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How to Write eBay Titles That Actually Get Clicks (80-Character Mastery)

BundleLive Team February 2026 12 min read

Last updated: February 2026

TL;DR

Why Your eBay Title Is the Most Important Thing You Write

Here's something a lot of sellers don't realize: your eBay title isn't a description. It's a search query target.

Most buyers find items through search. They type something like "Nike Air Max 90 Men Size 11 White" and eBay's search engine (called Cassini) scans millions of listings to find matches. If your title doesn't contain the words buyers are searching, your listing is invisible.

You could have the best photos, the lowest price, and perfect seller metrics — but if your title says "AWESOME NIKE SHOES MUST SEE!!!!" instead of "Nike Air Max 90 Men's Running Shoes Size 11 White Black 2024," nobody's finding you.

Let's fix that.

How eBay's Cassini Search Engine Works

Cassini is eBay's search algorithm, and understanding its basics will change how you write every title.

What Cassini Cares About

  • Keyword relevance: Does your title contain the words the buyer searched?
  • Item specifics: Did you fill out category-specific fields (brand, size, color, etc.)?
  • Listing quality: Good photos, complete descriptions, competitive pricing
  • Seller performance: Your feedback score, defect rate, shipping speed
  • Sales history: Items that have been getting clicks and sales rank higher

    • The Key Insight

    Cassini doesn't read between the lines. It matches exact keywords. If a buyer searches "vintage Levi 501 jeans 32x30" and your title says "Cool Retro Levi's Denim Pants Waist 32 Length 30," you're missing the match on "501" and "jeans" and "vintage." You've essentially made yourself invisible to that buyer.

    Your job is to predict what buyers type into the search bar and put those exact words in your title.

    Keyword Research for eBay

    You don't need fancy tools to figure out what buyers search for. eBay literally tells you.

    Method 1: eBay Search Autocomplete

    Start typing in the eBay search bar and watch what it suggests. These suggestions are based on real buyer searches — they're showing you exactly what people are looking for.

    Type "Nike Air Max" and you'll see:

    Each suggestion is a keyword phrase you should consider using in your title.

    Method 2: Sold Listings Analysis

    Search for your item, filter by "Sold Items," and sort by "Price + Shipping: highest first." Look at the titles of the items that actually sold for good prices. What keywords do they consistently use?

    If the top-selling listings for your item all include "vintage," "Y2K," or "deadstock" — those are keywords you should be using too.

    Method 3: eBay Terapeak (Seller Hub)

    If you have an eBay Store, Terapeak is included free. It shows you search volume data, trending keywords, and sell-through rates. It's the closest thing to "eBay SEO analytics" you'll get without a third-party tool.

    Method 4: Check Competitor Titles

    Look at Top Rated Sellers and PowerSellers in your category. These people have been optimizing their titles for years. Don't copy them exactly, but notice which keywords they consistently use.

    The Title Formula That Works

    After years of testing, this formula consistently produces the best results:

    Brand + Model/Product Name + Key Specifications + Condition + Additional Keywords

    Let's break this down:

    Character Budget Strategy

    You have 80 characters. Here's roughly how to allocate them:

    ComponentCharactersExample
    Brand5-15"Nike" or "KitchenAid"
    Model/Product10-25"Air Max 90" or "Artisan Stand Mixer"
    Key Specs15-25"Men's Size 11 White Black"
    Condition3-10"New" or "Vintage"
    Extra KeywordsRemaining"Running Shoes 2024"

    Every character counts. Don't waste them.

    What NOT to Put in Your Titles

    This section alone will improve most sellers' listings overnight.

    Filler Words That Waste Characters

    These add zero search value and eat your precious 80 characters:

    Symbols and Special Characters

    Irrelevant Keywords (Keyword Stuffing)

    Don't add brand names or model names that aren't your actual item:

    eBay's algorithm is smart enough to penalize keyword stuffing, and it looks spammy to buyers. It also violates eBay policy and can get your listing removed.

    5 Real Examples: Bad Titles vs. Optimized Titles

    Example 1: Sneakers

    Bad title (38 characters — wasting 42):

    `AWESOME NIKE SHOES MEN'S SIZE 11 L@@K!`

    Optimized title (78 characters):

    `Nike Air Max 90 Men's Running Shoes Size 11 White Black DH8010-100 New In Box`

    Why it's better: Includes model name, specific size, colorway, style number (collectors search by this), and condition. Every word is searchable.

    Example 2: Vintage T-Shirt

    Bad title (45 characters):

    `VINTAGE BAND TEE SHIRT GREAT CONDITION WOW!!`

    Optimized title (79 characters):

    `Vintage 1994 Metallica Ride The Lightning Tour T-Shirt XL Single Stitch Black`

    Why it's better: Includes band name, specific tour/album, year, size, construction detail (single stitch signals vintage to knowledgeable buyers), and color.

    Example 3: Kitchen Appliance

    Bad title (35 characters):

    `NICE BLENDER RED WORKS GREAT! LOOK!`

    Optimized title (77 characters):

    `KitchenAid KSB1575ER 5-Speed Diamond Blender 60oz Empire Red - Tested Working`

    Why it's better: Brand, model number, key feature (5-speed), capacity, color (official color name), and condition note. Someone searching for this exact blender will find it.

    Example 4: Video Game

    Bad title (42 characters):

    `ZELDA GAME FOR GAMECUBE - RARE MUST HAVE!!`

    Optimized title (80 characters):

    `Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess Nintendo GameCube CIB Complete Manual Disc Mint`

    Why it's better: Full game title, platform, "CIB" and "Complete" (collectors search both terms), includes "Manual" and "Disc" to confirm completeness, condition.

    Example 5: Power Tool

    Bad title (29 characters):

    `DEWALT DRILL GREAT CONDITION!`

    Optimized title (79 characters):

    `DeWalt DCD791D2 20V MAX XR Brushless 1/2" Drill Driver Kit 2 Batteries Charger`

    Why it's better: Model number, voltage, product line (XR), feature (Brushless), included accessories. Pro tool buyers search by model number constantly.

    Mobile Search Considerations

    Over 70% of eBay browsing happens on mobile devices. This changes how your title works in practice:

    What Mobile Buyers See

    On the eBay mobile app, titles are truncated to roughly 40-55 characters depending on the device. That means the first half of your title is doing most of the work in terms of getting clicks.

    Implication: Front-load your most important keywords. Put the brand, model, and most critical specification first. Save secondary keywords for the back half.

    Good structure for mobile:

    `Nike Air Max 90 Men's Size 11 White | Running Shoes New In Box 2024`

    Even if the buyer only sees "Nike Air Max 90 Men's Size 11 White" on their phone, they know exactly what the item is and can decide whether to click.

    Search vs. Browse

    Mobile buyers are more likely to browse by category and filter rather than typing detailed searches. This is another reason item specifics matter — when buyers filter by brand, size, and color, eBay uses your item specifics fields, not your title. Fill out every single item specific available.

    Advanced Title Techniques

    Use Both Common Names and Technical Names

    Some items are known by multiple names. Use both if you have the characters:

    Include the Year or Generation When Relevant

    For electronics and sneakers especially, the year or generation helps buyers find the exact version they want:

    Size and Measurement Formatting

    Use the format buyers search in:

    Color Names

    Use eBay's standard color names when possible, but also include the manufacturer's color name if it's well-known:

    Common Mistakes Even Experienced Sellers Make

    1. Not Updating Titles on Relisted Items

    If an item didn't sell, don't just relist it with the same title. Revise the title with different keyword combinations. Maybe try emphasizing different features or using alternative search terms.

    2. Using Abbreviations Nobody Searches

    "NWT" is fine — sellers and experienced buyers know it means "New With Tags." But don't abbreviate things buyers wouldn't: "Cond: GUC" instead of "Good Used Condition" loses you keyword matches.

    3. Putting Important Words at the End

    Due to mobile truncation, keywords at position 60-80 might never be seen. Don't bury your brand name or key spec at the end.

    4. Forgetting Item Specifics

    Your title works with item specifics, not instead of them. Fill out every available field in your listing. Cassini weighs item specifics heavily in search results, and buyers use them to filter. A perfectly titled listing with empty item specifics will still underperform.

    5. Using the Same Title Template for Every Item

    "Brand + Item + Size + Color + Condition" is a starting point, not a rigid rule. Adapt based on what matters for each specific category. For trading cards, the set name and card number matter more than color. For tools, the model number matters more than the color.

    Quick-Reference Title Checklist

    Before you publish any listing, run through this:

    SnapList auto-generates SEO-optimized titles for every marketplace from a single photo — using real search data and sold comps to pick the keywords that actually drive clicks. Try it free and stop leaving views on the table.

    ⚡ Ready to level up your reselling?

    BundleLive gives you real-time show analytics, smart bin management, and buyer insights — everything you need to sell more and ship faster.

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