How often do you update/add new listings?

[everard6920]

Larger, less frequent updates versus smaller, more frequent updates: I'm really interested to hear what works for you, and what your thoughts are. 

I've been doing large updates (50+ new items) every month or so. This is easiest for me in terms of time (my day job is 3 weeks on, 1 week off, so I tend to update in my week off) but I'm wondering if it might be better to do smaller, more frequent updates.

Does anyone have a preference? Has anyone had more success with one strategy moreso than the other? How long do you think is too long between updates (if you're a buyer and/or seller, I'd like your opinion)?

Ideally, I'd like to list new items as soon as they arrive from the wholesaler, but that isn't always possible because of my day job.

My items are collectible and consumable, so people tend to buy multiple items at once for those reasons. This is why I've gone with larger, less frequent updates, so that they can buy many items at once.

[*tippy*toes*]

I run auctions and will try to have some finishing every night. As a non store I only get 40 freebies a month, so will spread that out of the entire month. Of course if there is a free listing promotion I will use those as well, but if there's not, I know that spreading the 40 out will ensure I have listings all month (I run for 7 days).

I've had buyers bid on different things that finish days apart. I send them a message after they get the first one asking them not to pay until they've finished buying so everything can be sent together. If they have bid on items finishing later than their first one, I'll sometimes end them early if they are ones that have been relisting for a looooong time. I have about 15 items that have been relisting for 2 years and a buyer has bid on several of them, with the first one finishing tomorrow and the rest by the end of the week. I'll surprise them and end the others early so they can get them sooner and not have to wait.

If your items are buy it now's, most buyers will check your other items and buy whatever else they want. If your items are auctions, most buyers are prepared to wait for them to finish..........or they'd find a seller with buy it now if they want it straight away.

Edit: If you don't have time to list during your work weeks, you can always schedule them to start on your work weeks. You could schedule to start one or 2 each day/night. Then you can relax a little bit more on your week off.

[lane-ends]

My items are all individuals, so I list 30 days then when I manually relist I drop the price and any other changes i may deem necessary, until they sell. I restrict my listings to the 500 inclusive free per month, and as I have more items in my unsold I rotate items taking into accound seasonal variations etc. That way it does just look like same old same old going around and around each time buyers browse my store.

[phorum_junkie*]

Like Tippy I try to have auction items finishing every day except Friday, on my store site I add new listings now and again but as I am trying to downsize I now have less than the 200 I can have included. I will sometimes run sales and promotions but I rarely update existing listings as it can take them a long time to become visable again in searches.

[digital*ghost]

I do a bit of both, but that's mostly because I sell in two different areas - handmade items being one, so it's impossible for me to be designing, making and listing new products on a consistent basis, plus time constraints mean it's easier for me to accrue a few new products to list at one time. The other being craft supplies, and I usually like to list new products as soon as I can - during normal times (i.e. not before, during or for a little while after the Chinese new year) I can often get 1-2 shipments a week, so letting them build up over time would mean I'd have to take a whole day or two out just to catch up. 

I think more frequent updates is particularly important for the craft supply side of things, too. I have a fairly decent number of followers for those and I'm wary of the shop getting stale or there being nothing new to look at / catch interest for too long a time, and it's a bit different to collectibles in that people are continually looking for new things to inspire when they restock on other items they might purchase on a regular basis.  

I do think that when a seller or store has an established routine, buyers will come to expect it and adjust their browsing / shopping habits accordingly, but I also think more frequent updates is probably better for attracting new buyers, just because refreshing things and new listings will give you a momentary boost in search results each time. 

[*tippy*toes*]

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@phorum_junkie* wrote:

Like Tippy I try to have auction items finishing every day except Friday, on my store site I add new listings now and again but as I am trying to downsize I now have less than the 200 I can have included. I will sometimes run sales and promotions but I rarely update existing listings as it can take them a long time to become visable again in searches.

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I never used to have auctions finishing on a Friday night until I accidentally listed some for 10 days, which finished on a Friday night. They ALL sold! I've since found that Fridays can be my busiest night. I don't expect it's the same for everyone, but it works for me!

[davewil1964]

I list one or two a day.

All BIN.

I have no idea how it affects my 'best' match, nor do I care.

I rarely sell anything that has been listed for less than a month but, once again, I don't care.

'Best' match is for mugs and newbies. For books, which is what I sell, cheap Chines sellers aren't a factor. And I do sell the odd book.