How to Write Listing Titles and Descriptions That Sell (2026)

Published November 7, 2026 · By ListBomb

Short answer: put the words a buyer searches for at the front of the title (brand, item, model or style, size, color), then use the description to answer every question they would message you about: condition, flaws, measurements, what is included, and pickup or shipping. Be specific and honest, and keep the facts the same on every site you post to.

Good photos get the click (see our photo guide). The title decides whether the buyer finds the item at all, and the description decides whether they trust it enough to pay.

Write the title for search, not for attention

Marketplace search matches the words in your title against what buyers type. eBay's Seller Center says it plainly: when a buyer searches, eBay's system finds listing titles that closely match, and you have 80 characters to use, so use as many as you can.

A reliable order that works on almost every site:

1. Brand (Nike, KitchenAid, DeWalt)
2. What it is (running shoes, stand mixer, cordless drill)
3. Model, style or line (Air Max 90, Artisan 5 qt, DCD771)
4. Size, capacity or fit (Men's 10, 5 quart, 20V)
5. Color or material (white red, stainless, leather)
6. Key condition word if it matters (new with tags, tested working)

Example: KitchenAid Artisan 5 Qt Tilt-Head Stand Mixer Empire Red Tested Working

What to leave out of a title

• Filler and hype: "wow", "L@@K", "must see", "rare!!!"
• Special characters and all caps, which eBay recommends avoiding
• Brand names that are not the item. eBay's search manipulation policy does not allow keywords unrelated to the item, and listings that compare to other products are not allowed. For an accessory, write "for" or "compatible with" before the device name: Charging Cable for iPhone 15.
• Question marks or guesses. eBay's policy says if a detail is unknown, leave it out rather than writing "vintage?" or "gold?"

Poshmark's own listing tips say the same thing in fewer words: include the brand, category and other defining features in the title so your item gets discovered.

Fill in every structured field

Titles are only part of search. Most marketplaces also have fields for brand, size, color, condition and category. On eBay these are called item specifics, and eBay says buyers use them to filter search results; your item only shows up in a filtered search if you added the matching specific. Fill in every required and recommended field that honestly applies.

The same idea holds on Mercari, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp: choose the right category and condition, and set brand and size where the form asks. A perfect title in the wrong category is easy to miss.

Structure the description so buyers can scan it

Most buyers read on a phone. Short lines beat one long paragraph. A simple layout:

1. One line on what it is. "KitchenAid Artisan 5-quart tilt-head stand mixer in Empire Red."
2. Condition, in specifics. Not just "good," but "runs on all speeds, light scratches on the bowl clamp, no dents."
3. Flaws, each one named. Then show each flaw in a photo.
4. Measurements or size. Clothing: pit to pit, length, inseam. Furniture: width, depth, height. Electronics: storage, model number.
5. What is included. Bowl, whisk, dough hook, paddle; no box or manual.
6. How the sale works. Shipping, or for local sites, the pickup area and how you accept payment.

eBay's guidance on descriptions asks for a complete, accurate description including condition and any defects, and warns against conflicting details, such as one size in the title and another in the description. Mercari's listing help says the same: include as much information as you can so shoppers know exactly what they are buying.

Be honest about condition

The fastest way to lose a sale after it happens is a buyer who feels misled. Describe wear plainly, photograph it, and use the marketplace's own condition terms the way the site defines them. "New with tags" means the tags are on. "Tested working" means you actually powered it on. A slightly lower price on an honestly described item sells faster and more smoothly than a higher price that ends in a return.

Adjust for each marketplace

Write one accurate master version, then tweak it per site:

• eBay: use the full 80-character title and complete item specifics. Shipping buyers cannot inspect the item, so measurements and close-up flaw photos matter most.
• Mercari and Poshmark: keep the brand and size at the front of the title. Poshmark shoppers filter by size heavily, so pick the standard size from the menu.
• Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp: local buyers want to know where and when. Add a general pickup area (a neighborhood, not your home address) and how you accept payment.
• Craigslist: the title shows in a long list of text, so lead with the item and price-relevant details. Never put personal information in the post.

Keep the facts identical everywhere: same item, same condition notes, same included parts. Only the format and local details change. For posting the same item to several sites, see our crosslisting guide, and for setting the number, see how to price used items.

A quick checklist before you post

• Title starts with brand and what the item is
• Model, size and color included where they apply
• No filler words, symbols or unrelated brand names
• Category, condition and every relevant field filled in
• Every flaw described and photographed
• Measurements and what is included listed
• Pickup or shipping details clear

Where ListBomb fits

ListBomb drafts the title, description and a suggested price from your photos, and you review and edit them before anything goes live. The suggested price is an estimate from similar eBay asking prices, not an appraisal. AI listing drafts are free on every plan. ListBomb posts to eBay through eBay's official API and to the free ListBomb Marketplace. For Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist, Mercari and Poshmark, it copies your listing text so you can paste it and tap Post yourself; it does not post to those sites for you.

Free covers 2 items at a time, and Basic is $9.99/mo and Pro is $19.99/mo (yearly saves 10%). See the FAQ for details.

Whatever tool you use, the rule is the same: write for the buyer's search first, then answer their questions before they ask.