Most ads are written with these 4 basic principles in mind:

"Attract Attention" of the reader. (The Headline) "Interest" the reader in your product/service. (The Body) Cause the reader to "Desire" your product/service. (The Body) Demand some sort of "Action" of the reader. (The Close)

How many times have you said, "I've got to have that"?

Most purchases are an emotional experience, not a logical one. That's why most of the really good ads will stir up some sort of emotional response that will cause you to respond to the ad is some way. You need to write your ads the same way.

So what type of ad should I write?

Small classified ads are the ads from which all successful businesses are started. They are inexpensive, allowing you to experiment until you find and ad that works.

You probably look at ads every day. Pick out the best and worst ones you see. Pick out the points that make them good or bad. Write them down. How would you change the bad ads? You should start to see what makes the good ads work. With that in mind, let's take a look at the main parts of an ad:

The Headline:

This is the single most important part of any ad. How many times have you brushed past ads because the main headline was boring or unappealing? The headline should grab someone's attention so that they read the rest of the ad. It should be short and to the point. Listed below are some of the best keywords or phrases to use in your headline.

FREE, New, How to, Suddenly, Now, Announcing, Introducing, Wanted, Challenge, Advice to, The truth about, Compare, It's Here, Just Arrived, Important, Amazing, Sensational, Remarkable, Bargain, Hurry, Last Chance, Love, Revolutionary, Startling, Magic, Offer, Quick, Easy, Fear.

Experiment with different headlines until you find one that really works.

The Body:

This is where the meat of the ad goes. Remember, you are NOT selling your product or service in your ad. You are trying to get a RESPONSE to your ad. Peak the reader's interest. Make them want to find out more. Be direct and to the point. Imagine your classified ad on a billboard by the interstate. If you could read it with no problem as you drive by at 60 M.P.H., and it grabs your attention, you're in good shape.

Classified ads are usually written in the style of a telegram. (Example: Announcing our Grand Opening! Everything 25% off. Free t-shirt to first 100 people. Come on in Monday. Top Contender Sporting Goods.)

The Close:

This is where you put your call to action: Call Now! Visit us soon! Hurry, supplies are limited!

This is also where your company name, number and web address should go. Please put some sort of contact information here. How many times have you looked at an ad that won't put a company name or a person's name and think, "If they can't even tell me who they are, they must not be trustworthy"?

In Summary:

Test your ad on a small scale before placing a larger ad. Make sure it works first. Don't get frustrated. Allow an ad to go 2-3 weeks before trying another ad. Also, don't replace the whole ad if you think it's pretty good. Try to change just the headline or a small part of the body of the ad. With a little practice, you will be placing good ads in a short time.

To place an ad on ChiTownAds.com, go to: http://chitownads.com/member_login.php