1. Find your “Mypage”

First of all you need to find your “mypage”. This is the page containing all of your ads. You can share this with your friends, put it on business cards – whatever. You can find it by going to one of your ads and clicking on your display name (username).

The URL of your Mypage will look like this:

http://mypage.freeads.co.uk/yourdisplayname

What we are interested in here is the RSS (really simple syndication) feed that comes with every my page which is essentially the same URL as your mypage but with “.rss” added to the end. There is also a link entitled “RSS feed”.

The URL of your RSS feed will look like this:

http://mypage.freeads.co.uk/yourdisplayname.rss

2. Create a Twitterfeed account

Go to http://www.twitterfeed.com and sign up for an account.

Done? Great! Now click on “dashboard” and then “create new feed”. Set the Feed name to be “Freeads.co.uk” and the RSS Feed URL to be the URL of your mypage’s RSS feed (as mentioned in step 1).

Then click on “advanced settings”. Set “Post prefix” to be “@ukfreeads” and then click “Continue to step 2″.

3. Connect to Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin

To connect your RSS feed, under “Available Services” click Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin and enter the details of your Facebook,  Twitter or Linkedin account.

4. There is no 4 – you’re finished!

Just wait for your ads to appear on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin!

Gmail:

1. You can use this link to go to your spam folder
2. If the link doesn’t work hover over the left hand toolbar in your Gmail inbox and then click on the “More” drop down at the bottom of the top section
3. Click on the spam folder and open the email from us
4. Click on the cross button next to the Spam button at the top of the email

Hotmail:

1. You can use this link to go to your spam folder
   
2. If this does not work select the “Junk” option in the left hand toolbar
3. Open the message from us and select “Wait, it’s safe!” in the yellow box at the top of the email

Yahoo:

1. Select the “Spam” folder in the left hand toolbar
2. Open (or select) the email from us and click on “Not Spam” at the top of the email

Gmail:

1. Click the Gmail drop down at the top of the left hand toolbar and select “Contacts”
2. Click the red “New Contact” button below the “Contacts” drop down
3. Enter our contact details (e.g. Name: Freeads.co.uk Email: freeads@freeads.co.uk) – please note you can add more than one email address to a contact

Yahoo/Ymail:

1. Select the contacts tab at the top of your email inbox
2. Click add a new contact and enter freeads@freeads.co.uk into the email box
3. Click the save button at the top of the screen

Hotmail:

1. From your inbox select the “Contacts” option near the bottom of the left hand toolbar
2. Click the “New” button at the top of the screen
3. Add freeads@freeads.co.uk to the email section and save

Sky:

1. Select the contacts link in the left-hand toolbar
2. Click the create contact link on the contacts page
3. Add freeads@freeads.co.uk to the Primary Email: field
4. Save your changes

Our testing panel of users (just like you) absolutely loved it, so we hope you will find it a better way of finding great Freeads bargains on the move!

What will I find?

• The same great ads as on your computer
• A better browsing experience
• Great items in YOUR local area

Why is it so great?

• Find it faster with mobile optimised search and our new “refine” search tool
• Use your phone’s GPS to find ads near where YOU are right now!
• Respond to ads direct from your mobile

So what are you waiting for? Join us at www.freeads.co.uk

Go Second Hand and SAVE MONEY!

Get a New Years resolution you can keep…

With memories of the festive period fading fast, we are all left with the same subdued bank balance after a period of excess. But don’t let that worry you, here at Freeads we have the answer!

Simply switch to second hand for the month of January and see how much you can save!

What will I find?
- Up to 10,000 second hand gems for under £25!
- Free stuff from other Freeads Freecyclers
- Grab a bargain in YOUR local area before it goes to someone else!

Why is it so great?
- Save money and ease your bank balance back to health
- Do your bit for the environment by choosing second hand!

So to get a resolution you can keep, join us at www.Freeads.co.uk and choose second hand!

Our goal throughout the redesign has been to make it faster & easier for you to post ads on Freeads.co.uk. We have therefore shortened the Post Ad process to 3 clear and simple steps meaning that you can place an advert in just 60 seconds!

We hope you like the new post ad process and will find it faster and easier to use. We have tested the process as thoroughly as possible, however, as with all major site releases it is possible that there will be a few bugs which we have missed. If you have had any problems posting an advert or have any further suggestions or comments to help us make further improvements please let us know via our contact form or by leaving a comment on this blog.

Many Thanks and don’t forget to post an ad,

The Freeads Team

From free stuff fanatics to bargain hunters to family pet searches to volunteers looking to help out in their local community, Freeads.co.uk has a home for every type of community, so read on to find one that will be perfect for you!

6 ways to join a Freeads Community:

1. Join the “FREE STUFF” community on Freeads:Browse 1000s of unwanted treasures being given away for free and connect with 1000s of users wanting your old junk! Find a Freebie Online or place a Free Stuff Ad!

2. Join the “COMMUNITY” section on Freeads: Find events, charity fundraisers, organisations, meet with musicians in your local area and much more…- Browse “Community” or place a “Community” ad.

3. Join the “BUY & SELL” community on Freeads:Find over 100,000 items for sale including used cars, pets, mobile phones, computer games, collectables and more…- Browse “Buy & Sell” or place a FREE “Buy & Sell” Ad: http://my.freeads.co.uk/placead/1/buy__sell

4. Become a Fan of “FREEADS ON FACEBOOK”Join the Freeads community on Facebook.com/freeads.co.uk and share your freead with your friends, meret 1000s of like minded people!- Follow Freeads on Facebook.com/freeads.co.uk

5. Join in and Tweet on “UKFREEADS on TWITTER”Tweet your ad on Twitter (use hash tag #ukfreeads) and share your wares with our loyal Twitter community as well as all of your Twitter friends!- Follow “ukfreeads” on Twitter.com.

6. Read The Freeads BlogGet great advice, seller and buyer safety tips and learn how to sell better online to make more money!- Read the Freeads Blog: http://blog.freeads.co.uk

The Freeads Team

To help you avoid puppy farmers the RSPCA recommend calling the breeder before visiting with a prepared list of questions to help you assess the quality of a breeder. We’ve drawn up a selection of questions that you should try to ask as soon as possible:

• Can you see the puppy’s parents? It may not be possible to meet the father but you should at least see the puppy’s mother.
• Will the breeder take the puppy back if you are no longer able to take care of it.
• How many dogs does the breeder own and how often are they bred?
• Is the breeder KC registered? If they are ask to see their certificate when you visit.
• Have the puppies been socialized with other dogs and animals?

• Have the puppies been brought up around, or socialized with, young children
• Does the breeder provide a health guarantee their puppies? If so for how long?
• What tests have been carried out on the puppies and on the parents? This is particularly important for pedigree dogs which can suffer from a range of health problems.
• Have the puppies been wormed and vaccinated? Make sure to check the veterinary records when you visit.
• Arrange a visit. If the breeder is reluctant for you to visit the puppies this should be a concern. Most responsible breeders should insist upon you visiting and should also have questions for you to make sure you are capable of looking after the dog.

A phone call is still no substitute for a visit and you should always visit the breeder’s home before agreeing to purchase a puppy. If possible you should visit the puppy more than once before taking it home.

Remember; never buy a puppy because you feel sorry for it. Buying a puppy out of pity will only lead to more animals suffering. If you are concerned for an animal’s welfare please contact the RSPCA.

For more tips on choosing a puppy check out the RSPCA’s GetPuppySmart campaign.

Good luck finding your perfect pet!

The Freeads Team

Firstly, the best way to avoid fraud on classified sites is to meet and exchange goods for money face to face. However, we know that this is not always possible and Paypal can be a safe & secure alternative payment method. There are, however, ways that fraudsters can try and exploit Paypal to part you from your cash or your property.

The most recent scam that we have seen involves the fraudster targetting sellers of high value goods and asking them to send them abroad. They then send emails pretending to be from Paypal informing the user that they have been paid and asking them to ship the item. Once it is shipped, the item is lost. With this scam in mind we have put together our top 5 tips for safer selling using Paypal:

1. Do not send an item unless the money is in your account. Money received via Paypal should appear almost instantly in your account – emails claiming that the payment has been made when you cannot see it in your account are probably fake.
2. Watch out for fake emails. Remember, emails from Paypal will always greet you with both your first and last name. If you are ever unsure about an email you believe is from Paypal – contact Paypal customer services
3. Be very wary of requests to send an item abroad – particularly if the sellers Paypal account is located in the UK.
4. Send items to the buyers “Seller Protection Address”. You can find this by clicking on the “Details” tab in your account history.
5. Insure your goods – that way if they go missing you are covered.

For more information and tips on using Paypal safely and spotting the fraudsters check out Paypals safety tools.

Happy Selling,

The Freeads Team

Whoever you are and whatever you post on Freeads.co.uk, we think that every type of user can find a great reason to post a Free Ad. Whether you are a family  offering kittens for adoption, a car dealership or one of our tribe of free stuff advocates, there is a great reason for everyone to get on board!

So, place an ad today or read on to find out why posting Freeads.co.uk is great for EVERY type of advertiser!

3 GREAT reasons why YOU should place a FREE ad TODAY!

Never Placed An Advert?

• Reason 1: Every ad is FREE to place
• Reason 2: Get 10 FREE Photos
• Reason 3: Ads last for 60 days

Business User?

• Reason 1: Buy more exposure with premium & bold upgrades
• Reason 2: Buy 1 Get 1 FREE on your first upgrade
• Reason 3: Get 6 months “Premium Membership” for the price of 3 (until 2nd Oct 2011)

Freebie Fan?

• Reason 1: Find 1000s of freebie bargains online…
• Reason 2: Post a free stuff ad and clear out your unwanted items
• Reason 3: FREE privacy protection

http://my.freeads.co.uk/placead/

The Freeads Team