How to make money from classifieds by writing online classified ads that sell.Learn how to write effective adwords copy that sells and saves money - Tips on Effective Online Copy Writing

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How to Write Online Ads that Sell and Make Money

Not all ads have the same impact. Some attract the interest and achieve the purpose, others return a fair share of impact, while others are just ignored as junk.
Below are some basic guidelines on good ad writing be it for classifieds or adwords.

Observe the Guidelines

If you are using free classifieds, spend some time reading the guidelines(usually above or under the form) and the Frequently Asked Questions - Faq.
Being on the side of guidelines has its benefits. Last thing you want is having your ad deleted upon posting or even worse get banned.

Classifieds and directories websites are organized into categories. That makes it efficient for people searching using the search engines. It is,therefore,important to respect and observe this organization. Make sure your ad fits the category. Google,among other search engines,values this organized information and will send searchers directly to those categorized pages. Make sure you place your ad in that category so they can find it.

Be careful just because the jobs or rentals section tend to have more viewers, does not mean you slap your unrelated ad in that section. First, you create chaos and waste other users'time by placing unrelated stuff on their face. This is the main reason why most ads get deleted. Second,that audience is the wrong target. They are on that page because they have typed in the search engines words related to that category. Your ad will simply look unrelated and spammish. Third, your potential prospects are searching for your stuff in its appropriate category but cannot find it.

Writing In All Caps

Simple and basic as it seems,it can be decisive as to whether your ad should be even considered in the first place.
WRITING IN ALL CAPS is annoying. It upsets many people. Indeed, writing in all caps is considered rude and perceived as mere yelling.

Write Search Engine Friendly Ads

This simply means, put yourself in the searcher's shoes. Think of what words or phrases would you type in your favorite search engine to find someting similar to what you offer. That should be the title of your ad.

Details - Gurantees - Continuity

Give as much detail as you can think of but stick to the point. Do not assume the audience will figure out the rest or spot the real value at first impression the way you value your stuff. It's hard to view your stuff from a buyer's perspective when you are the seller. Consult with your partner or friend about your ad copy. If they are not convinced, chances are your prospects will not either.

If you can provide some guarantee, let them know. Guarantees can be a killer seller. It shows your confidence in what you sell and reassures your potential buyer. Remember, skepticism and cynicism are inherent elements of the web. Hence,a phone number is better than email as contact option.

Since classifieds are temporary advertisements in nature,consistency and continuity is a must. That means, you should be consistently in front of your propects till you sell your stuff.
Record your ad expiration date and make sure you go back to the site and renew it on time. Some classifieds sites send you a reminder renewal, but you should take control. A simple MS Word table with posting date,expiration date and website url can come in handy.You must have seen those ads on Yahoo, msn,etc that keep rotating and appearing over and over. You may find them boring and annoying, but somehow they get sales for their publishers.

Syntax - Follow up

Effective ad copy,be it for classifieds,adwords,etc is a trade skill but does not have to be rocket science. It all comes down to the same tips and instructions one received trying their first writing drafts at school. Same rules apply to ads.

Headlines and paragraphs are supposed to be written in complete sentences so they make sense and convey what they are meant to do. First, write your ad in complete sentences,then refine it by removing unnecessary parts till you are left with the basic form. Remember,you eliminate the extra words without changing the ad meaning and purpose.

Delete most conjunctions, articles and prepositions but leave some, just a few(the fewer, the more professional ad). Also, if you are in the habit of using words(instead of figures) for numbers, it is about time you quit it.

Supply a valid and correctly spelled email. You may have received good responses to your ad but they bounced and never made it to your inbox. Or may be you forgot the login details for that throw away email you created on the fly. You can use your regular email with websites that do not show your ad email(just browse some ads to see). If you decide to use a throw away email, make sure it is one you check at least every now and then. Yahoo and Hotmail deactive email accounts after a period of inactivity. Replies to a deactived email account will bounce.

Once you get a response for your classified ad, reply back immediately.

Sometimes, you may feel more happy with a description(an adjective, a word) than others. How about trying them all but separately. In other words, try out different versions of the same ad.

Dont forget to track which version brings the most responses. The one that does will certainly give you an idea of how a successful ad is read and written.

And those are what the audience expect to read and accept as “getting to the point” so as not to say sensical.

Happy ad copy writing