Over the years, Craigslist has been one of the most effective lead-generating platforms for the automotive industry. It’s a good, low-hassle way for car dealers and buyers to connect.
At last count, Craigslist had some 60 million users in the US alone. That’s a lot of eyeballs you don’t want to miss out on. In fact, Craigslist is bigger than Autotrader and Cars.com combined.
Getting your inventory listed on Craigslist is one ofthe most profitable ways to advertise your cars. It’s proven that car buyers on Craigslist tend to convert much quicker than on any other classifieds. The conversion rate on Craigslist can be as high as 10%, and that’s huge.
When it comes to advertising on Craigslist, you must do it the right way to start selling cars like crazy.
So what do you need to know to get the most out of Craigslist?
There are many things you should do to successfully run car ads on Craigslist and make buyers choose you instead of your competitors. It’s a simple process with amazing results.
Let’s walk through it together, shall we?
1. Know When to Post:
Not all days and times are the same when it comes to listing your cars on Craigslist. You have to know when car buyers start roaming Craigslist for the newest listings. One way to do this is by using a tool to tell you when to post. Our system makes this easy for you and gives you the best times based on your market and what cars you sell.
2. Use Image Overlays:
Having overlays on your car pictures with CTAs such as “get approved now”, “easy financing”… will make your cars more noticeable and will drastically increase your conversions. This is an example of a high performing ad one of our dealers is using that includes overlays, and another ad without overlays.
3. Track Your Performance:
Keep an eye on your listings’ performance for wiser future decisions. OurCraigslist toolprovides you with a trackable phone number. This allows you to record phone calls and listen to them as many times as you need. The tool also gives you the number of clicks per vehicle to have a clearer idea on which ads are performing better.
It’s true that I promised you only 3, but here’s a fourth point as bonus secret for greater results.
Bonus Secret: Post, Post & Post:
Post consistently on Craigslist to always stay on top. You can automate the process and focus more on what you do best. We have the perfect tool for that! Our speed posting tool is the fastest on the planet. You can schedule listings ahead, post your entire inventory with 2 clicks or put it on autopilot. Keep your inventory in front of car buyers without having to even think about it.
These are just a few elements of what you need to do to make your dealership stand out on Craigslist. To find out how you can double your sales in a short period of time,book a free strategy callwith our team and learn more about the strategies that are giving the highest return on investment to our dealers.
FAQs
Write a detailed, clear ad and take good pictures
Your Craigslist ad is your opportunity to give buyers a preview of your car. A clear, thorough ad allows a buyer to evaluate the vehicle's appearance and decide if they're interested. Include lots of photos of the car's interior and exterior from a variety of angles.
How do I sell better on Craigslist? ›
Selling on Craigslist and Facebook: 30+ Tips to Help You Make Money while You Declutter
- Spend some time taking clear pictures.
- Sell your most valuable items first.
- Research prices on eBay.
- Donate low priced items.
- Don't set prices too high.
- Leave a little room for bargaining.
- Use detailed headlines and descriptions.
How to sell your car on Craigslist
- Step 1: Compile the documents needed to sell your car. ...
- Step 2: Clean and repair your car as best you can. ...
- Step 3: Determine your car's market value. ...
- Step 4: Take great photos of your car. ...
- Step 5: Create a detailed description of your car. ...
- Step 6: Publish your ad.
Take some time to create your Craigslist ad, and be sure to include plenty of detail and photos. Before meeting with potential buyers, collect the paperwork you'll need to finalize the sale. Finally, protect yourself by dealing with only local buyers and by meeting in public places or with a friend in tow.
How do I make my Craigslist ad stand out? ›
In this article, we'll give you ten tips to make your ad stand out from the rest.
- Know Your Target Audience. ...
- Use an Eye-Catching Headline. ...
- Include Key Information in the Body of Your Ad. ...
- Use Attractive Visuals. ...
- Use a Call to Action. ...
- Create Many Unique Ads. ...
- Be Realistic About Prices. ...
- Use Keyword-Rich Titles and Descriptions.
Photograph all the details a buyer will want to see inside the vehicle. Make sure to photograph the seats, dashboard, and any optional equipment (such as a stereo), floor carpets, backseat, or other interior angles. Also include any items that help identify optional equipment, such as trim level and condition.
What is the best way to accept payments on Craigslist? ›
Use cash — safely
If you're dealing with a local, the most secure way to pay or collect funds for a Craigslist transaction is with cash. To keep it even more secure, you can make the exchange in a safe place like your local police station or even at Acclaim FCU.
Is it okay to give VIN on Craigslist? ›
If you're selling a used car on Craigslist, a potential buyer may ask for your VIN number so they can run an auto history report. While this is completely normal, only provide this information to serious prospects; giving out this data from unknown companies may be an attempt at identity theft.
Where is the easiest place to sell a car? ›
The best websites to sell your car online for the most money include Cars.com, Carvana, CarBrain, Peddle, TrueCar, Copart, CarMax and CarGurus. Daniel Robinson is a writer based in Greenville, N.C. with expertise in auto insurance, loans, warranty options and more.
How do I protect myself when selling a car privately in California? ›
On top of protecting your physical safety, consider taking these financial and legal safety precautions when selling your car:
- Ask for the driver's proof of insurance. ...
- Get everything in writing. ...
- Wait for the money to come in. ...
- Keep your car insured while it's yours. ...
- Complete the paperwork.
You'll need to:
- Fill out the official Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) transfer forms.
- Get a smog certification.
- Submit transfer forms.
- Complete the California certificate of title.
- Get an odometer reading.
- Collect any valid warranties or as-is documents.
- Collect all maintenance records.
Anytime there's a change to a vehicle or vessel's registered owner or lienholder, that change must be updated in DMV's records within 10 days and the California Certificate of Title must be transferred to the new owner. A change in ownership is usually due to: Sale, gift, or donation.
How do you write a good ad to sell a car? ›
Here are a few things that can be helpful when trying to figure out how to write a good used car ad:
- Keeping it relevant.
- Being honest.
- Providing records.
- Being clear about price and payment.
- Taking high-quality photos.
Always write honest descriptions. The most important vehicle qualities to include are its make, model, and year. If you visit a car search website, such as CarFax, these qualities are always three of the search parameters. These three are followed by the seller's location/distance from the buyer and the price range.
How do I advertise effectively on Craigslist? ›
Be clear and descriptive when including price and key details of your product or service, and avoid using all caps, exclamation points or anything that might seem 'spammy. ' Do your keyword research – Know the various keywords that someone will use to find your service or product, and the variations.
How do I get more views on my Craigslist ad? ›
Through some creativity, you can help maximize your ad's exposure by optimizing its presence.
- Find similar ads within your target category. ...
- Post your Craigslist ad during the day. ...
- Post your ad in its rightful category. ...
- Insert the main item, product or subject in the title field.
