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New classifieds section flopped?

WebSlave

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It is what it is, but certainly not what it was.
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Darn! Doesn't look like very many people are migrating over to it. So what's wrong with it?

Matter of fact, people utilizing the highlighed ad feature even in the regular classifieds forums has been almost nonexistent lately. The number of posted ads appears to be respectible, but people aren't even springing for that $1 optional bell and whistle I set up.

I guess it's either free or no thanks? This might get interesting if I decide to go with a registration fee for posting in certain forums (which would likely include the classifieds). Might not have to worry about increasing traffic after all...... :dgrin:
 
I really like the way the new classifieds section is set up. I think probably a lot of people don't know about it, maybe they are used to using the old one or whatever. Anyway I think it is great. Maybe if you just had one classifieds section it would easier for people. At any rate, I like it a lot and will be posting ads there as soon as I have geckos for sale again.
 
"Don't know about it"? Well darn, I don't know how I could have thrust it under their noses anymore then I already did. No one can go to the Classifieds sections without seeing a link to it in one way or another. I actually thought I had overdone it BIGTIME with the number of times it appears!

Now the new photo gallery section seems to be taking off quite well, however. And I don't think I put notices about that any more noticeable then the classifieds section.

I guess I could have just closed down the forum style classifieds forums, but heck, I think that would have been pretty abrupt to do.

Oh well.
 
I like the new format much better myself. When the new season starts, I will utilize the new ones, membership fee or not.
They don't seem to be "linked" to the "new posts" thing though. Like most people I use the "new posts" button when I'm on the site, and haven't noticed any pop up. I thought maybe it was just because I wasn't interested in certain snakes for sale that people were using the new system to advertize, but when I just went over there and looked, there were some Ratsnakes that I think I would have clicked on, that were posted recently. Maybe I did just happen to miss them, I will pay more attention to new posts for advertized items and see if any are from the new format.

Rich as you well know from tirelessly running this site, people hate change, even if it's for the better. I say just jump to the new format, and shut down the old one, if people don't like it they will get over it. If they don't, oh well.
Just my 2 cents.
 
Like John said, most regulars use the "View New Post" link and he is right, none of the ads from the new classifieds section are on the New Posts page. I agree with Jon when he says-

just jump to the new format, and shut down the old one, if people don't like it they will get over it.
Click to expand...

Here, here!
 
I'm with the majority on this one. I go to "New Posts" and start perusing there, and then I'm in the middle of the old classifieds.

Switch it over and let everyone get used to it. Like any new format, they'll adjust.
 
I suspect that it is somewhat underused due to the fact that lots of folks are out of babies for now. I bet it picks up considerably when babies start hatching.
 
I have stuck to the old system for two reasons: The new system does not show up on my classifieds control panel, and the old system is getting a LOT more traffic.

The old system just needs to go away.
 
I think one thing that is being over looked here is the fact that most people just do not like change.
It will just take some time for adjustment to the new idea then an action to force those who are not willing.
I am no webmaster or anything but I believe if you would post a cancelation date for the old forum, say April 1, and make the newer version the dominant access (the one you go to when you click the classifieds link) then the shift over will begin.
Personally I like the old system by the way. I am one of those that has trouble with change and not being a computer wiz I have trouble figuring out how to use new stuff.
John E Dove
 
Overall I think it will do well, and especially if there is no room for forum like replies to be left. I now think those were not the best thing for a dealer to have to deal with in light of the fact they were trying to make a sale, and in light of the fact that the BOI is the proper place for feedback about a sale. As long as a buyer can communicate with the deal;er by an email link - supplied on your for sale pages - then all should be well with that.


The new format is ok for the most part. I like the pictires of the animals on the left in the list of all the ads. I like the fact that the vendors name is there but, I do not like it in the same column as the type of animal for sale. I suggest moving the name of the vendor to an individual coloumn. You do not have to ad a new column either, just take out the 'condition' column. That one seems a bit much. The condition should be mentioned in the ad itself, and you do have a box there right in each actual ad that shows the animal for sale, the seller's name and the condition of it among other things. As it is now, it is a bit of a pain for eyes like mine to pick out the seller's name from the page with the lists of herps for sale, such as the list of all corn snakes for dsale. It would be much easier to see in its own column. As for the condition, how many times do you need to see that, and having it just once on the actual item page is enough.

I also think that on the page that lists all of the classifieds overall, you should have something that shows how many ads are in corn snakes, how many ads are in Boas, how many ads are in pythons and so forth. I find that a big draw to get people to look. If they see the dash that is there now, they may assume as did I that there was actually nothing to look at in the new ads section! maybe that is why it seems a flop to you so far.

The overall presentation itself is pretty good too. The only thing in the layout that bothered me was the highlighted areas. Would it be possible to use colored and bold face text that is CAPTITALIZED instead of highlighted by bright yellow. That is hard on the eyes. If you can not do it with the lettering, and need to highlight then how about a more subdued but yet contrasting color?
 
Rich,

just so I say this right, the page that shows the list of all types of snakes for sale, show this in the last three columns: Under the "last Post header it shows the number of views next to whatever type of snake is for sale, then under threads header there is a dash, and unders the psots header there is another dash. Those headers need to be changed for the for sale section, they do not work well in the for sale section as they for the discussion forums. As it looks now you have gotten 369 views of the NEW Arboreal Boa/Python Section with no threads or posts therein. Under the old type of ads, using the headers as they appeared for the oold ads, this would mean 369 people viewed a section with nothing listed in it. For the new ad section, why not get rid of the columns and headers for threads and post, and replace the last post column with one for number of animals listed (not number of times viewed) Who cares how many people have viewed it, if people are buying they want to know there are actually animals for sale.
 
here is one example of what I mean, sorry the pic is sideays it would not fit upright.
 

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Well, a number of issues have been brought up here.

(1) New posts listing - not much I can do about that because the classifieds system is really an independent system that was fortunately able to be tied into vBulletin as well as it is. But those classifieds are NOT posts in the sense that vBulletin will recognize them as such. So they cannot show up as "new posts" from the link here.

(2) I can modify the classifieds section moderatly enough to accomodate many of the requests for changes, as they should be relatively minor (famous last words...). But to be honest, I figured I would wait and see what acceptance would be like before throwing a whole lot of time and effort at this. If people just didn't like it, then I would pull the plug on it, or just separate it out to be a totally independent site under HerpWantAds.com.

This is a trial basis to see how you all like it. The number of views on the links I put in the old classifieds section is for MY use. I want to know how many people have actually visited the new section and where they were coming from in order to get there. Once I choose one system over the other, that will all change anyway.

Thanks for the comments. All of this stuff is a work in progress anyway, so just let me know what works and what doesn't. If I can, I will fix it.
 
I posted numerous ads into the "New Classifieds" systems last night.
So far, the only issue that I see as being a problem is the picture size.
Apparantly, when pictures are uploaded, they are automatically resized to accomodate the system. Even when you click on "Supersize" all you get is a full screen page with the equivalent of a thumbnail picture within it. You are not able to see the detail within the photos like you can on the old classifieds.
Is this fixable?

Thanks,
 
Mike Greathouse said:
I posted numerous ads into the "New Classifieds" systems last night.
So far, the only issue that I see as being a problem is the picture size.
Apparantly, when pictures are uploaded, they are automatically resized to accomodate the system. Even when you click on "Supersize" all you get is a full screen page with the equivalent of a thumbnail picture within it. You are not able to see the detail within the photos like you can on the old classifieds.
Is this fixable?

Thanks,
Click to expand...


Fixed.....
 
My opinions on the classified section

Hi,

Well, please don't be offended, but you asked for opinions, right?

I'll start with the "new classifieds" section.

First of all, I think the "condition" table column can be taken out. Everyone will list their ad with "excellent" condition, whether it is or not... Second, the image thumbnails are a good idea, but they make the rows so big! This is already annoying to me. Third, I think the bidding option is a bad idea. Even if it is optional, this will get people to try to get a "deal" on an animal, rather than stick with the quality of the animal (just my opinion).

Now for the "old classifieds" section...

The "high visibility ads" are really annoying to me. I do not even look at these posts. Bold and/or colored posts would also make me think "hrmm, why are they trying to sell this animal so bad?" I just don't like over advertising, I guess. If the seller has a good quality animal, it will sell no matter what the ad looks like (well it matters a little, but you get my drift). Oh, the post icons are really, really annoying...

I don't like all the banner advertisements either.

Other than that, I'm glad that this service is provided free. You know, one of the only reasons I visit faunaclassifieds is for the Board of Inquiry. I don't really like looking at the ads (this site, and all of the other sites for the matter) because people try to oversell their animals. I like going straight to the breeder and paying for a good quality animal.

Well, there ya go. I hope I didn't offend too many people with this one...

Best regards,
Dustin J. Cox
Diapsid, Inc.
 
the only problem i have with it (as well as the new photo galleries) is that when you view new posts, nothing from those sections are listed.
i like to be able to click my little button and "see" (scan through the posts and ads and skip what i dont like and read what i like or am interested in) what is new for the day and not have to hunt and peck for it..... i only read the classifieds at fauna... (however for a week last week when i could not acess fauna, i was bored to tears and forced to read kingsnakes ads... which i have not looked at in ages). i think if you make it and i am using this term losely so dont jump my butt difficult for people to browse then you will lose people using and viewing the classified ads...... the one thing about fauna that has been so great is it's ease to use and the fact its a totally different format than any of the "bigger" sites and then of course integrading the classified control panel ,through the user CP, to the new classified sections
to be honest i posted a couple of things in the new classifieds area, they got very few views... i myself do not even go to the new classifieds or to the new photo galleries... (it's the view new post thingie again)
 
Diapsid said:
Hi,

Well, please don't be offended, but you asked for opinions, right?

I'll start with the "new classifieds" section.

First of all, I think the "condition" table column can be taken out. Everyone will list their ad with "excellent" condition, whether it is or not... Second, the image thumbnails are a good idea, but they make the rows so big! This is already annoying to me. Third, I think the bidding option is a bad idea. Even if it is optional, this will get people to try to get a "deal" on an animal, rather than stick with the quality of the animal (just my opinion).

Now for the "old classifieds" section...

The "high visibility ads" are really annoying to me. I do not even look at these posts. Bold and/or colored posts would also make me think "hrmm, why are they trying to sell this animal so bad?" I just don't like over advertising, I guess. If the seller has a good quality animal, it will sell no matter what the ad looks like (well it matters a little, but you get my drift). Oh, the post icons are really, really annoying...

I don't like all the banner advertisements either.

Other than that, I'm glad that this service is provided free. You know, one of the only reasons I visit faunaclassifieds is for the Board of Inquiry. I don't really like looking at the ads (this site, and all of the other sites for the matter) because people try to oversell their animals. I like going straight to the breeder and paying for a good quality animal.

Well, there ya go. I hope I didn't offend too many people with this one...

Best regards,
Dustin J. Cox
Diapsid, Inc.
Click to expand...

Seems a lot of things annoy you about ads. You state you don't even use them, so I wonder how useful your opinions will be. Me personally, the thumbnails are one of my favorite things with the new format. They are big enough that you can get an idea of what you are looking at, and if you are interested, you can hit the supersize button. Other boards either the thumbprint is to small or it just has a little pic of a camera and you are then "forced" to click on the ad or photo, just to see if you are interested or not.

The banner ads, they help pay for the free site, including the BOI.

I am puzzled by your last statement.......I don't really like looking at the ads ........ because people try to oversell their animals. I like going straight to the breeder and paying for a good quality animal.

Who do you think posts the majority of ads? I thought they were breeders. I have, at least 50 reptile related sites (breeders, stores etc) bookmarked, yet, checking ads is the best way to see what they have currently available. Many of the breeders sites are not updated regularly, so you may miss out on something. The vast majority of breeders post ads at one or more sites.
Just my 2 cents.
 
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