Web sites that list classified ads have proliferated, but so far they have mostly made life easier for buyers rather than sellers.
First there is the technology hurdle: many people who want to post a classified ad may feel daunted by the mechanics. Then there is the question of where to post: is it worth it to place a listing on more than one site, or is it enough to simply cast one’s lot with Craigslist, Google Base, eBay or Windows Live Expo from Microsoft?
A new breed of Web sites aims to simplify the process. The sites offer templates and step-by-step instructions for creating classified ads and then post the ads, sometimes free, on all the major listings services.
Two sites that offer this service already are vFlyer and Postlets; a third, Mpire, which plans to charge a small fee for the service, will join the fray soon. The sites rely primarily on outside advertising for their revenue...