Advertising

You have multiple means of getting the word out, from signage to the Internet.

You need to let people know where and when - both dates and times - your sale is.

Don't give your phone number.

If you can also highlight special items, such as high priced, rare, or popular goods, do so.

This is the point where you are trying to sell your sale. Remember, it's probable that there are a lot of other garage sales occurring at the same time.

Local newspapers and classified ad papers are traditional ways to spread the word. They generally are limited in how far in advance you can advertise, generally being for sales the upcoming weekend.

The Internet is becoming more of a useful tool for getting the word out. After all, you're reading this online.

A specialized web site, like Yard Sale Sleuth can give you a big boost. And not all of these web sites are created equal. Consider how friendly the site is for finding a garage sale. Some require more work to post an ad, but give the shoppers a lot more useful information and are easier to use to locate garage sales of interest.

Craigs List is another good online resource. It has general classifieds, but there is a garage sale section. It just shows a listing by when the ad was posted, but it's free.

Another resource is the Freecycle network. It is geared towards giving away (re-use) of things, but may allow yard sale listings. Check with your local group to find out if it is okay to post yard sale ads.