Can You Put Opt-In’s in eBay Classified Ads?

Author: Tracey

11 Sep

I had heard weeks ago that eBay were going to allow you to re-introduct opt-in’s back into your ads so I have been officially waiting for the announcement. But as usual I have heard nothing from them.

However, today I decided to go and check out their listing policy to see if anything had changed and it had! (Now I’m not sure when they changed it, the last time I checked was around a month ago).

Anyway – here are the two items of interest taken from the policy page at http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-links.html:

One link to your email address that opens an email client for potential buyers to ask questions about the item in that listing

Links to your Store newsletter and mailing list names are permitted, provided that your inclusion of the mailing list names does not constitute keyword spamming or violate any other eBay policy

Now while it’s still a little unclear I’m going to take it as a YES. (I’ve been using opt-in’s with no problems for months with great success).

Go for it Adders!

Please link to me

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Filed under: classified ads, ebay

10 Responses for "Can You Put Opt-In’s in eBay Classified Ads?"

Wayne Cochrane September 12th, 2008 at 10:13 am 1
Thanks Tracey!
But I find this confusing as usual with eBay.
Do you think eBay hire people and pay them extra just to confuse people? [I find Skype and Paypal have the same problem.]
I will dwell on it. May be it will be clearer after some sleep!
Wayne.
Sally October 23rd, 2008 at 7:41 pm 2
Hi Tracey

I have 3 classified ads live just now, all with opt-in forms and have had no problems with them, so as far as I can see, opt in forms seem to be ok.

Sally
Cheryl May 27th, 2009 at 10:43 am 3
I have found the following so I guess this means no. Check out the 2nd to last one.

Not allowed

You may not include:

Links to websites or pages that offer to trade, sell, or purchase goods or services outside of eBay.

Links to websites or pages that solicit eBay user IDs, passwords, or email addresses from members.

Links to websites or pages that encourage buyers to place their bids through a site other than eBay. For example, you can’t mention “auction sniping” websites, because you have to use your eBay user ID and password. You can mention UnWired Buyer, which is a member of eBay’s Developer and Affiliate programs, because their service doesn’t violate this policy.

Links or other connections to live chat systems. The only live chat option you can include in your listing is the Skype option in the Sell Your Item form. You may include your chat user names in an item description, but not a link to chat. You may include a live chat link in your About Me page or Custom Stores pages, but not in your Store home page.

Links to videos hosted on other websites. The video services outlined above take strong measures to provide safe content.You may not post your own videos unless they are hosted at one of these sites.

Links to subscribe to non-eBay newsletters or mailing lists.

Links to websites or pages that host material deemed to be inappropriate for general audiences.
Cheryl May 27th, 2009 at 10:51 am 4
So Tracey, we can’t put an opt-in form in our ads? Just wanted to double check with you.

Thanks,

Cheryl
Tracey May 27th, 2009 at 1:43 pm 5
Hi Cheryl,

eBay doesn’t always make things clear do they. This linking policy that you’ve quoted refers to creating a link out to a page that then has your mailing list on it however it doesn’t actually refer to having your mailing list IN your ad.

Therefore this is their policy on links inside your auctions/ads: http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-links-email.html

It basically states that you can include a mailing list as long as the person isn’t directed straight to a salespage after they enter their details. (You can however direct them to wherever you like from the emails you send them).

Hope that clears things up.

Tracey
Cheryl May 27th, 2009 at 6:52 pm 6
Tracey,
It is confusing! Thanks for clearing things up.

I just finished reading Auction Classified Cash and I found it very helpful. I hope I will be successful. I find I reach a crossroads no matter what avenue I try to be successful online. Even down to copywriting skills! I will try my best and see.
steve June 16th, 2009 at 4:09 pm 7
All,
Your comments are very helpful. I wanted to know if it is OK to place affiliate links on the Squeeze page after the user is redirected from the opt in ebay classified listing page…
Tracey June 16th, 2009 at 4:41 pm 8
If you mean that as soon as they opt-in they automatically get sent to the affiliate offer then eBay won’t let you do that.

However as soon as they are on your list, then you can send them wherever you like.

tracey
Raj June 21st, 2009 at 12:34 pm 9
Hi Tracey,

Please Im using http://www.yoursqueezepage.com to to generate my advert with an opt in box for my ebay ad. Now as I was setting the ad up and added the html source , the preview of the advert was fine but then later i got this message….

Your listing cannot contain javascript (“.cookie”, “cookie(“, “replace(“, IFRAME, META, or includes), cookies or base href.

Please can you help me? I got your AuctionClassifiedCash ebook and im so eager to start.

Regards,

Raj
Tracey June 21st, 2009 at 1:36 pm 10
Hi Raj,

That’s correct, eBay doesn’t allow javascript so you will need the html version of the opt in code. Does yoursqueezepage have this option as well? I know the autoresponders do, but I’ve never used yoursqueezepage so I’m not sure if they have a html version of the optin or not.

Tracey