How to Write a Newspaper Ad for Land Dedication

Consider incorporating an artist's rendering of the future facility into the ad.

When dedicating land to an endeavor, whether it be a new hospital, playground, nature reserve, community center, shopping mall, or sports arena, an inexpensive way to alert the public and invite them to join the celebration is to put an ad in the newspaper. The way you write the ad will have a large impact on whether newspaper readers want to come or not. These steps will help you write an effective ad for your land dedication.

Things You'll Need

• Computer

Instructions

1. 

   Free food and games attract visitors to land dedications.

   Get the basic information together and write it down. This includes the details of the newspaper ad--which might include layout options, graphics resolution requirements, or a word count limit--and the details of the dedication, such as the location, the time, the speakers and honored guests, the organizational sponsors, and the festivities (like cake or an ice cream sundae buffet).

2. 

   Double-check the spelling of names and use organizations' full names.

   Draft a paragraph or more explaining who the ad is aimed toward (such as "members of the Twin Lakes community"), the larger purpose behind the land dedication ("future site of a state-of-the-art cardiac care center"), and information about the sponsors ("a coalition of local businesses and nonprofit organizations dedicated to promoting environmental education"). If you are placing a classified ad, you might have relatively few words in which to get your message across. Be descriptive yet succinct.

3. 

   Logistical information should go first, as that is most important to readers.

   Revise and rearrange the ad to meet the word count and graphic design constraints. Be concise, while still conveying all the necessary information. Count the number of words in your draft ad. Try to reduce it by rephrasing and cutting unnecessary words. Eliminate instances of the passive voice. The tighter your prose, the better and more professional it will seem to a newspaper reader. Spotlight the benefits of attending the dedication (raffles, games, community interaction, etc.).

4. 

   Consider quoting a well-spoken child if the facility's purpose is kid-friendly.

   If space and format permits, use a quote from an elected official (such as the city mayor, the state governor or a state senator) about the importance of the purpose to which the land will be dedicated. Contact the official's press office to inquire about getting such a quote. Alternately, ask for a quote from a high-ranking person involved with the project or a respected community member whose constituents will benefit from the project. Set the quote off from the main text of the ad through highlighting or placing it in a box.

Tips & Warnings

• Set the logistical information apart at the top of the ad (what, where, when) and have a short paragraph below it explaining more about the event and why it is being held.

References

• National Association of Realtors: Field Guide to Creating Effective Classified Advertisements