HOW TO MAKE MONEY RUNNING CLASSIFIED ADS
The cost of advertising classified ads is extremely low-cost in mail order
publications. The trick is that you have to run A LOT of them to pay off
any money unless the publication is not dominated by classifieds. What I
mean is that there are some classified publications where the type is so
small that classified ads are too hard to read. People will simply skim
them over and more than likely miss yours. Therefore, before advertising in
ANY publication whatsoever, make sure you write and request a sample copy.
This way -- you'll know up front how noticeable your classified ad will be.
You also will know the length of classified ad to run. (Example: if most of
the ads are short, you can run a longer one and be noticed easier.)
Probably the most effective classified advertising is in national
publications like The National Enquirer, Star Magazine and Small Business
Opportunities. But who has enough money to pay for a classified ad in these
when the rates are $6 to $10 per word? You do! That's right! Now there is a
way that almost everyone can appear in these highly-circulated and target-
marketed publications for $50 or less!
First of all, get yourself a Voice Mail Box. You can get these through a
wide variety of places but I personally use American Voice Mail. (Contact
them by calling 1-800-347-2861 or by writing them directly at 2233 Barry
Ave, Los Angeles CA 90064.) You don't have to live in California to
establish service with them. You don't have to go through a credit check or
have valid telephone service. You can even have a PO Box with no street
address. Anyone can establish a Voice Mail Service. There are no previous
requirements.
Simply call them up and establish your Voice Mail Box over the phone. It
will be activated within 24-hours and the charge is around $10 per month.
You also have to pay the first and last month's charges within 10 days
after establishing your Voice Mail Box, but $20 is very little to invest
for the convenience and marketing advantage that will now be open to you!
Once your Voice Mail Box has been turned on and your payment received the
company will mail you information on accessing your Voice Mail Box and how
to leave a message on it.
Now start placing classified ads asking people to call your Voice Mail Box
number instead of sending in $1 or a first-class stamp for more information
(like you do in your ads now.) When they call, you will have a recorded
message describing your product or service in more detail. At the end of
the message, you will ask the person to leave their name and address so you
can mail them additional information with an order form.
Now, 24-hours a day, your Voice Mail Box service will be working for you.
Once or twice a day, you can call the Voice Mail Box yourself and retrieve
your messages (this doesn't cost you anything.) Write down the names and
addresses and immediately send them follow-up materials as promised.
You would be amazed how effective this form of marketing really is. The
call doesn't cost you anything and you have up to 2 minutes on your
recording to tell the caller more about what you're selling. It sure saves
classified word space and cost -- plus, callers are more excited about your
product or service when they hear a "real" voice telling them about it.
You'll get a lot of fantastic leads and increased business!
Here are a few examples of classified ads you can run in national
publications that will draw inquiries for you:
Start your own publishing business. Call (number)
Make money with me. Call (number)
Free business information. Call (number)
Start a real business. Call (number)
Free gift. Just call (number)
Make $1,000's. Call (number)
Stay home and make money. Call (number)
Of course it depends on the product you are trying to sell. You want to
make your ad generalized so a lot of people will call it and listen to your
message. You can qualify them and eliminate people not interested in your
product or service because when they call, you'll tell them everything you
wanted to say in a classified. If they listen to the entire message and
leave their name and address to receive your materials -- they are probably
interested in what you have to sell.
However, don't be too generalized. If your product is bookkeeping services,
say "Low-cost Bookkeeping services. Just call (number)." If you offer items
for re-sell, say "Distributors needed for new product. Call (number)." And
if you sell gift-type items, say "Free gift catalog. Call (number)." After
you test a few out first in the low-cost publications -- you'll be ready
for the big time! Have fun!
