How to Create a Better Classified Ad

Two adverts for the same item can perform very differently. The difference is almost always structure, not luck.

Pick the most specific category

Buyers browse and filter by category. A vague or wrong category hides your item from the exact people looking for it, and filters — make, model, size, condition — only work when the fields are filled in.

Title: facts in search order

Lead with what the item is, then the identifying details a buyer would type: brand, model, year, size, condition. Leave out sales language; "immaculate must-see bargain" matches nothing anyone searches for.

Photos: order matters as much as quality

Your first photo appears in search results and decides your click rate. Use a clean, well-lit, full-item shot first, then details, then any flaws. Vertical phone photos crop badly — shoot landscape where possible.

Description checklist

Cover, in order: what it is, age and condition, what is included, why you are selling, any faults, and collection or delivery arrangements. Anything you leave out becomes a message you have to answer twenty times.

Price with a reason

A price that lines up with comparable live listings gets more genuine enquiries than an inflated price you plan to negotiate down. Say whether the price is firm or negotiable.

Keep it visible

Recency affects where your advert appears. If interest fades, refresh the photos and title, review the price, and consider a bump or featured upgrade rather than leaving a stale advert untouched.