How to create an effective used motorcycle advert? Unlike a newspaper advert the internet allows you almost unlimited word count, but it still pays to keep the advert simple. Peoples online attention spans are short so you will only have seconds to grab their attention.
Below you will find a simple template for writing a motorcycle advert and a step by step guide.
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
Year of registration & registration plate info
Simply list the bikes year of registration & registration plate info. Just make sure it accurate, you don’t want to get this part wrong.
List the equipment and special features
So stick to just the relevant information and avoid complicated jargon and abbreviations, 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 bike 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. But again you don’t have to go into every detail, just cover the relevant facts.
Also this point you should also mention if the car has any form of warranty left on it, or any modifications. If the bike has any faults or damage.
It’s important to offer an honest assessment of the bike. This saves time in the long run and build trust with the potential purchaser.
Mileage
List the approximate mileage, I normally round it up to the nearest thousand. If the bike is going to be in use simply state that the mileage may rise due to used.
List the history
State wether the bike full or partial history. If the bike has just had some major works carried out you can also not it here (eg. Recent Cam Belt, Just had major service).
Number of owners
If the bike is older and its only had one or two owners its worth listing. But this is only relevant on older bikes. I would always avoid cliches such as one lady rider etc. If the bike has had a notable owner in its past it may be worth a mention.
Price
Hopefully you have done your research and are confident you are pricing the bike 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 bike to sell, in which case I put FIRM. If the motorcycle\ is priced correctly you will still get calls and you have clearly stated you negotiating position.
Contact detail
This is the only one you simply must get right. I advice just a contact number.
Photograph
As the internet and car sales is such a visual experience this is an important skill to master. The good news is it’s never been easier or cheaper to achieve quality photos. You don’t need a fancy DSLR or premium compact camera, you can achieve amazing results with just your smart phone. You can learn how to take great motorcycles photographs using a smartphone photography in our guide you can find here – How to photograph a motorcycle with a smartphone.
Equipment
You can use any digital camera you like. But if you have a recent smartphone I recommend starting with that. Phone cameras have improved massively in recent years, allowing you achieve amazing results without the need to carry cumbersome camera equipment around. They also allow for easy editing and uploading all from the same device.
Its easy to get caught up with buying expensive cameras and gear thinking it will make you a better photographer. But the reality is that with the right techniques your phone can take outstanding photos. With quality that is almost as good as a DSLR or Mirrorless camera and is more than good enough for bike photography. Also if you are just getting into car flipping using your phone means no additional outlay.
Smartphone camera setting
Each smartphone camera is different and with so many on the market its impossible to cover every model. So here I will focus on the ever popular iPhone. However the basic principles are transferable to all smartphone cameras.
You can find the camera settings in the setting app on the iPhone. Simply scroll down until you find the camera icon. I have found it much easier to frame a car successfully with the grid setting turned on so I recommend you turn this on. These grid lines really help with composure, so your shots need less post editing.
The next setting to change is in the format option. Changing from the default High efficiency to the most compatible setting. This allows for easier sharing to other none apple devices and actually increases image quality.
Next time you turn on the camera you will now see two vertical and horizontal lines making getting the composure of your car easier. Whilst in the camera app you will notice the icon that looks like several circles, this is live photos mode. It basically takes a live video before and after you take a photo. I leave this on as it can help in windy situations and with camera blur. I normally shoot with the HDR option turned on for the same reasons.
I always shoot with the flash off. The iPhone flash is small and weak so you normally need to be very close to a subject to get a result. But it can also produce unnatural colours which isn’t desirable in motorcycle photograph.
Also I always recommend shooting with the phone held horizontally and in the photo mode. I also never use any preset filters and always recommend leaving a photo set to original.
When you start to take a photo with an iPhone the camera immediately starts to auto focus. You can adjust the point of focus by tapping on the screen to adjust the focus. You should set the focus on the bike. When you do this the photo can darken, this is because at the same time as adjusting the focus you have adjusted the brightness.
If this is a problem and the photos looks either to dark or too bright, you can simply adjust the brightness by running you finger up of down the screen until you are happy. You should aways set the focus and brightness yourself.
If your iPhone is equipped with a telephoto lens try using the 2x option. I have found the narrower lens can give great results.
The Photos
While standing I normally start by shooting the bike from the right front 3/4 angle. Then move to the right rear side and shoot the same angle and do the same for the other two corners. I then shoot the front dead on shot and the same from the rear. If its a sunny day or you are trying to maintain a consistent background as suggested. You may have to reposition the bike for the rear 3/4 angles and dead on rear shots. I then shoot the left and right side dead on shots.
A good tip is to lean on something to support the camera hand. This can produce a much steadier shot allowing for better composure and control. It’s at this point that I photograph the wheels and any damage or imperfections on the bike. Once the general photography is complete I will photograph any interesting features or custom parts the bike might have. Finally once I’m happy with everything I will photograph and service paperwork and photograph speedo showing the mileage.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
Before you even think about taking a picture the bike needs to be clean. DSLRs and phone cameras do a great job of masking dirt and hiding imperfections. But a spotlessly clean bike makes all the difference if you want to achieve great photos.
The next thing you need to avoid is midday sunlight. The light at that time of the day can produce harsh looking images, so I highly recommend shooting either early morning or later in the afternoon. The best results will be achieved on an overcast day. This is especially true with dark colour schemes and liveries. Darker colours can look terrible if photographed in direct sunlight.
Some of the old film photograph rules still apply. Shooting into the sun will still give poor results compared to having the car behind you. Also watch out for shadows from buildings, trees and the bike itself. Remember a bike isn’t a static object so there really is no excuse.
Never shoot the bike if it’s wet. This never looks good and can look like you are trying to hide something.
Background is also important. If you have a level drive with some curb appeal then use that, a local beauty spot or costal carpark might work. Failing that a brick wall or similar can work well. A good consistent background in every photo is always advisable. Try to avoid industrial backgrounds or carparks. It’s always best to shoot a bike on level surface.
Don’t worry about how many photos you take, you aren’t shooting on film. Take as many as you need to get the right angles. The first time I shot a bike I probably took 100 photos. Years later its closer to 20. Your photograph skills will improve with practice.
Try to fit as much of the bike in the photos as possible reducing unnecessary scenery. The photos need to be appealing but the focus should be on the subject.
Remember to use the grid lines to aid composure and always keep the whole bike in shot.
Editing the photos
This is the final stage, and if you have done a good job with the principle photograph it also a very simple stage. When editing bike photos less is often best. Potential customers can be put off by the use of filters or heavy vignetting. That style of editing may work well on Pinterest or Instagram but it’s not advisable when advertising a motorcycle.
There are lots of powerful editing apps and software available. But I normally just edit the photos in iPhoto on my phone. Cropping where needed and balancing the photo is required, either manually or using the auto enhance button. This simple process can produce some amazing images.
If you want to take photo editing a stage further or just feel you need some extra help to start with. The likes of Snapseed, Afinity Photo, Pixelmator and RAW Power offer almost unlimited customisation options.
Conclusion
This style of advert writing works on any platform. Keeping things simple really is best practise when writing a great bike 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. So make sure you put in the effort and the photos will do most of the work for you.
