So, you’ve decided you want to use classified ads to promote your website and your business. That’s a great decision!
Now the real work begins. There are several key steps in utilizing classified advertising as a component of your marketing strategy. Understanding the various steps before you get started can save you a lot of time and frustration.
First, you must create your classified ad and ensure that it is compelling and engaging for your target audience. That means appealing to their emotions, desires, and wants.
You must create your headline that is an attention grabber so people will be interested enough to actually read your body content.
Next, you’ll need to evaluate various classified ad sites to find out where you can and should include your ad. Some are free while others are paid, so you’ll need to do your homework here to ensure you stay within your budget.
Testing your ads is important. Place your ads, evaluate effectiveness and test them by tracking hits to your website or landing page based on visitors being driven from the ad. Make adjustments in the ad or ad placement as needed.
Continually refine your strategy to optimize the use of classified ads to promote your business.
Now, that you’re aware of the key steps involved, you still aren’t sure where to find those online classified advertising sites. One website has made it much easier to find a huge listing of free ad placement sites. You can visit the site at www.freereports.net/classifieds.html to find a listing of 75 free sites that represent some of the most popular sites.
These free sites include sites such as:
Yahoo! Classifieds
Photo Ads
Earthlink Classifieds
Admatic
AdTrader
Zip mall
There are many more free sites listed on this directory and you can check them out for yourself. It’s a good idea to visit the various sites to see what they have to offer. It’s also helpful to review existing classified ads to give you a better idea of how ads are created and written.
Once you decide on a free site to use, you’ll find that the sites vary in the options they offer for advertising. For example, with US Freeads, there are many ad categories. Selecting ‘Home and Garden” takes you to a long list of sub-categories. You’ll note that each category and sub-category provides you with the number of listings in that particular section.
Continually refining your search takes you deeper and deeper into the site and you can better determine the most effective categories for your ads. Many sites, including free sites, offer you the option to include thumbnails of your products which can make your site more appealing and engaging.
As you approach the classified advertising arena on the Internet, don’t overlook the value of free classified advertising. You may find that one or more of these sites has just what you are looking for and you may be able to reach a massive target audience with a well-written classified ad.
Creating headlines and advertisements that are appealing and that create interest for potential customers take time and effort. You can’t just throw together some words and phrases, slap a headline on the top, and place your ad. You need to consider your audience and particularly the targeted customer you want to reach. Knowing your customers will help you create more persuasive and authentic ads.
Classified ads are a great way to promote your business on the Internet. They offer an opportunity to quickly provide a synopsis of your business that includes benefits of your products and a quick way to enter your website. Since classifieds are typically included in topical categories and indexes, or alongside relevant content in Ezines and newsletters, you have an audience who is already looking for products in your niche.
When it comes to creating your classified ads, it’s all about the customer. And that means forgetting about yourself! You are interested in selling your products – not your company! Keeping your focus on the customer is an important aspect of creating headlines and ads that result in high traffic increases.
Address customers
One of the first things you need to consider is how you address your customer. You should always address your customer directly. Rather than talking about ‘we’ or ‘our’, start your headline with ‘You’. Put the customer as front and center of what you have to say and demonstrate how valuable they are to you by giving them the primary attention.
Customers like to know that they are important and they want to see that you realize how valuable they are to you. Of course, you have something valuable to say and sell – but nothing is more valuable than the customer. And the customers wants you to know that too.
Personalize ads
When you address your headlines and include ‘you’ in your content, you are making your ad more specific and personal to an individual. They are more likely to see themselves using your products and services. They feel that you have a vested interest in how they look or feel and that you are personally involved in their happiness and well-being.
Appeal to emotions
Using ‘you’ as part of your headline and content appeals to the emotions of your potential customer too. And most people make buying decisions based on emotion. If they have a good feeling your products and what you have to say to them, they are more likely to further evaluate your offerings and eventually make a purchase.
Solicit customer feedback
You can also engage them more personally by soliciting their input. Offer them an opportunity to visit your website to complete a survey, give their opinion, or make recommendations about a product. Offer them something for doing this and show them they are appreciated. You’ll get more hits on your ad if you follow this advice.
Make headlines count
Keep in mind that many people only read the headline before clicking on an ad so your headline is your most important asset in classified advertising. Make every word count and make it appeal to your potential customer’s wants, needs, and desires.
Putting your customer first will result in greater success from your advertising efforts.
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