Hi Dan,
Advertising is about whetting someone's appetite for something they didn't even know they wanted until they saw it. Watch how they present ads on TV, for example. I know I've wanted a Dyson vacuum cleaner ever since I saw their ad, even though I already have a perfectly good vacuum cleaner at home. That's the power of advertising!
To harness the power of advertising in this case, you have to convince those who read your ads that they really need your product or service. If you lack experience, I suggest you start the learning process by using the examples SFI provides and add your personal touch to them. These examples are effective, but if everyone uses them exactly as they are written, they won't stand out from the rest. That is why your personal touch is so important.
I would also suggest you look for as many ads as you can on the Internet that are similar to what you are offering, and study the ones that appeal to you the most. Which ones do you think are the most promising or attractive? Which ones make you want to know more about their product? Once you understand what it is about them that provokes a positive reaction in you, you'll have a better idea of how to present your own ads.
By experimenting with different ideas and concepts, you will learn what works and what doesn't. It takes some creativity to get it right but you are not alone: even advertisers who do this for a living have sometimes embarked on ad campaigns that failed to produce the results they were hoping for. Failing is how you learn what to avoid in the future, so don't be afraid to experiment until you get it right.
Finally, I think that if you write your ads with a specific audience in mind, you will get better results. In order to do this, you need to do your homework! For example, if you know what your target audience thinks about online auctions, make sure your ads contain something that appeals directly to their dreams or desires; a phrase or a word that will goad them into action when they read your ads.
I hope you find these ideas useful. Good luck!
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Hi Dan,
Advertising is about whetting someone's appetite for something they didn't even know they wanted until they saw it. Watch how they present ads on TV, for example. I know I've wanted a Dyson vacuum cleaner ever since I saw their ad, even though I already have a perfectly good vacuum cleaner at home. That's the power of advertising!
To harness the power of advertising in this case, you have to convince those who read your ads that they really need your product or service.
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