Advertisement Writing: What is Advertisement? An advertisement is a marketing communication that aims to promote or provide information about a product, idea or service. The primary goal is to sell the aforementioned, hence, these are often non-personal and openly sponsored. Moreover, advertisements are usually communicated through mass media such as newspapers, magazines, radio, televisions, social media, and blogs. In this article, we shall explore classified and commercial advertisements, which are the two primary types of topics asked in Class 12 exams.
Advertisements are of 2 types:
- Classified Advertisements
- Commercial Advertisements
Classified Advertisements
Classified advertisements are common in newspapers and magazines. They are concise, yet comprehensive and are displayed without design elements. Such types of advertisements are priced according to the total words or total lines in the body. A few examples of classified adverts include “Lost and found”, “Sale and purchase”, “Accommodation Wanted”, “To-let” etc.
Commercial Advertisements
As the name indicates, commercial advertisements are often branded and have more elements of design in their ads. These could include short commercials in TV programmes, billboards, wall paintings, printed fliers, web banners, shopping carts, in-flight advertisements and many more. On average, these are quite a bit more expensive than classified adverts.
General Guidelines for Advertisement Writing
Following are a few important tips and guidelines when writing an advertisement. Note: These guidelines are for written advertisements in newspapers and magazines):
- Must use simple language
- Must be free from jargons
- Must be comprehensive, yet concise
- Location and contact details must be included
- Monetary value/ details of pay/ may be included
Advertisement Writing Format
Following are a few commonly used formats for advertisement writing:
Title of Advertisement (Eg: Flat for sale/ Driver Wanted/ Situation Vacant/ Accommodation Required/ Missing Persons etc) Body of the Advertisement (The advertisement should be to the point. Make sure the language is simple and easy to understand. Moreover, your advertisement should be direct and all relevant details must be provided. You will also be required to mention the place as well as your contact details. If required, certain types of advertisements can also include details of reward or monetary incentives.) |
Advertisement Writing Samples
Following are a few samples that are often asked in exams:
Sample 1 – Teacher Wanted
You are Mr. Sam of Bangalore. You require a science teacher to tutor your daughter. She is a class 10 student and studying under the CBSE board. Draft a relevant advertisement stating your requirements. Please note that the advert must not exceed 80 words.
Teacher Wanted I am looking for an experienced science teacher to tutor my daughter, a class 10 student of Kendra Vidyala, Bangalore. The candidate must be a female and should hold at least 2 years of experience teaching science in schools. She must be able to teach concepts effectively, and easily. Candidates will be required to teach 6 days a week for at least 3 hours. Remuneration is no constraint for the right candidate. Please send your resume to [email protected]. |
Sample 2 – Flat for Sale
You are Mr. Ranjith of Kerala. You have recently built a 2-story apartment and wish to sell it. Create an ad for the same, which is to be published in the Times of India’s classified column. Please note that the advert must not exceed 70 words.
| Flat for Sale A newly built 2 story luxury flat, complete with interior furnishings for sale. Flat is located in Kochi, M.G Road, Kerala. It is also in close vicinity of reputed KMS college and Eagle Multi-speciality Hospital. Kochi International airport is 20 minutes away while the nearest railway station is 5 mins away. The expected price of the flat: INR 60 lakhs. Contact number: Ranjith – 900xxxxxx. Interested buyers only. Brokers will not be entertained. |
Sample 3 – Situation Vacant
You are Mr. Jenson, Assistant Manager of Leopard Hotels. Your hotel needs a female receptionist at the Bengaluru branch. Draft an advertisement for the same. And please note that the advert must not cross 60 words.
| Situation Vacant Female receptionist wanted at Leopark Hotels, a reputed 5-star hotel in Bangalore. Candidates must be between 22 and 30 years of age and have at least 2 years of experience as a receptionist. Knowledge about computers and fluency in English, Hindi and Kannada is a must. Send resume to [email protected] within 10 days from the date of posting this advertisement. |
Sample 4 – Car for Sale
You are Mr. Kumar and you have decided to sell your 2018 Honda Accord car. You are located in Bangalore and wish to sell the car to a buyer in Bangalore only. Draft a relevant ad for the same. And please note that the advert must not cross 50 words.
| Car for Sale White, 2018 Honda Accord GX for Sale. The car has run a total of 22,000 kms and is extremely well-maintained. Maintenance and periodic services are done at regular intervals. No mechanical issues or engine problems. Expected price is 6.5 lakhs. Non-negotiable. Contact number: 900xxxxx – Kumar. Interested buyers only. Brokers need not approach. |
FAQ’s on Advertisement Writing
Question 1.
What is Advertisement?
Answer:
An advertisement is a marketing communication that aims to promote a product, idea or service. These are often non-personal and openly sponsored.
Question 2.
What is a Classified Advertisement?
Answer:
A classified advertisement is a marketing communication that is displayed in newspapers and magazines. These kinds of adverts are concise but comprehensive. They are also displayed without any design elements. This type of advert is priced according to the total words or total lines in the body.
Question 3.
What is a Commercial Advertisement?
Answer:
A commercial advertisement is more vibrant and eye-catching than a classified. Hence, these are commonly used in TV programmes, wall paintings, billboards, web banners, printed fliers, shopping carts, transport buses and many more.
Question 4.
What are the guidelines when drafting an advertisement?
Answer:
When drafting an advert in a newspaper classified, ensure to use simple language in the ad. Also, it must be free from jargons and other complicated terminologies. It must also be comprehensive, yet concise. Other details such as location, and contact details must be included. Depending on the type of advert, monetary value/ details of pay/ rewards can also be included, if deemed necessary.
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