Tips For Writing Used Car Ads That Will Sell Your Vehicle
When you’re looking to upgrade your ride, selling your old car is a must. You don’t want to just give it away, but at the same time writing an advert can cause stress. What should you include and what should you leave out? At what point is not informing potential buyers of a quirk or the lack of certain documents unethical? How should you word your ad to maximize the chance of a sale for the price you want, without the hassle of haggling or lowballers? To write an effective ad, good writing skills will not hurt. So, if you ever questioned how to achieve academic success in college, some writing guidance would be vital.
If this is the dilemma you’re currently facing, we can help. Read on for tips for writing a used car ad that will sell your vehicle without leaving your buyers in the dark.
Choose Your Medium
There’s plenty of classified advertising companies to choose from, so you need to make sure to choose the one best suited to your needs and your vehicle. Take time to research what vehicles they usually sell, what their price ranges are, and if your car fits into their demographic. Would you prefer physical adverts in the local paper or an online advert with more reach, for example? If you haven’t the ability to drive the car down, local may be better, but advertising on the web will reach more potential buyers if you’re desperate to sell.
Once you’ve chosen which classified ad company to use, you should take the time to research if they have an expected format for advertisements and make sure your ad fits these guidelines. You can always reach out to the platform before writing the ad and ask if they have a specific layout or template they prefer, or simply require your text and pictures to manipulate. Once you know what to include, you can get writing.
State the Obvious
This goes without saying, really. Begin with the car make and model, the year it was produced and to be even more useful, include it in the ad title. This information should stand out to any potential buyers and draw them in. Once you have their attention, lead into any other pertinent information regarding your vehicle, and don’t be shy about selling them with vigor. You want to highlight everything special and appealing about your car, so don’t hold back.
Whether it’s upgrades (heated seats, real leather covers, etc) or custom extras you shelled out for (wooden interior dash, external color, roof rack, etc), you’ll be surprised how many buyers will consider a make or model they hadn’t thought about because it has something extra they think is cool or useful. Mention the old CD player as retro, or play up the versatility of BlueTooth connectivity to a digital radio, whichever applies to your car!
You don’t know your potential buyers, so it helps simply to give them any and all information they could want. What one person can’t live without, another may find overwhelming. By being descriptive and open about what your car possesses, you can appeal to everyone.
Include The Little Details
Consider other information that may help sell your car. Vehicles kept in garages rather than on the street are often in better condition due to being out of the elements, while driveway cars are less likely to have dings and scratches you haven’t noticed. Additionally, stating smoke-free or pet-free homes suggests better internal conditions and no residual, gross scents to deal with.
You can even include personal dedications, such as weekly internal cleanings or monthly full-car valets, right down to how often you changed the oil and the age of the tires. If you have space to fill, don’t be shy with any details you think could be relevant. You really have nothing to lose by being detailed, and you’re getting value for money on your advertisement.
For those with health conditions, health sensitivities or young children may be drawn in by a car from a clean environment compared to others available. Make sure you add any detail that portrays how clean your car is.
Be Descriptive
Let your vocabulary sell your vehicle by adding engaging language to your descriptions. The red coat of paint you added to the bodywork is “eye-catching” or “vibrant”, and the interior wood panels are a “sleek yet retro addition” to the car’s aesthetic. Leather seats are a “classic comfort added to a modern car” and the heated seats you splurged on are “delightful in winter.”
Be Honest About Drawbacks
Finally, while pushing the best bits of your car, you should also be honest about the bad bits. Is there a feature that doesn’t work anymore? Does the bodywork have dings or scratches you’ve not bothered to have repainted or fixed? How many miles has she done? Is she a gas-guzzler?
Be as open and honest about the drawbacks as the positives, so any buyer who contacts you is well informed of the condition of your car and less likely to duck out of a deal after viewing. This includes “invisible” issues, like engine trouble, exhaust problems, or battery life. Go for full transparency not only to encourage serious buyers but also to improve their impression of you. You’re more likely to sell your car if a potential customer trusts you.
4 Things to Avoid Doing
- Double-listing a Vehicle: This can cause headaches and can be hard to manage interested calls around work. Stick to one listing at a time and think of listing elsewhere next time.
2. Changing Your Price Frequently: Don’t be tempted to lower your price mid-advert. Stay consistent for the duration of an ad and if it doesn’t sell, lower the price next time.
3. Overpricing Your Car: It’s tempting to raise the price knowing buyers might haggle, but if the list price is too high, those potential buyers won’t bite. Keep your price reasonable.
4. Providing Poor Quality Photos: The photos you send will sell your car’s appearance, so make sure you send in ones taken during the day, on a high-quality camera or device.
Author’s bio
Lauren Groff writes about selling cars, is a proofreader at Top essay writing services writing service, and is also an auto writer at OX Essays and Essay writing services reviews.