By eBoatDealer.com
By count rates some boat ads are much more effective than others.
To begin a successful ad must have four main components:
- Relevant Information about the Vessel
- Photos, Photos, and more Photos
- Accurate Contact Information
- Appropriate Pricing
First, include the pertinent information about your boat. Buyers will quickly navigate away if you have too little of a description. You want to make sure and include the following:
- Manufacturer
- Model
- Length
- Engine type, size and hours
- Generator type, size and hours (if applicable)
- Electronics
- Covers that are included
- Hull ID Number (Potential buyers may want to run a check)
- Any pertinent service information
- An offer to send a survey (if applicable) and done recently
- Price
You will also want to write a description of any relevant information. Here is an example of a good description, but the individual excluded much of the above. Since web sites do not charge by lines like paper media put as much as you can.
“Great Cruiser at a Great Price! This boat has a great layout both below and above that maximizes space. The cockpit area provides a lot of open space and seating for 9-10 adults. Entertainment center has sink, refrigerator, ice maker and blender. The large 3′ swim platform provides a large area for accessing the water. The center access to the bow allows for easy and safe access to the large pad on the bow. Full canvas and camper enclosure. The Digital Throttle System makes handling this boat a dream. This boat is loaded with almost every option offered. xxx-xxx-xxxx. Trades welcome, private sellers only.”
The above is much different then the following example, which are you more inclined to view?
“Ford 302 Engine Needs work Sitting for One Year in Water xxx-xxxx Leave Message…”
Secondly, you must post photos! Almost a third of the ads on our site contain zero photographs. The resulting effect of this is about one-tenth the view rate versus the ads with photographs.
When taking photos make sure your boat is clean and the exposure is good. For example, you do not want this —
You want this.
If you have an interior again make sure there is ample lighting. Take them on a sunny day. Open the curtains/hatches and you could even put some painting lights, or a lamp without a shade to help eliminate shadowing. Think of when you are looking at brochures. You never see a photo where parts look like a cave. The below is a good example of what you want.
This is not as desirable.
Third, make sure to leave the appropriate contact information. We have had customers’ list boats that have multiple hits, but contact us because they have not received a response. When looking into the issue we discover the e-mail address entered is not correct and they have not listed a phone number. Ideally you want to provide both, but if you do not want to publish a phone number make certain the e-mail field is accurate.
If you do provide a contact number make sure to leave the hours that are acceptable to call along with the time zone. If you have younger children you may not want the phone ringing into the late evening.
Finally, you will want to provide a thought out price. You can research your boats market value through NADA guides online, or contact a salesman at a marina/dealer. All dealers have access to bluebook and an industry standard referred to as ABOS. This information will include average retail, high wholesale and low wholesale value.
The final place to get this information is from a lender. Beware this pricing does not always take into account condition and usage. This is especially relevant in pricing older vessels.
I hope this information was helpful and again, if you have more to ad (no pun intended) please post. Good Selling!
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