Hey ...Ads Really Work!
It started with FREE ads on
Craigslist.
Then I checked
The Post and Courier and it's offer of free classified ads (on items less than $500/5 lines of copy).
I was comparing freebies....and making $20 and $40 sales!
Yesterday, the paper took the lead when a buyer paid me $250 cash for a claw foot tub and drove off with it on his trailer.
The
CL people let you run free pictures with your free ads and the
P&C does not give you free pictures in print.
BUT... the paper
will also place your free ad online at http://www.charleston.net/classified/
. For free.
Then I thought, why not create another blog that combines pictures and copy and then list that link in all the ads.
So, I did. Please take a look
http://classifiedsale.blogspot.com/My observation so far: the newspaper has a definable local audience with circulation numbers while online is an unknown number of unknown ages/incomes people. Combining the best of each makes for a good marketplace.
Just after I finished my pictures/ads blog site, I got a call
"Say, I'm interested in that modern desk you have advertised today in the paper...what color is it?" I directed him to the blog where he could SEE what color it was, how it was shaped, how the chair matched, picture it in his office, etc.
He called back and suggested I change the ad to say "computer table" instead of "desk."
I did.
Labels: blog, classified ads, claw foot tub, Craigslist, online sales, trailer
Making A List And Checking It Twice....
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People tell me
Craigslist is the WAY to go to advertise. In addition to being free, you can run photos with your listing.
I like the idea of showing a clear picture of what is for sale.
Looking over
Craigslist, I see that many, many people have some really ugly pieces of furniture they're trying to get rid of.
Maybe it's like babies...YOURS looks better than anyone else's.
I thought I would go with a
President Jackson approach: you bring me a crisp $20 bill and then you take your pick.
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Well, $20 on selected items.
The bicycle would be $75-$100 (the tires ARE holding air and look good).
The 42" butcher-block dinette with 4 chrome chairs would be 4
Jacksons ($80) and it comes with an 18" leaf.
I have mixed feelings here. The paper background in my "studio" is the end of a roll of newsprint I got when I worked at
The Post and Courier.
And using
Craigslist means NOT using traditional print classified ads. But it would cost an arm and a leg to include a photo in a print listing. Hmmm.*
I would welcome ANY suggestions to make this alternative advertising work for me ... and avoid pitfalls. Anyone??
* An update: A buddy suggested I create a page with additional copy and photos to make newspaper ads work better, so I did and will include the link in those bare-boned ads.
http://classifiedsale.blogspot.com(As usual, click on the photo to enlarge for details.)Labels: $20 bill, arm and a leg, banana seat, bicycle, classified ads, claw foot tub, Craigslist, icy coolers, newspaper, newsprint roll, President Jackson
An "H" Season Suggestion...
My buddy just bought his apartment when it turned condo then ripped out the carpets, had tile, marble and hardwood floor installed and totally redecorated the place with all new furniture. Whew.
His new 5 foot hang-on-the-wall plasma TV just arrived so now he is ready for me to bring over my digital camera and document everything for insurance purposes. Well, duh. I had not done that for my own house so I did. All day yesterday.
I even took a picture of the digital camera. Used a mirror, set it on a tiny tripod and pressed the timer. Of course, it shows I was using a "nonaC" camera.
To be complete, I charged up the batteries and dusted off my digital video camcorder and taped a walk through the house, each room, from front to back, zooming in for details on important items. I went outside and opened the doors of the shed that houses the riding mower and gas generator. I remembered to include the claw foot tub that is stored downstairs after a bath remodeling project. Those guys worked hard!
I'll store
MY disc at his house and
HIS will be kept here. Sure beats writing it all down.
I'll have to explain there is only ONE orange striped cat regardless of how many times he shows up in the photographic record. Wonder if Wally Jr. is covered with Total Cat Replacement?
Labels: carpet, claw foot tub, condo, digital camera, generator, hardwood floors, insurance photos, marble and tile, orange striped cat, TCR Total Cat Reolacement, videocam, Wally Jr.
It started with FREE ads on Craigslist.
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