We're working on ways to make Item Specifics more versatile. Recently, we launched a limited test of what we call Custom Item Specifics.

About Custom Item Specifics
Custom Item Specifics are a bit like "tags" that you find on other user-generated content websites throughout the internet. Essentially, they allow you to create an attribute and keywords for that attribute. For example, let's say you're listing in the Asian Antiques category. You could create your own Item Specifics that give your buyers important details such as “Country: China”, “Type of Antique : Vase”, “Material : Glass”. This gives you the power to quickly add and display the information that will be most important to your buyers.

Custom Item Specifics are created during the listing process. Depending on your item, we may recommend that you use certain Custom Item Specifics during the listing process, because we've seen them used successfully for similar items in the past. The system will "learn" over time, so the recommendations will get better as more items are listed and sold.

All of these details will then be displayed on the item page where the standard Item Specifics are shown today. Not only will these Custom Item Specifics help you better describe your items, but they'll also be factored in when buyers search by title and description. (Note to sellers: Just make sure you choose keywords that are relevant – all Custom Item Specifics will be subject to our policies around keyword spamming).

Our testing plan
Initially, Custom Item Specifics will be introduced in just a small number of categories. These categories have been chosen because they do not offer Item Specifics currently except "Item Condition." Sellers listing in these categories will be able to create and display their own Item Specifics – including both the attribute and the value.

Custom Item Specifics will be available for sellers listing in selected categories through the Sell Your Item form and through the API. They'll be added to Turbo Lister in a few weeks.

If our test goes well, we'll expand it to more categories in the next few months.