You can sell your auction buys easily, profitably and quickly - just advertise them for sale in the classified ads' section of newspapers and magazines!

The local press is a great way of selling general goods, such as household items. You can advertise more specialised items such as antiques and collectibles in the trade press. All you've got to do is write a killer classified ad and the phone won't stop ringing! Here's how to do it...

1. Grab readers' attention straightaway - make sure your first word catches their eye. Many readers browse through the classified ads rather than study them one-by-one. So you need something that's going to draw their eye to your ad. I've found that certain key words are most effective - 'Free', 'Bargain', 'New', 'Offer', 'One-Only' and 'Exclusive'. You don't need to start with the name or type of goods you're selling (as many do) - readers will know roughly what you're selling because they''ll be reading 'Motors Over £1,000', 'Antiques and Collectibles' or whatever. You just need to hook them in! And the great thing with these killer words is that they can apply to anything you''re selling. You can open with 'Free Test Drive!' for your car, 'Bargain! Half-price Settee!', and so on.

2. Make the readers keep reading - give them something that interests them. That key word ('Free', 'Bargain' etc) makes readers stop for a second, but you now need to get them moving through the ad. I've found that the most effective way of doing this is to put the item's 'usp' (unique selling point) right upfront straight after that key word. The usp is simply the one thing that makes your item stand out from all the others. Typically, it's the price - yours is cheaper than the rest! But it needn't necessarily be this. Say you were selling a first edition of a Harry Potter book - there are millions of those about, but not that many that are signed by the author, J.K.Rowling. So (if you're lucky enough to have one) you might put 'Exclusive! Signed Harry Potter Book!'

3. Create the urge to buy - tell them why they should purchase this item. Often, your key word and USP are enough to persuade readers to go through to the end of the ad. But remember that there are often lots of other similar goods for sale above, below and all around your one! So you need to bang-bang-bang out the benefits of buying this over and over again. I find it useful to list all the wonderful features of what I'm selling. Say I were selling a baby's highchair, I'd note down 'plastic seat' , and so on. I then go back and change these features to benefits - the 'what's in it for me? angle that readers want to know about. So 'plastic seat' becomes 'easy clean seat', and so forth. I then put those in and not only get the readers to keep reading - but make them want the item, and want it now!

4. Get the readers to call you immediately - give them an 'act now' incentive! Your ad has to encourage readers to pick up the phone and contact you straightaway. If they continue browsing, you've lost them. I get my my first name (which is friendlier) and my phone number in there - and I make certain that I can answer the call too. Use a mobile phone number if need be. Most readers respond to ads on the basis of greed and fear (cynical but true) - the thought of getting a great deal ('greed') makes them want to buy it, but the thought of then losing it ('fear') makes them phone straightaway. So I always put in a little fear, something that's enough to make them reach for the phone. 'One only', 'Limited stocks', or 'First come, first served' usually does the trick.

5. Write that killer ad - read back what you've written. Ask yourself whether it would grab your attention, make you read it and pick up the telephone. I always show my ads to my wife for a second opinion. She often spots errors (which we all make) - I put in the wrong phone number once! It's always sensible to replace longer words with shorter, easier to read ones. That's not being patronising - it's common sense. Cut out any repetitive and unnecessary words too. After all, you're often paying on a word by word basis. Then take another look at your killer ad, get it into the classifieds - and wait for the phone to start ringing!