Cost of Second Life Classifieds

I'm following the cost of SL Classifieds since several weeks.

Merchants that want to place a SL classifieds might find this information useful.

The current cost for the first position is 363,000L$, while the cost for the third position is 361,000L$. A week ago (27-nov), the cost for the first position was 359,001L$, and for the third position 151,340L$. A month ago (4-nov-2009), the first position was available for 405,000L$, the third position for 250,000L$.

I'm also following the cost to get the first position for some keywords. For example:
Furniture
today: 142,143L$
27-nov-2009: 141,000L$
4-nov-2009: 403,000L$

Land:
today: 67,000L$
27-nov-2009: 59,000L$
4-nov-2009: 111,000L$


The history of the cost for the 1st position for other keywords is available at http://www.metaverse-business.com/classifiedmax.php

Amazes me how people can afford that a week and still make a profit.

I wonder how many people actually look at the classifieds.

Phase 1: Get Underpants
Phase 2: ????
Phase 3: Profit!!!!

Fixed that for ya

easy. theyre spending the money they made off classified bugs. L$500,000/wk wasnt so steep when you never actually paid it.

So basically the steps are...

1. Create Alt account
2. Create classified Ad and set price to some huge amount
3. Ad never gets paid
....
45. Profit?

This are the changes of SL classified costs for this week (07-Dec-2009)

The current cost for the first position is 364001L$, while the cost for the third position is 363000L$. A week ago (30-Nov-2009), the cost for the first position was 361000L$, and for the third position 360000L$. A month ago (07-Nov-2009), the first position was available for 406010L$, the third position for 405000L$.

The cost to get the first position for some keywords are:
Furniture:
today: 364001L$
30-Nov-2009: 345678L$
07-Nov-2009: 203000L$

Land:
today: 364001L$
30-Nov-2009: 66666L$
07-Nov-2009: 111000L$


The history of the cost for the 1st position for other keywords is available at http://www.metaverse-business.com/classifiedmax.php

This are the changes of SL classified costs for this week (11-Dec-2009)

The current cost for the first position is 366001L$, while the cost for the third position is 365000L$. A week ago (04-Dec-2009), the cost for the first position was 363000L$, and for the third position 361000L$. A month ago (11-Nov-2009), the first position was available for 407001L$, the third position for 406010L$.

The cost to get the first position for some keywords are:
Furniture:
today: 365000L$
04-Dec-2009: 142143L$
11-Nov-2009: 406010L$

Land:
today: 364001L$
04-Dec-2009: 67000L$
11-Nov-2009: 265001L$


The history of the cost for the 1st position for other keywords is available at http://www.metaverse-business.com/classifiedmax.php

I ran experiment last month because I couldn't figure out how one of my competitors was affording an expensive ad. So, I ran an expensive ad two weeks in a row that bumped me into 1st postion.

Did. Not. Change. My. Sales.

At. All.

Conclusion: there must still be a bug somewhere because 1st position in Classifieds list is not worth the expense.


I still run a Classified ad for each of my stores just to make sure they're in there, but I keep the cost no more than my stipend for the week.

This are the changes of SL classified costs for this week (20-Dec-2009)

The current cost for the first position is 450100L$, while the cost for the third position is 368001L$. A week ago (13-Dec-2009), the cost for the first position was 367890L$, and for the third position 366001L$. A month ago (20-Nov-2009), the first position was available for 359000L$, the third position for 358000L$.

The cost to get the first position for some keywords are:
Furniture:
today: 367900L$
13-Dec-2009: 367890L$
20-Nov-2009: 358001L$

Land:
today: 71500L$
13-Dec-2009: 71000L$
20-Nov-2009: 266001L$


The history of the cost for the 1st position for other keywords is available at http://www.metaverse-business.com/classifiedmax.php

So... *does* anybody Search Classifieds anymore? And do the little AdSense-like tags on the right of the Search/All results (they're from Classifieds, right?) generate any clicks at all?

The really stupid thing is that LL is happily selling these Classifieds without having to supply any data showing click-through rates, nor any means of tracking whether click-thrus are associated with actual sales conversions. It sure seems like another case of SL "businesses" willing to act completely on faith. (Or maybe just trying everything in a desperate attempt to find something that will work?)

This are the changes of SL classified costs for this week (28-Dec-2009)

The current cost for the first position is 370000L$, while the cost for the third position is 177,777L$. A week ago (21-Dec-2009), the cost for the first position was 450,200L$, and for the third position 450,000L$. A month ago (28-Nov-2009), the first position was available for 359001L$, the third position for 206,000L$.

The cost to get the first position for some keywords are:
Furniture:
today: 369,000L$
21-Dec-2009: 367,900L$
28-Nov-2009: 151,340L$

Land:
today: 68,000L$
21-Dec-2009: 71,500L$
28-Nov-2009: 59,000L$


The history of the cost for the 1st position for other keywords is available at http://www.metaverse-business.com/classifiedmax.php

We have classifieds?

Probably the searches in the classifieds are about the same as the searches in 'search all'. If I am looking for something generic, like club equipment, place search is just fine for what I want. If I am looking for something specific, like cross-country skis, I might have to use 'search all' if that full string does not work in place search just because 'skis' would give far too many false positives.

I consider the classified in SL the same as the classified in RL: that they are full of junk so why waste my time on ever looking at them. Since placement is determined by how much you pay, they are not sorted by anything worthwhile even: like relevance to what I want to find.

Correction:
They are AdWords-like ads. AdSense is something different

I use classifieds to narrow down a search. Filters out a lot of crap, and stores that are not serious. I also want to shop at people's stores who are making an effort and busting it out. Paying for an ad indicates to me, that they are actually selling stuff, which means they might have good stuff.

I use classifieds for my own store - and they work. Using one, also places your store in an ALL search, in a highlighted box....right next to someone who might be using methods to achieve a high ranking, that are often frowned upon.

You can follow whether or not they work - by making your landing points for classified in specific places at your store, and watching the map. There is also a TP counter on the ad itself. Or, you can take them away for a week.....and watch your business go down by about 25 to 35%.

Quite right; sorry 'bout that.

Also, I'm not questioning that Classifieds work at an entry price point--I even use one for my dopey little shop (or at least I think I still do; I guess it's obvious how little I care about actually selling anything). But bidding wars for placement? I very much doubt it pays, and LL provides no data to determine what is having impact on sales. For example, other than (very expensive) trial and error, how can one know which words are matching search queries, and which of those matches lead to visits, and which of those visits convert to sales?

It's a pre-web anachronism, reminiscent of printed book yellowpages--worse, actually: even those guys at least cite some phony-baloney numbers.

I've placed classifieds and haven't seen much difference in sales, maybe because my stuff is more at the high end of the price range (my main product is real software, after all.) I've also tried advertising on the web using google ad words without noticeable difference, so I stopped, though I do know of at least one sale that came directly from that.

What really dissapoints is that I just paid for a featured listing on xstreet and I have to click through 15 pages before I see it, and that's if I'm already in the right main category. I'd never see the listing if I started at the main page. That's very discouraging and I feel a little ripped off. What good is a featured listing if you are featured on page 15?

Classified ads are trackable on the classified tab in your profile. It shows # of teleports since you last updated the ad, which you can clear daily, weekly, monthly, etc, whenever you want. However, it would be nice to have other ways to track, such as some reporting on weather they clicked your ad or your place listing in 'search all'.

If I'm not mistaken the featured of xstreet cycle through, what I can't tell you is how often. I only know because I happen to keep up with them to find creators of some of the things I need. It seems everyday there is a different featured set of items. I'm sure some are new but I also know some are old because they were on the first page maybe 3 days ago and then weren't there and now are again. If any of that makes sense.

This are the changes of SL classified costs for this week (02-Jan-2010)

The current cost for the first position is 370,000L$, while the cost for the third position is 180,181L$. A week ago (26-Dec-2009), the cost for the first position was 450,200L$, and for the third position 369,000L$. A month ago (02-Dec-2009), the first position was available for 362,000L$, the third position for 360,001L$.

The cost to get the first position for some keywords are:
Furniture:
today: 300,001L$
26-Dec-2009: 369,000L$
02-Dec-2009: 345,678L$

Land:
today: 75,001L$
26-Dec-2009: 72,000L$
02-Dec-2009: 67,000L$


The history of the cost for the 1st position for other keywords is available at http://www.metaverse-business.com/classifiedmax.php

This are the changes of SL classified costs for this week (09-Jan-2010)

The current cost for the first position is 350,000L$, while the cost for the third position is 300,100L$. A week ago (02-Jan-2010), the cost for the first position was 370,000L$, and for the third position 180,181L$. A month ago (09-Dec-2009), the first position was available for 366,001L$, the third position for 365,000L$.

The cost to get the first position for some keywords are:
Furniture:
today: 301,000L$
02-Jan-2010: 300,001L$
09-Dec-2009: 365,000L$

Land:
today: 76,001L$
02-Jan-2010: 75,001L$
09-Dec-2009: 364,001L$


The history of the cost for the 1st position for other keywords is available at http://www.metaverse-business.com/classifiedmax.php

This are the changes of SL classified costs for this week (17-Jan-2010)

The current cost for the first position is 400,000L$, while the cost for the third position is 201,337L$. A week ago (10-Jan-2010), the cost for the first position was 350,000L$, and for the third position 300,100L$. A month ago (17-Dec-2009), the first position was available for 367,900L$, the third position for 367,000L$.

The cost to get the first position for some keywords are:
Furniture:
today: 351,000L$
10-Jan-2010: 301,000L$
17-Dec-2009: 367,890L$

Land:
today: 181,001L$
10-Jan-2010: 77,000L$
17-Dec-2009: 71,000L$


The history of the cost for the 1st position for other keywords is available at http://www.metaverse-business.com/classifiedmax.php

Holy cr@p!

On the surface......that just seems absolutely insane. I search classifieds to narrow down my search, or for specific stores if I have an out dated LM and I need to find the new location. I rarely use it to find NEW shops (new to me, not literally new). Most of the time I find cool new places by accident...just from exploring locations that seem interesting.

When I did have my shop.....there was absolutely no justification for having a classified. It simply didn't ever profit me. I'm not in SL to become a business tycoon so I canned the whole idea. I have also noticed.....the creators of a LOT of the really good quality items I buy..... do not bother with classifieds....instead, the have their ad info in picks. I know this because because one of the things I constantly do to find places is check for the creators name, look in their profile, and see where they have their shop. Shops move so much that I find that to be the most effective way to get back to a spot I liked. And more often then not, I have to look in picks because their classifieds tab is empty!

I'm thinking of re-opening a shop.....I will NOT be placing classifieds. I may not sell much either LOL but at least I wont be blowing extra L's on an ad that does me zero good.

This are the changes of SL classified costs for this week (30-Jan-2010)

The current cost for the first position is 425,000L$, while the cost for the third position is 345,678L$. A week ago (23-Jan-2010), the cost for the first position was 400,000L$, and for the third position 250,000L$. A month ago (30-Dec-2009), the first position was available for 370,000L$, the third position for 180,180L$.

The cost to get the first position for some keywords are:
Furniture:
today: 345,679L$
23-Jan-2010: 250,000L$
30-Dec-2009: 75,000L$

Land:
today: 48,198L$
23-Jan-2010: 41,000L$
30-Dec-2009: 75,001L$


The history of the cost for the 1st position for other keywords is available at http://www.metaverse-business.com/classifiedmax.php

This are the changes of SL classified costs for this week (06-Feb-2010)

The current cost for the first position is 426,000L$, while the cost for the third position is 350,054L$. A week ago (30-Jan-2010), the cost for the first position was 425,000L$, and for the third position 345,679L$. A month ago (06-Jan-2010), the first position was available for 350,000L$, the third position for 300,100L$.

The cost to get the first position for some keywords are:
Furniture:
today: 355,000L$
30-Jan-2010: 345,679L$
06-Jan-2010: 301,000L$

Land:
today: 60,000L$
30-Jan-2010: 48,198L$
06-Jan-2010: 70,500L$


The history of the cost for the 1st position for other keywords is available at http://www.metaverse-business.com/classifiedmax.php