Writing Effective Classified Ads – Five Powerful Tips
Writing a classified can be difficult, especially when you are limited on the amount of space you can use. You want your ad to be powerful and effective, one that people will take notice of and respond to immediately. Classified ads are a very tool for selling a product or service, so you really want to make it count. Below are five tips that will help you get started and send you on your way to writing classified ads that will really work for you.
Write in a direct manner. When assembling your ad, make sure to include all information others might need to know about your product or service, how to get it and where to go. You may even want to consider answering the six basic questions who, what, where, when, why, and how. Who are you? What are you selling? Where can people go to buy it? When will you begin selling it? Why should people take notice? How can people obtain further information about your business? These are all important questions that will help others find you and then purchase what you have to offer.
Make sure the information in your ad is very clear. This means you must include all necessary details and write the ad using words and phrases that are easy to understand. For example, if you are writing about a special sale and you include the street name of where your business is located but leave off the number, people may have a difficult time finding you. You want to make it as easy as possible so be clear and concise.
Use words that are useful to your readers. Don’t include words that don’t relate directly to your ad or that repeat information. This is especially relevant when considering the category where your ad will appear. Let’s take the yard sale example. If your ad is placed in the category of “yard sale”, you would not need to include those words in your ad. Remember, you are paying for each word you include so use them sparingly.
Use words that are easy to understand. Keep your ad simple and to the point. Any words that are out of place will be noticed by readers and will not attract the right kind of attention so consider this when writing your ad.
Encourage the readers to take action. You want them to purchase your product or service so you should use language that encourages them to do so. Description will certainly serve its purpose but action is the end result you are seeking and your ad should reflect this.