Selling guide
5 tips to make your listing stand out
Want the inside scoop on how to nail the best listing? Here’s how to sell successfully on Trade Me.
Last updated: 13 June 2023
How to sell on Trade Me: 5 tips for success
1. Include fantastic photos
The saying that a picture says a thousand words is true, especially when it comes selling items on Trade Me! The resolution, framing, and background content of the image can tell a buyer more about your item than the description...
The feature image you choose will determine whether a potential buyer will click through to your listing.
Here’s how to take fantastic photos for Trade Me listings:
- Make sure you only upload high-resolution images
- Take your photos in natural light and avoid shadows
- Orient your photos in landscape so they display well on both desktop and mobile
- Photograph on a white, light background that’s free of distractions (depending on your item, a pattern or texture like wood or metal can work wonders)
- Draw attention to your item by framing it with plenty of neutral space
- Select a strong photo for your feature image and don’t forget to include photos from multiple angles, including closeups of any imperfections
- Remind buyers of your item’s benefits by including a photo of it in use where appropriate.
2. Enable ‘Make an offer’
Give shoppers the opportunity to make you an offer! It’s a great way to make your Trade Me listing stand out as well as gauge for yourself what people are prepared to pay for your goods. Plus, it’s super easy to use.
If you accept a buyer's offer, your item is sold automatically – wahoo! Decline low offers with the click of a button, and the shopper will be immediately notified and given the option to make you another deal.
The Make An Offer feature works similar to a Buy Now in that you can have ‘make an offer’ switched on and have a reserve. The option to make an offer will disappear once the reserve price has been met.
Keen to try it out? Simply toggle the button when creating your listing in the pricing section (only available on the Trade Me Apps). Not only is this hot new feature free to use, it essentially automates haggling!
Need help with Make an offer? Check out our help page.
3. Simplified shipping
Whether you offer free shipping or specify costs in advance, making the delivery process totally transparent will appeal to more people. A listing that gives buyers assurance about the total price they’ll pay turns a good listing into a great one!
Here are the options you can present to potential buyers:
Offer free shipping
Who doesn’t love free shipping? Not only will your listing visually stand out thanks to the little green ribbon adorning your feature image, but it’ll also be another financial incentive for shoppers to click through to your listing compared to others.
Remember, this doesn’t have to put you out of pocket – just build the shipping costs into your Buy Now or reserve price.
Provide shipping estimates
The next best thing to free shipping is cheap shipping! Our Book a courier service means you can offer very competitive shipping rates. Generate a courier estimate by entering the size and weight of your item, and the price will automatically display on your listing.
It’s as simple as book, pack, and track – you don’t even have to leave the house, meaning your buyer is more likely to get their item faster, too.
4. Use our handy features
There’s a reason we have 500K genuine Kiwi shoppers on-site every day, and it might have something to do with some of these trusted selling tools:
- Buy Now
Stand out to time-poor buyers with a Buy Now. This feature makes it easy to buy. Right now!
- $1 reserves
Got a rare or popular item? A $1 reserve is guaranteed to attract the attention it deserves! Sit back and watch the bids roll in.
- Afterpay and Ping
Add Ping for immediate payments and offer Afterpay on those big ticket items to appeal to more people no matter their budgets – they’ll be able to pay off their purchase in instalments while you get your money upfront.
- Categories & Subtitles
Add a subtitle to your listing for extra style, or stand out, literally, by increasing your reach – list your item in more than one category.
Need help with your listing? Check out our help page.
5. Research other listings
If you do a quick search on items similar to yours, you’ll quickly notice which ones you’re attracted to, which ones you’re not, and why. While a great photo or free shipping will always make your listing pop, you should also consider the context in which your item is viewed.
It could be about value for money, location, product features, or even the offer of eco-friendly packaging. It could be as subtle as an un-ironed suit versus one that’s been dry-cleaned. Whatever makes a listing stand out to one person will vary to the next, so think about what’s great about your item and what you can do differently to make it shine.
Maybe you’ll choose to add some personality to your description or set your starting bid at an unexpected price. Be creative, authentic, and honest – and you’ll have an eye-catching item because it’s well-placed in the context of its competitors.
Make your listing stand out with our top tips, and enjoy an easy and effective selling experience. Create an attention-grabbing listing today!
Quick tips to selling more on Trade Me
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