There are many ways of advertising both on and off line these days. Classified ads have been around since the advent of the newspaper. They occur in both the free and paid variety which users employ with varying degrees of success.

The pros and cons of using free online classified ads are diverse and many. On the plus side of course is the cost. Since there is no charge for placing the advertisement, more money can be saved to put into the actual product or business. The service is also readily available, with more online suppliers offering this type of freedom for their customers. It is a way of building a contact list in exchange for their ad placement.

Since there is no cost for the placement of these ads, the customers or traffic that visits the website is also free, allowing a company the opportunity to put more money into the website or perhaps offering a discount or some other amenity This can be good for the bottom line.

On the other hand, free classified ad websites are also that -- free. Most larger websites or highly popular sites charge a fee for placing and advertisement. This usually means that visitors are looking for a specific item. So the free site probably won't bring in the rush of activity that is needed to keep a website flourishing.

Without spending money on paid advertising, the likelihood of getting the torrent of the right kind of visitors is not as likely unless there is a posting on a large number of these types of sites. By spreading the word out, the likelihood of getting more customers is increased. However, the time spent to post to a multitude of sites may not be worth the time spent in performing this activity.

Thus, using free classifieds ads has its advantages and drawbacks. The main items are time and money. It is important to put a value on the time spent for any type of activity. This will provide the necessary information to determine whether the paid or free ad option is the best route to take.