How to Write a Classified Ad

Advertising on the Internet is a daunting task. Whether you are paying for the ad or posting free ads, writing an ad that both communicates and sells can be difficult. eHow.com offers these basic ad-writing concepts: choose your keywords carefully; convey a sense of urgency; keep your ad short, but descriptive; leave the price out if it is not competitive; include contact information; and categorize your ad accurately.

I find that writing ads for Twitter to be both difficult and stimulating. When limited to 140 characters, it may seem impossible to write a complete ad. And that's what is stimulating - choosing every word and syllable with extreme care.

Write your ads so they get noticed.

Make your ad appealing to the reader. Be mysterious in your headlline; explicit in the body copy. Use the fewest words possible. Follow a simple hierarchy when writing your ad:

1. Grab the reader's attention
2. Make the reader "want" your offer
3. Compel the reader to contact you

I like to think of successful ads like the classic TV shows of the past such as The Streets of San Francisco or Star Trek, the original series. One of the reasons these shows are popular and ever-lasting is that they followed a successful formulaic structure: When the episode began something would happen to create a mystery and evoke curiosity. Next the plot unfolded, teasing the viewer with some crucial details but without solving the mystery. After that, the plot empowered the viewer by giving details that made the viewer confident a resolution was approaching. Then, finally, all the loose ends would be tied up and mystery would be solved.

Writing an ad with this concept in mind would look something like this:

• [Something incredible, but not specific]
• [Features and/or]
• [Benefits]
• [Contact the seller now, or miss this opportunity]

It's really that simple.

A few more things to remember when writing an ad:

Never lie. You might get the click, but you will lose the sale.

Deception does not pay. In fact, deception will get your ads listed as spam or phishing. You will lose your ad-posting privileges. And, you might even have law enforcement come and arrest you.

Write ads that are revealing, not misleading. The more accurate your ads are, the better your reputation will be. Becoming a trusted brand will increase word-of-mouth (free advertising) and increase your sales.

Try one of these books to improve your ad writing skills:

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