Write an Advertisement for a Pet
If you have to sell your pet, it's useful to know how to write a good advertisement. Here's how!
Contents
Steps
Finding a Good Title
- Begin with the title. Don't underestimate the importance of a good title, especially when posting an ad online. The most important thing to remember is to keep it short, detailed, and attention-grabbing.
- Instead of just writing "Buddy needs a home", include basic information (type of animal, for example)
- Be careful about the grammar used and the wording of the title. People respond positively to well written messages; they respond negatively to things that are badly written or that carry negative connotations. For example:
- A less impressive title: VERY FRIENDLY LABRADOR 4 SALE CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- In this case, the capital letters create the impression that the advertiser is "screaming" at you, which seems a little unprofessional. While it also suggests that the Labrador is very friendly, the misspelling of the dog's breed and the excessive exclamation points suggest immaturity and maybe even irresponsibility, which can lead to the potential buyer wondering if the dog has been well cared for. Moreover, adding the word "cheap" automatically diminishes the worth of the pet, which is most certainly not the message you're looking to get across.
- A positive and welcoming title: Friendly, Beautiful Guinea Pig for Sale!
- In this second instance, the overall impression of the advertiser is that he or she is sensible and intelligent enough to spell correctly and restrained enough to take good care of a pet. The title catches your attention, but doesn’t create the desperateness that the first title suggests.
- While neither impression may be accurate, impressions do matter and when there is so little to go on, it pays to get it right immediately.
- A less impressive title: VERY FRIENDLY LABRADOR 4 SALE CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Describing Your Pet
- Write the description. This is the most important part of the advertisement as it tells the potential buyer what he or she will be getting by way of your pet's habits, temperament and behavior. It is also a place to reassure the buyer that you are selling your pet for a genuine reason. Some things to consider when writing the advertisement up include:
- Provide a short description of the animal’s type, breed, size, behavior around kids/dogs/cats/etc, temperament, health, and appearance.
- Explain why you're selling the pet. No need for copious details but just a little something to reassure the potential buyer that you're not mean-spirited or running a puppy mill, etc. Be careful with sob stories––too much of this can turn a potential buyer off as he or she will have to meet "the sad you" when transacting for the pet, and if you sound like you're really down, the potential buyer may pass for fear of the emotional fallout.
- Add in special quirks or habits of your pet that will endear a potential buyer to the pet; such as "Fido can jump hoops" or "Flossie will groom any other cat in your house without a fuss."
- Focus most on the positive, the good, the great and the fantastic about your pet. A potential buyer wants to know that he or she is going to be getting one amazing pet in his or her life, so help that buyer to see the best in your pet, something you've always striven to do anyway!
- Be careful to avoid describing things the potential buyer isn't interested in. Using the advertisement to have a go at the cause of offloading your pet is unhelpful and only serves to make you look like a mean-spirited and difficult seller.
- Here is what to avoid: SUPER friendly pit bull, name is Maxwell, MUST GO ASAP my landlord is a --- and won't let me keep him EVEN THOUGH HE IS PERFECTLY BEHAVED. He is GREAT with kids doesn’t like dogs though. I’m really angry @ my landlord and HE MUST GO TO A GOOD HOME, NOT for fighting!!!!!! there is a fee to make sure he goes to the right home. My phone number is 111-111-1111.
- In this example, most of the ad is dedicated to describing the landlord. In turn, you receive very little information about the dog other than that he’s male, friendly with kids, not good with dogs (a downside that could be written with greater care), and he's called Maxwell. The advertiser makes the common mistake of vaguely saying there’s an adoption fee; potential buyers are much more likely to contact you if you have an already stated price or price range.
- On the other hand, here is a much better description: Hi, I’m Lily. My Budgie Baby is so sweet and I’ll be sad to see him go, but I’m moving and can’t take him with me. He’s a gorgeous light blue color, not the usual green/yellow markings. He’s great at talking and can say “Hi,” “I love you,” “Baby,” and “Lily.” He’s wonderfully behaved with men, women, and children, and mostly ignores our cat. Never had a health problem; you can verify with our vet. There is a $50 adoption fee; his cage (which is large and in good condition) and seed comes with him. Please contact me at 222-222-2222, serious offers only. Thanks for your time!
- By introducing herself and thanking the reader, a more personal edge is added to Lily's advertisement. She keeps the reasons for selling the budgie short, using it to her advantage by promoting how well-behaved Baby is. She also emphasizes on his coloring and speaking ability, and includes the adoption fee. After reading it, you’re left with the feeling that Baby is well-behaved and charming and Lily is trustworthy enough to pay Baby a visit.
- Here is what to avoid: SUPER friendly pit bull, name is Maxwell, MUST GO ASAP my landlord is a --- and won't let me keep him EVEN THOUGH HE IS PERFECTLY BEHAVED. He is GREAT with kids doesn’t like dogs though. I’m really angry @ my landlord and HE MUST GO TO A GOOD HOME, NOT for fighting!!!!!! there is a fee to make sure he goes to the right home. My phone number is 111-111-1111.
- Include a picture. A pet ad with a picture included is much more likely to receive offers than an ad without one; it helps potential buyers work out whether or not they're interested in researching further.
- When taking a picture, make sure that you can clearly see the animal, and include the entire body in the picture - not just a head. See How to photograph pets for more details.
Making It Easy to Contact You
- Add your contact information. This should include your phone number and email address. Include when you would prefer to be contacted and whether you'd prefer texts or calls by phone. Indicate if you'll reply faster by any method over another method, as this helps guide the potential buyer toward choosing the best method to reach you.
- It’s a good idea to include your last name, though not necessary. #*Example: Joe Twig, 333-333-3333, joe@yahoo.com (I’ll respond to you quicker if you call me, but email is okay.)
Tips
- Places to post your pet ads offline include: Community bulletin boards (ask first), street poles, local newsletters, your work/school/college notice boards, etc.
- If it feels safer for you, set up a special email account just for the sale. You can use this account for all sales you make if you like, but it just helps to maintain a distance between your real self and any publicly transacted situations.
- Places to post your pet ads online include: Facebook, Google+ Twitter (URLs), homepage of your own website, pet adoption sites and other people's social media pages (such as friends, adoption sites, etc.).
- Have a sincere reason behind why you are selling your pet. People will read between the lines.
- Do you want to sell or give your pet away? Please be sure to ask for a re-homing fee to make sure your pet goes to a good home. Or you can ask for vet references and do a home check. Many people don't realize some people look specifically for free pets to use them in dog fighting, dog baiting, animal testing, puppy mills/back yard breeder(if pure bred), etc. Please look up the dangers of giving away animals for free.
Warnings
- Messages that read along the lines of "If you don't buy my pet by next Tuesday she will be destroyed. Stop this horrible thing from happening!!!" simply freak people out. They appeal to some people but many others are turned away by the blame-shifting attitude behind the message. Even those who feel sad for the pet might end up being pet hoarders or others unable to properly care for your pet, precisely because you've pushed their overactive "save the pet" buttons. Keep the ad professional and non-intimidating.
- Always use caution when sharing your email or phone number. If you're a minor, use your parents' or guardians' contact details instead.
- It's a good idea to have someone present with you when a caller comes to check out the pet. Have this person obviously present in the background, to ensure your safety.
- Get permission before pinning or sticking up print ads! Know what your local area's by-laws are about pinning up posters, etc. and always ask the owners of bulletin boards before using them. In fact, using boards that require permission first serves as a quality reassurance to potential buyers.
Things You'll Need
- Printer for print ads
- Social media accounts for social media advertising (and friends willing to pass on messages too)
- Phone, email, etc. to be contacted on
- Tape, staples, etc. for affixing poster ads
