Posting a car ad on Gumtree is simple and straightforward. However there’s more you can do to separate your car ad from the competition. The vehicle description box gives you the opportunity to really make your ad stand out from the 165,000+ car ads on Gumtree. Here are our top 10 tips to make your ads outperform others.
1. Start with an attention grabbing title. We auto fill the car’s year, make, model and body type for you in the title box, but go the extra mile and add a few describing words to set your car ad apart.
2. Use the description section to really make your ads stand out. Reiterate the car’s make, model, year and variant as well as the mileage and registration details. Restate the price and give justification if you’re asking for more than the market rate. You should also let buyers know if you’re willing to negotiate on price. Give a brief overview of the car, such as “an economical and reliable car for zipping around the city.” Don’t forget to highlight some of the key features, such as sat nav or leather seats.
3. How many previous owners has the car had? What was the car used for? Buyers want to understand the car’s full history and what they are buying.
4. Has the car been well looked after and maintained? If it has been stored in a garage, away from the elements, make this clear. Buyers appreciate the protection a garage provides.
5. Explain and describe. Tell buyers why your car is immaculately clean and near perfect by using terms like “no pets” and “non-smoker” to describe the car’s interior.
6. Be honest. Has the car been in any accidents or had any repairs, even minor? Buyers are savvy and will ask these questions, so be upfront from the beginning. State that you have complete vehicle log books and any roadworthy and third party insurance certificates.
7. Most car buyers are not car experts. They may be confused about what’s available and you need to guide them. Make sure you speak to them on their level, in a way that anyone can understand. So don’t use any abbreviations, technical jargon or industry slang. Furthermore, don’t scream at them using ONLY CAPITAL LETTERS or overdo it on the exclamation points!!!!!!
8. Photos tell a thousand words. You can display 20 images to when uploading via a feed, and 10 if you’re uploading manually. You don’t need to hire a professional photographer. Just ensure you’re making the most of this visual opportunity by taking clear photos on a good day.Showcase the car’s exterior, interior, engine and any key selling points like alloy wheels, sunroofs etc.
9. Customer Service. What other services does your dealership provide? If you offer an extended warranty or can provide finance options, let buyers know. Do you have an aftersales program such as service and inspection or complimentary car wash? These are the building blocks to a relationship that will turn a one-time buyer into a lifelong customer and advocate of your dealership.
10. Summarise with a ‘Call To Action’. You’ve given buyers the information they want. Now it’s time to get them into your dealership. Let them know you’re ready to see them and give them a reason to get in touch e.g. “book a test drive today.” Remember, on Gumtree all your dealership information is listed alongside your ads, so buyers can readily call, email or note down your address and walk in to your yard.
Ready to make changes to your car ads? If you manually upload your car ads then simply sign in to My Gumtree to make edits. And if you upload using a feed, just login to your dealer management system to make the changes.
For more help with your car ads contact Dealer Support on 1300 137 304
