| Choosing a Classified Website and creating your | | | | depending on what you are offering. Writing a |
| advertisements. | | | | Classified Ad is not much different than writing an |
| The internet has opened a vast number of doors | | | | essay, with the exception of a literary work. |
| for people to market their products and services. | | | | There are three general angles that you should |
| Becoming self-employed and obtaining a national | | | | consider using to promote your offering. These |
| or global audience has never been easier. Many of | | | | are Expressive ads, Persuasive ads, and |
| these quality Classified Websites will provide | | | | Informative Ads. However, you should always |
| Entrepreneurs with their own storefront. In | | | | implement a call to action regardless of the angle |
| addition, their is no or little programming | | | | you choose. Additionally, it may not be a good |
| knowledge required for a Website, as the | | | | idea to mix any of the three angles. This is |
| administrator of the Classifieds Website will ensure | | | | because advertisements need to have focus and |
| modern and enhanced features, for consumers to | | | | be concise. |
| find and purchase products or services. However, | | | | Here are definitions and examples for the |
| there are a few elements to familiarize yourself | | | | different types of advertising: |
| with, prior to deciding where you want to | | | | Writing an Expressive Classified Ad |
| advertise. | | | | An expressive advertisement is very personal. |
| Free Classified Ads | | | | Expressive ads may be a good idea for a small |
| If you scout the Internet, you will find a variety | | | | scale business, wanting to utilize a personal |
| of Websites that are promoting, "Free Classified | | | | approach. When taking an expressive approach, |
| Ads". Many advertisers will rush in and take | | | | think of writing an excerpt of the day in a journal. |
| advantage of these offers, without investigation. | | | | As the writer of the advertisement, you want to |
| However, you should use caution when dealing | | | | express your personal feelings, thoughts, or |
| with these types of Websites. If they do not | | | | opinions related to the offerings. For example, a |
| provide a Privacy Policy, avoid them all together. | | | | Business Opportunity may be advertised as, "I |
| Always remember, maintaining a Website has a | | | | made over $100,000.00 in one year. I cannot |
| price. If they are not selling their advertisement | | | | believe how easy it was". This eliminates the need |
| space, another method is being used to generate | | | | to use examples or testimonials, as the author |
| income. | | | | becomes the example. |
| A common practice is the sale of E-mail | | | | Writing a Persuasive Classified Ad |
| addresses. In an online report by Tim Williams | | | | A persuasive advertisement is used to convince |
| (Technical Services Specialist University of | | | | the reader or change their opinion. To be |
| Arizona's Steward Observatory [ describing how | | | | successful with a persuasive classified ad, the |
| spammers obtain Email addresses, he found, | | | | writer needs to have a firm, direct, and clear |
| "Many sites, when the dot-bomb implosion hit, | | | | point. The goal is to evoke a reaction that causes |
| realized a list of email address was an asset to be | | | | the reader to have the same point-of-view as the |
| sold. The people buying didn't care if you only | | | | Author. A very common form of advertising, that |
| opted in one site they had your address used it | | | | uses a Persuasive approach, is the Governments, |
| and probably sold it off again". There is a big | | | | "Register to Vote," Campaigns. They are generally |
| market for Email addresses. The value of an | | | | direct and to the point. They provide a concise |
| E-mail address rose significantly with the new | | | | reason why you should register to vote, "Make |
| legislation that enforced the, "Can-Spam Act". By | | | | your voice heard". By pointing out a simple |
| opting in to a Website, and providing your E-mail | | | | benefit, they are achieving the task of the |
| address, you are opening the doors for E-mail | | | | persuasive advertisement, getting unregistered |
| Advertisers to safely market your address. | | | | citizens to register. |
| There are some Free Classified Websites that are | | | | Writing an Informative Classified Ad |
| legitimate. Some sites may advertise, "Free | | | | Informative advertising provides information to |
| Classifieds," but charge for extended time-frames | | | | the readers and generally explains what is being |
| of the advertisements run. For example, an | | | | offered. When constructing such an |
| advertisement that will run for one week is free. | | | | advertisement, the author should demonstrate |
| In contrast, an advertisement that runs for one | | | | observations, ideas, facts, statistics, or research |
| month has a fee. In addition, some free classified | | | | data. This is becoming very common on the |
| Websites may charge a fee for additional | | | | internet, as more people are becoming information |
| features. This may include Featured | | | | hungry. Consumers want to know what they are |
| Advertisements, Bold Text, Placing your | | | | buying. In addition, this is a wise choice, if |
| advertisement above all others within a category. | | | | consumers cannot physically see the item you are |
| In any case, look for a Privacy Policy. Ensure that | | | | selling. An example of Informative Advertising is |
| Website clearly states they will not sell, trade, or | | | | an Auto Manufactures advertisement for their |
| share your registration information. | | | | vehicles (Not Dealerships). They generally print |
| Features to look for in a Classified Website | | | | large advertisements that inform readers of the |
| When choosing a Classified Website to utilize, take | | | | Vehicles Engine Horsepower, Torque, Maintenance |
| a look at some of the features they offer. A | | | | Schedule, Improvements from prior models, |
| good advertising venue should focus on consumer | | | | available colors, Wheelbase, seating, trunk size, |
| friendliness. Navigation should be clear and simple | | | | etc... All the information is based on facts and |
| for the consumer. They should offer features | | | | research. It allows consumers to compare their |
| that help consumers shop and compare. This is | | | | vehicles to similar Auto Models, without taking a |
| what will make consumers comeback to the | | | | test drive. |
| resource for their shopping needs. | | | | Headlines and Body of your Classified |
| Here are some basic features to look for: | | | | Advertisements |
| Classified Search Engine: While some people enjoy | | | | Headlines are often referred to as titles, and are |
| shopping through the variety of Classified Ads, | | | | very important in catching the readers' eye. |
| others want a Search Engine that will filter out the | | | | Headlines should always be typed in capital letters. |
| ads that are not of interest to them. The site | | | | In addition, use simple name recognition |
| should offer a search engine, and an advanced | | | | techniques. For example, if you are advertising a |
| search engine that allows consumers to sort ads | | | | Car for Sale, input the Make and Model for the |
| by item specific information. For example, a | | | | headline. In contrast, if you are selling Real Estate, |
| consumer should be able to shop for cars by the | | | | you should use the street and Town the property |
| Manufacture, model, location, price range, Mileage, | | | | is located. |
| and other details related to the car they want. | | | | Business advertisements should always use the |
| Classified Watch List's: Watch Lists are a newer | | | | name of the company. The more the name is |
| feature that will automatically notify a consumer | | | | seen, the better your Public Relations becomes. |
| when an item is advertised on the Website. This | | | | Don't overextend the headline. An example of an |
| feature ensures that advertisements are targeted | | | | overextended headline is adding, "Car for Sale," |
| to consumers that are interested in the offering | | | | when placing an advertisement under a, "Cars for |
| you have. In addition, it informs the consumer | | | | Sale," category. This text is simply not needed, as |
| without the need to continually browse the | | | | the consumer is already aware that they are |
| internet. | | | | looking at, "Cars for Sale". |
| Simple Navigation: The consumer side of the | | | | Consider what you see from professional |
| Website should have clear and central navigation. | | | | journalists that writes columns in a newspaper. |
| If a consumer needs to pass through several | | | | Simple and Straight forward, inform the readers |
| pages before seeing items for sale, avoid the site. | | | | what the Classified Ad is promoting. They never |
| Consumers will not enjoy having to click on a | | | | mention the words that already are in the |
| variety of links to find offerings. Classification of | | | | columns' header (Entertainment, Movies, Lifestyle, |
| the items listed on the Website should be easy | | | | etc..). |
| and direct. | | | | The context or body of your classified is very |
| Target Audience: The Website you are advertising | | | | important. First, the body of your advertisement |
| has a Target Audience. If you are advertising | | | | needs to have proper grammar. Having a |
| something in England, it would not be practical to | | | | Classified advertisement with, "Typo's," gives a |
| place the advertisement on a Classified Website | | | | bad impression. Next, make sure the body is easy |
| for the United States. This will hold true for other | | | | to read. This can be accomplished by using |
| countries that speak similar languages. | | | | paragraphs with short sentences and avoiding all |
| Other Content: In addition to a Classified | | | | capital letters. Keep in mind, the body is not a |
| Marketplace, Websites need to offer additional | | | | headline; you already grabbed the consumers' |
| content to ensure that users enjoy the Website. | | | | attention, as they are reading your advertisement. |
| Content is what keeps people coming back, or | | | | The goal should be to make it pleasant at this |
| draws people to a Website. | | | | point. Finally, end the advertisement with a call to |
| Writing your Classified Ad | | | | action. How does a consumer proceed to accept |
| What many may consider the most important | | | | your offer? What is the next step they need to |
| part of advertising is writing an effective ad. The | | | | take? Use power phrases similar to, "Call Now for |
| information that you provide in your classified ad | | | | Further Details". |
| may be the deciding factor if it is successful or a, | | | | Consider the season of your target audience |
| "bomb". | | | | (Dependent on the Offering). In the winter, people |
| Create a variety of advertisements that utilize | | | | may have different motives than in the hot |
| various approaches. Be prepared to revise your | | | | summer. In addition, take into consideration |
| content on occasion. This ensures that you are | | | | up-and-coming Holidays. Simply wishing a, "Merry |
| demonstrating different aspects of your offering. | | | | Christmas," will evoke warm emotions when |
| In addition, you can promote your offering from | | | | people are reading your advertisements. This may |
| different angles, to see what will achieve the best | | | | help take away the Hard-sell frame of mind the |
| results. | | | | consumer has, while reading your advertisements. |
| Choosing the angle of your advertising may vary, | | | | |