New forum section: Freebies, Deals, Sales

[WSB]

While out just now covering volunteers toiling in the rain to fix up Camp Long, church members raising money in Fauntleroy with a beautifully arranged rummage sale, and listening to the latest scary economic news on the radio, I was trying to think if there was something more we could do with this site to help in tough times. We opened the Jobs Offered section a while back to give local businesses a place to post help-wanted ads WITHOUT having to pay (even CL charges for job ads). But that barely scratches the surface.

Some previously had suggested a freebie area. Some people have just spontaneously posted deals and sales (rummage, garage, etc.). So for starters – and we’d love any other ideas of how to help – I just created the Freebies, Deals, Sales area. It will almost certainly evolve beyond one section, maybe even beyond the forum zone, but it’s a start.

Rather than set guidelines immediately, I’m going to see how everybody wants to use it. Obviously we’ll watch for danger zones like the infamous CL ad where somebody said “come over to address X, everything’s free” but, um, it wasn’t. I will probably post some things here that qualify and go beyond event calendar listings (like today’s Fauntleroy Church sale).

Yard sale season is winding down so I don’t expect the forum “latest discussion” list will get overrun by this topic. If it does, we’ll find a solution fast.

Just wanted to announce it … let’s see where it goes. I feel pretty optimistic personally that things are not going to heck in a handbasket … but there’s no doubt we all need to help each other even more than ever before – TR

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[mellaw6565]

Glad you finally decided to do this! Now if you would put a new section up for services offered (like babysitters, pet sitters, etc…) that would be great too!

Thanks TR for all the work you do.

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[datamuse]

Maybe a thread having to do with other resources for same in the area? I’m thinking specifically of Freecycle but I’m sure there are others.

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[WSB]

M — thanks. “Services offered” is a tough one because it would be difficult to figure out where to set a limit. We HAVE TO be able to make a living through advertising – this is our only job, and the two of us put in about 180 hours a week (we hope to start hiring official part-time help within a few months).

There is no other way to monetize a site like this (subscription models have died a miserable death, even for big famous sites) – and some service providers do take out ads (note the therapists, tutors, etc. in the right sidebar). Our ad rates are ridiculously cheap for the amount of exposure – even our most expensive ads equal 60 cents CPM (every thousand times your ad is seen) which is pretty much rockbottom, and because times are tough, we are keeping the rates low – our traffic has doubled since we started offering advertising 10 months ago, so advertisers are getting twice as much for their money, but we have not raised rates and have no intention of doing so for a long time.

But we have talked about perhaps a “service directory” that could be somewhere between “free forum post” and “standalone ad.” Maybe that would fit in with your suggestion. Thanks again! – TR

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[Diane]

thanks for this new forum area; will be fun to see how it plays out

~

I’ve used freecycle and CL (free, wanted, for sale sections) A LOT since discovering about 5 yrs ago, but with gas prices, now have to specify in any ads, please be within 5 miles of West Seattle because even the Seattle freecycle covers huge geography; will be great to have very local opportunity

~

re “even CL charges for job ads”; it is true that CL started, thankfully, charging very small amount for JOBS section just a couple years back, which helped to kill scams/spam; really cleaned up the jobs section; but CL still offers free listings under GIGS, SERVICES, RESUMES, and CHILD CARE which is under COMMUNITY; I’ve used the child care section for years; it is free, and truly a free for all, with jobs wanted and nanny wanted and daycares and nanny agencies, and a lot of crazy comments (that are not supposed to be there) all mixed together; and again, it covers huge geographic area, even if you select just Seattle; so I specify in my ad please be within 5 miles of West Seattle, and I still get people asking me to drive to far off areas of Seattle and beyond; and I get a ton of those awful scam responses daily, but they’re so bad, so easy to decipher, so I just delete

~

and yes it is true I was a CL and freecycle addict before also becoming a wsblog addict

~

I can totally appreciate the need for wsblog to make a living, and I love that the ads on this site are static (none of the annoying pop-ups or crawling across screen); best of all I love seeing local businesses on here

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[JanS]

the daughter calls me the “freecycle queen”…so I’m probably gonna love this new section – lol…

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[angelescrest]

When can we start?

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[WSB]

It’s open now … last forum on the list on the forums main page – I shortened some of the explanatory copy on the other forum headers so that it should appear above the fold for most people. direct link here:

https://westseattleblog.com/blog/forum/forum.php?id=10

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[JoB]

i like it..

and just in time for my moving sale … to be announced when i find out when i am going to move:)

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[angelescrest]

You wouldn’t want to add , “Wanted” (needed?) to the category, would you?

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[mellaw6565]

TR – no problem on advertising sales vs. a “services offered” category. You deserve to make a living – for sure:)

I was thinking more of people with less formal businesses.

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[charlabob]

oops — is “wanted” appropriate here too? i just assumed it was but maybe not.

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[ellenater]

I agree with M but see how a “services offered” section WOULD be hard to monitor. But it’d be great for kids who want to earn some extra money babysitting, doing yard work, house cleaning, etc.

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[Diane]

how would you discriminate between kids who want to earn some extra money babysitting, doing yard work, housecleaning, etc, and adults who need to do similar work to pay the rent?

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