Advertising Information


BlogBlaster Submits to 2 Million Websites
Click Here to Post Your Blog Ad


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


MORE RESOURCES:

Monsters and Critics.com

Yahoo, Google ad deal gets delayed
Bizjournals.com, NC - 7 hours ago
Yahoo Inc. and Google Inc. have delayed their proposed advertising deal in the face of heavy opposition from advertising groups in the US and beyond. ...
Google Isn't Going to Wait Forever For Yahoo Wired News
AOL-Yahoo Merger Details Emerge; Deal Could Happen This Month Washington Post
Yahoo, Google Ad Deal Delayed By Regulators CRN
ChattahBox - CNET News
all 183 news articles


Woman's Day Debuts Interactive Issue Featuring Innovative Mobile ...
MarketWatch - 10 hours ago
Powered by SnapNow, the November 1, 2008 issue extends editorial and advertising messages beyond the printed page through mobilized content -- instantly ...


WeatherBug Hires Three New Account Executives to Focus on ...
MarketWatch - 10 hours ago
Based in New York and Los Angeles, they will focus on advertising sales for the west, southeast and northeast regions. "WeatherBug has a remarkable ...


Titan Worldwide, Leaders In Transit Advertising, To Create World's ...
MarketWatch - 14 hours ago
These screens will offer consumers engaging content and relevant advertising and will also allow the Transit Authorities to reach their commuters instantly, ...


Wall Street Journal Blogs

Daily Beast Don't Need No Stinking Advertising — For Now
Wired News - 13 hours ago
By Meghan Keane October 06, 2008 | 10:41:08 AMCategories: Advertising Tina Brown has found one way around the struggle for winning ad dollars in the middle ...
paidContent.org - Tina Brown's Daily Beast Starts With A Growl ... Washington Post
Another scoop for Tina Brown as she swaps print for the web Financial Times
Tina Brown unveils Daily Beast guardian.co.uk
USA Today - Digital Media Wire
all 29 news articles


Reuters

Net advertising climbs 21%
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 5 hours ago
SPENDING on internet advertising in Britain grew 21 per cent in the first half of 2008 to £1.68 billion, according to new figures from the Internet ...
UK Internet ad spend up 21 percent, overall market down Reuters
all 12 news articles


Queensland police cars to carry corporate advertising
The Australian, Australia - 15 hours ago
QUEENSLAND police cars will carry corporate advertising in an Australian first for a police force. Under a $100000 sponsorship deal between Crime Stoppers ...
Police cars to carry advertising NEWS.com.au
Your company's logo here... on a police car? Brisbane Times
Police Minister didn't know of car sponsorship deal Courier Mail
ABC Regional Online - Sydney Morning Herald
all 47 news articles


CNET News

Opinion: In the tech industry, small isn't beautiful anymore
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - Oct 4, 2008
By Glenn B. Manishin Wrangling over the proposed Google-Yahoo advertising deal makes one wonder whether scale, a virtue in Silicon Valley, ...
Yahoo, Google advertising pact delayed MarketWatch
Tech Chronicles San Francisco Chronicle
Senator urges DOJ to 'closely examine' Google-Yahoo deal Computerworld
Reuters - Adweek
all 563 news articles


Winston-Salem Journal

SunTrust picks Mullen as new lead advertising agency
Winston-Salem Journal, NC - 10 hours ago
By Fran Daniel | Journal Reporter SunTrust Banks Inc. has chosen Mullen, a national advertising agency with an office in Winston-Salem, as its new lead ...
Mullen wins SunTrust ad account Bizjournals.com
Mullen wins SunTrust account Boston Globe
SunTrust Selects Mullen as Its Lead Agency MarketWatch
Winston-Salem Journal - Bizjournals.com
all 22 news articles


Veteran TV Exec Joins DNA Advertising Team
Earthtimes (press release), UK - 7 hours ago
DENVER , Oct. 6 -- Marty Sokoler , a veteran broadcast and cable industry sales executive, joins the Denver Newspaper Agency's advertising management team ...

Advertising - Google News

post
search
browse
member


youronlineclassifieds.com - home | site map

üClick Here
to Earn
- an ongoing, monthly residual income - a very SUBSTANTIAL monthly income - even if you don't have a website!
© 2006