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Zipsads - a Drupal powered classified ad site

Posted by carlwenrich on September 4, 2008 at 3:01am

This is a classified ad site I put together to provide an alternative for those who are less than thrilled with craigslist and all the sites that have copied it. Craigslist offers a few hundred locations across the USA where people can advertise. Zipsads offers 79,169 locations (one for each zip code). Craigslist allows you to post locally (to people in one of those few hundred locations). Zipsads allows you to advertise to people (1) within your zip code, (2) within your city, (3) within your county, (4) within your state, or (5) nationwide. Craigslist allows other people to flag your ads and they have been known to disapper on the same day you placed them. Zipsads allows people to flag your ad, but it also allows you to specify (for a small fee) that your ad will never be flagged by other users (only by the administrator if it is offensive). Craigslist lets your ad drop down and fall off the page as other ads are posted. Zipsads allows you to specify (for a small fee) that your ad will be reposted every day, placing it at the top of the list once again. Craigslist allows you to upload up to 4 images (pics) to be included in your ad. So does zipsads (no big advantage here). Zipsads uses Drupal 6.4 for now. It also uses the standard Garland theme for now, but I'll probably be coming up with something else sooner or later. For now I'm focusing on the modules. If you'd like to take a look at it (and maybe place an ad or two) just go to carls-permaculture.com/zipsads and read the intro. All feedback appreciated. Carl.

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Here's a real link

Posted by carlwenrich on September 4, 2008 at 3:04am

http://carls-permaculture.com/zipsads

Zipsads

Posted by Rask on September 4, 2008 at 9:06am

Hi Carl,

Your site looks promising (with a new theme).

Could you please write a bit about how the site was build? Modules etc.?

What does it mean when you write that people can post locally? Does it mean that only people in that area can view the ad? If yes, does it mean that one can choose to post an ad and then decide who can view it (by area)? If yes, how is it done?

Regards,

Rask

Thanks for your interest.

Posted by carlwenrich on September 4, 2008 at 3:06pm

The only modules used (other than those in the standard distribution) were modules I wrote myself: ad_location, ad_listing, ad_issue, etc. Your other questions are answered on the home page, which I've copied here:

  1. Introduction
  2. Browsing ads
  3. Creating an account
  4. Posting an ad
  5. Editing an ad
  6. Deleting an ad
  7. Adding to your balance
  8. Enabling no flagging
  9. Enabling daily repost
  10. Filing an issue
  11. Renewing an ad

Introduction

There are other classified ad sights out there. Why should you advertise on this one?

  1. Your ad can appear locally (within your zipcode, city, county, or state) or nationwide in 76,169 locations.
  2. You can place your help wanted ads in any location absolutely free (no extra charge for big cities).
  3. You can specify that your ad will never be flagged and removed by other users (for a small fee).
  4. You can specify that your ad will be promoted to the top of the list (reposted) each day (for a small fee).

Browsing ads

You can browse (and respond to) ads without having to register or login as a member.

  1. Click "Set location" under "Listings" and enter your zipcode.
  2. If your zipcode covers more than one city, select a city from the radio group.
  3. Click "Select category" under "Listings" and then click on one of the many ad category links.
  4. Click on a "Coverage" link to change from "nation" to "city", "county", "state", or "zipcode" to change the coverage.
  5. Click on an ad title to see the corresponding ad listing.

Creating an account

You need to create an account to post ads.

  1. Click "Create new account" under "User login" and enter a "Username" and your "E-mail address".
  2. Check your email for a verification email from us.
  3. Follow the instructions in that email to verify your email address.

Posting an ad

If you haven't created an account yet, go to the previous step. If you haven't set a location or selected a category, do so now.
NOTE: You may place as many ads as you like, but only one ad per category at a time.

  1. Click "Post an ad" under "Listings" and then select the "Coverage" you would like.
  2. If you don't want users to "Reply to" to your email address, replace it with your phone number or website url.
  3. Enter a "Title" for your ad (this will appear on the category listings page).
  4. Enter the "Body" of your ad (this may not contain html characters or angle brackets).
  5. Click "File attachments" if you would like to upload up to 4 images (jpg, jpeg, gif, png).
  6. "Browse" to each image (on your hard drive), then "Attach" each one to upload it.
  7. Click "Save" to save your ad (it will expire in 30 days unless you renew it).

Editing an ad

  1. Click "My ads" under "Listings" to access your ads.
  2. Click "edit" under "Actions" for the ad you want to change.
  3. Make your changes, then click the "Save" button.

Deleting an ad

  1. Click "My ads" under "Listings" to access your ads.
  2. Click "delete" under "Actions" for the ad you want to change.
  3. Confirm your request to delete the ad.

Adding to your balance

A balance is only required if you intend to use features like the "no flagging" feature or the "daily repost" feature.

  1. Click "My balance" under "Listings" to access your zipsads account balance.
  2. Click one of the five "here" links to add the corresponding amount to your balance.

Enabling no flagging

This feature allows you to prevent users from flagging your ad (there is a charge of $1.00 for 30 days).

  1. First, make sure you have funds in your account (see "Adding to your balance").
  2. Click "My ads" under "Listings" (assuming you have already placed at least one ad).
  3. Click the "no flagging" link under "Additional features".
  4. Click the long button to pay $1.00 for this feature via PayPal.

Enabling daily repost

This feature allows you to have your ad reposted every day automatically (there is a charge of $1.00 for 30 days).

  1. First, make sure you have funds in your account (see "Adding to your balance").
  2. Click "My ads" under "Listings" (assuming you have already placed at least one ad).
  3. Click the "daily repost" link under "Additional features".
  4. Click the long button to pay $1.00 for this feature via PayPal.

Filing an issue

If you have a question, comment, suggestion, or complaint about anything on this website, you can file it here.
NOTE: You must be a registered user (create an account and log in) to file issues.

  1. Click "Add issue" under "Issues" and select an issue type (question, comment, suggestion, or complaint).
  2. Enter a brief description in the "Title" of the issue..
  3. Enter a more detailed description in the "Body" of the issue.
  4. Click "Save" to register your issue.

Renewing an ad

Be aware that when you renew an ad, any remaining "no flagging" or "daily repost" days are lost (there is no rollover).

  1. Click "My ads" under "Listings" to access your ads.
  2. Click "renew" under "Actions" to renew a particular ad.