topic Re: Ebay Search ranking tips in Seller Central

Ebay Search ranking tips

suelel1968 — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:05:45 GMT

I spotted this tip from Ebay themselves on the Photo Tips for new listings. I would never have thought this would make a difference.

Re: Ebay Search ranking tips

tressygirl — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:40:01 GMT

That's a handy tip ( must make note🤔 ).

I hope many will see this, as doubt many are aware of this tip!

@suelel1968

Re: Ebay Search ranking tips

jonatjonatjonat — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:46:10 GMT

Fairly certain it’s always been the case.

one of the reasons is it’s actually googles rules as well for Google Shopping, so at least historically, when eBay used to use fees to bid for placement in Google Shopping the images you provided needed to meet Googles requirements.

that being said..

-Google now allows you to create images with AI backgrounds in Google Merchant Center (though their white background policy still applies in the written policy)

- eBay did a presentation on this matter the other month, outlined the white background policy but then on the next slide proceeded to use an example of a ‘good’ listing that was surrounded by upsell graphics.

so who knows?

Re: Ebay Search ranking tips

suelel1968 — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:12:24 GMT

@jonatjonatjonat Interesting. I know Google and eBay managment were at odds over the "sell similar" option. It seems Google will find your items picture more easily the more views and time it has spent online, whereas eBay will demote a listing without recent views and the older the listing gets.

I do click on links Google finds but always follow up looking at other eBay products in the same category as well.

Re: Ebay Search ranking tips

str11p — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:57:24 GMT

Any text, logos etc. even borders are not allowed at all according to https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/listing-policies/picture-policy?id=4370

Doesn't seem to be enforced at all though.

Re: Ebay Search ranking tips

honeymonster007 — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:08:21 GMT

I don't think it makes much difference. Have just been looking for some G3 compound and nearly every listing on the 1st page has graphics incl the top listings. Even a quick Google search shows adds with graphics although they do push adds without them first.

Re: Ebay Search ranking tips

therenewalworkshopltd — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:26:25 GMT

I hate to say it, but Ebay have banged on about this for years.

Photo with white background is the ideal.
Any extra text etc should not be there, though it is ok in the secondary pictures.

Re: Ebay Search ranking tips

suelel1968 — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:02:03 GMT

@therenewalworkshopltd I didn't know about it so I'm sure many others don't. I was never really aware that photos featured in the search rankings criteria at all. I was aware that white background are key to being picked up by Google, but still not sure it has previously mattered much in eBay itself.

I know you can now do image search on the eBay app and it will be added to desktops in the future. I guess it will become more important then. I am still not convinced about how it features in search rankings and the tips dont suggest it does.

Re: Ebay Search ranking tips

therenewalworkshopltd — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:13:52 GMT

I get that people don't know, but by the same token, people don't read the help and think that they are doing things correctly.
Not having a go at you, but from the help:

Display items in an uncluttered space against a neutral backdrop

Do not add graphics to images such as badges, logos, copyright notices or watermarks as they can affect your listing's placement in search results

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/listings/adding-pictures-listings?id=4148&from=EBAY_AI&origin=EBAY_AI