Classified Advertising – 6 Ways to Get Started

Classified ads are advertisements that let other people know when you are seeking employees, selling items, buying items, selling houses, and basically letting other people know when you have something to sell or are looking to buy something. They’ve been very effective for years in newspapers and periodicals.

Today, classifieds are also an effective way to drive traffic to your website and help increase your sales and revenue. It may seem like a very simple and insignificant way to drive traffic, but you’d be surprised at how effective classified ads can be.

Your first introduction to classifieds was likely through Craigslit or Kijiji which offer free classified advertising. They have been incredibly popular and successful in helping people promote their websites, sell products and services, and find qualified employees. They are also well-known for their success in helping people find homes to buy or rent, sell used furniture and clothing, and many other uses.

In addition to these types of classified ad sites, there are also sites where you can submit and place your ad for a fee. E-zines, or electronic versions of online magazines, are one popular place for online classifieds. These types of electronic magazines or newsletters offer the opportunity to promote your website based on relevancy of the subject matter. People who subscribe to these types of things are already interested in your subject matter and are searching for what you have to offer.

Classifieds are an excellent way to focus on your targeted audience. This results in more traffic and higher conversion rates.

It’s important to utilize multiple methods of advertising and promotion to make your website visible to your target audience. It takes a variety of methods to make it work most effectively. Classifieds are part of an overall advertising strategy.

It is also important to utilize classified advertising online because it is very likely that your competitors are already doing it. This means that they are capturing your target audience even before your potential visitors even know you exist. By capitalizing on classified advertising, you create awareness of your website and you can contribute to a lead generation strategy.

Some tips to help you plan your strategy for classified advertising include:

Create ads that are concise and compelling. Get to the point quickly – you don’t have much time to attract attention. Start with a engaging headline to draw people in. Then keep them reading with unique, interesting content.

Focus your ad on your audience. Know what they are likely searching for and then give it to them. Let them know how you can help them.

Make it easy for them to make a decision to click by including an offer they can’t refuse. A free report, a special discount, free shipping, or whatever it takes to attract your audience is what you should promote.

Be prepared to respond quickly and professionally. If people reading your ad have questions, you need to respond to them quickly. If they want to purchase a product, you should have an easily accessible product catalog and check-out process.

Be sure to post your ads in the appropriate categories of the newsletters, ezines, or classified directories so your products can be easily found. Relevancy is critical and refining and narrowing the categories where you advertise can make a big difference in traffic, leads, and sales.

Keep your ad focused on a particular niche, product, or idea. Classified ads are meant to be a quick look at something very specific. If you try to cram too much information or too many products into your ad, your readers will lose interest quickly.

Classified advertising is a great way to increase awareness of your website and expand your business. It’s economical for you and easily accessible by your target audience.

As you get started with classified advertising, pay attention to the tips above and manage the details. You’ll find that your planning pays off.