How to Write Ads

Co-authored by Alfonso Cuesta

Last Updated: February 7, 2023 References

The goal of any ad is to sell something. Whether it’s a product, a service, or even yourself that you’re trying to promote, there are plenty of things you can do to write effective ads. While ad formats can vary, the general concepts for writing most kinds of advertisements are very similar. We’ve put together answers to questions about how to write different types of ads and make them successful.

Question 1 of 5:

What makes an ad successful?

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Powerful, meaningful, and memorable messages. Customers are more likely to act on ads that resonate with them personally. Try to write ads that speak directly to your customers and ring true with their values to achieve success with an ad campaign.^{[1]
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- For example, Nike speaks directly to its huge customer base with inclusive, positive messages like “Find Your Greatness” and “Just Do It!”
- If you’re selling eco-friendly clothing, you might appeal to your audience with a message like “Let’s Break the Cycle of Fast-Fashion Pollution.”
2
A clear explanation of how your product or service fits into customers’ lives. Strong ads directly state how a specific product or service you offer will make a customer’s life better. Try to write ads that tell your audience how your offering can make them happier, more productive, more fulfilled, or whatever else it may be.^{[2]
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- For example, if you’re selling running shoes, you might say something like “Run like Usain Bolt with the latest in our 500 series of runners!”

Question 2 of 5:

How do I write a Google ad?

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Highlight what makes your offering unique. Put a spotlight on the unique products, services, or deals that you offer the customer. Try to set yourself apart from the competition and show customers why they should choose your brand.^{[3]
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- For example, if you offer free shipping with certain purchases, say something like “Free shipping when you spend $50 or more!”
- Or, if you have a huge variety of products, write something like “We have the biggest variety of bath soaps in California!”
- If you have special discounts, promotions, or exclusive offers, you might write something like “Up to 40% off on selected jeans when you buy before April 30th!”
2
Put at least 1 relevant keyword in your ad copy. Type the name or description of a product or service into the Google Adwords Keyword Tool to generate a list of similar keywords to choose from if you aren’t sure what keywords to use. Select at least 1 keyword from the list to use in each ad you run.^{[4]
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- For example, if you’re writing a Google ad to sell skateboards, write something like “We have a huge variety of skateboards!” in the ad’s body.
- Or, write something like “New York City Skate Shop” for your ad’s headline.
- It doesn’t matter where you choose to include your keyword. Just make sure that the ad reads naturally and don’t try to cram a bunch of keywords into the copy in a way that doesn’t make sense to readers.
- Don’t limit yourself to just 1 keyword. If you can include 1 in your headline and 1 in the ad’s body, that’s even better!
3
Include a call to action. Clearly tell people what action you want them to take, such as how to buy your product or how to contact you about your services. Examples of calls to action are “buy,” “purchase,” “contact us today,” “call now,” “get a quote,” and “order.”^{[5]
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- For example you might write something like “Call us today to get a roofing repair quote.” in the ad’s body. Notice the keyword “roofing repair” in the copy as well!

Question 3 of 5:

How do I write a good Facebook ad copy?

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Write like you’re speaking to a specific person in your target audience. Picture a person from your audience and think about how you would talk to them if you were trying to sell them your product or service in person. Write your ad copy how you would talk to them so it sounds natural and appeals to them.^{[6]
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- For example, if your audience is surfers and you’re trying to sell surfboard wax on Facebook, imagine a typical surfer and how they would talk, including slang and lingo they might use.
- Ad copy targeted at surfers might say something like “Stop wiping out, dude! We have a huge variety of board waxes to keep you steady when you’re getting barreled. Order today!”
2
Write different ads to target different audience segments. You can use Facebook ads to target very specific groups of people, so take advantage of this and make your ads very specific as well. Write ad copy that appeals to different audience groups by mentioning something that would appeal to that group specifically.
- For example, if you’re writing an ad to sell basketballs to a high school audience, you might write something like “Start of this year’s high school basketball season right with a new basketball!”
- If you’re writing an ad to sell basketballs to parents of younger players, you might write something like “Get your child a premium new basketball to start them off on the right foot this year!”
- Keep your general tone the same across ads so your brand has a recognizable voice.
3
Make sure your text goes with the picture. The picture and the ad copy should both tell your story independently, but complement each other when they’re seen together in the ad. Write Facebook ad copy that works on its own, but that sends the same message as the image you use alongside it.^{[7]
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- For instance, if the image you want to use for an ad is of a person riding a longboard, make sure your ad copy is about longboards as well and not some other type of skateboard.

Question 4 of 5:

How do you write a print ad?

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Tailor the content to your audience. Make sure you know exactly who your product or service is aimed at. For example, how old your target audience is, what their general interests are, and anything else that can help you adapt your ad to appeal to them.^{[8]
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- This is called doing market research and is the first step you should take before running any kind of advertising campaign.
- You can do market research by sending out surveys to existing customers, running a focus group, or by gathering information on your competition’s customers, to name a few ways.
- If you find out that the majority of people who are interested in the type of outdoor clothing you offer are into extreme outdoor sports like mountain climbing, you can write an ad copy that says something like “Conquer the mountains with the new 2021 edition of our polar fleece!”
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Write a strong headline to grab your reader's attention. Keep your audience in mind and write several different headlines that you think speak to them. Get the opinions of friends or colleagues to help you choose the best headline for your print ad.^{[9]
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- Avoid including overused buzzwords or cliches in your headline.
- Study advertisements that are similar to your own to get inspiration. Look at magazines and newspapers for headline ideas.
- Write down 10 or 15 headlines for the advertisement you want to place. Let them "rest" overnight, then come back to them the next day and pick the one that pulls most at your attention.^{[10]
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  Expert Source
  
  Alfonso Cuesta
  Advertising Expert
  Expert Interview. 30 March 2021.}
3
Stick to 1 message per ad. Choose 1 product, service, or other offering to advertise. Write the headline and copy around this specific point so you aren’t trying to cram a whole bunch into 1 advertisement.^{[11]
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- For example, if you’re advertising an end-of-summer sale on shorts, stick to only mentioning this in your ad.
- Your headline might be something like “50% Off on Shorts!” and your ad copy might say something like “End-of-summer shorts sale. Everything must go! Come on in and browse our big selection of shorts today.”

Question 5 of 5:

How would you describe yourself in a personal ad?

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Tell the truth about yourself. Write honestly about your hobbies, interests, appearance, and what you’re looking for in a relationship. Don’t try to make yourself sound like anything you’re not or any new relationship you form because of your ad is less likely to succeed.^{[12]
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- For example, write something like “I’m looking for a serious relationship with someone who doesn’t want children. Preferably someone who exercises and is fit, but is not too obsessed with diet because I don’t like to limit what I eat!”
- Avoid including cliches like “I like long walks on the beach.”
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Write the way you speak. Use a conversational, personable tone to describe yourself. Read your ad out loud when you finish and change anything that doesn’t sound like you.^{[13]
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- For example, you might say something like “I’m a laid-back girl, I work in finance, and I like to travel the world. I try to make at least 2 big trips a year, but sometimes my work gets in the way!
- Avoid overly wordy vocabulary and unnatural sounding lists of information.
- Try to have some fun with your ad! Throw some humour in to show your playful side.

Expert Q&A

Question

Where would you use targeted ads?

Alfonso Cuesta
Advertising Expert
Alfonso Cuesta is an Advertising Expert and the Creative Director and Co-Founder of Salta With Us, a "Creativity First" boutique specialized in multicultural advertising and campaigns for digital and social media channels. After 20 years of working in global ad agencies for brands like Coca-Cola, PlayStation, and Discovery Channel in Europe, Latin America, and the US, Alfonso remains convinced that creativity is the best tool to engage audiences in any medium. Alfonso has a BA in Graphic Design and Advertising from the Centro Español de Nuevas Profesiones in Madrid, Spain.

Alfonso Cuesta

Advertising Expert

Expert Answer

Targeted ads need to be aimed towards a specific demographic. They're usually best utilized on platforms where you can use data to guide who sees the app. Platforms like Facebook and YouTube are ideal. You can also use geography as well, which may make more sense if you're advertising a local business.
Question

Is TikTok as bad for advertising as people make it sound?

Alfonso Cuesta
Advertising Expert
Alfonso Cuesta is an Advertising Expert and the Creative Director and Co-Founder of Salta With Us, a "Creativity First" boutique specialized in multicultural advertising and campaigns for digital and social media channels. After 20 years of working in global ad agencies for brands like Coca-Cola, PlayStation, and Discovery Channel in Europe, Latin America, and the US, Alfonso remains convinced that creativity is the best tool to engage audiences in any medium. Alfonso has a BA in Graphic Design and Advertising from the Centro Español de Nuevas Profesiones in Madrid, Spain.

Alfonso Cuesta

Advertising Expert

Expert Answer

No, I think TikTok is a genuinely underrated platform. People have this idea that TikTok is just for young people who like to sing and dance, but a lot of the users are a lot more mature than that. There's also a growing market there, since a lot of the site's users are going to continue to use it at they get older.
Question

How do I write an ad for my fencing work?

Community Answer

Go on Craigslist or look at your local paper for ads for similar services to get some ideas for formatting, etc. Obviously you'll want to make sure all the pertinent information such as company name, contact info, and so forth are included in the ad.