1. Images
Photos Sell Your EV
When selling an EV online, your first priority should be in the quality of images you are taking and using to show off your vehicle. There is no single greater factor in selling your electric vehicle than the photos you are uploading. Images are your storefront, they are what is getting people motivated to contact you and not the other guy who is selling a similar EV.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when taking photos of your electric vehicle:
- Use a quality camera.
- Take photos in good light.
- Take photos of your entire vehicle.
- Take photos of the vehicle on with dash lights displayed.
- Take your time with the photos, try not to rush.
Most people are not photographers, so good photos are good enough. Luckily, there are professional services out there to help you.
- EV Dollar has a beautifully designed image gallery and full-page lightbox with every listing
2. Name & Tag
Naming Of Photos And Tagging In Listing
Naming your photos matters when listing your EV online. Modern websites like EV Dollar use the latest technologies for search engine optimization (SEO). This means that every single part of the listing is optimized to be found by search engines like Google. Two things we cannot control that have a minimal, yet effective impact on your listing are:
- Name each image you upload. For example: (year-make-model-#) where you place the EV’s year make and model as the name of each photo you upload followed by some number so they are not all named the same.
2. Add tags at the end of the description you provide of your electric vehicle. Just use a couple tags like: #evforsale #ev #make #model
Believe it or not, these 2 subtle changes will help your listing be found.
Here is an example:
3. Write A Description
Describe Your EV Correctly
The first rule to writing an effective description when selling your EV is not to write paragraphs longer than 3 or 4 sentences. People will click off or away from a description that is too long.
- EV Dollar has tabs for short and long descriptions in the listing.
The first paragraph should be the highlights of the EV using powerful action words to get people’s attention.
The second paragraph should be your words describing the EV, not the brochure or specs. Describe the vehicle by saying things like “Handles great in turns”, “Great maneuvering”, “Turns on a dime”, “Easy for beginners”, “Charges fast” and so on.. Describe the positives that you have experienced about your EV.
The third paragraph can be what you have done to the EV, describe the modifications / upgrades you have made. Disclose any remaining warranty that will come with the purchase here.
It is important not to just paste the brochure or spec data right into the description to start. Describe your EV, then place in any technical specs.
4. Video
Show Off The EV
Video is important for more than a few reasons when selling an EV online. A lot of videos are of a person walking up to the vehicle and saying the make, model, and year; or just walking up to it and saying things like “Looks great”.
While saying the vehicles make, model, and year is important, a video should be showing what a person would want to see if they were there looking at the EV and ready to buy it. This is your opportunity to really talk about all of the wonderful things your vehicle has to offer.. “Paint a picture”.
There are a lot of videos on YouTube how to use phones and drones to make a video.
- EV Dollar has a video player in every listing package
Some things to include in your video are:
- Overall Appearance
- Instrumentation
- Charging Points
- Batteries
- Brakes
- Suspension
- Drive Type / Motors
- Tread
- Fuel Tank
- Coolant
- Oil
- Cold Start
- Background
- Clean Title / State Registered
- Safety Check
- Additional Items
5. Documents
Brochures, Build Sheets, Spec Sheets..
An often overlooked piece when selling your EV online is uploading documentation that has been professionally produced about your electric vehicle.
- Find and use manufacturer related visuals to sell your EV (brochures and videos)
- If you have added equipment (after market) that has a specification sheet, use it.
- Build sheets, schematics, and drawings.
- EV Dollar Pro Listing Package has 25 document uploads with gallery and lightbox document reader
6. Pricing
How Much Should I Sell My EV For?
A lot of factors go into what your asking price will be when selling your EV online. Once a person buys a vehicle they begin using it, adding miles, and add equipment or customize it in some way to increase its effectiveness and/or appeal. Because of this, it is very rare that two EV of the same age and type will sell for the same price.
As the EV owner you know your vehicle. You know what equipment / features have been added, the maintenance schedule, its true condition, and so on..
The KBB and NADA electric vehicle price guides which are free and linked here, will tell you what dealers are selling similar EVs for in your area. That being said, this is a guide. Use this as a tool to get you in the ballpark and then add or reduce the price based on what you know about your EV and what other similar vehicles are selling for in your area.
7. Cleaning
Selling A Dirty Car
All that can be said about cleaning your vehicle, regardless of condition, is this…
If you want more money for your EV.. CLEAN IT!
8. Social Media
I Have An EV For Sale!
Now that you have created your listing it’s time to spread the word. This is important for a few reasons besides just letting friends know that you have an EV for sale, which they probably know anyway.
When you share your listing on social media accounts:
- It allows others to share the listing increasing your pool for potential buyers
- It’s another opportunity to include hashtags to your post like #evforsale #evsales #ev
- It creates a loop of activity surrounding your listing that search engines will notice
- EV Dollar has easy social share at the top of every listing allowing you and others to easily share your listing in a dynamic way