In our experience, some people fail to plan their marketing, and if people don't know what you have and that you are approachable, then you won't sell.
Free-ads - eg preloved, and indeed these forums are a great resource, but only touch a small no. of the local community. The local ag store and the local freebe should be high on your list - yes the ads cost, but is worth it.
For instance a litter of 8 piglets sold at £50 each will bring in £400, but some skimp and avoid spending £10 to sell them.
So to save money the advert says
"GOS weaners 0778 942657"
Now people on this forum will know that GOS is Gloucester Old Spot, that an old spot is a pig, that a weaner is a 6-8 week old piglet etc. etc. But someone who is less knowledable will have no idea, and lack of a price just makes them think that they might be conned. They have no idea where you are, who you are, and responses will only be from people who know all about pigs and are looking for a bargain.
"British Saddleback piglets ready w/e 4th April from local small farm, £50 – phone to visit and see - 01892 xxx xxxx any day after 6pm ”
This tells the buyer the breed (which they can look up on the internet!), that it is likely that they can collect on a weekend (many smallholders work, so are keen on evening or weekend collections), the “local” and “small” give the feeling that they will not be pressured, and the “phone to visit and see” tells them that they can come and see immediately. The time tells callers when they can expect a response rather than an answerphone (always annoys responders to an advert), and the “any day” helps to encourage weekend calls which suit people who may not look at the small ads until Saturday. The price gives them confidence on what they will need to pay.
May cost a few pounds more, but which ad would you as a newbie respond to?
Add to that a really helpful attitude to callers, tidying up the place to make it look welcoming, presenting your pigs in a clean environment, and taking some time with new people to show them round and help, and you create people who will buy from you time after time, and recommend to friends.
Guarenteed succes - No!, but don't look after these aspects and you're more likley to get one time buyers only, and have to keep advertising your stock.
Finally on all fourms count the no. ads that fail to say where the sellers are !
Down south, our biggest trade is now! but we regularly have and sell weaners all year round.