Do Online Classifieds work?

With the growing dominance of pay-per-click advertising, online marketers are wondering whether online classifieds still work?

Offline classifieds, undoubtedly still work, as people continue to look at newspapers to search for something that they require. But when was the last time you looked at online classifieds to search for something?

In a study done by the  The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and comScore Networks, Inc. in 2006, there was a positive return on investment (ROI) and significant conversions both online and offline for companies that participate in online local, directory and classified advertising.

Quoted from IAB:

	The research also shows that these advertising vehicles have a considerable impact on brand image. The IAB Classifieds, Directories and Local Search Committee commissioned comScore to conduct this ”Return on Investment in Online Local and Classifieds Advertising“ project which studies the sales and brand impact of text based listings for categories including: Automotive, Careers, Construction and Contractors, Financial Services, Hospitality, Professional Services, Real Estate and Retail.   The research, sponsored by CareerBuilder.com, Cars.com, Fathom Online, Verizon Superpages.com, and Volkswagen North America will be presented for the first time at the IAB Leadership Forum: Performance Marketing Optimization in Chicago on March 13, 2006.   ”Millions of consumers turn to the Internet each month for help in finding a new job, a new car, or to research any number of local services,“ said Erin Hunter, Senior Vice President of comScore’s Media and Entertainment Division. ”This study provides empirical evidence proving the effectiveness of online local and classifieds advertising. It is abundantly clear that small and large advertisers have a compelling opportunity to leverage the Internet as a powerful medium that drives conversion for local services.“   Analysis conducted for Ford Rental Car and Verizon Superpages.com shows that online local, directory and classifieds deliver an impressive Return on Investment (”ROI“).

The beauty of online classified ads is that you can place them for free. There are literally hundred of sites that allow individuals and companies to post ads at no cost. As with the newspaper classifieds, online classifieds are also categorized, allowing you to zero in on your target market.

If classifieds ads work and they are free, how come not so many marketers use them? There are basically two issues in this regard:

1. There are thousands out there but you have to find these sites one by one and check out which one seems suitable for you.

2. Posting ads can take a lot of effort. For each ad, you have to type in the usual information again and again.  This can be boring and tedious after some time.

Here are some sites where you can submit free classifieds:

http://www.inetgiant.com/classifieds

http://www.nabaza.com/adland.htm

http://www.spilledink.com/classifieds

http://www.classifieds88.com

http://www.usfreeads.com

http://www.postpin.com/index.html

http://www.advertising-exposure.com/classified_advertising.html

Some marketers go around this issue by automating this task. Again, there are a number of classifieds ads submission software in the market. 

	Choosing a Classified Ads Submitter   You will have a number of options for automated ads submitter. Examine each one carefully and find out the sites that they submit to. There are some that will give you a list of sites but the sites are not really classified ads sites. Some are just FFA links, others are sites not even related to ads. How I knew this? When I was new to Net marketing, I purchased one and assumed my ads were being submitted to several thousand sites as they promised, but when I checked the sites, they were not even related to classifieds.   My tip is to find free good classified ads in different locations and submit the ads yourself. You don't have to finish in one seating. Submit 1 or 2 ads a day in different sites. Then, see which one gives you results and make a regular schedule to resubmit.

To view your options for automated ads submitter, simply type "classified ads submitter".

For more Internet Marketing techniques, click here.