The recipe for a good auction listing is a clear title, high-quality original photos, and an honest description of the item. When your auction listing is easy to read and follows the rules, you build buyers' trust and ensure successful transactions.
A good listing builds trust, answers buyers' questions, and ensures the best possible price for your item. Follow these guidelines to create an attractive and clear listing.
ARTICLE CONTENTS:
1. Clear Title
- Simply state what product or service you are selling (e.g., Volvo FH13 6x2 or Gaming Computer).
- Keep the title short: Put the most important information in the first 30 characters.
- If it is a vehicle, the best format for the title is Make, Model, and Year. Additional details like "Just Inspected" belong in the Additional Information field.
- No "shouting": Do not use ALL CAPS or exclamation marks.
- There is no need to add "For Sale" or the location in the title. The system will add the location automatically.
- Avoid special characters such as * ? @ # and emojis. They make your listing harder to find in search engines.
2. High-Quality Photos
Photos are the most important part of the listing. They build trust and help with the purchase decision.
- Take your own photos: Never use photos taken by others or found online.
- Use landscape orientation: A 4:3 aspect ratio works best on the platform.
- Lighting and cleanliness: Photograph the item clean, in a well-lit environment, and from several different angles.
- Show defects as well: Honesty is the best policy. Photograph scratches, wear, and defects separately – this ensures the transaction goes smoothly.
- Privacy: Cover previous owners' names and other personal information on documents with paper or image editing.
See more detailed instructions for taking photos: How to Take Good Photos for a Vehicle Sales Listing.
3. The Listing Text Should Be Informative and Honest
A good listing text answers the question: Why is this item worth buying? Its purpose is to convince the buyer and provide all the necessary information for making a purchase decision.
- Facts first: Provide all information affecting the price: equipment, maintenance history and technical details, defects, wear, and shortcomings.
- Be honest about defects: Even minor shortcomings should be mentioned. This shows the seller is trustworthy.
- Avoid empty superlatives such as "top specimen." Let the facts speak for themselves.
- No personal information: Do not include phone numbers or email addresses in the text. Contacts will come securely through the service.
See separate instructions for vehicles or machinery: How to Write an Effective Vehicle Sales Listing and How to Write a Selling Listing for Your Machinery
4. Finishing Touches
A clearly structured and well-written text is professional and easy to read.
- Use paragraphs: Divide the text into short sections and leave empty lines between them.
- List features: Use a dash (–) for lists.
- Language: Use capital letters at the beginning of sentences and standard font size. Avoid underlining or excessive use of bold.
Finally, it is important to check that the item you are selling complies with the service's Listing Terms and Rules:
A good listing is trustworthy, concise, and follows the rules. When the buyer gets a clear picture of the item, it lowers the threshold for bidding!