10 Advertising Techniques that Work

The March 2005 issue of Art Business News has an interesting article suggesting 10 approaches to ensure the success of an advertising campaign. While the article focuses on artists and gallery owners, the tips are very much applicable to a small or home business owner who uses advertising to increase customer base.

Here are 10 advertising techniques that work:

1. Always repeat the basics of your ad.
2. Promise a benefit or provoke curiosity in the headline.
3. Using the word "you" in the headline increases readership.
4. Try different headlines for different products.
5. Offer that which is unique, different and yours alone.
6. Show a "proof" of ads you plan to use to friends without revealing that they're yours.
7. You can't sell more than one item (maybe two) in a 30-second TV or radio ad.
8. Avoid superlatives and exaggerations.
9. Use testimonials.
10. Be specific and factual.