Daype Classifieds

Craigslist has the classifieds game all tied up right? Wrong. New classifieds startups are popping up all the time – here we review the top 5 most interesting.

1. DAYPE

According to Quantcast, a well-known audience-insights service used by Digg, MTV Networks, Time, Inc., Bloomberg, Wordpress ,and NBC (to name just a few), Daype is at the top of the startup list. Since its beta launched in August 2008, Daype has rapidly expanded, now netting 150,000 page views per month.

With a simple, intuitive user interface, Daype makes buying and selling a snap. Search results that include images and an on-page drop-down category menu make narrowing a search efficient and effective.

Pros
* User-focused, with an easy to use, intuitive interface.
* Registration and user accounts for easy ad management.
* Allows registered users to include Skype details for easy buyer contacts.
* Watchlists to keep track of interesting ads.
* Covers all major US cities.

Cons

* Still gathering momentum in some cities, meaning searches sometimes
return outdated results.
* Some job categories, such as media and publishing, not listed.

2. ILIST

Taking advantage of the power of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, iList helps posts reach like-minded buyers. Linux-based, it’s also a very stable system, making it easy for you to find last minute concert tickets. Complete with a developer’s toolkit and API, iList encourages mashups and sites that work with iList’s data.

It’s also backed by some pretty impressive names, including Dmitry Shapiro, the founder of Veoh Networks, i.e. it’s going places.

Pros

* Takes advantage of your existing social contacts – if you like a certain band and have tickets to sell, chances are someone else in your network likes them, too.
* Ability to cross-post over several social networks means you reach a bigger audience quickly and easily.
* Wide range of well-thought out categories.
* User accounts make it easy for post management and getting in touch
with potential buyers.
* Cell phone or social network confirmation prevents spammers.

Cons

* Posting only to social networks can limit an ad’s reach.
* Limited listings in certain cities.

3. TWEETMART

Born out of what creators Will Kern and Bill Kocik saw as a need for a simple classifieds-Twitter mashup, Tweetmart is, in essence, a classifieds service for Twitter. With a a simple yet powerful user interface, Tweetmart makes posting a breeze. After logging in with your Twitter account, just click on “list an item” and you’re done. Every time an item is listed, Tweetmart automatically tweets the listing. Like iList, Tweetmart lets users re-tweet listings to their hearts content. Interested users can then send a direct message (@joesmith) – or an email, if they’re not a Tweeter – expressing their interest.

Pros

* Easy to use, post from anywhere.
* 140 character limit keeps posts to just the essentials.
* 30 day limit on job listings.
* Allows unlimited re-tweeting of job listings.

Cons

* 140 character limit can make posting difficult.
* 14 day limit to regular listings.
* No image uploads.

4. COLLEGE CLASSIFIEDS

Targeting one of the largest classifieds demographics, College Classifieds is exactly what the name implies – a classifieds service dedicated to college listings. Boasting the inclusion of every college across the US – including Alaska and Hawaii – College Classifieds lets users search colleges by state. Categories include college-specific listings, such as textbooks, summer jobs, Greek Life, and financial aid. There’s also a well-written “Protect Yourself” page (scroll to the bottom of the page) with tips on safely listing classifieds online.

Listings with images are free; paid advertising, such as banner ads, is also available.

Pros

* College category listings not found elsewhere.
* National coverage of a large demographic.
* Listings are also promoted via feeds and data exchange.
* RSS feeds are available by state.
* “Protect Yourself” page with information about being safe online.
* A blog with posts relevant to all aspects of college life.

Cons

* Unlike other classifieds sites, College Classifieds requires users set up an account before posting.
* Not clear how long it is between posting an ad and the ads appearance on the site.

5. BUYTHECHANGE

Describing itself as a grassroots movement, BuyTheChange is a classfieds site with a conscience. Developed with the idea of staying local, BuyTheChange lets users buy and sell within their own communities in an effort to build trust, save time, and reduce waste.

Unlike most other classifieds sites, BuyTheChange offers an annual paid membership (there’s a free option for selling only) for promoting businesses and services. Personal memberships are $24, while business memberships are $120; proceeds from the dues go to the non-profit of your choice.

Pros

* Promotes a good cause.
* Local focus means less travel and shipping, decreasing the service’s
environmental impact.
* Helps build a sense of community.
* Users learn more about the goings-on in their neighborhood.
* RSS widget displaying the 20 most recent postings for your area.

Cons

* Services postings are only available with a paid membership.
* Local only focus limits the reach of postings.
* Local only focus may mean fewer results and a limited catalog of available items.

Of course, the above sites are just the tip of the iceberg. As with all things, there are ups and downs, pros and cons to everything in the classifieds game, but each of these sites has a few great pros. Try them out for yourself, and you’ll see.

By Peta Andersen
August 24, 2009