I have been asked multiple times by family members and friends, ‘how can I sell on Craigslist.’ I have sold hundreds of dollars worth of items through Craigslist and through my sales I’ve found what works and what doesn’t work. This article goes through the five essential steps you need to follow to sell your item(s) on Craigslist.
*This article is not only for Craigslist but almost any selling site / forum.*
1. Know the Condition / Value of the Item
This step is key to knowing what your item is realistically worth and to avoid low-ball offers and the occasional angry email. If you have an Iphone for example and you just bought it for $800 tax in, four months ago, it’s not worth $800 anymore. The sad realization of an items value is key to getting your item sold quickly and obtaining more offers to choose from.
The best way to find an accurate value for your item is to go on Craigslist, Kijiji, Ebay, etc. and find similar products. Take the average price you see on the listings and factor that into your items condition to figure out a proper value for your item.
Attention spans are at an all time low; you do not need to write out a three-paragraph description of the item if it’s worth $50. More often than not people will look at your ad for 3 things: pictures, price, and location.
The description should be brief and explain how old the item is, any damage / condition, how much you spend on it, and in some cases why you’re selling.
3. Think of Craigslist as a Giant Garage Sale
If you have never been to a garage sale or had the pleasure of partaking in one, it comes down to deals. Buyers are looking for the best deal possible, no one wants to pay full price or they would buy it new. Once you put your hands on the item (no matter how clean they are) it is not new anymore.
Only the most ignorant of sellers believe their item listed at 425 will sell for exactly 425. Expect people to offer you less money for your item because it will happen, price it a little higher so the buyer feels they are getting a deal no matter how big. Doing this causes both parties come out happy and in some cases you can sell your item for more than you thought you would.
Also the ‘firm’ trick is fairly handy at reducing low-ball offers. However, unless you are very stubborn or the item is properly priced at the low end you will not get that price.
4. Tags
Tags on an ad work as a search engine tool so your ad gets more hits, more often. For instance, if you are selling a 2011 Jeep Wrangler, the only way people will be able to find your ad is if they type is something into the search box that is in your ad. An item with no tags will be found when looking up Jeep, Wrangler, 2011, or any other word in your title / description. An ad with tags will (annoyingly) pop up when someone types in ‘Ferrari, Lambo, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Car, Truck, Supercar, off road, lifted, new, used, etc.’
In order not to confuse people with what part of your ad is tagged and what part is description put about 4 spaces down from your description and label them ‘Tags’. Write any tag word that has to do with the item you are selling. DO NOT write tomato peeler if your item is a TV or you will have a greater chance of being flagged / removed.
*Tags are the single best way to get the most hits on your item.
5. GOOD Pictures
Last but not least is the picture aspect of the ad. I don’t care if your item is worth $4 or $4000 there are four spots for pictures and you need to use some if not all of them. Your phone has a camera but if it says 1.3 megapixels on it please just borrow a cheap point and shoot from a friend because those pictures are useless.
It is not hard what so ever to add pictures to your ad and it is free like everything else. Please take advantage of this option because most people don’t want to email you for pictures just because you are too lazy to post a few.
Pictures also get your ad more hits and leverage over an item worth the same amount but with worse pictures. People are lazy; they are not on Craigslist to put effort into buying an item from you. Most people click the ‘has picture’ box before they search for something; ambiguity is not your friend in sales.
Make a good ad, be patient, and your item will sell.
Thank you sir
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