Craigslist, we’ve all used it at one point or another. It can be an invaluable tool for everything from finding a place to rent to selling your old car. But how do you create an ad that will stand out from the hyper saturated pages of Craigslist? Here are some helpful tips to follow.
1: Re-post your ad every few days to keep it towards the top of the results list.
It takes 30 days for a Craigslist ad to naturally expire, and by that time your ad will be so many pages deep that it may as well not exist. We recommend reposting your ad every two to three days to keep it showing up on the first couple pages of results. Once your ad slides back to being over 3 pages deep, the chances of it being found diminish greatly.
2: Second but arguably most important: POST GOOD PICTURES
People want to literally SEE what you are selling, so upload as many pictures as possible. Make sure the quality of the photos is top notch as well. Great pictures make the product look more desirable, while blurry, low-quality photos could possibly drive potential customers away. When it comes to online shopping, visuals are just as if not more important than the description.
3: Don't have questions in your Headline.
This tip comes from WiseBread. They mention that questions can work for a job, personal ad, or service; however, for tangible items they should be purely informational. Here is the example they provide:
"Phillips 27" LCD TV, Like New, In Box, $230"
vs.
"How can you resist this gorgeous new 27" Phillips LCD TV? Only $230"
"The first is a no nonsense description. The second feels like salesy marketing talk, and that makes me feel like a used car salesman is trying to sell me an old junker with a new paint job." - Paul Michael
4: Create a detailed description with a little humor.
Humor is a writing element that is well accepted by everyone. When creating your description, make sure the potential customer has all the knowledge they need to take the plunge. After the description has enough content, add a little humor in there if applicable. A hint of humor will ensure that potential customers are more engaged with your Craigslist post. First impressions are everything on Craigslist.
Sources:
http://www.wisebread.com/the-9-secrets-of-highly-successful-craigslist-sellers
