Writing a used car ad...any tips?

[mbomb]

Looking to place an ad to sell a used car owned by a couple of senior citizens. I've noticed ads for similar cars, but they don't really seem to standout. Is there a way to write it in order to get attention and maximize clickthroughs? Thanks.

mbomb

[AllanVans]

Not old, not new but this baby will work just perfect for you, this car still does everything except make the coffee.....

I just thought about that hope you like it.....

[Alex Cohen]

Originally Posted by mbomb

Looking to place an ad to sell a used car owned by a couple of senior citizens. I've noticed ads for similar cars, but they don't really seem to standout. Is there a way to write it in order to get attention and maximize clickthroughs? Thanks.

mbomb

The same rules apply...

1) eyeball-grabbing headline to get attention
2) features/benefits
3) irresistible offer
4) call to action w/scarcity

You might want to look at the used car ads on ebay and find one to model yours after.

Alex

[Mark Andrews]

Give the make, model, color the usual stuff.

If full service history is included with the car put this in the ad. The number of previous owners. Be honest about the condition of the vehicle. If it's immaculate say so but don't fake this info it's not true. If this is true on the other hand you could tell your audience, "You won't find a better example this side of..."

What is the mileage of the vehicle, is this below or above average in your area? Have any modifications been added to the car? Any extra features? Any known issues? Is a free warranty included?

Ideally put your potential buyers in the driving seat of the car within the ad (if you've got the space for this and of course, what you write exactly will depend on the vehicle type in question) for example, an open top sports car...

Imagine the open road in front of you, no other cars in sight a mountain pass just ahead. You open her up putting your foot to the floor and feel the roar of the engine through the seat of your pants. Your hand gently on the steering wheel guiding her agilely through the twisting corners. The wind in your hair, the scenery flying past, music pumping - I guarantee no better driving experience can be had for this kind of money.

Basically get the driver in the car experiencing the physical sensation of driving it at speed, the emotions experienced, allow the driver to ultimately touch his or her desire - in other words create a storyline through the written words of your ad.

Take your potential buyers on a journey within their imagination, the object of their desire, help them to visualize themselves behind the wheel. Appeal to their sense of vanity or ego.

If you build the desire enough they'll find the money required to buy the car from you.

Now you're going to turn around and tell me it's a Trebant lol. In which case the above in italics might be a little difficult to believe.

Hit me up if you need any help with this...

Best,


Pete

PS Example... a good storyline...

YouTube - ‪Top Gear - Ariel Atom -...

[rainmaker4u]

When my neighbor's husband passed away, she got to the point where she couldn't drive any more and she put their car up for sale. She listed the year, the make, the mileage, the color and this..."for the last three years, only driven by a little old lady to church on Sunday"... and it sold within 2 hours.

[ahew]

Define who might want this car too. Perfect for: college student, person who hauls a lot of stuff, mom with kids,... You get the picture. Good luck!

[The Copy Nazi]

Dunno about cars...(well I do have some ideas but I might use them myself) but this New Zealand ad for a secondhand washing machine went viral worldwide - Scary washing machine. No really, its terrifying! | Trade Me

you're welcome

[The Copy Nazi]

talking about Classifieds Ads...

• WE DO NOT TEAR YOUR CLOTHING WITH MACHINERY.
  WE DO IT CAREFULLY BY HAND.
• GET RID OF AUNTS. ZAP DOES THE JOB IN 24 HOURS.
• STOCK UP AND SAVE. LIMIT: ONE.
• ILLITERATE? WRITE TODAY FOR FREE HELP.
• MAN, HONEST. WILL TAKE ANYTHING.
• WANTED. MAN TO TAKE CARE OF COW THAT DOES NOT SMOKE OR DRINK.

• AUTO REPAIR SERVICE. FREE PICK-UP AND DELIVERY.
  TRY US ONCE, YOU'LL NEVER GO ANYWHERE AGAIN.
• DOG FOR SALE: EATS ANYTHING AND IS FOND OF CHILDREN.
• MIXING BOWL SET DESIGNED TO PLEASE A COOK WITH ROUND BOTTOM FOR EFFICIENT BEATING.
• AMANA WASHER $100. OWNED BY CLEAN BACHELOR WHO SELDOM WASHED.
• OUR EXPERIENCED MOM WILL CARE FOR YOUR CHILD.
  FENCED YARD, MEALS, AND SMACKS INCLUDED.
• NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR EARS PIERCED
  AND GET AN EXTRA PAIR TO TAKE HOME, TOO.

• MAN WANTED TO WORK IN DYNAMITE FACTORY.
  MUST BE WILLING TO TRAVEL.
• TIRED OF CLEANING YOURSELF. LET ME DO IT.
• SEMI-ANNUAL AFTER-CHRISTMAS SALE.
• 3-YEAR OLD TEACHER NEEDED FOR PRE-SCHOOL.
  EXPERIENCE PREFERRED.
• VACATION SPECIAL: HAVE YOUR HOME EXTERMINATED.
• GIRL WANTED TO ASSIST MAGICIAN IN CUTTING-OFF-HEAD ILLUSION.
  BLUE CROSS AND SALARY.

• USED CARS: WHY GO ELSEWHERE TO BE CHEATED. COME HERE FIRST.
• FOR SALE: ANTIQUE DESK SUITABLE FOR LADY WITH THICK LEGS AND LARGE DRAWERS.
• FOR SALE. THREE CANARIES OF UNDERMINED SEX.
• GREAT DAMES FOR SALE.
• FREE PUPPIES: 1/2 COCKER SPANIEL-1/2 SNEAKY NEIGHBOR'S DOG
• MT. KILIMANJARO, THE BREATHTAKING BACKDROP FOR THE SERENA LODGE.
  SWIM IN THE LOVELY POOL WHILE YOU DRINK IT ALL IN.
• DINNER SPECIAL -- TURKEY $2.35; CHICKEN OR BEEF $2.25; CHILDREN $2.00

• THE HOTEL HAS BOWLING ALLEYS, TENNIS COURTS, COMFORTABLE BEDS,
  AND OTHER ATHLETIC FACILITIES.
• WANTED: HAIR CUTTER. EXCELLENT GROWTH POTENTIAL.
• TOASTER: A GIFT THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY APPRECIATES.
  AUTOMATICALLY BURNS TOAST.
• FOR RENT: 6-ROOM HATED APARTMENT.
• WE WILL OIL YOUR SEWING MACHINE AND ADJUST TENSION IN YOUR HOME FOR $1.00.
• CHRISTMAS TAG-SALE. HANDMADE GIFTS FOR THE HARD-TO-FIND PERSON.

• AND NOW, THE SUPERSTORE-UNEQUALED IN SIZE, UNMATCHED IN VARIETY, UNRIVALED INCONVENIENCE.
• HAVE SEVERAL VERY OLD DRESSES FROM GRANDMOTHER IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION.
• Ad seen in NY Times
  For sale by owner
  Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica. 45 volumes. Excellent condition. $1,000.00 or best offer. No longer needed. Got married last weekend. Wife knows f**king everything.

[tk226]

I guess, apart from general details, you work on its 'presentation/layout' etc. Just make sure it's neatly done to get plenty of impressions.

[peejaydee]

My own golden rules for selling cars over the years:

1. Tell the truth. Don't be tempted to make the car sound like something it's not. Be upfront about condition and mileage. Buyers are attracted to adverts that stick to the facts and describe cars accurately.
2. Avoid clichés like 'one lady owner' or 'first to see will buy'. Clichéd text is confusing and tells people nothing about the car. It's also a waste of valuable ad space which could be used to give potential buyers more real information. Forget about 'top of the range' or 'high end' as they have absolutely no meaning whatsoever.
3. Get make, model and specification identifiers correct. A single letter mistake from a model designation can turn a GLS into GL or a GT and cause a real prospect to ignore the car completely.
4. Include pictures. Would you even waste your time to go and look at a car that had no picture included?

[peejaydee]

Take a look at this one.

Click on 'see full description' ...and make sure you read the questions and answers.
No surprise this one sold.

[The Copy Nazi]

Originally Posted by peejaydee

Take a look at this one.

Click on 'see full description' ...and make sure you read the questions and answers.
No surprise this one sold.

That's a beauty! Good find.

Update, Tuesday 12th April: < I like this colour I just pretended to get off with myself in the back seats, I had someone confirm that they could see me. This unfortunately means the windows are only lightly tinted and it isn't privacy glass. Also worth mentioning that this car runs on petrol which can be bought at 'petrol stations', if you are unfamiliar with these then ask someone for directions to a place that sells over priced cold sausage rolls.
I can confirm that the petrol low light works, it just came on.
Also I just took delivery of a docking station for my laptop, the box it came in is surplus to requirements as I have plenty of other empty boxes. I will include this box in the sale at no extra cost. Finally for today, I think a pound coin fell out of my Bermuda shorts and has lodged itself somewhere under the drivers seat, if I don't find it before the car sells you can have this too. Dont be disappointed if its only 50p though, it sounded like a pound but could have been a 50.

[DougHughes]

Ooh yeah...used cars.

Again, it boils down to who are you selling it to.

Are you selling an old Mercedes? Then you might go with "affordable luxury and German engineering," figuring it's someone looking for a Mercedes on the cheap.

Toyota? Most people know they're reliable, but did you know they're fast, economical, and have kick ass sound systems too? Sure, a bit more than a Nissan or Hyundai, but more prestigious too. A smarter choice if you will.

If it's a cheapy, say it's a cheapy...but it has a kick ass sound system and enough room in the trunk to pack your whole apartment in one trip.

If you're going with classified ads you're probably looking at bargain hunters. But not always.

For simplicity's sake you are basically dealing with two types of buyers - bargain hunters and bargain hunters with money (hehe).

But...A sale a good ad does not make.

This is just like a lot of online stuff. The ad probably won't sell the car. This is where a bit of strategy comes in.

Robert Cialdini writes about this in "Persuasion." I have found this to be true. Just like some auction houses have people shill the bids.

In other words, if you can schedule people to arrive at the same time you'll create more interest in your product. Why? Because people want what other people want.

For instance..."Hmmm, well, I was just about to take a deposit from the gentlman over there. Do you want the car? Are you willing to buy it now?"

As was already mentioned above, if the car has problems it's better to be up front and set the price accordingly.

You'll get a feel for people when they stop by. But, you should always have a "reason why."

Why are you selling the car? If it's a guy buying a car for his son you might say "Oh, it's my son's car...been a great car, but he just graduated college and got his first real job. He's buying a new car and going to use money from this for the down payment, etc..."

[wordydiva]

A lot of great advice has already been given in this thread.

When you write the ad (if you haven't already) think of what you would want to see in the ad. Include relevant details (make, mileage, condition, automatic or manual) that most buyers want to know immediately. Once the basics are out of the way be brief and honest. Most buyers do not want to read an epic ad, but they also will wonder if absolutely no negative features are mentioned. An honest, to the point ad with a call to action stressing how shortly the deal will be available should get good results.

[max5ty]

Why was it important for you to tell us they were senior citizens?

Whatever your answer is - your on your way to a good ad.

[Cam Connor]

Copy Nazi, Do you have any more of those? They are absolutely priceless, lol. I literally just spent 20 minutes laughing.

[Alex Cohen]

Humor me somebody... what's so funny about the China Seafood Restaurant ad?

The ad corrects the fact that the characters were originally printed upside down.

That's funny?

Alex

[Cam Connor]

Originally Posted by Alex Cohen

Humor me somebody... what's so funny about the China Seafood Restaurant ad?

The ad corrects the fact that the characters were originally printed upside down.

That's funny?

Alex

It's hilarious because no one could read the thing in the first place, rofl.