There are many ways to advertise in addition to classified ads. Make fliers with the exact same information as your ad and post them at grocery stores, schools, libraries, or churches – any place with a “community events” bulletin board. There are also places where you can advertise on the Web for free. And don’t underestimate the power of word-of-mouth advertising!

Signs are an important tool for attracting customers. They should be big, sturdy, easy to spot, and able to be read quickly. Before hanging signs anywhere, you need to check with your local government for regulations and restrictions on sign placement. Some places are very picky about when, where and how you can hang signs and some are more lax, but regardless, it’s important to inquire before placing anything. At the least, you could have your signs removed; at the worst, you could be charged a penalty fee for putting them up in the first place. If it’s okay to hang signs, don’t hang them too far in advance; they can be a neighborhood eyesore. Put them up either the evening before or the morning of your sale.

When making your sign, use sturdy cardboard. Regular poster board will work, although if it’s an especially windy day, you may want to anchor it to some heavier cardboard so that it doesn’t flap around or bend at the corners. Bright colors will be hard to ignore. No matter what color your sign is, the marker or paint you use to write the words should really stand out from the background – black is always a good choice. Write your sale information very legibly, in thick, bold lettering, and make the letters big enough to be easily seen from the road. Don’t include many details; people driving by won’t have time to read a lot of text.

All you really need to include are the facts: you’re having a sale, it’s at this address at this date and time, and that’s it. If you want to, add an arrow pointing passersby in the right direction. When you’ve hung your signs around town, drive by and make sure you can see them well enough from the road.