Classified ads are a big part of what we do here at Pumper magazine. Every day, we get emails, phone calls and faxes from many of you who have used equipment to sell and want to place a classified ad in the print magazine or on the website. So, we figured it was time to provide a little advice on how to get the most out of your ads. 

Here are five tricks to mastering classifieds: 

1.     A picture says a thousand words

We are visual creatures, so a picture in a classified ad is bound to draw attention. It helps your ad stand out, gives authority to your sales pitch, and lets a buyer know up front what to expect. 

When you submit a photo to Pumper magazine, the best way to send it is through the online form, where you can upload the image from your computer or mobile device. You can also send it to us by mail or email. However, we discourage using fax for images because it reduces image quality substantially. 

2.     Include contact information

This should go without saying, but you must include correct contact information if you want to sell your equipment. Give your buyer a way to get in touch with you, and even include multiple contact points, such as an email address, home phone number and cell number. Your goal is to make it easy for a buyer to find you. 

3.     Make it clear. Make it concise.

A few things you should include: price, location, year and make and model. Location is actually a pretty important — although often forgotten — part of an ad. Many buyers skim ads, looking for items within easy travel distance. If they can’t find a location in your ad, they might skip right by it.

Also, make sure that if you’re using abbreviations, they’re easy to understand. Again, you want to make the ad easy for your buyer to understand. 

4.     Price the market

Do your research! Setting a price is always tricky: You don’t want to leave money on the table, but you also don’t want to scare away potential buyers with a sky-high price tag. There’s always a little bit of art to the process (factoring in negotiating room, for instance), but you can do your part and research the market before determining an asking price.

A good place to start is by skimming previous Pumper classified ads to find similar listings in your area. 

5.     Keep it running!

Sometimes, it just takes time. If you prefer to set up an ad and let it run until your equipment sells, we can do that through monthly billing. However, this is the one time it’s better to call our office than use the online classified system. 

Whatever you have to sell, we’re here to help. The best and easiest way to submit an ad is through the online form, which can be found on the website. It’s a one-stop shop, providing a billing center and a way for you to upload photos. 

You can also call us at 800/257-7222 and ask for our Classified Ad Expert Al West, who will walk you through the process. We also accept ads by fax or through the mail. Basically, if you can get it here, we’ll make sure it gets in the magazine. 

For Frequently Asked Questions about classified ads, visit www.pumper.com/order/classified. 

Get started now. Here’s how you can place your classified ads today:

• Online form
• Email: allen.west@colepublishing.com
• Phone: 800/257-7222
• Fax: 715/546-3786
• Mail: PO Box 220, Three Lakes, WI 54562