Denver Search Engine Optimization | Advertising Information | links | site map
Advertising Information

3 Elements To A Deal-Sealing Classified Ad


Have you ever wondered why your perfectly fine classified ad fails to attract the attention you desire? There should be dozens-no, hundreds-of perspective buyers swamping your e-mail inbox with offers. After all, you are offering a mint baseball card, a vintage coat, pristine used car, those wholesale-priced sporting goods, and whatever other attractive items are in your inventory. Instead, you only have a slow trickle of questions, a handful of sales. What gives? More than likely, your sales are slow because you have not mastered the three techniques of writing a classic classified ad.

Of course, give yourself credit for recognizing one important facet of today's selling world. You decided to sell your stuff at an online classified site. As anybody in the business knows, online classified ads get you more privacy, a broader selection of buyers, and a wealth of tools to help you keep tabs on your transactions. When compared to a newspaper, cyberspace is also a wee bit more spacious. There are billions of pages on the Web, and only a few dozen in your typical neighborhood rag. For you, that means a lot more space for your ad to say the least.

With that space, however, comes great responsibility-and great potential. The extra room gives you the freedom to include as much product description and sale copy as you want. You can't just slap together a whole bunch of information, though. You need to use the three special ad writing techniques that will attract buyers and seal the deal: attention, interest, and action.

Attention. Make sure the buyer stops at your ad instead of the thousands upon thousands of others out there in cyberspace. Your ad's title is the first lure to grab his or her attention, and the first component of a catchy title is the item's best feature, whether it's the price, the item's rarity, or its popularity. Next, be sure the title includes keywords or other synonyms for your item that a buyer might use in a search. For instance, a buyer could search for "automobile" instead of "car," "pullover" instead of "sweater."

Interest. Once you have the buyer's attention, hook them with details. There is a direct relationship between the amount of information you provide and the number of sales you'll make. So describe the item as completely as possible-size, color, material, designer, model-and provide a clear, digital photo to finish the job where your words leave off. Even offer your prospective customer the item's history if possible.

Also, try to list as many possible benefits that your sales item could offer the buyer. Come up with some that the buyer probably wouldn't think of on his or her own. And zone in on specific benefits. Use what you already know about your target. For instance, if you were selling a car, you know that whoever is looking at your ad is in need of a vehicle. If your car is compact, perhaps the buyer is in search of great gas mileage. Or perhaps it's power he or she wants if your car is a sports model.

Action. Finish your ad strongly. Don't just suggest to the buyer that you offer a great deal. Tell them it's a fantastic offer that they can't pass up. Use phrases like "Call me now before someone else does" or "Buy now, this opportunity won't last long." Be cordial while you're pressing the issue, of course. Thank them for reading your ad and make sure they know you appreciate their business.

Most importantly, your customers will also value your honesty throughout the whole ad. So whether it's the attention, interest, or action you're shooting for, never lie or exaggerate. Go so far to include any defects if your product is not in mint shape. Your honesty will build trust, and trust above all else makes an ad work. What's more, it makes for repeat customers.

Remember, if you use all three of these elements-or four if you include honesty. When you're finished with it, it should read something like the two examples below.

Example 1:

Discover the beauty of a Forest Hill Home
2500 sq. ft. home, 4 bedroom, 3 baths, double garage, upgraded kitchen, 12 ft. ceilings
This open concept house is situated in a historical landmark district of Rhode Island. It's a wonderful neighborhood to raise your family, with nearby schools and amenities.

(Insert your image or photo here.)

Call for an on-site appointment. Thanks for looking!

Example 2:

Looking for an inexpensive used car that drives well? only $4,950.
2003 Honda Civic, Limited Edition, 65,000 miles, manual transmission, CD, AM/FM radio, power steering, low maintenance. Great on gas - this car will save you $$$ on high gasoline prices.

(Insert your image or photo here.)

Send me a message now. Thanks for looking!

Donald Lee is the public relations manager for Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classified listing services for individuals and businesses to market their products and services online. For global and localized classifieds, please visit http://www.buysellcommunity.com - Free Buy and Sell Classifieds -


MORE RESOURCES:

Town Hall

On the Call: McClatchy CEO Gary Pruitt
BusinessWeek
CEO Gary Pruitt touched upon the company's efforts to strike the right balance between online advertising and reader fees during a Thursday conference call ...
McClatchy profit down 83 percent, ad sales fallReuters
McClatchy's second-quarter profit declinesSacramento Bee
McClatchy Reports Second Quarter 2010 EarningsMarketWatch (press release)
Poynter.org -News & Observer -Bizjournals.com
all 178 news articles »


New Zealand Herald

Yahoo Japan for better search and advertisings services joined hands with Google
ABH News
Google is also for Yahoo Inc. to provide search advertising delivery platform. In other words, Google's technology to provide search advertising for Yahoo ...
Yahoo Japan Teams Up With Google SearchDailyFinance

all 869 news articles »


Bogusky Turns Back on Career as Advertising Fails to Reveal Deeper Truth
Bloomberg
Alex Bogusky, former creative director of Crispin Porter & Bogusky advertising agency. ...

and more »


Marvel Issuing Takedowns Over Thor Trailer; Hey Marvel: Trailers Are Advertising
Techdirt
The whole idea of it is to act as advertising for the movie and get people more interested in seeing the movie. And having people put it online for you ...

and more »


Volt Advertising Likely to Go After Nissan's Leaf
AdAge.com (subscription)
But the similarities end there, and consumers can expect the advertising to play up the differences. GM, for example, will likely attempt to convey a sense ...

and more »


DirectNews

What earnings reports have revealed about ads
BusinessWeek
July 16: Gannett Co., the largest US newspaper publisher, shows signs it's moving closer to ending a 3 1/2-year slump in print advertising, though it still ...
Microsoft plans to protest Yahoo Japan-Google partnershipWashington Post
Microsoft Will Try to Block Google-Yahoo Japan DealPC World
Google revamps image search functionsMinneapolis Star Tribune
NewsyStocks.com -Wall Street Journal -CNET
all 65 news articles »


Should Food Advertising to Children Be Restricted?
New York Times
Once again, the food industry objects to tougher advertising standards. It claims its own voluntary guidelines are sufficient to protect public health, ...



Belo 2Q Profit Doubles On Ad Demand, Cost Cuts
Wall Street Journal
s (BLC) second-quarter profit almost doubled on strength from advertising revenue and cost cuts, while results came in just below analysts' expectations. ...
Belo Sees 13% Rise In Local RevsMediaPost Publications
Television Company Belo Corp. (BLC) Reports Results for Second Quarter 2010PR Newswire (press release)
A.H. Belo loses less in 2Q but ad revenue is downLas Vegas Sun
paidContent.org
all 21 news articles »


Mediaset 2Q Pft Up On Advertising Spending Growth
Wall Street Journal
MI), Italy's largest private broadcaster, said Thursday that second-quarter net profit jumped 23% as advertising spending returned to growth in its core ...
Mediaset First-Half Profit Rises 34% on Increased AdvertisingBusinessWeek
Mediaset net jumps on ad recovery, sees more growthReuters

all 20 news articles »


Present at the Birth of Modern Advertising
Wall Street Journal
In the nascent days of advertising, in the first half of the 20th century, no one was more successful—or more influential—than Albert ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006