How to write an ad that sells
Two people can list the same phone on the same day, and one sells in an afternoon while the other waits for weeks. The difference is almost never the item. It is the ad.
1. Write the title a buyer would type
Buyers search with plain words: the brand, the model, and the one detail that matters. Put those first.
- Weak: “Great phone, must go!!!”
- Strong: “Samsung Galaxy S23, 256 GB, black, unlocked”
Leave out capital letters, exclamation marks and words like “bargain”. They add nothing to a search and make an ad look less trustworthy.
2. Answer the questions before they are asked
A good description saves you from sending the same reply ten times. Cover the points every buyer wants to know:
- What exactly is it? Model, size, colour, capacity, year.
- How old is it, and how much was it used?
- What is included: box, charger, cables, receipt, spare parts?
- Why are you selling it?
- How can the buyer get it: pick-up in your city, shipping, or both?
Short paragraphs or a simple list read better on a phone than one long block of text.
3. Be honest about the condition
Choose the condition that truly fits: new, like new, good, fair, or for parts. Then name the flaws yourself: the scratch on the corner, the battery that lasts half a day, the missing button. It feels like it will scare buyers away. In practice it does the opposite: buyers trust a seller who points out problems, and nobody feels cheated on arrival. An honest ad is also your best protection if a buyer later opens a dispute.
4. Set a price you can explain
Look at what similar items are listed for, then place yours according to its condition and what comes with it. If you are open to offers, mark the price as negotiable instead of inflating it. Our guide to pricing second-hand items goes through this step by step.
5. Let the photos do the selling
Most buyers decide from the first photo whether to open an ad at all. Use daylight, a plain background and several angles, and include a close-up of any damage you mentioned. Photos taken with the in-site camera get a “Live photo” badge that shows buyers the item is really in your hands. More in taking product photos with your phone.
6. Choose the right category and add tags
The category decides where your ad appears when people browse. Tags help it show up in searches for related words. You can add up to ten; think of what a buyer might type that is not already in your title, such as “gaming-laptop”, “student” or “winter-tyres”.
7. Reply quickly and keep the ad up to date
The first seller to answer usually gets the sale. Check your chat inbox, answer politely even when the offer is low, and keep arrangements inside the chat so both of you have a record. If the price changes or one of several units is sold, update the ad. When the item is gone, mark it as sold so nobody writes to you for nothing.
A quick checklist before you publish
- Would I find this ad if I searched for the item myself?
- Does the description answer what, how old, what is included, and how to get it?
- Have I mentioned every flaw I know about?
- Is the first photo clear, bright and showing the whole item?
- Is the price in line with similar ads?
If the answer is yes five times, you are ready to post your ad.