What Makes a Good Classified Ad?

By Nicolette Goff

The purpose of your classified ad is not to sell a product. That is the job of your website. You create an ad solely to get the reader or buyer to take a desired action. Since your ad will be competing with many similar ads on the page, you must make yours not only stand out, but it must make the reader or buyer want to find out more. How do you accomplish that?

A good classified ad needs to contain the following four elements:

Attention, Interest, Desire and Action.

1. Attention. Your title must instantly grab the attention of the reader. Be creative, keep it short, and mention the best benefit of your product or service. Always use a keyword in your title. Keep in mind that you're competing with similar ads on the same page. The first two or three words must get the reader's attention! In addition to your lead words, your ad must quickly go on to state further benefits to the reader.

Your ad might start something like this:

Earn Big Money From Home!

2. Interest. Your ad must arouse the interest of the reader. You already have the reader's attention: you've told the reader that he can earn "Big Money" and that he can make it from home. Now mention your top benefits. This is great place to insert more power words to get the reader interested and wanting to know more!

Your ad might continue:

Earn Big Money From Home!

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3. Desire. Now you want to feed the reader's desire for your product or service. You have his attention; he is already interested; now, the reader must desire what you've got! Emphasize any other benefits or features that would make the reader "want" to respond.

Now we have this:

Earn Big Money From Home!

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4. Action. Here's where you ask the reader to "take action" and do something. Be assertive! Let your reader know exactly what you want him to do. Be direct and use words and phrases such as Act Now!, Call Today!, Limited Time Offer! to end your ad.

Putting it all together:

Earn Big Money From Home!

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Make up to $5,000 your first month

Act Now! Visit us online at MoneyFromHome.com Remember, your goal in advertising copywriting is to get the reader to act - not to buy. You learn through trial and error. Write your ads, track them to see what is working and what is not. Post ads regularly - keep your product or opportunity in front of your prospective customers. When you write your ad to grab the reader's attention. tweak his interest and feed his desire, you will attract responsive, highly-targeted traffic to your website. Between gardening, painting, traveling, home renovation and enjoying her two granddaughters, Nicolette Goff markets and posts on several sites and blogs on the internet. If you're as busy as she is, you will enjoy the audio titles on her website, http://hearsaybooks.com Double your time - listen while you carry on with life! You can visit her business opportunity online at http://www.zerolimitscash.com