An effective car ad should aim to clearly communicate the key features, benefits, and selling points of the vehicle to potential buyers. Here are a few tips to help you write an effective car advert:
- Highlight unique features: List the unique features of the vehicle, such as advanced safety features, fuel efficiency, or spacious interiors.
- Use clear and concise language: Use simple, easy-to-understand language to describe the car’s features and benefits. Avoid using technical jargon or complex phrases.
- Include high-quality images: Include multiple high-quality images of the car from different angles to give potential buyers a clear view of the vehicle.
- Emphasize the condition: Mention the condition of the car, including any recent maintenance or upgrades.
- Offer a competitive price: If the price is competitive, highlight it in the ad to attract potential buyers.
Example of an effective car ad:
Example 1:
“Check out this sleek and stylish 2020 BMW M3! With only 5,000 miles on the odometer, this car is in showroom condition and ready for its new owner. Featuring a powerful 3.0L engine, carbon fiber roof, and M sport suspension, this car is sure to turn heads on the road. The interior boasts leather upholstery, a premium sound system, and advanced tech features like a head-up display and wireless charging. Asking price is $60,000. Contact us to schedule a test drive today!”
Example 2:
“Get ready for your next adventure with this rugged and dependable 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. With only 10,000 miles, this car has been well-maintained and is ready for its next owner. Featuring a 3.6L V6 engine, Rock-Trac 4×4 system, and 33-inch mud-terrain tires, this car is perfect for off-roading and exploring. The interior is equipped with all the latest tech, including a touch screen display and satellite radio. Asking price is $45,000. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!”
Example 3:
“Experience the luxury and comfort of this beautiful 2018 Audi A7 Sportback. With only 15,000 miles, this car is in immaculate condition and features a powerful 3.0L TFSI engine, Quattro all-wheel drive, and a stylish design that is sure to turn heads. The interior boasts premium leather upholstery, a spacious trunk, and advanced tech features like a virtual cockpit and Bang & Olufsen sound system. Asking price is $55,000. Contact us to schedule a test drive today and experience the ultimate in luxury and performance!”
Example 4:
“For sale: 2013 Honda Civic EX with only 40,000 miles. This car is in excellent condition with a clean title and recent maintenance. Features include a fuel-efficient 1.8L engine, advanced safety features such as a backup camera and blind-spot monitoring, and a spacious interior with leather seats and a sunroof. Asking price is $12,000, which is competitively priced for a car in this condition with such low miles. Contact us to schedule a test drive today!”
Essential information check list
Make sure to include the following facts in order:
- Year of registration & registration plate info
- List of equipment and special features
- Approximate mileage
- Full service history if it has it
- Number of owners if low
- Price
- Contact details
Ad writing tips
Here are some tips for writing an effective car advert:
- Start with a strong headline: The headline should grab the reader’s attention and clearly state what you’re offering.
- Highlight key features: Focus on the key features and benefits of the car, such as fuel efficiency, safety features, or unique design elements.
- Use persuasive language: Use persuasive language to make the car sound appealing and desirable.
- Include high-quality images: High-quality images of the car from different angles can help to show off its best features.
- Be specific: Include details such as the year, make, model, and mileage of the car, as well as any additional features or upgrades.
- Offer a competitive price: If the price is competitive, mention it in the ad to attract potential buyers.
- Include a call-to-action: Encourage the reader to take action, such as scheduling a test drive or contacting you for more information.
- Proofread: Make sure to proofread the ad for typos, grammatical errors, or unclear language.
- Contact details: This is the only one you simply must get right. I advice just a contact number.
- Price: Hopefully you have done your research and are confident you are pricing the car competitively. Personally I wouldn’t put open to offer(OTO), or near offer(ONO or any other abbreviations. The only time I would but anything is if I have priced a van to sell, in which case I put FIRM. If the van is priced correctly you will still get calls and you have clearly stated you negotiating position.
- Number of owners: f the van is older and its only had one or two owners its worth listing. But this is only relevant on older vans. I would always avoid cliches such as one lady owner etc. If the van has had a notable owner in it’s past it may be worth a mention.
- List the history: State wether the van full or partial history. If the car has just had some major works carried out you can also not it here (eg. Recent Cam Belt, Just had major service).
- Mileage: List the approximate mileage, I normally round it up to the nearest thousand. If the van is going to be in use simply state that the mileage may rise due to used.
- List the equipment and options: Stick to just the relevant information and avoid complicated jargon and abbreviations (eg. FSH (Full service history), PAS (Power assisted-steering) AC (Air conditioning) , these can be confusing to some buyers. Traditionally used to reduce the cost of an advert they are largely unnecessary online. Your focus should be on the essential information. But if your van has a rare or expensive option then it’s important you highlight this. You can do this either in the description or in the title (eg. Porsche 911 Turbo (X50 Pack), or Range Rover Sport HSE (Luxury)). But again you don’t have to go into every detail, just cover the relevant facts.
- List the year: Simply list the vans year of registration & registration plate info. Just make sure it accurate, you don’t want to get this part wrong.
Conclusion
This style of advert writing works on any platform. Keeping things simple really is best practise when writing a great car advert. So keep it simple and give the potential buyer all the information they need and nothing more. If a buyer is serious and want additional information they will contact you.
In addition to a well written advert good photograph is essential. Find my guide to photographing a car with a smartphone here – How to photograph a car with a smartphone.
