The two types of prevalent business classified ads have for years been the local newspaper and the yellow pages. With the advent of the internet as a viable commercial resource, business-to-consumer advertising has found a new venue. However for the most part, the web serves as a great retail marketplace and a virtual showroom for businessmen like contractors and architects. The web provides a large advertising workplace for those who choose to utilize it; getting the word out on their sites is another matter altogether.

For day to day services, however, it seems that people still tend to use the traditional resources. There are online yellow pages and sites that offer supposedly comprehensive lists of service providers in local areas. Those web pages are still hit and miss; a businessman is far more likely to list his enterprise in the printed yellow pages than on a web site if his choice is one or the other. One is a proven method, the other still in somewhat of a start-up mode. Consumers are likely to turn away from web pages that clearly are partial listings of available businesses and/or professionals, as many of these lists tend to be since the businessman will pay a fee for the listing.

So the challenge remains of optimizing a small advertising space. Online newspaper ads use the same format as their printed counterparts, so the opportunities for banner headlines, artwork and such are limited to the larger, more expensive ads. Those ads can be purchased in the yellow pages and are available for a year. Newspaper ads must be sufficiently economical to run for an extended period, as repetition in the classifieds implies an established business.

Sassy Slogans can help with both formats. Even with a standard classified of a few lines, a business can build an identity through repetition. Lead a newspaper classified ad with “Free estimates” or “The free estimator” for several weeks, and you may well separate your business from your competition – for that reason, the hours spent on those estimates may be a worthwhile investment. Longevity counts; a lead in bold print that says “Third generation” or “Since 1945” will likely appeal to a consumer.

These are simply examples of the type of creativity Sassy Slogans can provide your business even in a very mundane format. Larger ads are found in Sunday newspaper editions or, if the budget is available, in the yellow pages. These too can separate your firm from the competition that surrounds you – literally, in the case of the yellow pages. These ads rarely break new ground. “Open seven days,” “Licensed and bonded,” “Call 24/7” can be found repeated for every relevant business niche.

Sassy Slogans can find that lead that will draw the consumer’s scanning eye. We think that it is important to list an address in these larger ads, to give your firm and established feel. So an invitation to “Drop in and talk to us about what you need/want/are looking for” might be an inviting and different wrinkle than “Estimators on duty,” or “See our showroom.” The ad needs to convey quality product or workmanship, an established business, and most important: the personal touch.

Consider a lead like “We call back. Every Time.” If you are in a service business, we doubt that you will find another ad like it in any printed format. Our job is to find that unique ad message that will separate you from the competition. Give Sassy Slogans a call; we’ll call back. Every time.