Ad Help

How to write an eye catching "horse for sale" advertisement.

Simplicity is the key to writing a classified advertisement to sell a horse online. By putting all the relevant information into your advertisement you are more likely to sell your horse at the first attempt.

Essential information to include:

DESCRIPTION

Example:

Type of horse: Eventer
Size 16.2hh
Age 8 years
Colour Bay
Sex Gelding
Location Berkshire
Price £10,000
Contact:

Please include the ways that you would like to, or can be contacted, i.e. home telephone, mobile and email address. The more you include the easier it will be for prospective purchasers to contact you. However, do please bear in mind that if you include an email address you may receive unsolicited emails.

You could also consider including the following information:

eg: stunningly marked piebald
eg: not marish/excellent temperament
eg: competing Discovery/Foxhunter
e.g.level of fitness and training eg: working at Elementary level or competing in 1 day events
eg: has won £300 BSJA

Name of trainer/rider if famous eg: competed/trained by . . .
Breeding if by famous stallion eg: by Clover Hill out of TB mare
Trial facilities eg: Good trial facilities/seen at livery
Reason for sale eg: sadly outgrown
Veterinary status eg: recent vets certificate
Vices eg: no vices or cribs at feed times

PHOTOGRAPHS

Photographs give prospective buyers a lot of information about the horse and can cut down on time-wasters, as people will know what the horse looks like and can decide if they like the look of it.

It is important that the photograph shows the horse at its best. In most cases an action picture is better than just a horse standing up as it demonstrates the horse's ability. www.standishequestrian.co.uk allows you to have one main photograph, 3 further photographs and a video clip.

For example if you are advertising a show jumper one photograph should show the horse side on and untacked so that prospective purchasers can assess the confirmation. You can also include photographs of the horse being ridden on the flat, which will indicate the level of schooling and photographs of the horse jumping. A video clip will also give buyers a good idea of what is on offer.

If the horse is a dressage horse then pictures of it performing movements appropriate to it's level i.e. Novice or Preliminary.

If you are selling a childs pony then include pictures of a child riding the pony.

Choose a plain background and make sure that the light is good i.e. not to bright or dark.

Sunny weather helps a picture look good, but make sure the sun is behind the photographer, to avoid shadows appearing across the horse. Don't be too ambitious with the type of picture you take. A clean, sharp, still image is better than a blurred, moving one.

SUPPLYING YOUR PHOTO

Please ensure that the image you are uploading is in jpeg format (imagename.jpg). The image should be a minimum of 150 x 150 pixels at 72dpi and a maximum of 600 pixles wide.
 
Please remember that proofs and professional photographs can only be used with the photographer's permission due to copyright laws.

Photographers must be credited in any advertisement in which their work is used.

PRICE

Most buyers have a budget and many are put off if a price is not given or if "substantial price required" or POA (price on application) are used. There is no point in people responding to your advert if they do not have the funds to match your asking price. It is better to put a price on the horse that you would be happy to receive and remember to say if tack and rugs are included within the price.

Not giving a price will also exclude your advert from any online search where a potential buyer asks for horses within a specific price range.

Once you have written your advertisement check it for spelling mistakes. You could for example write the advertisement using MS Word, run the spell checker and then cut and place it into the "Description box"

Next you should ask yourself if you would be persuaded to view the horse. If the answer is no then you need to change the wording of the advertisement. Always be truthful as people won't thank you if they travel a long distance to see your horse only to find that it is not as you described.

 
EMAIL ADDRESS
 
Only include your email address when placing your advert if you wish to be contacted in this way.  Please bear in mind that you may receive unsolicited email.
 
We are an equestrian advertising portal where you can buy and sell all things equestrian.  If you are a seller you can advertise under the following categories:
Horses and ponies for sale
Horses and ponies for sale under £1000
Horses and ponies for loan
Tack and equipment
Horseboxes and vehicles
Property for sale/rent
Jobs
Wanted
 
You also have the option to place the following adverts within our "featured" category:
 
Horses and ponies for sale
Horses and ponies for sale under £1000
Horses and ponies for loan
Horseboxes and vehicles
Property for sale/rent
Jobs
 
These adverts will then display on a rotational basis on the home page which means that your advert will gain more exposure when people are viewing the website and therefore increases the number of potential buyers.
 
You can include 4 photos with your advert and also include a link to your video on You Tube of your horse in action!
 
All adverts remain live for 42 days
 
You will be able to edit your advert from within your account.
 
If you are a buyer you can search within these categories to find exactly what you are looking for!

Ready to place your advert – click here