The key to advertising your affiliate or small business website is the ability to generate traffic. If you are unable to generate large amounts f traffic, then you will fail to generate an income. It's that simple. It's a numbers game. All the successful affiliate and small business internet marketers understand that getting traffic to your website is your top priority.
Many business owners have underestimated the revenue generating power a well written classified ad can produce. Either in printed form or electronically classified ads after all are simply advertisements written with the fewest words possible to generate a specific call to action. Buy,
sell, rent etc.
Unlike print classified ads, you'll discover the majority of online classified advertising site are free, so this is a great method for you to use if you are just starting out on a small budget or looking for another effective free way to advertise your website.
Many online classified ad sites offer upgrade options which will provide you with more benefits and features to enhance your ads; however it is not necessary to upgrade right a way to be successful with classified ads.
The purpose of a online classified ad is simply to get the reader to react in the matter you want too. And that reaction is, you will want the reader to click through to your business or affiliate website. Your classified ad has one job and one job only. That is to sell the click through to your site. If the reader doesn't click on your ad now, you will have lost an opportunity to make a sale. You have about seven words and three seconds to get their attention or it's over! They won't read it twice.
That is why the headline is so very important. A well written classified ad contains three essential elements: the Headline, the Body and the Call to Action. While these elements are to be considered separate, it is when they flow together that you create an effective classified ad.
The Headline
You have about five to seven words, or three seconds, to get people to stop scanning and read your ad. Once they pass it up, they won't come back and read it. Look at it like this: your headline is the ad for the ad. So it's very important that your headline grabs their attention while being honest to the rest of your ad. Here are some examples to help you write an effective headline:
Immediately let your reader understand your offer.Begin each sentence with an action word. Use words like NOW, YOU, MONEY, or FEEL.Create curiosity.Use all caps in the headline only when permitted.And most importantly - Ask a question.Remember, you are using those 5 to 7 words only to sell the reader on reading the rest of the ad.
The Body Copy
The body of the ad is where to sell your readers on why they should click through. The key to writing effective body copy is to explain the benefits in as few words as possible. When you finish developing the ad body you should have about three to five lines of text that clearly state what benefit the reader can expect to receive from the product or service you are promoting.
The important thing here to remember is your reader will care about only one thing and that is what's in it for them! What will they benefit by making that click? If you don't answer these simply questions, you won't properly set up your next step, the call to action.
The Call to Action
This last step is very critical to your ad so don't treat it lightly. Pay close attention to how you ask your reader to take action! Remember, the person reading your ad decides at this moment, 3 seconds or less, whether or not to click through, so saying the right thing is vital. To do this you must keep the call to action simple and make it the next logical step.
It's often good to add a qualifier to the call to action by asking a question which can only be answered by clicking on your ad. Where possible add an action word that convinces the reader to take action now. One of the best formulas for writing a compelling call to action statement is to restate the main benefit.
Below are several examples of classified ads that have worked well for me:
- GOT DREAMS? Want More Success? More Wealth? Get more out of your life at:
- AT LAST! A Legitimate Home Business You Can Start For FREE And Actually EARN CASH FAST. Worldwide Opportunity at:
- NEW INTERNET MARKETING MAGAZINE. Check Out A FREE COPY Now. at:YOU MUST HAVE MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME! We will give you SIX super hot products and build your website FOR you. All for less than dinner and movie! Why wait another moment when you can have it all TODAY? Visit us now at:
Post Your Ad
Next, find the correct category to post your classified ad. This is very important because your ad could be deleted if you post it in the wrong category. Also make sure that what you are advertising is permitted on that particular website. As with every aspect of online marketing, testing is the key to success.
Be sure that you use a tracking link so that you can determine the effectiveness of each classified sites and you can see which of your ads performs the best. In my research over the years I've learned that one of the key attributes of successful webmasters and internet marketers is that they are persistent.
Building traffic to your website takes time and is not something that you do for a few weeks and then give up.
