We’ve said time and time again that Craigslist is one of the very best platforms for independent dealerships to display their inventory. So what does it mean if you’ve been investing in Craigslist but not seeing results? Simply that you need to rethink your strategy a bit. Here are four of the most common reasons why your ads might be failing… and, some tips for improving them.
The Title Isn’t Good
Start with the title of your ad; make sure that you’re always crystal clear about the make and the model. Without this clarity, you’ll miss out on buyers who are looking for a particular kind of car but aren’t actually taking the time to read every single ad. You need to include key make and model information in the title to get those buyers to click through for additional details! In addition to make and model, we’d recommend also including the year and the trim level.
The Ad Copy is Light on Details
So let’s say you make an ad that clearly advertises a 2006 Nissan Sentra for sale. So far so good. But when the buyer clicks through and finds there’s not much detail shared, that can be frustrating, to say the least. Make sure you provide some particular points about the condition of the car, the features and amenities it comes with, any recent repairs or upgrades performed, etc. You don’t have to list every last whistle but do be generous in outlining the selling points.
Your Ad Copy Is Low-Quality
A poorly typed Craigslist ad will turn buyers away, which of course is the last thing you want. There are a number of ways in which ad copy can miss the bar for basic quality, including:
- You TYPE IN ALL CAPS for some reason.
- You have long run-on sentences without proper punctuation.
- You include a lot of typos.
- You format your ad as one giant block of test, as opposed to using line breaks, bullet points, etc.
Spend some time not just on copywriting, but also on proofing and formatting.
Your Ad Has Bad Photos
Actually, the worst-case scenario is that your ad has no photos at all. Nearly as unforgivable is when your photos are blurry, in harsh lighting, or simply don’t capture all the important parts of the car. Make sure you’re mindful about taking high-quality images at the right time of day and in the right backdrop, and that you get plenty of good angles of the interiors, exteriors, engine, wheels, etc.
Take Your Craigslist Ads to the Next Level
Craigslist can be a powerful tool for independent used car dealerships, but only if you take the time to get your ads just right.
One way to expedite that process is to use the Craigslist Wizard, an incredible tool that Get My Auto developed as an asset to independent dealerships.
Contact us directly to find out more about this technology.