Have you ever wanted a way to reach your perfect target audience? Do you have something to sell? Do you want only those who are 100% genuinely interested to come and look for your product? Then placing an advert in the free classifieds is the best option for you.

It used to be that if you wanted to sell something, you could go to a car boot sale, or try to sell it to your friends and family, but now, there are hundreds, or even thousands of online marketplaces available to you.

But with so many choices, it is vital that you choose the correct marketing tactics. All your hard work could be lost and your advert could go completely unnoticed if you do not plan carefully before you place your advert.

First examine what you would like to sell. Is it an actual item or a service or do you want to do some website promotion? Yes! You can also advertise services and websites this way. Many classified directories now have sections for website promotion and for you to add your own links. If it is an item that you are selling, will you deliver it, post it, or will the buyer come and collect it? Once you have decided about these features, it is time to move onto the next stage: choose your classified directory.

Online auctions are fine but you have to have patience. You list your item in one place and then wait and see if anyone bids. You might not get the price you want but you still have to wait a week or so to see if you have sold your item. If you place an advert online, firstly you can place it in many different places at once. You could even list on hundreds of different websites if you wish. And it is possible that someone could even phone you the same day and you could have a sale there and then.

A free classified advert can be placed in a local website for people to come to you, or in an international setting. There are many internationally well-known websites, for example eBay and Craigslist which allow you to post classifieds completely free.

Many websites require that you register with them first. Most only want simple information such as an email address and contact details. Most people recommend that you set up a separate email address for this type of transaction away from your personal address. This email address can be easily used to register with as many different websites as you want.

Write a clear advert. Clear, concise descriptions are best to attract the buyers. Don’t forget your contact details! You want to let people know where to bring the payments!