Martin:

I think a site like the one you described is a wonderful idea.

Here are some things that popped into my mind...

• Do advertisers take their own photos or do you go to their place to take the photo? (Many people don't have a scanner and would have to pay someone to scan photos. And many don't have digital cameras.)
  
• How is your local newspaper as far as taking ads from people whose ads encourage people to place ads in their advertising thing? How would they feel about running ads advertising your ad website?
  
• How many people reading the general classifieds have a computer with internet access (assuming the newspaper allows your ads)? This could limit the overall market of potential ad viewers. And as ad viewership helps determine ad price, your price may not be able to get as high as you hope.
  
• As the ads are online and no new issue is created (as would happen in a paper and ink publication), keeping track of old expired ads and uploading new ads could become a full-time job in itself. Even with software to help you. (Unless ads are all redone on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.)
  
• Are there publications in your area that offer free advertising? Would you be competing with them?
  
• People have been trained to look in paper and ink publications for general chattel in their area. Will they be easy to retrain into looking online?

SPECIALIZING is where I think your idea would really excel. Then, pretty well all the above considerations become a mute point.

For instance...

Golf Products online. And only Golf Products. You would capture the Golf Product market and could even expand the area you cover.

Bass Fishing Boats. And only Bass Fishing Boats.

Pop Up Caravans. And only Pop Up Caravans.

Dining Tables. And only Dining Tables.

Etc., etc. You get the idea.

People would learn to turn to your website when wanting to buy a new (second hand) "Whatever-Item-You-Specialize-In."

Basically, you would be creating an online and localized version of the trader type mags.

Michael Ross


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