How to Write an Effective Classified Ad

Classified ads are still one of the best ways to spread the word about products and services you want to sell. You can even promote your website with classified ads. Getting lots of views and generating replies depends on where you place the ads, and how you write the ads. These strategies will help you write an effective advertisement to attract customers.

First, think of the appropriate category for your ad. Miscategorized ads don't reach as many potential buyers as ads that are published in the right section. If you are unsure, ask your friends or family which section of the classifieds they would check to find your service or item. Or, contact the publication where you are placing the ad.

Write a short, descriptive, and honest title. Capitalize the first letter nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Choose at most ONE keyword to write in all caps. Titles written in all-caps with exclamation points and wingdings tend to look like spam or scams. Use no more than 10 words total, and try to make it stand apart from similar items. For example, "Black Honda Civic 4 Sale, 40k Miles" works better than "AWESOME USED CAR FOR SALE!!!"

Write the body of your ad succinctly; include the most important information that a buyer would want to know about the product or service. Don't include a lot of irrelevant personal info about why you are selling it. The personal touch can either draw people in, or be a major turn-off. If you aren't sure, better to leave out the back story. Each sentence should have a purpose and contain the key words you think people would search for. This is especially true for online ads; search engines will rank your advertisement more highly if the keyword density is high.

Don't lie about what you are selling or leave out very important facts from your classified ad. You may get more traffic initially, but once the truth is discovered, your reputation will suffer and buyers will avoid you.

Proper spelling and grammar will make people take your ad more seriously. If there are word limits or space constraints, you can get away with using sentence fragments and standard abbreviations, just make sure that you include enough words to make it understandable.

Think carefully about the price. If you want to unload the items as soon as possible, or you want to attract customers quickly, set a low price and state it up front in your advertisement. Most people who scan the classifieds don't have the time to ask for prices. They are not likely to call or email you to ask about an unlisted price unless your ad is very interesting.

However, if you want to get a good price and you don't mind waiting, list your price as "negotiable," or use phrasing such as "Make an offer," "Prices/rates vary, please call/email," or "Cash or trade accepted." These are phrases that indicate you have a price in mind, but the details are too complicated to fit into the space of a classified ad.

Include photos whenever you can. Craigslist postings are free and there's no limit to the number of words or color photos you can add. Local auto finder publications may have more restrictions. If you can't include a photo, use words to describe the features a buyer would care about.

Have a friend or family member proofread your ad. Fresh eyes can catch typos and let you know if something sounds weird or seems unclear.