Writing a great title and short description

Buyers use titles to scan. If the title of your ad doesn't include what they’re looking for, they may not read further.

Basic guidelines

	Use all 55 characters available to create a title that includes as much helpful information as possible.
	Fill in the short description. Short descriptions are used for keyword searches along with ad titles. Providing a good short description helps buyers find your item. If you want something extra to encourage buyers to look at your ad, consider displaying your short description under your ad title in the search results to provide a bit more info.
	Be honest Remember, you are looking for an honest buyer and buyers are looking for an honest seller.
	Mention relevant brand names, make or models to attract the buyer's attention.
	Use keywords Help buyers find your ad by using words in your title that they are likely to search or scan for when looking for an item like yours. Consider repeating relevant words from the category in which you are advertising to help capture buyers who search by category keywords.
	Don't use gimmicks or symbols like '$%^&', 'WOW!' or ‘AAAAA’. Gimmicks do not: encourage buyers to look at your ad. Unhelpful gimmicks make your ad harder to find. place your ad higher on the search results page. Placement is determined by the date and time you lodge your ad with Trading Post® and whether you have chosen an ad package with a priority listing feature.

Examples of great titles

Note: Your asking price and location will also appear in the search results provided you include them when you create your ad.

Writing a great description

Your description gives you the opportunity to promote your item. The idea is to provide as much information as you can, as accurately as possible to help buyers make an informed decision about your item.

Basic guidelines

• Be clear and concise.
• Be honest.
  This information helps the buyer decide whether to purchase your item, so it pays to tell the truth.
• Use keywords to help buyers search for your item.
• Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and think of the questions they will ask
• Provide as much information as possible. Buyers are likely to look elsewhere if they can’t find what they need to know from your ad.
• Look at other ads for similar vehicles to see which descriptions you think work.

What to include

• Makes and models not mentioned in the title.
• Category name or type if not mentioned in the title (e.g. DVD, cot, spa)
• Approximate age or year of manufacture or publication.
• Any distinguishing marks or flaws, plus any repairs completed.
• Condition and a history of the item.
• Relevant technical specifications (e.g. components, compatibility).
• Accessories you are including.
• Re-state or provide additional information about any specific payment or delivery terms.

Attributes: Some categories present you with a list of attributes (item features) to check off as they apply to your item. Trading Post® has generated the lists based on information that buyers like to know before buying an item like yours.

Attributes are designed to help you create an ad that appeals to buyers and is easy for them to find.

We strongly encourage you to use them.

Using abbreviations

There are no word limits for online ads, so we encourage you to write a detailed description to give potential buyers plenty of information about your item.
However if you are also placing a print ad, abbreviations can be a great way to reduce your word count.

Guidelines for abbreviations

• Use full stops only at the end of sentences, not after abbreviations.
• Abbreviate well-known company and brand names.
• Use common abbreviations (see below) you know buyers will be familiar with.

Read our list of approved abbreviations for further details.

Related topics

Word Count
How to create your ad
Word Count
Pricing your item
Ad packages & features
Approved abbreviations