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My Experience Creating a Classified Ads Site

by JoshuaG
16 replies
Hey Warriors,

I created this thread to share my experiences regarding a very new (to me) and very exiting business model that I've been implementing over the past month.

I'm in the process of creating a classifieds site with a VERY UNIQUE TWIST both in terms of the business model and the service itself.

I'll be indirectly competing with the big boys - Craigslist and Kijiji - and I couldn't be more excited.

While my only experiences with classified sites is actually USING them I'm highly optimistic that my unique take on the model is going to be outrageously successful.

I'd love to share the exact model with you right now, but obviously I need to protect it. Once the site has launched it will be hard NOT to know about it so I might as well share my experiences with you here.

I hope that warriors here will learn from my experience managing a larger, more involved, and unique project like this.

I'm a solid newbie when it comes to business, but I've read a lot, studied a lot, and implemented ALOT of different marketing techniques and methods.

I'll be putting up a blog that will be documenting my experience once the site goes live but I have a lot of stuff to share before I forget. I figured a thread would be a good place to start!

MORE SOON!
#ads #classified #creating #experience #site
  • Profile picture of the author LilBlackDress
    Congratulations.
    This sounds super exciting!
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    Pen Name + 8 eBooks + social media sites 4 SALE - PM me (evergreen beauty niche)

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  • Profile picture of the author Louise Green
    Ooook... good luck with your project, but if you're not sharing your stuff why create a thread about it? Good luck though.
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    • Profile picture of the author JoshuaG
      Originally Posted by Louise Evans View Post

      Ooook... good luck with your project, but if you're not sharing your stuff why create a thread about it? Good luck though.
      Thanks for the luck!

      Don't get me wrong, I will DEFINITLY be sharing a lot of what I hope is valuable information.

      I just can't share much about my business model at this point for obvious reasons

      Originally Posted by Brad Gosse
      I had the idea to launch an Internet marketing classifieds site last week. From the minute I decided to get started, until I was finished to me 4 hours.

      Launching a classifieds site these days is pretty easy.
      Given that it took you 4 hours means you are probably offering a simpler service on a smaller scale with a very different business model.

      Ouch, how to put a damper on his month of work.:confused:
      Heh, thanks for looking out for me!

      Believe it or not, even after a month the site is really still in its infancy.
      When things are up and running, you will see why
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      • Profile picture of the author Brad Gosse
        Originally Posted by JoshuaG View Post


        Given that it took you 4 hours means you are probably offering a simpler service on a smaller scale with a very different business model.
        Agreed Just saying there are off the shelf solutions out there. Best of luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brad Gosse
    I had the idea to launch an Internet marketing classifieds site last week. From the minute I decided to get started, until I was finished to me 4 hours.

    Launching a classifieds site these days is pretty easy.
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    • Profile picture of the author ozduc
      Originally Posted by Brad Gosse View Post

      I had the idea to launch an Internet marketing classifieds site last week. From the minute I decided to get started, until I was finished to me 4 hours.

      Launching a classifieds site these days is pretty easy.
      Ouch, how to put a damper on his month of work.:confused:
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  • Profile picture of the author PerfectedWeb
    ... my unique take on the model is going to be outrageously successful.
    That's a bold claim but you seem determined which is always a good thing.

    I wish you good luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author genietoast
      Wow. Good luck and do tell us how it goes. Taking action. That's the spirit!
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  • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
    Good luck you sound like me years ago.

    Just remember, having a great unique idea doesnt ensure success. Some ideas just dont work out no matter how good they are, especially on the internet.

    Chances are it will fail....sorry to say but dont let that stop you - you could be the next online millionaire.

    Hope you have a large promotion budget. If you're just relying on word of mouth and think the idea alone will grow the site, you have your work cut out for you.

    I learnt my lesson the hard way. Do what is already working.

    But you never know what will happen though
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    • Profile picture of the author JoshuaG
      That's a bold claim but you seem determined which is always a good thing.

      I wish you good luck!
      Thank you for the good luck, no doubt I will accept all of it I can get

      I realize its a bold claim, but I really believe it. I also think keeping positive and believing in yourself is very important to success

      Wow. Good luck and do tell us how it goes. Taking action. That's the spirit!
      More blessings of luck, I love it!
      Taking action is the way to learn and no doubt I will be learning a lot!

      Good luck you sound like me years ago.

      Just remember, having a great unique idea doesnt ensure success. Some ideas just dont work out no matter how good they are, especially on the internet.

      Chances are it will fail....sorry to say but dont let that stop you - you could be the next online millionaire.

      Hope you have a large promotion budget. If you're just relying on word of mouth and think the idea alone will grow the site, you have your work cut out for you.

      I learnt my lesson the hard way. Do what is already working.

      But you never know what will happen though
      If I sound like you years ago, I hope you're doing okay for yourself now

      I realize that online business ideas fail more they they succeed, and there is no reason to remove yourself from the majority. I've been around the block long enough to realize true success is only for those who are committed and really have something to offer society. I believe I do...but time will tell.

      As for doing whats already working, I will be doing that...AND THEN SOME. So no worries there

      Marketing is without a doubt the biggest challenge. My budget isn't ENORMOUS, but it should be enough to get things off the ground. From there I'm expecting the business profits should pay for future marketing.

      Thank you very much for sharing your experiences and knowledge with me.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Congratulations ... always exciting to see new ideas implemented. I'll be looking for it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Warren Tibbotts
    Any progress to date?
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    • Profile picture of the author JoshuaG
      Originally Posted by Warren Tibbotts View Post

      Any progress to date?
      Hey Warren,

      Thanks for reminding me about this thread. I've been pretty busy!

      Here's an update!

      Things are going along swimmingly. The site should be live in the next 3 weeks or so. Marketing plans are starting to solidify but the implementation of them has been held back.

      I've met 2 major challenges so far.

      The first is that approaching many of my would be business/advertising partners is tenuous.

      The service I'm offering has potential to put strain on their business and in some cases take them down completely. I've got think of ways my service can be of use and benefit to them and then make my proposal to them in a way that will get them excited rather then afraid or concerned.

      The 2nd challenge has to do with the nature of a classified listings site.
      Buyers who visit the site will become disinterested if there is a lack of listings. Sellers who use the site will not use it if it doesn't seem active and popular. Therefore, advertising for both parties ideally needs to happen quickly. The site needs to be loaded with content and have plenty of activity from the get go otherwise first time visitors will have a bad first experience.... It will then take a lot more convincing to get them to return.

      Anyway, I'm brainstorming ways of addressing both of these issues as best I can and I've come up with a few possible solutions so far.

      MORE TO COME...!
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  • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
    People rarely understand their competition. I had one business that my partners didnt understand that Kijiji was our direct competition. They thought it was another rental company (how can u beat free listings?). I explained the only way to beat them was to offer something unique and that was someone answering the phones for the people listing. In other words, someone was available all the time. They thought I was crazy and did not implement. We got killed by kijiji.
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    I have no agenda but to help those in the same situation. This I feel will pay the bills.
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    • Profile picture of the author JoshuaG
      Originally Posted by RentItNow View Post

      People rarely understand their competition. I had one business that my partners didnt understand that Kijiji was our direct competition. They thought it was another rental company (how can u beat free listings?). I explained the only way to beat them was to offer something unique and that was someone answering the phones for the people listing. In other words, someone was available all the time. They thought I was crazy and did not implement. We got killed by kijiji.
      Rough story dude...

      And a good warning.

      I'm fortunate in that I'm doing something unique enough I should stay off the radar for a time. The worst that could happen would be if they took my success as a que to copy me. It's never hard for a giant to crush an ant!
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