Free Classified Ads - A "How-To" Tutorial - Part 4 of 4

by 1 person | Log in to rate

Ranked #21,676 in How-To, #223,855 overall

Free Classified Advertising Tutorial -- Other Info and Links

Introduction | Classified Ad Requirements and Headlines | Body Copy | Other Info and Links

Classified ad sites often require additional information to better target your ad. It is for your benefit as well as for the viewers of the classified ad site. The information targets the ad so the right people read it.

Classified Ad - Category

When you want to place a classified ad, many classified ad sites will ask you to identify or pick a category for the content. In the example case, PETS would seem to be the best category.

But not all classified ad sites have a lot of categories! So you have to use some imagination here. Other categories -- if pets or pet supplies is not offered -- are: Home, Family, Miscellaneous. Although they are weaker choices, sometimes they are all you have to work with.

Some classified ads sites have a general category, followed by a sub-category. So, while you may not find PETS as a general category, it may appear as a sub category under "Home and Hobby". Every classified ad site handles this differently.

Put your classified ad in the category that is MOST appropriate. Putting your ad in the wrong category can get your ad rejected, or it simply will not get results because the people who see it aren't interested in what you have to offer.
Avoid the temptation of placing your ad in the wrong category to try and get people because of curiosity. This almost never works.

Classified Ad - Region

Most classified ad sites will ask you to indicate a region where your product sells. This is most appropriate for people selling personal property, deliverable goods, etc. In some cases, you can leave the region blank, and your ad will be placed in ALL regions. In other cases, you can indicate region by nation or other boundaries (i.e. ALL US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.)

If you are restricted to a local region (such as a state in the US, and you deliver by mail or other standard shipping so it doesn't matter which state, you can try indicating the LARGEST state (i.e. California) or a heavily populated one (i.e. New York).

However, depending on your product, this may not work. If you sell snow shoes in the U.S., Florida isn't going to be as good a choice as Michigan! And, of course, if you want people to come to a physical store in Utah, it is pointless to advertise to readers in Texas!

A little common sense goes a long way here!

Classified Ad - Contact Information

Most classified ad sites require that you set up a free account with them. This allows you to go back and edit, renew or delete your ad. You create a username, password and provide a real e-mail address (they WILL write to confirm your listing).

Don't cheat on this - it will backfire. If you are a legitimate business, you WANT this information known publicly so customers can find you! Hiding and being deceptive will not work to grow your business. No one buys from a store they cannot find!

If your product is personal a one time sale, you still must be up front and honest. Hiding will not engender trust! Some classified ad sites will ask for a phone and fax number. You can use sensible precautions here (a business phone, leave out the fax number, etc.) if this is a concern. However, remember that people DO need to talk to you if they are going to be your customers! Many people feel safer purchasing by phone than over the Internet.

TIP #8 - Junk Mail

YES, you will get some junk mail from using some of these free or even paid for classified ad sites. And some of their real communications will wind up in your junk box, so you MUST check this and train your junk program to know the difference as much as possible.

There is no way around this problem. A fake e-mail address or one you don't check is useless. Your customers and some valuable opportunities can come in the strangest ways, so you simply have to check the e-mail! Use sensible precautions. Don't open attachments, display your mail as "plain text" so hidden HTML codes can't work, and read carefully. Your own intelligence will tell you what is safe and what is not.

If junk mail is an issue for you, hire an outside junk mail service and filter your mail through it. OR, use on-line Web Mail readers (almost all ISPs and e-mail providers have this option) and read your mail there. This keeps the mail on their server, not your computer. If it is junk, delete it. If it is not, then open your e-mail program and retrieve the mail safely.

Tutorial Navigation

Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Classified Ad Requirements and Headlines
Part 3: Body Copy

Disclaimer:

The author of this tutorial does not express or imply any particular measure of success with free or paid classified advertising. All advertising is risky. The purpose of the tutorial is to teach readers how to prepare classified ad copy and properly submit it. What the reader creates and implements is entirely up to him/her. It is up to the reader to decide if classified advertising is a reasonable advertising venue.

10 Classified Ad Sites

ClydeSight Productions has placed ads in these sites and they have delivered customers. However, this is not an endorsement nor a guarantee that they will be effective for you.

IMPORTANT TIP!!

You should keep a record of what ad you placed where and when. Classified Ads run for specific time periods and then must be renewed. Some can be edited and changed often. It is strongly recommended that you use your word processor or other application to keep a record. In it include the following:

Ad Copy
URL of classified ad site
Date of posting
ID and password

You can then go to the site and check the progress of your ad using their stats.

USNetAds

No registration is required. Post ads and manage them. KEEP A RECORD of your Ad Number and password. Ad exposure time varies, you can set it. Unlimited headline and body copy. Statistics on who saw your ad and who clicked through to your site. You CAN include some pictures. They suggest you update your ad frequently to keep it at the top of the category list. Target for the US only.

CANetAds

UKFreeAds

Ablewise Classifieds

Free and paid classified ads. Registration IS required.

NOTE: Some versions of Norton Internet Security will block everything on this site, so "Ad Blocking" must be shut off if you have NIS.

Once you are registered, you can log in. Look for "Post an ad for free" at the bottom of the page and click on it. You then fill in the form.

Exposure -- 30 days. Headline -- 50 characters. Body Copy (called description) -- 1000 characters. Location is a requirement but can be marked "Worldwide" at the end of the process. Many countries are covered. URL is allowed. You can upload a picture. Your picture can have a 100 character description.

If you aren't sure of your ad, you can save it as a draft and come back later. Otherwise, just post it. You can also modify it at anytime.

The Ad Net

Free classified ads in the US. Allows keywords for better targeting. 255 character limit for basic ad body copy. No pictures for free ads. State locations. Contact information and password required. URL allowed. Business name required.

Yahoo Classified Ads

Free and paid classified ads. Registration IS required. Limited exposure -- 7 days. Headline -- 40 characters. Body Copy -- 200 characters. U.S. location can be specified by zip code. No URL allowed.

1AmericaMall

Free and paid "prime" classified ads. Registration IS required. Exposure -- 10 days. Category placement. Headline and body copy are in one box, separated by a line feed. Headline and body copy can be up to 35 words. No count is provided (Count My Text! can be very useful here!) No URL allowed. They WILL send you a newsletter in response to placing a free ad. You cannot refuse this in a free placement. Your e-mail will be used by readers and others. Your ad will be in a list at the bottom of the list of paid advertisements.

InetGiant

Free and paid "prime" classified ads. Registration IS required. Exposure -- you specify up to 30 days. Category placement. Headline -- unlimited, but keep it short. Body Copy -- unlimited but keep it short. No character count is provided (Count My Text! can be very useful here!) URL link allowed. Images can be posted for a cost. Stats are provided. No location requirement.

5StarAds

Free and paid "prime" classified ads. You click on "Post and Edit". Exposure -- you specify up to 30 days. Category placement. Headline --80 characters (they say letters) Body Copy -- 400 characters (they say letters) No character count is provided (Count My Text! can be very useful here!) URL link allowed. No location requirement. You click on a rotating red star to submit. Your ad headline will be in a list of ads. You will receive an e-mail with an ad ID number which you use if you want to modify or renew your ad.

ClassifiedAds

Free classified ads. Registration IS required. Exposure -- you specify up to 30 days. Category placement, features sub category for better targeting. Location specific by country, US. UK, Canada, etc. Headline -- unspecified length but keep it short. Body Copy -- unspecified length but keep it short. URL link allowed in body copy and HTML tags can be used. Images are allowed. Shows Hits on the ad when you modify or review.