How to Design Newspaper Ads
Newspaper advertising is a relatively low-cost form of advertising with the potential to reach a large market. The success of Internet advertising has yet to push classified newspaper advertising by the wayside, but the competition has encouraged local and regional newspapers to make the cost of advertising in their publications more affordable and more accessible.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine the size you want your newspaper ad to be. Newspaper ads are calculated by whole or half page ads and by column inches (see Resources). The size of your ad will most likely dictate the text versus graphics content of your ad.
-
2
Write your ad on notebook paper. Be concise, especially if you are purchasing a smaller ad. Write a headline that will attract attention. This headline will appear bold in your newspaper advertisement. Ask a question with your headline or make a promise that the body of your ad will fulfill. Alternatively, you can write something vague that encourages consumers to read your ad to see what it's about. Try using word play as well, for instance, "Something is Fishy Here" for an advertisement for a fish market.
-
-
3
Write the body of your advertisement like you would write the synopsis for a novel. Tell what your business or service has to offer, the price and why customers should come to you and highlight any specials you have. A good way to maximize your customer potential is to offer a discount to anyone who brings in your newspaper ad. Don't forget to include location information and other contact info in your ad, which will need to be taken into account when planning how to use your space.
-
4
Determine if you plan to use any graphics at all. It's best to avoid graphics in smaller ads. Graphics typically don't reproduce well on newsprint, especially at lower sizes or if your ad is black and white. If you want to use a lot of graphic, consider larger ads in color.
-
1
