Why has Internet advertising become so popular today? There are a lot of reasons for its popularity, but one of the most obvious is the fact that more and more people are turning to the Internet to purchase products and services. They know that the Internet holds a volume of information, data, and statistics on every conceivable product imaginable.
Consumers are interested in learning more about products before they buy. Rather than having to talk with a customer service representative, sales clerk, or other ‘real person’, they can find out exactly what they want to know by accessing information through websites, newsgroups, forums, and social groups. They also visit the hundreds of classified advertising websites to find out what’s available and what’s new.
Classified advertising has become a major player in the online market. With literally thousands of categories and sub-categories of products and services, it’s easier today than ever for people to find what they want. And using the Internet gives them the added advantage of being able to comparison shop with the click of a mouse.
Competitive analysis
Not only are people interested in doing some competitive analysis based on price, they are also searching for products that offer the most benefits. That’s when classified advertising has a huge opportunity to make a difference in which website’s people visit and which products the purchase.
For example, if your classified ad provides information about the product’s features and gives a company background, the reader is likely to become quickly discouraged with your ad. You’ll never get that almighty mouse click you desire! If your ad is filled with information that is not relevant to the product and does not attest to the benefits and value of the product itself, you’re not likely to get a visitor or a customer anytime soon.
Appeal to customer desire
Classified ads must appeal to the customer’s needs and desires. That’s why people want to use the Internet for learn more about products. They are taking seconds, and sometimes a single second, to decide if your ad is worth pursuing. People prefer to make their buying decisions based on their impressions of what you have to offer and their emotional needs at the time of purchase.
Give shoppers ‘control’
Shoppers also want to maintain control of the situation, so if they find that you are trying to ‘sell’ them something, or coerce them into buying, they will turn away. However, if your ad indicates you have something of value for them and you appreciate them as a potential customer, they’re more likely to read further. Making your customer feel smarter than you are and giving them the control to make a buying decision will encourage them to visit your website and learn more about you.
Trust and relationships
It’s all about trust and relationships. You start building trust with your headline and you continue building trust with your content. As trust increases and readers click to your website, you have the opportunity to build a strong relationship. And as you already know, relationships sell!
Use your classified ads to make your potential customers feel good about themselves by helping them feel appreciated, valued, and in control. You’re likely to end up with a long-term customer.
How many times have you wanted to find information on a particular product or service and turned to the classifieds? Have you ever had products or services to sell and included an ad in a newspaper or trade publication?
That was the beginning of classified advertising. But this type of advertising has evolved into a format that engages millions of Internet users every day. Today, classified advertising has become a major component of an online advertising campaign for many online marketers. It offers a unique opportunity to reach your target audience and promote your website, increasing brand awareness and contributing to lead generation for future sales and business expansion.
In the first half of 2008 alone, classified ad revenues were over $1.6 billion – and that’s just the first six months of the year! Projections for 2009 also look promising and classified advertising will be a strong player in the advertising arena.
Classified ads are most effective when they include an easy way to get to your website. Making it easy means including hyperlinks as well as your full URL. Being able to quickly click and be directed to your website keeps the reader engaged. Ads are meant to be ‘teasers’ to get visitors to your website so be sure they can get there easily.
One critical component of a classified ad is to ensure that your most unique benefits of your product are clarified. When people know the benefits of a product, they’ll look further to find more information. Make sure you use this unique selling opportunity by appealing to your potential customer’s emotions and desires.
There are a variety of classified advertising sites available on the Internet. Some of them are free and some come with a fee. When searching for the best advertising sites, consider the popularity of the site and the number of impressions they receive. You should also focus heavily on relevancy when promoting your website so be sure to position your ad on the most effective category of the classified listings for optimal exposure.
You don’t have a lot of time to get your message across so it’s important to leverage each and every word to convey what you want to say. Using words that attract attention and are intriguing to the readers of your advertisement are essential. With only seconds to capture a reader, you need to make every word count so be sure you know your customer and what they want.
Don’t simply look at classified ads as a way to sell your products. Look at them as a way to increase your brand exposure, contribute to lead generation, and add to your future mailing lists as prospects. Classifieds are more than just a one-time shot at a reader – they provide you with an opportunity to create a long-term relationship with people who may be paying customers in the future.
If you’re looking for a way to increase exposure of your website and your online business, check out classified advertising as a component of an overall marketing strategy.
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