Tips for Writing Ads that Sell

It goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway – small businesses don’t have the luxury of spending money on ineffective advertising. Everything that you do to promote your business must be well-thought-out and considered carefully to make sure the marketing budget is being spent wisely. So before you write your next ad campaign, here are some tips for creating ads that are attention-grabbing, effective, and deliver the right message.

1.  Consider Your Audience. Who are you trying to reach with your ad? Often, you cannot reach every single type of customer with the same ad, so you need to segment your market a bit first. Decide which group of people you want to target, then write directly for those people.
2. Find Something Unique. Make sure that you include something in your message that is unique – whether it is a product benefit, a special offer, or the subject matter of the ad, include something unique to help people remember the ad.
3. Be Clear and Concise. Decide on one single point to your ad, and don’t try to include every product, service, or benefit that your company offers. Stick to the point, and deliver your message in the simplest terms possible.
4. Motivate Your Readers. Use a strong call to action in your ad, and include a sense of urgency if possible. Highlight the benefits of taking action now, and make sure it’s easy for customers to follow through and contact you.
5. Use a Great Headline. Nothing grabs a reader’s attention like a great headline, so don’t be boring and predictable. Instead, write a short, interesting headline that asks a question, provides “tips” or “secrets”, or cleverly conveys the essence of your ad. It takes a little practice, but a good headline is one of the most important things you can do to write a successful ad!