What Are the Different Types of Newspaper Advertising?

Newspaper advertising is a popular method for drawing attention to a business, a garage sale or a service being offered. To most effectively advertise one's event or business, there are several types of newspaper advertising options that differ in size, placement, shape and cost. There are classified ads that are small and cheap; business card ads are, as one might expect, about the size of a business card; coupon and sale ads that are used mainly by businesses; and spadeas that wrap around the newspaper and are difficult to avoid.

Classified ads are the smallest of the newspaper advertising types and also the most cost-effective. The advertiser writers his or her advertisement, and cost is based on the number of lines of type used. These ads are often printed on a regular basis and are purchased for a number of newspaper circulation cycles; there usually are many classified ads packed into one area with little in the way of design to differentiate one from the other. These ads are popular with people who are having garage sales or are selling individual items.

Business card ads act much like a business card. This type of newspaper advertising is about the same size as a business card and is commonly used as a platform for the advertiser to introduce him or herself to the reader. Much like the classified ads, these ads are grouped together, but they may be color or black and white, depending on what the advertiser pays and what options the newspaper offers. Unlike the classifieds, these ads attract more attention, because the advertiser can use a design, pictures and words to draw in the reader.

Sale and coupon ads are similar newspaper advertising units, with the difference being that sale ads display a sale for everyone, while coupon ads have a coupon the reader has to bring to receive the discount. There are usually different sizes for this ad, such as quarter-page, half-page and full-page, and most newspapers will offer color printing for a higher price. This ad attracts much attention, because it alerts the reader to a sale, and the design and size of the ad will make many readers scan the ad, even if they are not initially interested.

Spadeas are unique newspaper ads that are highly appealing because they act as a bit of a nuisance. This ad is attached to the spine of the newspaper and wraps around to the front cover, forcing the reader to move the ad to read the front page. The ad requires interaction, so nearly all readers will at least glance at the advertisement.