Post Free Classified Ads
Another tactic in an entrepreneurs' free money making arsenal.
One of the most effective ways to make money without spending a dime online is to post free classified ads. Learn why free online classifieds are so effective here.
Day Fourteen: Post Free Classified Ads
If this is your first time visiting the thirty-day Make Money without Spending a Dime Challenge - Welcome! If you want to start from the beginning, you'll find the first posting here, and a list of all of the challenges to date here. Questions, comments or ideas to add? Join the discussion (its free and takes seconds to register).
I've hinted previously that free online classifieds are an excellent way to generate income for your business without any outlay of cash, but I wanted to try it out myself first before posting a how to post free classified ads article. My timing paid off, as I've learned that being successful with free online classified advertising isn't as easy as:
- Find a free classifieds directory;
- Sign up; and
- Post an ad.
To make money with free classified ads, you've got to have a couple skill sets already under your belt (such as SEO Article Writing, Keyword Tactics for SEO Results and Blog Marketing). Having free web page hosting doesn't hurt either. Combine this knowledge with free online classifieds, and you'll have traffic (and therefore paying customers) visiting your business in no time.
Step One: Determine Your Keywords
Don't even bother trying to post free classifieds ads yet - not without knowing what keywords you want to target. Go back to the aforementioned articles on these topics if you need some guidance first, but make sure you've got one solid keyword series going before moving on.
Why? Some of the free classified ad sites I'm about to share with you have extremely high Google rankings (also known as Page Rank). The higher these free classifieds sites are ranked, the more Google "likes" these sites, and in a way prefers them to other, similar websites. Get a couple of keyword-enhanced links pointed your way from these preferred sites to your site, and your own Page Rank (PR) increases. A higher PR usually means better natural search engine results, netting your business higher keyword rankings over at Google.
Still with me?
Basically, you want to find the highest PR sites that let you post free classifieds ads and use your keywords to link back to your site, thus increasing your PR and thus your search engine rankings.
Step Two: Write Your Free Classified Ads
You could try and find free seo copywriting, but you are probably better off on your own right now anyway. Quickly write up 150-200 word blurbs about whatever it is you are trying to sell, using your chosen keywords as often as you can, using a natural, conversational feel. Make sure to have the benefits in your title and within the first few words. Answer, "What's in it for me?" instantly, if you can.
Once you've done one, write another. Try for five if you can, and I'll explain why shortly. Just make sure each is unique enough so as not to trigger any sort of repetitive posting flags. Stick all of these in a .txt file, along with a URL to your sales page.
Step Three: Post Free Classified Ads
Because most entrepreneurs stick with local business, I am unable to list many of the "best" money making free online classifieds for your company. I strongly suggest you search out your own links, using a PR Tool such as this one to assist you in deciding which local free classifieds sites will provide you with the best results.
There are a couple of doozies for everyone however. You probably already know about Craigslist, the largest free classifieds site the world over. They don't even require that you sign up! Instead, find your location, find the appropriate area, and post your free classified ads. Check your email box within minutes to confirm your listing, and your first free classified ad will be up for the world to see.
Next, find another location close to you, and post another (#2 of your five ads) there as well. Do so for five different areas you are trying to target, effectively using all five of your ads. Since Craigslist feels that posting in several categories in different locations is spam, you are effectively circumventing their rules without actually breaking them (since the ad isn't the same in each place, if you followed my directions carefully).
Next, head on over to USFreeAds. You'll only get two free ads here before you'll be prompted to purchase their Gold Membership for $10/year, but their PR is higher than any other free online classified site I've run into. To be honest, I was shocked how quickly my seo tactics turned in my favor after putting merely one post up. I was also impressed with Highland Classifieds as well (free with $1 upgrades).
If you find other, higher ranking PR sites that let you post free classifieds ads, please discuss them with the rest of us so we can try them out too.
Onto the halfway point - day fifteen - business card marketing.
