Here are some tips that might make the advertising process simpler and more effective.
There are hundreds, probably thousands of free advertising sites available to you on the worldwide web. Most, like BahamasB2B, offer classified ads that cost you nothing. Others offer free links to your page or web site. Here are some tips that might make the advertising process simpler and a couple of things that you might consider doing first.
~ Have your ads ready to go. You should have several variations of each ad. Some should be 25 words, some 50 words, and some 100 word ads. Ideally you should have them already typed up on your text editor such as MS-Word or Note Pad, so that you can just call one up and paste it into the box that is normally found at the site. This will speed up the entire process. Once you place your first ad in the Bahamas Classifieds, your contact information is recorded. The next time you place an ad, the programme will fill in most of the contact information for you, making the process quick and easy.
~ When you go to each site, check out what the policies and procedures are. These will normally tell you the number of words that are allowed, how long your ad will stay listed and any restrictions. They will also tell you whether they provide an active link for your URL and/or email address. On BahamasB2B, we’ve assembled this information into a comprehensive Classifeds HELP section to answer your questions.
~ Go to the category that you are considering and check out other ads listed. See how they are set up. Learn from the mistakes of others. This will also show you if the web site furnishes active links, like the Bahamas B2B Classifieds and how they are set up. If the site doesn’t provide active links then you have to include your site URL and/or email address in your text if appropriate. When reviewing the ads, check to see if any are similar to your ad. If so, consider changing your headline or wording to make it a little different. Also check the sequence of dates of the ads (if the dates are listed) to see whether your ad will be entered at the top or the bottom of the list. Many of the sites, rotate the ads, with the oldest falling off as new ones are added. The BahamasB2B Classifieds lets you choose the duration of your ad and even allows for renewals after the time is up.
~ If you plan to maintain ads on the free sites, consider creating some type of log or index card system. List the site address, how long the ad will stay up, how many words and the date it expires, plus anything else you might think is appropriate. Bahamas Classifieds offer a special password protected “My Classifieds” administration page, that allows you to easily manage your ads and edit them anytime you want.
Other sites list ads for seven days, two weeks, thirty days and some longer. Each is different. Some, like BahamasB2B Classifieds, send you an email reminder that your ad is about to expire, most don’t. So it is advantageous to keep some type of log if you are going to place these type ads on a regular basis.
Some sites also offer upgraded or premium ads. For an additional nominal amount they will list your ad with a color headline and your ad will stay at the top of the category you choose for a predetermined period. Some of the upgrade offers are pretty good and insure that your ad will not get lost in the hundreds of other ads that may be in the same category.
Remember, your goal is to create traffic to your web site or inquiries regarding your product and/or services. This is just one of a number of avenues to use in your marketing plan. You should also include paid advertising, direct email (not spamming), and targeted advertising in e-newsletters, such as the BahamasB2B Newsletter.
