Three Essential Elements of a Successful Classified Ad

Have you ever wondered why your perfectly finepossible.
classified ad fails to attract the attention you desire?Also, try to list as many possible benefits that your
There should be dozens-no, hundreds-of perspectivesales item could offer the buyer. Come up with some
buyers swamping your e-mail inbox with offers. Afterthat the buyer probably wouldn't think of on his or
all, you are offering a mint baseball card, a vintageher own. And zone in on specific benefits. Use what
coat, pristine used car, those wholesale-pricedyou already know about your target. For instance, if
sporting goods, and whatever other attractive itemsyou were selling a car, you know that whoever is
are in your inventory. Instead, you only have a slowlooking at your ad is in need of a vehicle. If your car
trickle of questions, a handful of sales. What gives?is compact, perhaps the buyer is in search of great
More than likely, your sales are slow because yougas mileage. Or perhaps it's power he or she wants if
have not mastered the three techniques of writing ayour car is a sports model.
classic classified ad.Action. Finish your ad strongly. Don't just suggest to
Of course, give yourself credit for recognizing onethe buyer that you offer a great deal. Tell them it's a
important facet of today's selling world. You decidedfantastic offer that they can't pass up. Use phrases
to sell your stuff at an online classified site. Aslike "Call me now before someone else does" or "Buy
anybody in the business knows, online classified adsnow, this opportunity won't last long." Be cordial while
get you more privacy, a broader selection of buyers,you're pressing the issue, of course. Thank them for
and a wealth of tools to help you keep tabs on yourreading your ad and make sure they know you
transactions. When compared to a newspaper,appreciate their business.
cyberspace is also a wee bit more spacious. ThereMost importantly, your customers will also value your
are billions of pages on the Web, and only a fewhonesty throughout the whole ad. So whether it's the
dozen in your typical neighborhood rag. For you, thatattention, interest, or action you're shooting for,
means a lot more space for your ad to say the least.never lie or exaggerate. Go so far to include any
With that space, however, comes greatdefects if your product is not in mint shape. Your
responsibility-and great potential. The extra roomhonesty will build trust, and trust above all else makes
gives you the freedom to include as much productan ad work. What's more, it makes for repeat
description and sale copy as you want. You can't justcustomers.
slap together a whole bunch of information, though.Remember, if you use all three of these elements-or
You need to use the three special ad writingfour if you include honesty.  When you're finished
techniques that will attract buyers and seal the deal:with it, it should read something like the two
attention, interest, and action.examples below.
Attention. Make sure the buyer stops at your adExample 1:
instead of the thousands upon thousands of othersDiscover the beauty of a Forest Hill Home
out there in cyberspace. Your ad's title is the first lure2500 sq. ft. home, 4 bedroom, 3 baths, double
to grab his or her attention, and the first componentgarage, upgraded kitchen, 12 ft. ceilings
of a catchy title is the item's best feature, whetherThis open concept house is situated in a historical
it's the price, the item's rarity, or its popularity. Next,landmark district of Rhode Island. It's a wonderful
be sure the title includes keywords or otherneighborhood to raise your family, with nearby
synonyms for your item that a buyer might use in aschools and amenities.
search. For instance, a buyer could search for(Insert your image or photo here.)
"automobile" instead of "car," "pullover" instead ofCall for an on-site appointment. Thanks for looking!
"sweater."Example 2:
Interest. Once you have the buyer's attention, hookLooking for an inexpensive used car that drives well?
them with details. There is a direct relationshiponly $4,950.
between the amount of information you provide and2003 Honda Civic, Limited Edition, 65,000 miles,
the number of sales you'll make. So describe the itemmanual transmission, CD, AM/FM radio, power
as completely as possible-size, color, material,steering, low maintenance. Great on gas - this car will
designer, model-and provide a clear, digital photo tosave you $$$ on high gasoline prices.
finish the job where your words leave off. Even(Insert your image or photo here.)
offer your prospective customer the item's history ifSend me a message now. Thanks for looking!