your listing will often result in a comparison violation, so avoid using these terms accept when they are part of the Item's name, e.g. a listing of the movie "Some Like it Hot".

Examples:

• The title "Leather Handbag, like Jane Hilton" is not permitted on eBay because it makes a comparison between the item you are offering, a leather handbag, to a Jane Hilton handbag.

• The title "DVD Player, Sony style" is not permitted on eBay because it makes a comparison between the item you are offering, a DVD player and a Sony DVD player.

• The title "Sony Ericsson phone, not Nokia" is not permitted on eBay because it makes a comparison between the item you are offering, a Sony Ericsson phone, and a Nokia phone.

Misleading Titles

Make sure your title accurately describes only the actual item or items you are offering for sale.

eBay Guideline:

• If your title contains a word or phrase that does not seem to belong, make sure it is clear from your description why you included that word or phrase in the title.

• If a bidder can't tell what items you are offering from the title of the listing, the title is misleading and is not permitted on eBay.

Example:
The title "Sony Ericsson phone, Nokia" is misleading and not permitted on eBay, even if you are including a Nokia item as a bonus gift with purchase of the phone, because it is unclear as to whether you are offering two items from your title.

Warning:
Listings containing misleading titles may be ended early by eBay. Multiple violations of eBay's Misleading Title Policy could result in the suspension of your account.

Spend a few minutes taking eBay's tutorial on Search and Browse Manipulation.