eBay announced the launch of new Promoted Listing ads, which enable advertisers to pay only for clicks that result in an item being purchased.

The company says you can use the ads to boost item visibility, start a campaign at any time, and pay only when your item sells. It promises quick and easy setup, advertiser control, detailed reporting, and clear billing. You can choose the listings you want to promote, set your ad rates, and launch your campaign quickly and easily. You can start, stop, or change a campaign at any time, making it ideal for seasonal items, new listings, and best sellers, as eBay notes. They provide “tons” of stats to show how campaigns are performing and for optimization purposes.

“With promoted listings, you can increase the likelihood of a sale by putting your best merchandise in front of buyers who are actively searching and shopping,” the company says. “Your ads may appear in prominent locations on eBay based on several factors, including your chosen ad rate and how relevant the item is to a buyer’s search.”

Fees appear on your invoice. You choose how much you’re willing to pay to promote your items (from 1% to 20% of the sale price), and you’ll only pay your chosen rate when the buyer clicks and purchases the item.

Jordan Sweetnam writes on the eBay for Business blog:

What’s unique about this service is, as a seller, you only pay for advertising your listings when an item is clicked and purchased. Most other advertising services will charge you for a click, whether or not a sale takes place. This is a more efficient way to advertise and one more example of our focus on seller success.

With promoted listings, you’ll be able to put your best-selling merchandise and seasonal must-haves in front of your customers as they are actively searching for specific items. This will give you the opportunity to boost the visibility of items and may increase the likelihood of sales.

The ads are currently only available by invitation. You can join a waiting list from Promoted Listings here. The service is only available for items bought and sold on eBay itself, and is available on the limited basis in the US, UK, Germany, and Australia. eBay plans to expand the program later this year.

Hat tip to Ginny Marvin

Image via eBay