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[O156]Online Classified Free Ads

by Evelyn Lim, Eve

Classified ads can be free (certain restrictions are likely to apply) or can cost you as low as less than $10. For the ones that you have to pay, prices vary depending on where you advertise, how large the subscriber list is and the number of impressions (how many times your ad appears).

You may consider placing your online classified ads on a website that is already generating huge traffic or in someone else's ezine.

Here are a couple of sites that you may wish to check out:

http://www.classifieds.yahoo.com
http://www.5starads.com
http://www.isnare.com
http://www.web-ads.com

With there being a limit to the number of lines that your classified ad can contain, it is a good idea to spend some time crafting out an effective ad copy to elicit the best response. Your job is to conjure a clear image of a solid benefit in the minds of your prospect, based on the restricted number of words that you are allowed in your ad.

Here are 7 tips on crafting out your online classified ads:

1) Use the age-old marketing formula once again: AIDA! Attract Attention, get Interest, Attract Desires, Get Action.

2) In order to attract attention and to get your prospect's interest, you must first know who he/she is and what he/she wants.

3) Sell on the benefits and not on the features. Remember the saying “Sell the Sizzle, not the steak”!

4) Make a clear statement that says specifically what your prospects will get when they answer your ad. Show by using facts instead of claims. For instance “Fast service guaranteed” is not as preferred as “Your items shipped in 24 hours”.

5) Get your prospects to act on the information immediately. Put a time limit!

6) Use the word “Free” if possible. For instance, offer a free ebook or free service to attract your prospects.

7) Other words that can possibly help in your ad include:
Free, Offer, Quick, Easy, Last chance, Just arrived, Announcing, Limited edition, limited offer, prompt results.

Bonus section 1: Another 3 tips on testing and tracking your ads

1) When you test your ads, you may wish to test word-by-word. Test by changing your headlines or change the format of your words (eg. bold, capital letters, italics).

2) Concentrate your ads in a few places rather than advertise all over the internet. Try to do a thorough job in the few places that you've chosen before you move on to the next. 3) Try to increase the reach and frequency. Few prospects will act after seeing your ad for only one time. You need to have an ad exposure of at least 7 times.

Bonus Section 2: Here is a specific example on how you can transform your ad

First, you may start with….

“Freelance graphic designer does great designs. www.yourdomainname.com”

Next, you spell out some specific benefits to your prospects if they respond to your ad…

“You get attractive sales ad when I personally design your graphics. www.yourdomainname.com”

Make it attention-grabbing by changing it to….

“Explode your sales with my attractive graphics for your ad campaigns. www.yourdomainname.com”

Finally include the word “Free” and put a strong call to action into your ad…

“Free access to my clipart library for limited time only. Explode your sales with my attractive graphics for your ad campaigns. www.yourdomainname.com”

Viola!! Put some practice into this exercise and you will soon find it easy to churn out 3 to 5 line ad copies at the drop of a hat! One last tip for you…

Before you start writing a classified ad, it is a good idea to take a look at how other people are writing theirs. Take note of those that you find appealing and use the same formula. Get it right and you should be receiving good click through rates!

The advent of the Internet brought with it the invention of online classified ads. Believed to be the height of advertising and marketing, but the kiss of death for newspapers and other advertising venues. It turned out both beliefs were untrue and basically over hyped. Over time, it was learned that online classified ads used in conjunction with other forms of already established media actually made each other stronger. Then the use of online classified ads blossomed again and took on a whole new avenue for the internet marketer. Many not only added classified ads to their pages, entire sites popped up specifically for displaying online classified ads.

At first, people loved being able to not only advertise their goods and wares but they enjoyed just browsing and surfing other ads. It was a virtual flea market of goodies; city to city, coast to coast, and even country to country. Free online advertising made it possible to sell anything anywhere and with little or no risk. Besides being able to advertise a vast amount of merchandise coast to coast and the ability to find specialty items anywhere in the world, online classified ads also allowed a new venue of marketing for the masses. Those who sold products could use online ads to marketing their products without having to have a website.

The internet opened up a world of marketing for those in the start-up stage of business who could not or did not want to finance a website at the time. Online classified ads could be placed on any number of reliable sites, in the marketer's own city or abroad. Placing ads abroad meant a business could widen its customer base at little or no cost to the business, leaving cash flow to put towards other parts of the venture. Ads could be as long or as short as necessary and could be placed in many different areas as many times as needed. As the majority of online sites offered this service for free, it became an indispensable form of advertising and marketing; akin to having a 24 hour coast to coast store front.

At first, many newspapers merely offered simple advertising options; but by following the trend of sites dedicated to online classified ads, newspapers realized being allowed to add banners or pictures only further increased the value of online advertising. Newspapers found they had better advertising success when sections such as real estate and car sales were allowed to add pictures. Customers too found adding a picture instead of having just a mere description attracted more viewers to their ads. More viewers meant more offers, which meant getting that house or car sold faster. Suddenly, spending for online advertising began to be a larger part of newspaper budgets every where.

Many sites that offer online classified ads have also seen the benefit of adding other options such as chat and forums for their customers. A number of people who may go online looking for a certain item are more than likely to click on a few ads that catch their interest. They may also be willing to stick around and pop in for a discussion and see what the general public has to say about things. It has been found that sites that offer online classified ads have the opportunity and ability to become community centers and venues for communication. A person can go in looking to find a bargain basement on wicker furniture or a vitamin health regimen and come out with a whole lot more.

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Both Evelyn Lim & are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Evelyn Lim has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Disease & illness and Acid Reflux. . Evelyn Lim's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.

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