Advertising Tips
- Use a simple layout: Don’t overcomplicate the advert – if it looks cluttered people won’t even attempt to understand what it’s about, they’ll simply turn over the page. Use one picture or image as opposed to many
- Focus on transmitting one simple clear proposition: The more focused the message, the more impact
- Include a picture caption if you have a picture: research shows that people who look at pictures also read the picture caption if it’s there, so make sure you include one
- Long copy can be used: There’s no harm in using long copy to explain your product or service in more detail. Just make sure that the ad doesn’t look cluttered or complicated
- Stress the Positive Benefits: This is a golden rule of advertising – stress benefits not features. If you’re advertising a skin care product don’t say that it ‘reduces wrinkles’. Instead use the phrase ‘look 10 years younger’
- Long headlines can be effective: Interestingly research actually shows that long headlines result in higher sales than shorter headlines
- Use photographs instead of artwork drawings: Photographs can be likened to the real world and as a result they facilitate recall better than artwork – research suggests by as much as 26%
- Check the advertisement in print format: This is vital. Readers won’t see your ad in high definition quality on a desktop. Therefore check to see what it looks like in print format before going ahead… it’s amazing how previously easy to read text can become unclear.
- Use colour: Without colour your ad will not only be noticed less but people will also perceive it as being bland before even reading it.
- Use the same format and layout again and again: Continuously changing the colours and format of your ads doesn’t help recognition rates. Most people can recognise an advert before even reading the text.
- Track the response: This is another golden rule of advertising. Without tracking your advertising you’ll have no idea whether it was a success and whether you should repeat that form of advertising again
- Get the Advert Position Right: Always have your adverts placed on the right hand page. The number of extra people that will see your advert makes it worthwhile.
