Classified Ads URGENT!!!. Linden Response Required.

Hi everybody.

As some of you may know I had my store listed in the Sponsored Links Tab inside the find menu. Thanks to this update than tab is gone. The lindens say they are preparing something for the "classified ads".

I think that I’m not the only one that wants more info on this. In my case my sales dropped terribly just because they removed this and who knows when are we getting the next update. And my store relies in this kind of advertisement because I don't have a club full with strippers, otherwise I would be listed in the popular places Tab .

We need information regarding this ASAP.

I hope to get the attention of a linden, we need more information on this new advertisement system.

What do you think?

Wow, that's annoying, just when I had been saving up and hoping to buy one of those sponsored links. I welcome the new classifieds idea heartily, but I wish they did still have the sponsored links to get maximum attention. Advertising is so hard in this world!

Here's my educated guess on what's going on...

If I'm not mistaken, the new "Classified Ads" were an idea that came out of the Events Workgroup. The Linden logic behind it being: "There are sales-driven events being posted to the events calendar, because currently - there are limted options for in-game advertising."

The suggestion was made that if there was a Classified Ads section in-game - people may be less inclined to post their Yard Sales or Land Showings to the event calendar - and put them in an in-game Classified ad instead.

Because of this, I would anticipate that the Classified Ads section would be just as easy (and cheap) to use as the Events calendar. But purely a guess not based upon any hard facts.

If this is true - it would explain why sponsored places were removed. With a 'free' alternative right along side of it - it may render sponsored places somewhat irrelevant.


Hope this helps!

Did LL take the time to let the Sponsored Links people know that the links were going away? I mean personal email notification, not just a posting on the board.

Classified ads are a great idea and I am looking forward to them. I doubt if you would share (and I totally understand) but I'd be curious to know what sponsored links did for your margins. How much did they cost and after that was factored in, what was the net gain? Curious. Thanks.

Hey Bruno, I think most people dont know how to measure their sales. all i can tell you is that sponsored links meant about 30%-50% increment in my current sales. which isn't much but i can pay my tier with that

I think its fair and a good idea they removed sponsered links.

Its not fair that people who are either wealthy in RL or already established in SL enough to afford to buy a sponsered link ( which I believe were limited too? ) should be the 'chosen few'

How can the 'smaller new businesess' be seen & heard if the already established and financialy comfortable 'thank you very much' automaticaly assume the rights to such expensive advertising?

Free classified ads make sure no one gets special ' I can afford it so its mine!' liberties.

We ALL get a chance this way and then the success should come from those people who are just as talented as the fat cats but who at the moment just cant be heard above the expensive advertising

SL is a growing world and more & more people are starting to create stores & creations...its only fair and normal that the established Co's get some competition now...as at ethe end of the day...this i believe is a GOOD thing...competition will drive the prices down too...now I know this is gonna create a whole new debate on the long term effects of the economy but some of the more established Cos...especialy those that used to be in the sponsered links...completely OVER charge for their goods & services...beacuse presumably they could...as people went their and bought...assuming that was the 'going rate' were as if they shopped about...they would find just as good for a LOT less...but its hard to find the smaller Cos in second Life...HENCE sponsered links were a great way to be 'seen'

One example is a texture store I visited when I first arrived and even though I had no 'real' comparison i felt the prices were expensive ..but this was 'THE' store so I assumed this must be the 'going rate' and didnt give it much thought...

THEN 1 month later I found a dif texture store and she offered the same standard textures...great choice...full rights...everything was like for like...maybe she didnt have the same amount of choice as the store wasnt as' old' as the first one..but the prices were HALF that of the 1st one..

This I have seen many times over...clothes I have bought...poor quality (but being a newbie) i paid 200 for an outfit i now know was made in world...

Now I know I can buy photoshop made stuff for cheaper...

My point is...being wealthy enough either in RL or in SL to afford such luxuries as sponsered links doesnt make them stores the BEST choice...just means they get more customers cuz ppl 'assume' they are.

Well I think theres a HELL of a lot of competition out there just waiting to be discovered...and im glad they all get a chance to be seen and heard now above the giants.

There is tons of competition in the clothing / furniture market. I often wonder how people can make such a fortune in these industries.

And yet they do!