Writing deals that convert

A great deal on 12sell can attract a dozen messages within hours. A weak deal on the same product can sit unread for a week. The difference is almost entirely in the title and description — the platform handles the audience matching for you, but you control whether the matched audience clicks.

This guide is the playbook for deals that actually convert.

The 5-second rule

When someone scrolls past your deal in the feed, they spend about 5 seconds deciding whether to tap. They see:

1. Your business title + verified badge (or not).
2. The deal title.
3. Your country flag.
4. The deal type (Want to Sell / Want to Buy).

That's it. So your title needs to give them every reason to tap in those 5 seconds.

Title formula that works

Brand + Model + Spec + Quantity + Condition + Region

You won't always have all 6 elements — pick the most relevant 4–5.

Want-to-Sell examples

• "500× iPhone 15 Pro 256GB · Brand New · UAE in stock" — quantity, model, capacity, condition, region.
• "Apple Watch Series 9 45mm GPS — 200 units — Korea — sealed" — brand, model, spec, quantity, region, condition.
• "Galaxy S24 Ultra 512GB — 50 units — Hong Kong — wholesale lot" — brand+model+spec, quantity, region, signal.
• "OEM iPhone 15 Pro camera modules — bulk available — Shenzhen" — what, signal, region.

Want-to-Buy examples

• "WTB 1000× MacBook Air M3 — any color — Europe — pay USD" — type, quantity, model, flexibility, region, currency.
• "Need 200 PS5 consoles — Japan or Korea — fast shipping to Dubai" — type, quantity, source regions, destination, urgency.
• "Sourcing AirPods Pro 2 USB-C — 500 unit MOQ — global" — type, model, MOQ, scope.

Bad titles (and why)

Description structure

Once someone taps in, the description is what converts a click into a message. The pattern that works:

[One-line value prop at top]

Model: [exact model number / SKU]
Quantity: [number] units
Condition: [Brand New / Used – Like New / Used – Good / Refurbished]
Target price: $X each (or "Make me an offer")
Stock location: [city, country]
Lead time: [number] days from confirmed order
Payment terms: [TT / LC / Escrow / Cash on inspection]
Packaging: [retail box / bulk / OEM]
Origin: [country of manufacture, important for some categories]

[2-3 lines on what makes you credible — past trades, certifications, contacts]

Reply preferred via [12sell chat / WhatsApp / Email]

Skip whatever doesn't apply, but include everything that does.

A complete example

Genuine Apple stock, freshly imported, ready to ship.

Model: A2848 — iPhone 15 Pro 256GB
Quantity: 500 units
Condition: Brand New, sealed retail boxes
Target price: $1,180/unit (negotiable on volume)
Stock location: Dubai, UAE
Lead time: 2 business days
Payment: TT 30% advance, 70% before shipping. LC available.
Packaging: Retail boxes, sealed.
Origin: Vietnam (FOB Dubai available)

Active Apple wholesaler since 2019. References available
on request. We ship globally with full Apple warranty.

Prefer 12sell chat for the first conversation.

This kind of description converts. It tells the buyer everything they need to decide whether to message.

Photos

Deals don't have a photo gallery (that's Showcases). Most deal posters skip photos entirely — and that's fine. If your deal needs photographic proof (boxes stacked, lot photos), post a separate Showcase and share it inside the chat when a buyer messages.

Picking the right type, region, condition, duration

Each setting on the deal form does real work. Pick deliberately.

Type — WTS or WTB

Half the platform looks at WTS, the other half at WTB. Picking the wrong one means your deal sits in the wrong feed forever.

Categories / Subcategories / Brands

Three accurate beats ten random:

• Right: Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi (because that's what you actually trade)
• Wrong: Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Nokia, Huawei, Sony, LG, Motorola, OnePlus, Google (because more = better)

The platform uses these to match you to the right buyers. Spamming brands you don't trade in gets your deal in front of buyers you can't service, which means no replies and a dead deal.

Region

Pick where your stock physically is. "Planet Earth" is technically global but signals laziness — buyers prefer specific regions.

If your stock is in UAE and you can ship globally, pick UAE. The deal's country is a search filter; buyers searching by region won't find a "Planet Earth" deal when they filter to UAE.

Condition (WTS only)

Match reality. Mislabeling Used – Good as Brand New gets your deal removed and damages your account standing. The categories:

• Brand New — sealed, never opened, retail box.
• Used – Like New — open box but indistinguishable from new in use.
• Used – Good — light wear, fully functional.
• Used – Fair — visible wear, fully functional.
• Refurbished — factory or third-party refurbished, restored to working order.

Duration

Choose the shortest window that matches reality. A 30-day deal advertising 50 units that sold in 2 days clutters the feed.

When to boost

Boost amplifies a strong deal. It does not save a weak one.

Use Boost when:

• The deal title and description are tight.
• The product is in a competitive category where many similar deals exist.
• You can fulfill the volume you're advertising.
• You can reply to messages within hours.

Don't boost a vague title. You'll spend tokens for views that don't convert.

Reply discipline

Posting a deal is the start, not the end. The first reply rate determines whether buyers continue or move on.

• Reply within 1 hour when possible. Within 4 hours is the practical bar.
• Be specific. Quote a price, confirm stock, suggest next steps. Don't "hello let me check".
• Use voice messages for anything longer than two sentences — faster than typing, more credible.
• Share the deal back into the chat to lock the conversation to the right item.
• If a buyer pushes off-platform too quickly, slow down. Real buyers are happy on 12sell.

Editing vs reposting

You can edit a live deal anytime. Edit when:

• A small detail changed (price, quantity, lead time).
• You want to clarify wording.

Repost (re-post the deal fresh) when:

• The deal expired and you have new stock.
• The original was rejected and you've fixed the issue.
• You want a fresh start in the feed (older deals lose visibility over time).

Reposting an expired deal costs tokens (treated as a fresh post needing re-moderation). Editing a live deal in non-substantive ways is free.

Common mistakes

Next steps

• Writing showcases that win business — the same discipline applied to permanent catalogs.
• Boost — when and how to amplify a strong deal.
• Verification — verified deals get higher reply rates.
• Trading safely — what to watch for as messages come in.