Help your piano lesson ad stand apart by incorporating design elements.
Getting your piano lesson business noticed in a newspaper full of ads can be challenging. You can't expect to throw together a boring ad and attract prospective clients. If you put in the time and energy to design an eye-popping, creative ad, it's much more likely your ad will garner notice. Elements such as a distinctive font, a border, white space and a graphic go a long way toward making your ad effective. But it's only half the battle - you should also negotiate with the newspaper's ad staff for the best placement possible.
Instructions
Design Preparation
1. Determine the size of your ad space ahead of time. Talk with the newspaper's advertising department to get rates and placement information. Buy the biggest ad space you can afford to maximize your ad's visibility on the page.
2. Search for a primary eye-catching font to use as your main draw for the ad. Many font websites have free or inexpensive fonts for download, or you can use a font preloaded on your computer. Avoid busy fonts, such as cursive, that are hard to read on the page.
3. Select a secondary font for the details of your business. Make it an easy-to-read font that isn't overly playful or distracting. Your primary font is meant to draw the reader in, while this secondary font provides the necessary contact information and explanation of your piano lesson services.
4. Find an appropriate picture for your ad. A piano or keyboard immediately draws in the reader. Consider secondary graphics, such as music notes, to further dress up your ad design. Free or low-cost pictures are available on graphics websites.
5. Brainstorm a catchy slogan or headline for your ad. Make it piano- or music-related so readers are clear about your ad's intent. Something such as "Tickle the ivories like a pro," "Play the piano with panache" or "Piano lessons for ages 8 to 88" immediately clues in the reader about your business.
6. Create a draft of the content to include in your ad. This includes the name of your business, a phone or email contact, and brief information on your services, such as the age range of students you teach, whether you teach at an in-home setting or studio and any incentives, such as family discounts. Add in anything that sets you apart, such as years of teaching experience or awards won. Use the first person to make your ad seem more personable.
7. Decide if you want a border around your ad. Borders can help draw the eye to the ad, but they do eat up more of your ad space. Border ideas include small musical notes or a piano keyboard.
8. Pick colors for your ad, if applicable. The piano graphic is likely in black and white, so consider making any secondary graphics, like the musical notes, in different colors. Pick a corresponding color for the main headline. Keep the explanatory text in a dark color or plain black to make it easy to read.
Create the Ad
9. Cut out a piece of paper in the exact size of your ad buy. This template lets you know how much room you have to work with and provides a good visual. Alternatively, use a computer design program to draw a box in the size of your ad. Draw or place the border into position, if using.
10. Place headline in your chosen font on the ad template. Move it around to the position you find the most eye-catching. A top, flush-right position, for example, may be more noticeable than simply centering the headline at the top of the ad.
11. Put your secondary text, in the chosen font, on the ad template. It should be placed near the headline so there is continuity in your ad.
12. Place the primary graphic on the template. Consider unusual placement, such as the piano keyboard jutting diagonally from the bottom left corner of the ad. This creates some white space between the ad and the text, and can help your ad stand apart on the newspaper page.
13. Add in the secondary graphic. If using musical notes, for example, position them so they visually connect the keyboard with the text.
14. Move around the ad's elements once they're all on the template and you know they fit. Reposition them until you feel you have the most catchy ad possible.
15. Position your ad template in the newspaper where it will appear. Consider how the template looks and ask yourself if readers are likely to notice it, quickly understand its purpose and if it's easy to read. Adjust the font size, color, spacing and position of the different elements until you're satisfied with the design.
16. Proofread the ad several times and ask a friend to proofread as well. Spelling or grammar mistakes immediately diminish your authority with readers.
