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.
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.
It's already possible to know the effect of a SL classified:
1. Select your SL classified text/keywords carefully. Pay a defined amount for the classified.
2. Monitor to increase of visitors at your shop. Monitor sales.
3. Repeat 1 and 2 until you see differences.
Try to find answers on questions like:
- does an increase in de cost of my SL Classified also increase visitors/sales?
- which keyword/sentence work best?
- does the classifieds of my competitors influence my return?
It's clear there is some learning money involved.
