Got something that you think you have to part with? One way to promote the things you want to sell is by posting a classified ad, and today, using the internet is an easy, effective, and almost always free way to do so.

In this Instructable, I'll guide you through the steps to creating a good, simple classified ad using Kijiji, my favorite classified ad service.

You may want to know why I'm creating an ad anyway. Unfortunately, my mom has discovered that she has an allergy to our puppy, Cocoa. We've decided to post a classified to find a good family in our area who can take care of her.

Step 1: Materials

You'll Need:

1. A camera to take pics of what you're aiming to sell
2.A Kijiji account although not necessary; I chose this option because I plan using the site to post more ads in the future
3.Something to sell, of course :]

Step 2: Take Pictures & Edit Photos

Pictures are a big part in classified ads. I'm sure you've heard the phrase "a picture's worth a thousand words" a million times. Well, it's true.

The first part of this step is pretty easy and shouldn't need much explaining: just take a few pics of what you plan to sell.

The second part will be uploading the pics to your computer and editing them. I have Windows Vista, and used the little Windows photo editor that came with it (one of the few things I like about Vista :P)

The idea is to adjust colors and lighting to make your subject seem at its best.

Step 3: Create Ad & Publish

When writing an ad, we must remember one thing: Keep It Sweet & Simple (KISS) (hey, at least I know that all these years of school have paid off somehow :P)

Before actually writing the ad, write down a list of things about what you want to sell. Here's my initial list:
- chihuahua
- female
- puppy; 7 months
- calm
- shy
- friendly
- shots up-to-date

Now, we have to narrow down this list and decide which information is the most important:
- Chihuahua
- Puppy
- Female
- 7 months old
- spayed
- shots up-to-date
- good with kids and other dogs

*The most important information will be in the title.
*The other important info will be in the ad's body.

When writing an ad, it's also a good idea to take advantage of the fonts, bulleted and numbered lists, bold/italics/underline tools, etc. These tools, when used properly, will help to enhance and organize your ad.

For example, out of the fonts that were available, I chose the one that I preferred, Arial. I also put the most important info at the top in bold font. I organized the other information into a bulleted list, making sure to mention where I'm located. At the bottom, don't forget to leave a way for any potential buyers to contact you! I left a phone number, but you could also put your email address.

Okay, now that you've written a good ad, it's time to publish! I hope this helped and good luck!

PS: I'll try to keep this page updated on what happens to Cocoa.