How to Advertise a Used Car
It's time to sell that car sitting in the driveway taking up space, and if you are like most sellers, you want to know where to begin. The biggest part of selling a used car is advertising it effectively to attract the interest of the potential buyers. By the time you approach the advertising stage, you should have already had it checked by a qualified mechanic and cleaned the vehicle inside and out. Advertising begins with the car itself, before moving to the world of print publications and online advertising - in a bid to leverage every viable outlet to move that car quickly.
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Things You'll Need
- Local bulletin board contact
- Local newspaper contact
- For sale signs
- Black permanent marker
Instructions
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Help Your Car Advertise Itself
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Purchase four different "For Sale" signs at a local hardware store to place on your used car.
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2
Write all your contact information on the "For Sale" signs using a black permanent marker. Along with your contact information, write a couple of key points about the car such as "Low Mileage" or "Reliable Transport." Make sure you write in large block letters to attract the attention of those passing by and write clearly, so others can easily read in a glance.
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Park your car along a highway or a street that gets a steady flow of traffic. Put a sign in the front windshield, the back window, and one on the driver's side and the passenger side window. This will allow anyone approaching the vehicle from any angle to recognize immediately that the vehicle is for sale.
Advertise in Print Publications
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Contact the local newspaper and run a classified ad in the Sunday paper, as Sunday classifieds usually get the most views. Write a short ad that describes the benefits of the vehicle and why a buyer should purchase it. Pay attention to how used car dealers write sales ads and tailor yours to highlight the best benefits and features of your car. Make sure you place the Ad in the "Used Cars for Sale" section of the newspaper classifieds.
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Call your local bulletin board or penny saver magazine (another name for bulletin board) or coupons, and advertise your vehicle in the next publication. Usually everyone in a particular geographical area will get a free copy or can pick up a free copy of these types of publications. This is a way to extend the reach of your advertising and get a good bang for your buck. Write the ad the same way you would for the newspaper publication.
You may also check with your local schools and churches in the area that publish weekly bulletin boards and opt to place your ad in these as well.
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Post ads on public bulletin boards and public advertising spaces, such as the corkboards at the local grocery store. Design your ad with a photo of the car and write a short ad in block letters to advertise the car. Create strips at the bottom of the ad with your phone number, so that interested parties can pull one off in a hurry and contact you when convenient. Place the ads anywhere, like at college campuses that offer public advertising spaces.
Advertise Your Used Car Online
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Post ads on online bulletin boards for your local area. Many of the bulletin boards will allow advertising free of charge, once again extending reach for those seeking good deals online. Create a small ad with a bold headline outlining the best benefit the vehicle offers, such as "Great Gas Mileage," or "Well-Kept 1999 X Automobile." Make sure to provide your contact information and a photo of the car.
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Advertise with online automotive classified ad sites, if you want to reach a wider audience beyond the local area. This option is good for those selling a collector's car or a rare make and model.
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Post regarding the sale of the vehicle on all your social networking accounts. Place the ad just like an online classified site, but make it more personal, and make sure to include photos of the car. Those on your friends list will pick up the post and forward it on to their friends, who might need a new vehicle. This won't cost a dime, and with a well-established network, may be more effective at locating an immediate buyer.
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Tips & Warnings
It is crucial to check local ordinances and laws concerning the parking of a vehicle in public spaces. You should find out whether or not local laws allow you to do so and if so, during what times you may park the vehicle.
Pay close attention to where you park your vehicle; do not block the line of sight of drivers on the street or highway. Do not park the vehicle near intersections or in an area where a driver cannot see vehicles coming around a bend in the road.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit classy car for sale image by itsallgood from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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kpoumie77
Oct 28, 2010
To sell an old car is not as easy as when it concerns a new one.One must be tactful and opportunist.Especially when the car is to be sold on line, give all the interesting information about your car that will seemingly meet with the need and the taste of the potential buyers.The mark, type, mile age, year of first registration, source of energy,and all other options must be displayed.Nice pictures at good positions that bring more out the beauty of the car have to be attached and the last not the least, one should choose for a very good, popular and reliable car selling website.
