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| Keyword
Spam Policy |
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Keyword spamming
occurs when members place brand names or other inappropriate
keywords in a title or description for the purpose of gaining
attention or diverting members to a listing. Keyword spamming
in listings is not permitted on eBay. The searchable text
sellers place in listings must be directly relevant to the
item being sold.
Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions,
including:
- Listing cancellation
- Limits on account privileges
- Account suspension
- Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
- Loss of PowerSeller status
Spend a few minutes taking eBay's tutorial
on Search and Browse Manipulation.
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Examples of keyword spamming that are not permitted:
- Lists of words:
- The inclusion of words as a means to attract viewers
via eBay search engines that do not truly describe
the actual item.
- Example not allowed:
- "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..."
- The inclusion of words that are used to promote
the seller�s other eBay listings.
- Example not allowed:
- "Please view my other eBay listings for
Beanie Babies, vintage Barbies, Rolex watches
and Chanel scarves."
- Example allowed:
- 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
any keywords or be used as a means of promoting the item.
Keywords "hidden" within the title, description or through
other means are not allowed.
- Dropdown boxes: Because the search
engine will pick up words listed within a dropdown box,
this interferes with the search results, and is thus not
permitted. As an alternative, sellers may include dropdown
boxes on their About
Me pages, as this would not interfere with
the search engine.
- Brand Name Misuse: Do not include
any brand names or company logos in listings other than
the specific brand name used by the company that manufactured
or produced the item being listed. Certain uses of brand
names may also constitute
trademark infringement and could expose sellers
to legal liability.
- Examples not allowed:
- A homemade product that incorporates in its
name another company's brand name (such as Beanie™
Box).
- An Internet domain name that contains in it
the brand name of another company (such as www.desneymovies.com
- Movie and Celebrity Names:
- Celebrities� names and cartoon names are treated
as brand names or keywords (think Cher or Madonna).
- Example not allowed:
- �Denim shorts Jessica Simpson Daisy
Dukes� because Jessica Simpson does not
have a clothing line called �Daisy Dukes.�
- Example allowed:
- �Jessica Simpson Dessert Treats Lip
Gloss� because Jessica Simpson is the
sponsor for a line of makeup called �Dessert
Treats.�
- You can put the name of a movie or television
show in your listing title or description if the
item you are selling is directly related to the
movie or television show.
- Example not allowed:
- �Brown Leather Jacket Fight Club (or
Brad Pitt)�
- Example allowed:
- If the item you are selling has a picture or
print depicting a particular celebrity, you can
include the celebrity name in the listing title.
- Example not allowed:
- �Striped dress shirt as worn by Brad
Pitt� because Brad Pitt is not directly
relevant to the item being sold.
- Example allowed:
- Kalifornia Brad Pitt Serial Killer Movie
T-shirt Black�
- Compatibility
Brand made items
Sellers who list accessory items that are intended to
be compatible with specific brands and/or models may identify
those brands or models in the listing title. However,
sellers may not mislead buyers into believing they could
be purchasing a product made by the same company that
makes the brand or model with which compatibility is claimed.
To help avoid confusion regarding who manufactured the
accessory, sellers may want to include words such as �compatible�
or �fits� preceding the brand/model names.
It is the seller�s responsibility to write a title and
description that ensure buyers are not confused over who
is the maker of the products offered.
Some Examples:
- Not allowed:�Color printer cartridge
comp. Epson Stylus printer�
(Explanation: The use of �comp.� is not sufficiently
descriptive to indicate compatibility.)
- Allowed: �Color printer cartridge
compatible with Epson Stylus�
(Explanation: It is clear that the printer cartridge
is not manufactured by Epson, but is compatible with
Epson printers.)
- Not allowed: �Headset Samsung i330
i500 i600 i700�
(Explanation: It is unclear if the headset was manufactured
by Samsung.)
- Allowed: �Headset made for Samsung
i330 i500 i600 i700�
(Explanation: This headset was manufactured to fit
these Samsung models.)
- Not allowed: "Dedicated flash 4
Pentax cameras"
(Explanation: The number "4" is not sufficiently descriptive
to indicate compatibility.)
- Allowed: �Camera lens fits all
Nikon 35 mm cameras�
(Explanation: This camera lens has been manufactured
to fit Nikon cameras.)
- Comparisons: Sellers are not permitted
to make comparisons between items in a listing title.
In the description only, sellers are permitted to compare
the item being offered to the functionality of one other
similar product, so long as the listing is not misleading
in any way as to which company made the item offered.
- Example not allowed:
- The titles "Leather Handbag, like Chanel","Leather
Handbag, Chanel style", or "Leather handbag, not
Chanel" are not permitted on eBay because they
make comparisons between the appearance of the
item being offered, a leather handbag, to a Chanel
handbag.
- Example allowed:
- "This vacuum cleaner does a much better job
at cleaning ground-in dirt than Acme brand vacuum
cleaners."
- Compilations and informational items:
Listings that include compilations or informational content
on any media are subject to the following restrictions:
- Any listing that offers general wholesale items
may not use any specific brand or keywords words in
the title.
- Any listing that offers general wholesale items
may not use any specific brand or keywords words in
the title.
- Bonuses and Gifts: Keywords describing
bonus items cannot be included in the title of a listing.
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Category Guidelines
All words used to describe an item, whether in the title or
description of the item page or any other way that may be
found using Search, must be strictly related to the item being
listed and adhere to the guidelines below. eBay allows other
non-relevant text to appear in listings as long as that text
is not searchable, which could manipulate eBay�s search engine.
- 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 25 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.
- Catalogs: Catalog titles and descriptions
may not contain extensive lists of specific items included
within the catalog.
- 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.
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| Why
does eBay have this policy? |
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Keyword spamming results in a poor shopping and finding experience
for buyers since keyword spamming returns listings in which
the buyer may have no interest. Keyword spamming also results
in an unlevel playing field for sellers who do not keyword
spam and may receive fewer potential buyers. |
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Related Help topics |
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| Contact
Customer Support |
| Report
listing violations or problems with another eBay member.
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