Free Ads!

[Kazza]

Hi! Have just purchased 68Classifieds yesterday so am very new to the software (and hence my probably really simple question!) Have searched the forum and see it is possible to make my ads free, but could someone just let me know how I go about it? Ideally I'd like to remove the 'Select Package' step from placing an ad.

I apologise in advance for probably being a bit thick - thanks for any help!!

[Mike-N-Tosh]

Hi Kazza,

All listings packages are made in the admin. When you make a package, you select which categories that the package can be used in as well as other parameters. Of course, the price of the listing is one of those parameters. So, to make it free make the price $0.

-Mike

[Kazza]

Ah I see! Thank you! While I'm here - is there any way to just skip that part of the process; ie just choose the category then move straight on to details? Thanks!

[Mike-N-Tosh]

Anything is possible, however to do that would be extremely complex. Much would have to be re-written in the script.

The reason is that the packages when created are tied to the category themselves. In addition, the extra fields are also tied to the category, thus the reason you need to choose a category first. Otherwise, how would it know what listing packages and extra fields were available?

-Mike

[Kazza]

I see fair enough! Thanks for your help!

[canariasdata]

Hmmm. I have the same question.

Sure, it makes sense to first choose a category (step1) BUT if the categorie is FREE OF CHARGE, it would be nice to skip the next Step(2) where you just see thet this IS FREE. I think thats what Kazza was talking about and not the nessesary step 1 of choosing a category to place the listing in.

Something like:
After step1
if { listing is not free } > step2
else { If listing is free} > step3

would this be possible? As you know, less steps = better4 the user!

[Mike-N-Tosh]

Originally Posted by canariasdata

Hmmm. I have the same question.

Sure, it makes sense to first choose a category (step1) BUT if the categorie is FREE OF CHARGE, it would be nice to skip the next Step(2) where you just see thet this IS FREE. I think thats what Kazza was talking about and not the nessesary step 1 of choosing a category to place the listing in.

Something like:
After step1
if { listing is not free } > step2
else { If listing is free} > step3

would this be possible? As you know, less steps = better4 the user!

I understand what you are saying. I don't work for 68C, however many people (myself included) offer a free ad that can be used in several categories. At the same time, I have paid ads for every category as well. I don't have any category that is only free ads.

Does that make sense?

-Mike

[canariasdata]

Hello Mike,

Does that make sense?

Sure, but I dont know how this is related to my question?!

I -for example- have a categorie "Real Estates" and under this categorie I have sub-categories "Sell" and "Buy".

If someone wants to sell a house (maybe he runs a real estate agency) I want to charge him for placing his listing(s), so step 2 is necessary to show him what it will cost. On the other hand, if somebody is just looking for a house (Buy) he can place his add for free and for him seeing step2 is absolutly not nessesary and just one click/step that could be skipped.

At the end it is just to put in a logical question: if {$price=0 goto step3} else {goto step2}

But maybe it is just the way I set up my categories. I have nearly all categories for free ads, exept selling properties and cars and in this two categories I have only one single price package (plus the featured/bold options which do not show anyway on step 2.)


Sorry for any causing any confusion I am so used to work with open-realty(TM) and developed the multilinguality of it, that it is very hard for me to dive into smarty now which is really totaly new to me.

cheers,
Gregor

[Lhotch]

Originally Posted by canariasdata

Sure, but I dont know how this is related to my question?!

Its related in the sense that in his case, and in most cases I have seen, there are multiple packages which need to be chosen and hence step 2 is needed. In addition to that, the package defines limitations for the ad itself. Those details arent collected until an ad package is selected in step 2, skipping it means the script as it sits has no way of knowing what the limits of the ad being placed are.

Originally Posted by canariasdata

At the end it is just to put in a logical question: if {$price=0 goto step3} else {goto step2}

As I eluded to above, its a little more indepth than that but thats the beauty of it, you can modify the script to suit your needs.

At the end of the day the script serves a wide audience. For many it works wonderfully right out of the box. Others se many things they want to change, but doing so can have system wide effects that can affect how the script works for others. So, what works best for you may not work well for the majority and at the end of the day the developers of the script have to make decisions based on general usage AS WELL AS what is programatically feasible. Often times the most seemingly simply things to think through in your head are a coding nightmare.

[canariasdata]

Larry,
you are absolutely right with all what you say.
As I just setup 68C for about 72 hours, I was just trying to get my clients website as user friendly as even possible.
To have to click one more time for sure will hurt nobody and thought it would just be a minor change to archive what I wanted to do.

As I see there is more involved and I kindly thank you for your explanation!

BTW: Great forum, wonderfull support!!

Regards,
Gregor