When used effectively, classified ads can be one of
quickest and most inexpensive ways to increase your sales. A well written classified ad can generate thousands in sales, yet could cost you pennies to write and run.Most people don’t appreciate
power of well written classified ads. They think classified ads are for selling cars, or finding jobs, and not for expanding a business. While it’s true a classified ad is a good way to achieve
above, it is also true that classified ads can be used to launch and expand multi million pound businesses.
Many businesses rely exclusively on these low cost ads to generate a substantial amount of their annual turn over. The reason is simple. Once you have discovered how to harness
power of these classified ads, you really won’t need to run expensive display ads at all.
Note that
key point about classified ads is that they are most effective when used as lead generators, and not to sell from. In these ads you are not trying to convince someone to spend money with you. You are trying to identify a potential customer by having that customer contact you as a result of
ad. Once potential customers have identified themselves, you can then follow up with your direct mail offer for
product or service you are selling.
Writing an effective classified ad is one of
most exacting forms of copywriting. In twenty words or less you have to grab
customer’s attention, and excite them enough to prompt them into calling you for more information. You can’t rely on eye catching illustrations or professional layouts to catch
reader’s attention. It’s all in what you say.
Here’s how you write a good classified ad that works:
1. First you need to define what you want
ad to accomplish. Do you want
customer to read
ad and smile? Or do you want them to read your ad and call you immediately? Obviously
answer is
latter of
two.
2. Next decide what type of person is most likely to purchase your product or service. This is called creating a customer profile. Ask yourself questions like: Are they a man or a woman? Are they young or old? Are they rich or poor? Ask yourself as many questions as possible to help create a profile for your potential customers. If you struggle to identify who you are going to sell your product or service to, then it is almost impossible to write an ad that will grab their attention.
3. With
most likely customer profile developed in step two above, you should make a list of all
“hot buttons”, those words, ideas, and concepts that are most likely to grab
immediate attention of anyone in
group of customers you have identified. These hot buttons might be simple phrases like “work at home”, “financial freedom”, “lose weight overnight”, “exciting job opportunity”, or “immediate loans”.