When you’re figuring out which keywords and phrases to put in your classified ad, it’s essential to think about what details need to be included, as well as what details can’t be excluded. Starting with the fundamentals is key to distinguishing between what is “vital” and what is just a distraction. Here’s what you should add and what you should skip when crafting a textbook classified ad.
Category
Be sure you are listing your textbook in the appropriate category. eTassel provides over 125 categories to choose from, so if you are advertising an education book, it should go into a specific category such as Education – Elementary, Education – Administration, etc.
Title
We suggest you avoid using catchy titles, you should simply include the complete title of the textbook. We also suggest including the edition and author is space allows, although you will include those two things independently within your ad. An example title would be — “Introduction to Sociology, 3rd Edition, John P. Doe”
Price
Be clear and up front about pricing. Include your asking price in the space required, however If you are willing to take less you can provide more information in the Seller Notes section. Also, be sure to include costs for shipping.
Author
It is important to include the name or names of the author(s) to ensure that the potential buyer is purchasing the correct book. There are a lot of textbooks titled “Introduction to…” so it is vital that you include the author(s) name(s) to narrow down search criteria.
Publisher
We do not require that you include the name of the publisher in your ad, however we strongly recommend it. Like the author, including the publisher’s information helps the buyer know they are getting the right book and helps potential buyers find your ad.
Edition
Second to the ISBN, the edition is the most important thing to include in your ad. The edition identifies when the book was published and is in important factor ensuring the buyer gets the correct textbook for their course. Most schools/professors require students have a specific edition of the textbook for the course.
ISBN
The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique, 13-digit identifier, which acts as a “fingerprint” that identifies that specific book. All textbooks and the majority of study guides have an ISBN. The quickest and easiest way to find a textbook is to search using the ISBN, this is why it is a required element when listing an ad.
Condition
It’s especially important to provide a potential buyer with the exact condition of the book you are selling. We suggest adhering to the following when placing an ad:
- New (Never sold or still in its original packaging)
- Like New (No markings or signs of use)
- Good (Some markings or light signs of use)
- Decent (Heavy markings or significant signs of use)
Note: If the textbook you are selling is missing pages, has significant damage, or contains markings which prevent reading certain passages, we suggest you do not sell it, or be very specific about its damage in the Seller Comments section of your ad.
Seller Comments
In this section you can give more details about the book you are selling, whether or not you’re negotiable on the price, payments options you accept, and shipping options you offer. We strongly suggest that you do not provide any personal information in this section. Also, leave out anything that is not relevant to the textbook you are selling.
Contact Information
On eTassel, anyone can contact a seller via email by using the “Contact Seller” link located within an ad. If the potential buyer is also a registered eTassel user and logged in, then they will be able to see the seller’s username, so an ad will say “Contact Joe123” instead of “Contact Seller”. Email addresses are never shown on our website. Sellers may also choose to include their phone number in their ads. However, only registered eTassel users who are logged in can view a seller’s phone number.
If you have any questions, we invite you to contact us for more information.