Classified Ads That Get Results

Classified ads do not have the big market appeal that a full color display ad has, but they are still one of the most economical ways to get your business into the public eye. And, because classifieds do not demand expensive eye-catching designs or ingenious wording that you often see in direct-mail campaigns, they are a perfect marketing avenue for even new entrepreneurs. Here are some tips to help you write ads that will make the difference between mediocre ads to great ads that get good or even exceptional results.

Keep It Short

Ads that are short and precise have better results. Use white space to make your classified ad stand out from the rest of the listings. Look at the local classifieds and you will see that this works especially well for newspapers. With a little care you can apply the same concept to online ads,

Place just a few words in each line with: 1) the first line listing a benefit the reader will receive; 2) the second line containing the name of your company; 3) the third line your address or email. This results in a striking, centered ad surrounded by white space.

If you are placing an online classified ad and do not have the capability to insert line breaks or center the text, then you will need to keep the text short and use key words to attract the reader to your ad.

Goal of Placing Your Ad

The goal of placing your ad should only be to get the customer to click through to your site for more information. If your listing does not elicit that response, then you should rework it until it does.

Action Words

Use action words that will prompt a response from the reader. For example, words such as: amazing, attractive, confidential, etc., are all words that compel the reader to do something. There are a many resources available; one that I found to be particularly useful is Words That Sell, by Richard Bayan.

Unique Appeal

You want to make your product or service appear unique to all other products or services on the market (if any). Spend a few minutes to identify what is unique about your product or service or solicit feedback from friends or family about what would appeal to them should they need a product or service such as yours. Use this uniqueness to appeal to the market in the ad.

Do Not Try to Sell Your Reader

Whatever you do, do not try to sell your reader on your ad. What you DO want to do is evoke a response using action words. The ad is meant to entice them and evoke an action from them to return to your site and then prompt a sale(s) of your product(s).

Spark Interest and Curiosity

Using a combination of the title and the text or body of the ad you want to spark an interest or curiosity in your ad or product. Use the title to grab the interest and attention of the reader and the ad, or text body, to spark curiosity. You want to generate enough curiosity to have them act in response to your ad.

Avoid Saturated Ads and Products

If your product is already over-marketed on the Internet or your ad is one that is "canned" or pre-prepared you are less likely to achieve good results. Develop your ad so that it is unique, draws the attention of the reader and then guides them to your site or product that is also unique and fresh.

This does not mean that you should not sell information products, for example, which are in overabundance on the Internet market. Instead, think of one type of e-book or information product you can develop that will stand out from the others and meet some need that has prompted the reader to start searching.

Avoid Hype

Nothing is appealing about an advertiser that resorts to hype, threats, or false innuendo about their product. Avoid hype or false representation at all costs. I cannot emphasize this enough. Internet users have grown up and have become savvy, intelligent buyers and are not interested in purchasing products that are hyped. Just state the real facts and use some sound business principles and marketing methods to get the job done well.

Be Organized

Do not underestimate the power behind having a schedule for posting your ads. Post the same ads every 5-7 days. No more. No less. This will keep your ads in front of the readers and you will avoid being black-listed for spamming. Spamming is an incredible annoyance that is truly deterring good customers from Internet buying. Simply do not send SPAM!

Let's Wrap This Up

These simple and easy-to-use tips can make the difference between ads that deliver mediocre results or those that deliver eye-boggling, heart-pounding results. You will need to develop your own style for writing your ads and then practice, practice, practice. Few of us were born with the ability to write a "super" ad right away. Most of us have had to practice, watch for results and then tweak the ad to get the results we have wanted. Do not be discouraged if you find yourself in this group too, you'll be a part of a much bigger group of entrepreneurs. What is important is that you learn from each ad and campaign that you send out. If you can infuse these simple steps into your advertising campaigns you will be well on your way to posting classified ads that get results!

REPRINTS AND PERMISSION

You have permission to reprint or use this article in your eZine or newsletter with the agreement that it will not be modified in any way, reprinted exactly as shown here, and links back to the author site (see Author Bio box) are displayed. Please send courtesy email indicating your intent to use this article to mw@RegistryAds.com.

Michele Webb is living proof that an "ordinary" person can be a successful Netpreneur who successfully launched a classified advertising website in a highly specialized niche market. Visit her website at http://RegistryAds.com or send email to mw@RegistryAds.com

---

Why Your Ads Aren?t Working

The president of a manufacturing company recently asked me, "Why... Read More

Fax Advertising : Hitting Your Target Immediately

In the business of marketing and advertising, it used to... Read More

Non-profit Coupon Books and Coupon Mailers for Small Businesses

Many groups like the Chamber of Commerce, ASB at the... Read More

B2B Marketing Health and Elder Care Services

Quality Care Options is an established company advocating for the... Read More

If You Lost 70% of Your New Customers, Would You Notice?

Buyers Don't Rely on the Yellow Pages Like They Used... Read More

If You Want To Get More Customers, Heres 10 Powerful Stories To Improve Your Ads

Remember, as a child lying in bed and listening to... Read More

Just What Are Consumers Thinking?

Research would indicate that consumers don't know what they're thinking.... Read More

Science of Advertising and How to Benefit From It

It is very important to realize that persons buy from... Read More

Advertising Agency In Boston: Tips and Tricks

The big news on Wall Street last year was the... Read More

Become a Storyteller Not an Advertiser and Watch Your Traffic Increase

When you read the newspaper, do you read advertisements as... Read More

LED Score Boards

LED scoreboards can be utilized in most of the sporting... Read More

Direct Mail Catalogs & Brochures: Write Captions That Sell

Many prospects skim through catalogs and brochures, glancing at the... Read More

Grab Your Share of Untold Amounts of Advertising Dollars

If you advertise in any way, the following information could... Read More

Graphical LED Display

Graphical LED Displays utilize high-resolution graphics and video to transmit... Read More

Should You Advertise on TV?

When people discover my background in advertising, the questions flow.... Read More

How Much Money Do I Need to Spend on Advertising?

Q: I've never really done much advertising for my business;... Read More

Yellow Page Advertisers: Your Calls are Going to Decrease - Heres the Remedy

Response rates to Yellow Page advertising are decliningThere's no getting... Read More

Juice - Scam of the Decade or Opportunity of the Century

If you are an ardent web surfer and MLMer like... Read More

Cable TV Advertising; Mobile Detailing Customers

If you own a mobile detailing business or mobile car... Read More

CD Business Cards- Why Use Them?

CD Business cards are the electronic version of the now... Read More

How to Write Ads that Increase Your Business

I caught myself wracking my brain over what kind of... Read More

Small Business Image

The single easiest way to increase sales is to look... Read More

Is Your Yellow Pages Ad Putting Cash in Your Pocket... or Sucking Cash Out?

Any idea? It's a question that more than a few... Read More

How You Can Create Advertising That Sells

A well-planned and properly executed marketing program should include a... Read More

Advertising In The Local Press

There are three main reasons why I would hesitate when... Read More

Advertising Basics for Beginners

So many of us who have decided to do business... Read More

How to Advertise with Flyers

When you first start out on your business venture, money... Read More

Why People Fail in Mail Order

Mail order is a very complicated business. Every phase must... Read More

3 Inside Secrets To Making You Richer Using Direct Mail!

Making money using direct mail isn't easy. And anyone who... Read More

Placemat Ad Advertising

Starting a placemat ad business can create more business for... Read More

Custom LED Display

Custom LED Display, as the name specifies, facilitate control anything... Read More

How to Make Your Claims Believable

When you hear claims like??Best Lawnmower in the country?Absolute Lowest... Read More

Giorgio Armani: A Persuasive Campaign

Lets examine the use of Giorgio Armani Company's advertisements for... Read More