New Classified Advertising Section

[Fred Weiss]

After more than a month of installing, tweaking, rephrasing, organizing, and tracking down bugs, we are pleased to go live with our new Classified Advertising section here at Signs 101. Here is a link to it. This setup is at what I would describe as a "Release Candidate" stage, so your feedback and suggestions will be appreciated.

We're making this change because this new software, published by the same provider who publishes our photo gallery software, offers a number of significant improvements over the forum approach we have been using.

• It is more graphical in nature. Up to nine images can easily be added to all ad types except Employment ads.
• Presentation is far more uniform.
• Better administrative control allows us to provide a far greater range of ads and to charge according to the ad type while maintaining free advertising benefits for premium and merchant subscribers.
• Ebay style online auctions.
• Buy It Now capability which allows advertisers to optionally link directly to their PayPal accounts.
• Built-in U.S. zip code database allows U.S. buyers and sellers to know instantly the distance between them.
• Advertisers with PayPal or website setup that calculates shipping may use that feature to charge correct shipping amounts.
• Buyer feedback for rating advertiser reputations.
• Advertiser editing rights for the length of the ad run.
• All ads will be for a defined ad run time at the end of which they may be reinserted or they will no longer be displayed.
• Advertisers may now mark their item sold or position filled and their ad will be automatically removed from display.

Some things that are different about it you will want to know:

• Photopost Classifieds is only PARTIALLY integrated with our forum software. Because of the feedback system, one will not reach the usual forum profile or PM destinations as you can within the forums. For this reason, we have added a separate field to each ad template for the advertiser to paste in the URL of their forum profile.
• There is a separate navigation bar for the classified ads beneath the forum nav bar.
• Classified ads are not forum threads, so they will not appear in the Active Threads block in the Home Page. We will, however, be introducing banner advertising to draw attention to the classified ad section. In addition, we will allow members to create and bump ONE forum thread to direct buyers to their ad.

Member Permissions and Costs

There are three separate main categories for ads plus a directory for Merchant listings. They are:

Merchant Member Directory

This directory is only accessible by Merchant subscribers. It is not to be used for advertising of particular items. Rather it is for listing of the merchant's company name and an overview of what products and services they offer. Merchants create their own listings and may edit them at any time. Merchants may enter more than one listing as appropriate for different types of products offered. For example, a sign supply distributor might list itself separately under Equipment, under Software, and under Supplies. The maximum single run time for a merchant listing is 90 days after which the merchant may reinsert the listing or it will be dropped automatically from display. Links have been added to the Main Menu to access the Merchant Directory. The old Merchant Directory will be removed on December 31, 2009.

There is no cost to Merchant subscribers to list themselves in the Merchant Directory.

Merchant Member Classified Advertisements

This is where Merchant subscribers place their ads for any item, service or need. Duplicate ads in different sections, categories or sub-categories IS NOT ALLOWED. Merchants may make one single post and bump it in the forums to direct members to their ad. The maximum single run time for a merchant classified ad is 30 days after which the merchant may reinsert the ad or it will be dropped automatically from display.

Only Merchant subscribers may place ads in the Merchant Classified section. There is no cost to Merchant subscribers to advertise in the classified sections.

Member to Member Classified Advertisements

This is where premium subscribers and regular members place their ads for any item, service or need. No commercial ads or announcements are allowed. Duplicate ads in different sections, categories or sub-categories IS NOT ALLOWED. Members may make one single post and bump it in the forums to direct members to their ad. The maximum single run time for a member to member classified ad is 30 days after which the member may reinsert the ad or it will be dropped automatically from display.

All Regular Members, Premium Subscribers and Merchant Subscribers may place ads in this section. Regular Members are subject to paying ad fees in the For Sale and Member Auction categories. Premium and Merchant Subscribers are not charged. Other ad categories in the Member to Member section are free to all Registered Members.

The existing Member to Member Classified Forums will be closed and removed on December 31, 2009.

Commercial Products and Services Classified Advertisements

This is where Premium Subscribers and Regular Members place their ads for any commercial item or service. Commercial ads or announcements are allowed. Duplicate ads in different sections, categories or sub-categories IS NOT ALLOWED. Members may make one single post and bump it in the forums to direct members to their ad. The maximum single run time for a commercial classified ad is 30 days after which the member may reinsert the ad or it will be dropped automatically from display.

All Regular Members and Premium Subscribers may place ads in this section. Regular Members and Premium Subscribers are subject to paying ad fees in all categories. Merchant Subscribers are requested to use the Merchant Classified section for their commercial ads.

How to Place an Ad

place-ad.jpg

Click Place an Ad and follow on screen instructions.

Please Read before Placing an Ad

ad-instructions.jpg

How to Reach the Edit Ad Page

EditAd.jpg

Click on Product Options and then Click on Edit Ad

How to Reach Your Profile Page

Profile.jpg

Once there, select the entire URL address and enter Control +C to copy it to your clipboard. Paste later into the profile field in your ad by entering Control +V. No tags are necessary. It will be converted to a link when it is displayed.

Additional Classified Help Pages

Placing or Editing an Ad

Adding Your Signs 101 Profile to Your Ad

Replying to an Ad

Auction Information

Please note: This new section is the only place we will allow any of the items it is intended to cover. In particular, we do not want to see any more Installer Wanted posts or Bids Wanted posts in the regular forums. When we do they will be deleted without notification.

All ads and listings are subject to administrative approval.

Any questions or problems, please PM me, Bigdawg or BobbyFosson.

[neato]

Very nice upgrade!

[Fred Weiss]

Originally Posted by neato

Very nice upgrade!

Thanks ... Now let's see how creative a job you can do listing Sign Amigo in the Merchant Directory.

[Replicator]

Love the auction feature . . . It's like e101Bay !

[The Vector Doctor]

Originally Posted by Fred Weiss

Thanks ... Now let's see how creative a job you can do listing Sign Amigo in the Merchant Directory.

Creative? Is it a visual ad or do you mean creative as in how you word it? I have done visual ads before and they were as attachments

[Bigdawg]

Fred busted his butt to get this classifieds/directory up... I just want to offer up some well-deserved Kudos to him.

Know it's a thankless task... but thanks Fred.

[Fred Weiss]

Originally Posted by The Vector Doctor

Creative? Is it a visual ad or do you mean creative as in how you word it? I have done visual ads before and they were as attachments

What you say and what images (and in what order) you use to convey your information is very much a creative exercise in communication.

[Fred Weiss]

Originally Posted by Bigdawg

Fred busted his butt to get this classifieds/directory up... I just want to offer up some well-deserved Kudos to him.

Know it's a thankless task... but thanks Fred.

You don't know the half of it. In one recent instance, I found a bug and reported it seeking a solution. The support guy had me running around in circles until I discovered he was talking about the photo gallery software when I was talking about the classified software.

[The Vector Doctor]

I am looking at the "place an ad" portion now and it gives you options of up to 9 images to place in the ad. How are those integrated? Size limitations? How are those 9 images displayed? There also appears to be an area similar to MS Word or some kind of web page design tools?

Under the new directory I am not listed. So does that mean I need to create a new ad? Secondly, would this be the place for placing a temporary special?

[Fred Weiss]

Originally Posted by The Vector Doctor

I am looking at the "place an ad" portion now and it gives you options of up to 9 images to place in the ad. How are those integrated? Size limitations? How are those 9 images displayed? There also appears to be an area similar to MS Word or some kind of web page design tools?

Under the new directory I am not listed. So does that mean I need to create a new ad? Secondly, would this be the place for placing a temporary special?

Sizes will be either actual or sized down proportionally to fit in 800 x 800. thumb sizes are created automatically. Look at the Techno listing to get a better idea. First image is thumbnailed for the category display as well so your best bet selection is your logo for most instances.

We have the main entry box setup to use the Advanced Tool Bar. It has a lot of basic HTML formatting tools if you want to get fancy with how you main text message is displayed.

And yes, you are not yet listed in the new directory, so have a go at creating one. You can always go back and edit anything you want different or delete it and start over. It is a listing though designed to be of a permanent overview nature. You should place specials in the next category down which is named Merchant Classified Advertisements.

[vid]

The new classified ad section is cool and all, but what really sets me back on my heels is the generosity in time and effort of those involved in maintaining and improving this forum. OUTSTANDING!



Very nice... very, very nice.

[hernandino]

I want to buy a plotter roland cx 24 or gx 24 payment a reasonable price

[Replicator]

Originally Posted by hernandino

I want to buy a plotter roland cx 24 or gx 24 payment a reasonable price

Then you should post that in the wanted section of the classifieds !

[Rodi]

I really love it, have bid on an auction and have posted in the wanted area. It is soooo much better than the classifieds from before! Good work Fred!

[CustomRide]

How will the new setup show items for sale in the google search engine is what I would like to know? That is the most important.

We sold over $90k in printing equipment in 2009 with the old signs101 setup believe it or not cause people would google an item ....that we had for sale on signs101 and were able to see our contact info and sale status clearly and quickly. (We were pretty blown away actually on how fast we could sell items on this site so we will watch the new format.)

The old for sale section worked fine for us...the new one looks nice I just hope there are no restrictions to outside non-members viewing the adds for members to members section.

Some of the buyers told us they joined signs101 when they found our adds cause they liked the site so much after looking around.

I did try to google some of the titles of current items for sale now and found nothing but if this setup is new to the forum site it can take google a minute to register.

[Fred Weiss]

Originally Posted by CustomRide

How will the new setup show items for sale in the google search engine is what I would like to know? That is the most important.

We sold over $90k in printing equipment in 2009 with the old signs101 setup believe it or not cause people would google an item ....that we had for sale on signs101 and were able to see our contact info and sale status clearly and quickly. (We were pretty blown away actually on how fast we could sell items on this site so we will watch the new format.)

The old for sale section worked fine for us...the new one looks nice I just hope there are no restrictions to outside non-members viewing the adds for members to members section.

Some of the buyers told us they joined signs101 when they found our adds cause they liked the site so much after looking around.

I did try to google some of the titles of current items for sale now and found nothing but if this setup is new to the forum site it can take google a minute to register.

Happy to hear you did well with the old setup. I think given enough time for people to find it and Google to catalog it, you'll be even happier with the new arrangement. As far as I know, there's nothing preventing Google from doing so and various spiders are doing so as we speak. The permissions for the Classifieds are set so that everyone except banned members can see them.