Classifieds are adverts that are displayed in categories (i.e are classified into groups). The groups may have headings such as Jobs, For Sale, For Rent, Automobile, Services, etc. Each Ad in classifieds is placed under a heading that best describes the product or service that is being advertised. Classified Ads used to be printed only in newspapers and magazines, but with the advent of the internet, free classified Ads sites are now available online.
This post is part of a free classified Ads series.
One of the major attractions of classified Ads is that they offer cheap advertising to micro, small and medium scale businesses, enabling them to promote their products and services with a slim budgets. For the audience that view these Ads, classified ads makes it easy and fast for them to find what they are looking for, since related Ads are grouped.
For example, someone looking for job vacancies can simply go to the Jobs section and view all the available jobs without having to flip through the whole newspaper. Classified Ads is also a good place to find good deals. Now Classified Ads are going online.
Online Classified Ads
With the advent of the internet, classified Ads are moving online and they have one common advantage, they are free. Posting a classified Ad on a newspaper might be cheap, but posting online is free. Most online classified ads sites allow advertisers to post their Ads free.
Craigslist is one of the best known international online classified Ads site. In Nigeria, we have JiJi, PrivateProperty, etc. All these classified ads sites allow advertisers post Ads free.
Online Classified Ads sites work in the same principle as their offline counterparts. Ads are placed in categories by the Advertisers and the readers view the Ads according to those categories. Once a reader finds an interesting Ad they can contact the buyer to close the deal using contact information provided by the advertiser on the classified Ad.
How to Post Classified Ads
Most classified Ads sites will require you to create an account first. So, you have to register, and then login before you can post classified Ads. Some may allow you post Ads without registration. On the post Ads page on the site, you will be required to fill and submit a form.
Normally, you will be required to write a title for your Ad and choose an appropriate category for the Ad. There may also be a field for the description of the products/service, contact information, and location/area. Classified Ads sites also have an option to enable you upload images of your products on your Ad.
When you post an Ad at online classifieds, the Ad is not usually automatically published. It is usually submitted in a review queue, so that a staff of the classified ads site can review the Ad and ensure it meets the policy guidelines of the site. After review, your Ad will be published if it passes the review process.
Buy and Sell on Classifieds, but be careful
Online Classified Ads sites make it easy for buyers to find sellers. Because it is so easy to post classified ads online, anyone can sell on online classified Ads sites. You can sit down comfortably at home and advertise your car or mobile phone for sale and in minutes, hours, or days, you will start getting calls or emails from interested buyers.
You can sell your house, car, land, and any property at all. You can also use classified ads sites to advertise for roommates and flatmates. On the other hand buyers can get cheap deals on classified Ads sites.
However, whether you are a buyer or a seller on an online classified ads site, be careful. Hello, it is the internet anybody can claim anything on the internet. There are malicious and mischievous people online looking for people to hurt or at least waste their time.
If you are a buyer on classified Ads sites, make sure the seller is serious before wasting your time on a wild goose chase. Never send money to a seller via a bank account or send recharge cards without first meeting the seller face to face.
In fact, it is always best that transactions from classified Ads sites are done face to face and paid for in cash. Ensure that all documents are in order before pathing with your cash. It is also a good idea to engage with only sellers or buyers within your city or locality.
Most classified ads sites have facilities to enable you look for sellers in your state or city, make use of this feature. If you are in Lagos buy from sellers in Lagos. Same goes for buyers in other cities.
It is also important for both the buyer and seller to ensure that the transaction is done in an open place, not in secret. This will ensure that both parties do not try anything funny. Sellers at classified Ads sites should also be weary of buyers as not all buyers are serious and some buyers can even be more harmful than sellers.
Classified Ads Sites in Nigeria
In Nigeria today, there are dozens of online classified ads sites all enabling advertisers post Ads free on their website. Some are general classified Ads sites with national coverage. Others focus on regions, cities, and states, while a number of classified Ads sites focus on specific niches.
Some of the better known ones include: PrivateProperty and JiJi.
So, have you used an online classified Ad site before? Share your experience as a comment.
