Best way of introducing paid ads

[martini55]

My website is now over one year old and I am contemplating introducing different listing packages. The site was not created to make a profit as such, but neither can I afford to always be out of pocket! My site offers the advertising of horses for loan and share. Currently people placing an ad offering their horse for loan/share have the option of two types of ad: a free text ad and a paid photo ad. All wanted advertisements are free text ads.

I was thinking of keeping the free wanted ads but offering just one type of ad for people offering their horse- a paid advert with 2 photos- for a nominal fee. What kind of sucess have people seen in introducing paid adverts?

[juven14]

I think another method of introducing pay would be to change the details of the existing package as well as creating more. Then you could change the renewal price. This might help judge the willingness to pay for a listing. If there is demand, then you could slowly increase the rates for the initial price. You might also use the sale price to indicate that the listing isn't normally free and then after a while just increase the price to the sale price.

[Chaslie]

I'm not a big fan of text only ads even if they are free. At most newspaper web site, they have their classified ads available and they look bland and uninteresting without pictures. I would be inclined to offer a free ad with one pic then at least your site would be more interesting for those visiting and more tempting for those who have something to sell.

Your paid listing could then be up to 5 pics, etc.