BEST PLACE TO SELL ONLINE

Finding a venue that maximizes your listing exposure

Selling your boat online may seem like a gamble. With over 2 million sites live on the internet, you may wonder “where should I sell my boat to get the maximum exposure?”. This is a valid question, as where you list your boat for sale will greatly determine the traffic to your listing, the amount of call to actions performed on the listing, as well as the profit you will see for the sale of your boat. Here are a few considerations when looking for the best place to sell online.

Is the site that I wish to list on only for boats?

The first consideration is geared towards the site’s primary function. Is the site dedicated to boat sales and to boat related content, or is the site dedicated to generalized listings? If the potential listing site is generic, then you may find that your listing will sit on the site longer. People tend to browse generic sites with a hit-and-miss means of finding content, meaning that they will type in something like “boats” and then scan to see the cheapest model and then look at the pictures. Yet, with a boat oriented site, the visitor is already a boat enthusiast and thereby does not search on the broad end of the scale, but rather homes in on your make, model, or location. So, instead of a search for “boat” you get a search for “Cabin Cruiser boats for sale in Tampa Bay Florida”. This minimizes the competition, highlights your listing, and increases the probability of a sale.

How does the site process and present photographs of your boat for sale?

While there have been changes in the way that the internet deals with photographs, there are still several sites which use the lower dpi when presenting photographs. The sites which compress the images of your boat may given an undue pixelization and thereby a grainy look to some of the features of your craft. It is best to find a site that either allows you to post the low-resolution photos with the option to download the HD images for more clarity, or allows you to post HD images directly to the site.

Apart from the compression, sellers should take note of any limitations to the number of photos which can accompany a listing. Where most sites will have a limit on the size of the photographs, a site which only allows you to have the hull, bow, console, and cabin pictured without any details, greatly limits your potential to sell your boat. Ensure that you read the listing details before you place a boat for sale on any site.

What are the fees of the site?

Every reputable listing site has a level of fees associated with the listing. These fees are for the operation of the site, the SEO, and to increase the security for private information and operations. Sites which have no fees should be questioned as to their validity, security, and ability to sell your boat. Fees may be processed in two ways. The first is that a site takes a percentage of the sale, the other method is that you pay a flat fee for the listing for a duration of time.

Does the site help buyers with financing?

It is great to list a boat, but if there is not a way for the potential buyer to finance the boat (even if that means is through external lenders), then they are apt to move to a site which has such options. Financing does not have to be with the listing site. There only needs to be hyperlinks and information so that the person who sees your add does not have to search about on how to pay for the boat, they can do so right there, get qualified for the purchase, and then make it.

Does the site cater to both the seller and the buyer?

If you wish to find the best place to sell online, look for sites which cater to both the buyer as well as the seller. Buyers should have ample information on boats, boat operations, docking, models, manufacturer, engine configurations, amenity packages, etc. to make an educated decision about what boat for sale is appropriate for them. Sellers should have a platform which matches qualified buyers with the seller, has excellent SEO for the SERP pages, gives adequate and precise information about the boat being sold, and does not inflict an outrageous fee to do so.

Vessel Vendor offers one of the best places to sell online. Our site is catered to boats and boat enthusiasts. This means that those who see your listing are looking to purchase you specific model, year, and manufacturer. Whether you have a sailboat, dual console, cabin cruiser, or a 60’ Yacht, you can list your boat for sale with the confidence that the right target audience will see it.

To find out more about listing your boat, or to find out more about boat listing packages, please explore our website or fill out the appropriate form on the site and we will get back with you.