Your listing title is the single most important factor in marketplace success. Listings with optimized titles are 1.5x more likely to sell on eBay, while keyword-rich titles on Facebook Marketplace can double views within hours.
Yet most sellers waste precious characters on meaningless words like "cute" or "amazing" instead of the exact terms buyers actually search. This guide breaks down platform-specific requirements, proven optimization strategies, and the psychological triggers that convert browsers into buyers.
Platform Character Limits and Algorithm Priorities
Each marketplace operates with distinct character limits and algorithmic priorities. Understanding these differences is essential for cross-platform sellers.
| Platform | Max Characters | Recommended | Mobile Truncation | Algorithm Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eBay | 80 | 65-80 | ~55 chars | Keywords + seller metrics |
| Poshmark | 80 | 40-60 | ~60 chars | Activity + freshness |
| Mercari | 80 | Full 80 | Varies | Recency + relevance |
| 200 | 65 | ~65 chars | Location + engagement |
eBay Title Requirements
eBay allows 80 characters maximum, with data showing titles of 65+ characters perform significantly better. The Cassini algorithm reads titles left-to-right, giving more weight to front-loaded keywords.
eBay's search uses natural language processing to evaluate readability. Keyword-stuffed titles actually receive 23% lower engagement than well-structured alternatives. Mobile truncation occurs around 55 characters, making front-loading critical.
Poshmark Title Strategy
Poshmark also permits 80 characters, but the "For You" feed algorithm (updated in 2025) weighs listing freshness, competitive pricing, and engagement alongside keyword relevance. Research indicates including 4-5 strategic words increases sales chance by 60%.
Poshmark has strong Google SEO integration. Listings appear directly in Google search and Google Images, making external discoverability a significant bonus.
Mercari Title Optimization
Mercari offers 80 characters for titles plus 3-5 hashtags per listing. The platform uses Elasticsearch with machine learning re-ranking, heavily favoring recency. Newly listed or relisted items receive temporary algorithmic boosts.
Important: Mercari strictly prohibits emojis in titles and enforces bans for stock photo usage.
Facebook Marketplace Titles
Facebook Marketplace provides the most generous 200 characters but recommends only 65 since mobile feed truncation cuts off additional text. The algorithm uniquely emphasizes location proximity and prioritizes early engagement within the first 60-120 minutes after posting.
The Title Formula That Works on Every Platform
All major marketplace algorithms read titles left-to-right, assigning greater weight to terms appearing early. This creates a universal best-practice formula:
Optimal title structure:
[Condition] + [Brand] + [Product Name] + [Model/Style] + [Size/Color] + [Key Feature]
For fashion items, this translates to titles like:
- Good: "Lululemon Align High Rise Leggings Black Size 6"
- Bad: "Cute black leggings, great for yoga!"
The first version captures exact search terms buyers use: brand, style name, fit, color, size. The second wastes characters on subjective descriptors that don't appear in searches.
Why Long-Tail Keywords Outperform Generic Terms
Long-tail keywords dramatically outperform broad terms, with conversion rates averaging 36% compared to just 11.45% for generic phrases.
"Vintage 1990s Floral Midi Dress Size M" attracts buyers with clear purchase intent, while "Vintage Dress" competes against thousands of irrelevant results. The specificity also reduces returns by creating better buyer-item matches.
The critical insight most sellers miss: buyers progressively narrow searches by adding terms. A shopper searching "black dress" refines to "black dress formal long sleeve professional." Your listing becomes invisible unless all those words appear in your title or description.
Pro Tip: Struggling to write optimized titles for multiple items? SellyGenie generates professional, keyword-rich descriptions from your product photos in seconds, saving you hours of manual research.
Psychological Triggers That Stop the Scroll
Marketplace browsing happens fast. With over 70% of shopping occurring on mobile and buyers spending just 2-3 seconds evaluating each listing, understanding click psychology becomes essential.
Loss Aversion and Scarcity
Loss aversion activates more powerfully than potential gains. Words signaling scarcity trigger fear of missing an opportunity:
- "Rare"
- "Last One"
- "Discontinued"
- "HTF" (Hard To Find)
- "Limited Edition"
This explains why vintage and limited-edition items consistently outperform generic listings when properly labeled.
Trust Signals That Reduce Purchase Anxiety
Condition descriptors address unspoken buyer concerns:
- "NWT" (New With Tags)
- "Authenticated"
- "Smoke-Free Home"
- "Ships Same Day"
Electronics listings that include "Tested Working," "Factory Reset," and "All Original Accessories" substantially outperform vague alternatives.
Specificity Creates Confidence
Brand names, model numbers, size information, and material details don't just help searchability. They signal seller expertise and item authenticity.
Confident: "Coach Tabby Shoulder Bag Black Leather Crossbody"
Vague: "Nice designer bag, great condition!"
Power Words by Category
| Category | High-Converting Words |
|---|---|
| Fashion | NWT, Vintage, Y2K, Deadstock, Sample, Oversized, High-Waisted |
| Electronics | Unlocked, Tested, Low Cycle Count, Original Box, Excellent Battery |
| Collectibles | Rare, First Edition, Numbered, Sealed, Complete Set, Authenticated |
| Home goods | Solid Wood, MCM (Mid-Century Modern), Handcrafted, Excellent Condition |
Words to Avoid
Skip these title killers:
- Unverifiable claims ("Bestselling," "Must Have")
- Excessive punctuation (!!!)
- ALL CAPS (algorithms may flag as spam)
- Emojis (disrupt search indexing)
- Filler words ("Cute," "Amazing," "Look!")
Category-Specific Title Formulas
Fashion and Apparel
Formula: Brand + Item Type + Style Name + Key Attributes + Size
Examples:
- "Levi's 501 High Rise Straight Leg Mom Jeans W28 L30 Medium Wash"
- "Free People Birds of a Feather Skater Dress Coral Size S"
- "Nike Women's Air Zoom Running Shoes Size 10 Black NWT"
Tips for fashion titles:
- Include both common spellings when relevant ("gray & grey")
- Use original retail style names when possible
- Reverse Google Image search or check retailer websites to identify official product names
Electronics
Formula: [Condition] [Brand] [Product Name] [Model No.] [Storage/Specs] [Color] [Unlock Status]
Examples:
- "Apple iPhone 14 Pro 256GB Silver Unlocked Excellent Condition"
- "Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Laptop 15.6" FHD i5-1135G7 8GB RAM 256GB SSD NEW"
- "Samsung Galaxy S21 128GB Phantom Gray Unlocked Great Condition"
For electronics, Manufacturer Part Numbers (MPN) significantly boost visibility since buyers search by these identifiers. Include battery health percentage and diagnostic certifications when available.
Collectibles and Vintage
Formula: Era Descriptor + Brand/Maker + Material + Item Name + Details
Examples:
- "Vintage Mid Century Lefton Sitting Bisque Kewpie Piano Baby Figurine"
- "Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Tea Spoon Hallmarked 1890s"
- "VTG 1970s Pier One Christmas Ornament Handblown Glass"
For vintage items, "VTG" saves characters while remaining searchable. Include maker's marks, patent dates, and decade references to attract serious collectors.
Real Results From Title Optimization
Facebook Marketplace Case Study
- Before: "Black Leather Backpack"
- After: "Fjallraven Raven Leather Backpack - Tan Brown - Excellent Condition"
- Result: Views doubled within 6 hours; item sold the next morning
Mercari Seller Optimization
A seller implementing optimized titles with strategic relisting doubled monthly sales from $1,200 to $2,500 within 60 days, with no changes to inventory quality or pricing.
eBay Data on Character Count
Listings with titles over 60 characters sell 1.5x more frequently than shorter alternatives. Completing all available item specifics fields generates up to 35% more impressions. One test showed a 28% traffic loss simply from leaving the "Fabric Type" field blank.
Free and Paid Title Optimization Tools
Free Platform-Native Tools
Terapeak/Product Research (rebranded May 2024) provides eBay sellers free access to 3 years of historical sales data through Seller Hub. Search by keyword to see sold listings, average prices, and sell-through rates.
Platform autocomplete remains the most effective free keyword research method. Type seed keywords into each platform's search bar and observe suggestions. "Black dress" might reveal "black dress formal," "black dress maxi," and "black dress cocktail" as specific targets.
Paid Tools Worth Considering
- ZIK Analytics ($19.99-$39.99/month): Comprehensive eBay keyword research with VeRO Protection Coverage
- Vendoo (free tier available): Cross-listing across 10+ marketplaces with AI-enhanced title optimization
- Keywords Everywhere ($10 for 100,000 credits): Browser extension displaying search volume data while typing
AI-Powered Title Generation
eBay's Magical Listing Tool, launched in 2024, analyzes product images to generate titles and descriptions automatically. Available in the US, UK, and Germany mobile apps, it achieved 30% adoption among US app users.
AI-optimized listings show 27-32% higher conversion rates according to 2024 marketplace research.
Many sellers also find that tools like SellyGenie can generate optimized titles and descriptions directly from product photos, eliminating the manual research process entirely.
Common Title Mistakes That Kill Visibility
Keyword Stuffing
Bad: "Shoes Nike Shoes Air Max Nike Running Shoes Men's Shoes Athletic Shoes Sneakers"
This triggers algorithm penalties and repels human buyers. eBay recommends staying below 7% keyword density.
Missing Basic Information
Sellers frequently omit:
- Brand names (relying solely on dropdown fields)
- Item types ("dress," "jeans")
- Sizes (depending only on size filters)
- Colors
If a buyer searches "black work dress long sleeve," your listing won't appear unless those words exist in searchable fields.
Wasting Characters on Filler
These phrases consume precious characters while adding zero searchability:
- "Cute"
- "Amazing"
- "Look!"
- "Must have!"
- "My loss your gain"
- "Priced to sell"
Every word should either match a buyer search term or describe a concrete attribute.
Using Custom Dropdown Entries
Custom size or category entries don't appear in filtered searches. Always use platform-provided options, even when they're imperfect matches.
Ignoring Platform Differences
Each platform has unique algorithmic priorities:
- Poshmark rewards sharing frequency
- Mercari rewards relisting
- Facebook rewards early engagement
Title optimization must align with each platform's specific priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many characters should my marketplace title be?
Use all available characters strategically. On eBay, titles of 65-80 characters perform best. For Poshmark, 40-60 characters work well. On Facebook Marketplace, stick to 65 characters despite the 200-character limit since mobile devices truncate longer titles. Mercari sellers should use all 80 characters plus relevant hashtags.
Should I use emojis in my listing titles?
Avoid emojis in listing titles. Most marketplace algorithms don't index emojis for search, and Mercari explicitly prohibits them. Emojis waste valuable character space that could be used for searchable keywords. Use clear, descriptive text instead.
What should I put at the beginning of my listing title?
Front-load your most important keywords: condition (if notable), brand name, and product type. All marketplace algorithms read titles left-to-right and give more weight to early terms. For example: "NWT Lululemon Align Leggings" rather than "Leggings - Lululemon Align NWT." Mobile truncation also means buyers may only see your first 55-65 characters.
How do I find the right keywords for my listings?
Use platform autocomplete as your primary research tool. Type your product's basic description into the search bar and note the suggestions. These represent actual high-volume buyer searches. Also check eBay's Terapeak (free in Seller Hub) to see what keywords successful sold listings used. Include brand names, model numbers, sizes, colors, and materials.
Do I need different titles for different platforms?
Yes, optimizing titles per platform improves performance. Each marketplace has different character limits, algorithmic priorities, and buyer behaviors. Cross-listing tools like Vendoo allow title customization per marketplace. At minimum, adjust for character limits and platform-specific conventions (like hashtags on Mercari).
Ready to Sell Faster?
Optimized titles directly drive marketplace success. Front-load brand names and primary keywords, use all available characters strategically, and incorporate specific details that match actual buyer searches.
Writing perfect titles for every item can be time-consuming. If you're listing multiple products, SellyGenie can generate professional, keyword-optimized descriptions from your product photos in seconds. Just upload your images, and the AI handles the rest.
