Part 1 - Basic Ad Creation: In this tutorial we'll show you how to create a basic ad. Later, in the Advanced Ad tutorial, we'll show you how to add photographs, Youtube videos and other enhancements. If you've read the FAQ, you know that unregistered users may create text ads, while registered users can create all types of ads, edit their ads and use enhanced features. This tutorial is intended for either basic ad creation, or as a building block for advanced ad creation with enhancements like photos. (Please see the FAQ for answers to questions on how to edit, delete or manage your ads in Your Account.)
We have created a "garage sale" ad for our demo.
Click here to see the ad live on our site, and then close that window to return to this tutorial.
On Desert Classified Ads, classifieds are listed together by category, so, for example, all the auto ads are together, all the boat ads are together, all help wanted, etc. Each category and subcategory has its own page of ads. On these category pages, every ad is shown in a list of "teaser" ads, each one looking like this:
Each teaser ad is expandable into the "Detail View." The ad detail view contains all of the information about the item for sale, service offered or business that is advertised. A basic ad will look very much like our demo ad, above. Some ads will have various enhancements added - like images or enhanced placement, which will make the ads look slightly different, but for this tutorial we are only going to place a basic ad.
Now we'll create that basic ad step-by-step:
Let's start with the ad's different components:
The top half of the Classified contains the detailed information about what's being sold or offered, and the telephone contact information.
Continuing down the page, the next part of the Classified looks like this:
And, at the very bottom of the ad, you'll see this:
Now you're familiar with the components; let's start to create an ad.
First we'll go to the homepage. Now, this next part is important: if you navigate, using the menus, to a specific category or sub-category (or area), and then click "create a new ad," the program assumes that you want to put your ad in that category, sub-category or area, and won't give you the choice of category. Until you are familiar with the program and the site, it's best to browse the site first to determine where you want to place your ad (or to familiarize yourself with other sellers' ads), and then navigate back to the homepage to start your ad from there. So, on the horizontal menu bar, click "Submit a New Ad."
When you click "Submit a New Ad," the first thing you will see is the Select A Category page:
Select your category. Then click "Continue."
Next, if you're not logged in, or not a member, you'll see the Welcome To The Ad Creation page; otherwise, you'll proceed directly to the Create A New Classified page, which you'll see next:
See this 30-second video to see how the Red Question Mark Context-Sensitive Help Pop-ups function:
You don't have to be a registered user to create a basic ad, so for this demo, we'll simply continue.
Next you'll see is this: the top of the Create a New Classified Page. We've typed the text in the first two boxes for the headline and short description:
The detailed description of your ad goes here:
This table will give you a "quick reference" to use to look up the tools we use in the Long Description text box. You don't need to learn them...this is really just a quick-reference guide you can refer back to when you're creating your ad. Also, you can hover your cursor over any tool while in the editor, (or in this reference guide) and a pop-up message will remind you what that tool does.
Icon
What it Does
View or edit the document source code (for advanced users). Displays the HTML code of the formatted text.
Preview what the HTML page will look like for users. Generally speaking, not needed for this type of editor, where you can see the results as you are creating and formatting the text.
Cut the highlighted text to the clipboard.
Copy the highlighted text to the clipboard.
Paste the data copied to the clipboard (with or without formatting).
Paste the text copied to the clipboard (with or without formatting).
Undo the last action.
Redo the most recent action.
Find a word or phrase within the document.
Find and replace a word or phrase within the document.
Select the entire text in the document.
Applies Bold formatting to the highlighted text.
Applies Italic formatting to the highlighted text.
Applies an underscore or underline to the highlighted text.
Applies strikethrough formatting to the highlighted text. Sometimes used by advertisers to indicate "slashed" or reduced prices.
Creates an automatically numbered list as you type it.
Creates a bulleted and indented list automatically as you type it.
Decrease the text indentation, also called an "outdent.".
Increase the text indentation.
Sets the text alignment to left justification.
Sets the text alignment to center the text.
Sets the text alignment to right justification.
Sets the text alignment to full (both left and right) justification.
Converts or removes the text in hyperlinks; used to create links.
Removes the text in hyperlinks; used to delete or break links.
Inserts or modifies a link anchor.
Inserts images hosted elsewhere on the internet; for this program, is used only to create Business Display ad logos and graphics.
Used to upload Flash files.
Creates a table with the defined number of columns and rows. Useful for advertisers seeking to create a list of items and prices.
Inserts a divider line, or horizontal rule.
Shows a pop-up with a selection of smileys, or emoticons, that you can use in your ad.
Inserts a printed page break. Only affects the printed version of any material.
Styles & formatting determine the appearance of your document. You may use the drop down boxes to apply styles, set the font, its size, etc. To remove the applied style select the style name again.
Changes the color of the selected text.
Changes the background color of the selected text.
Now that the Long description item detail has been created, we'll finish up by filling out the remaining fields on the Create A New Classified page. The next few items are pretty self-explanatory;
URL if you have a website - this appears in the small box at the right-hand side of the ad, as "related site," so that people can visit your own website directly from viewing the ad. Enter the full URL of your website, example: http://www.desertclassifiedads.com;
your name, which does not appear in the ad, but we use in our emails to you about your classifieds;
your email address, which is required (so you can confirm that you've placed the ad, and so that potential buyers may contact you through the Desert Classified Ads site);
contact phone numbers (optional) which do appear in the ad.
The following image shows you these fields, already filled out:
Then the last few items in the Create Ad form:
An address for the Google Map, if you want to use one in your ad;
keywords, which are used both by search engines like Google and in our internal search engines to help people find your items for sale (use one keyword or keyphrase per line);
whether the ad type is for sale (offer) or wanted;
and the categories and geographic areas in which you are advertising your item for sale.
The image, below, shows these fields, which are already filled out for our demo ad.
The Youtube Video code is another very cooll feature of Desert Classified Ads. If you have a horse for sale, or the cutest kittens ever, simply take (copy) the embed code from the Youtube site - it's in the upper right-hand corner on Youtube, (http://www.youtube.com/)identified as the "embed" code, not the URL.
To copy it, click the embed code once on the Youtube page to select it, then copy it (right click, "copy"), and then paste it (right click, "paste") into the Youtube video code field in your create classified ad page.
It will embed the Youtube video right into your Classified Ad! You can see how it looks in the Sample Ad in the "For Sale" category. Below you can see a still of how it looks:
If you're trying to sell puppies, or kittens, or horses, or any other type of animal (like your kids) this tool is invaluable. If you have a Polaris ATV, use video of the Polaris running around the desert! Be creative, and really get that buyer's attention.
Now click "Submit" and you have successfully created your first basic ad. On the next page, you'll see this message:
In a few minutes, you'll receive an email which will contain a confirmation link. You simply click that link, and that confirms that your ad was placed by a real person with a real email address. We do this to cut down on spam. You'll receive an email advising you when we've received your confirmation.
After the ad has been confirmed, an admin reviews the ad and then approves it to be released to the site. You will receive an email from us when the ad is approved and is live on the site. That's all there is to it!
This concludes our Basic Ad Creation Tutorial. If you wish to use advanced features or enhancements like full-color photographs, please continue on to our Advanced Features Tutorial. Thank you for choosing Desert Classified Ads.com!
