Yard Sale Advertising

Yard Sale Portal
Yard Sale Portal
Friday, June 24, 2005

Read from the Source

Advertising is one of the very first factors that affects how much money your yard sale is going to make. Here is a list of tips to help you with advertising for your yard sale.

Until a couple years ago signs were your best publicity tool. Today online advertising plays an important role in advertising your yard sale (garage sale).

There are many web sites that you can use to place a yard sale (garage sale) ad for your sale. Yard Sale Portal does not charge a fee for posting an ad. Also, it is the most visited web site on the Internet dedicated to the yard sales (garage sales).

Physical signs are also effective publicity tools. Be aware that, with few exceptions, all cities and counties have laws that prohibit posting signs. Most of the time, as long as you take your signs down when the sale is over, the police have better things to do than enforce the "no sign posting" law.

Make your yard sale sign large enough to be seen (at least 2' x 2'). You need to use paint and a brush because the letters need to be big and wide in order to be seen by people driving by in a car. It is a good idea to use a bright color, such as flourescent orange, on a bright poster board. If you want to save money, you can use large pieces of cardboard cut from boxes you can get free at your grocery store. Make arrows separate from the signs. This way, you can use each sign for any direction simply by adding an arrow pointing in the correct direction. The arrows should be large enough to be seen, at least 4" wide. Keep the amount of words to minimum. Simply say "Yard Sale" with the address and date. It is important to have the address on each sign in case some of the signs are taken down. It is important to put the date so everyone will know the sale is current and not an old sign.

Put your yard sale (garage sale) signs up using a staple gun or staple hammer on wooden poles and strapping tape or wire for metal poles. Signs should be at least 10' high. Take along a step stool or milk crate to stand on so you can post the sign high. When cars are parked, a sign lower than 10' will be obscured. Also, a high sign is harder for kids and local zealots to take down. It helps attract attention to the sign if you have a couple of colorful streamers hanging off the sign. The wind will make them move and catch the eye of drivers. You can make streamers from old cut-up clothes, or, you can buy a couple of cheap rolls at a party or hobby store.

Standard signs can also be purchased on this web site. Just click on STORE at the top of this page to order some.

Be sure to take your signs down at the end of the sale. This is important to keep the neighbors and police happy.