Local Ads (www.localads.co.uk), the free online classified ads service, is expanding six months after its launch in March, 2006. The site has developed into an all-round destination for advertising on the web and has now added community notice boards and charity shops to its service.

[Register and post your own comments on this story below...]

The service for charity shops (www.charityshop.co.uk) can help raise the profile of a particular charity and gives each organisation its own virtual website with space to display ads for campaigns, events, recruitment of volunteers and to raise donations from the local community.

This section also allows users to reach a far greater number of potential customers than they would otherwise - many of whom would not even have been aware of their existence offline. Effectively, charity shops can open their doors round the clock and tempt new customers by listing exactly what’s currently on sale.

Off the shelf mini websites

Similarly, the communities section (www.communityboard.co.uk) has been created to offer schools, clubs, churches and other non profit making organisations free access to up to date technology, and provides them with an alternative to traditional notice boards found in receptions and corridors.

Each online notice board comes with its own URL, extensive administration features and moderation options. Notices can be easily placed by community members who, in the case of protected boards, simply need to know the password.

Making buying, searching & selling more accessible to non-profit organisations

Local Ads is free and easy to use and makes buying, searching and selling extremely easy for individuals and businesses in the UK. Users can search for a broad range of items in a specific location - including clothes, toys, electrical goods and cars - and can also source trades people, jobs and accommodation.

Sellers can use the site as many times as they want to advertise their goods or services. All listings are free and businesses can create their own online stores to showcase products.

Keith Taylor, chief executive of Local Ads, commented: “Unlike those offered by many of our competitors, our system is purpose built and not simply a classified ads paper transferred online. Our aim is to be the Ebay of classifieds and, at the same time, provide a comprehensive service to the non profit making and community sector."

About Local Ads:
Local Ads is an online classified ads board founded in 2006. The company has a growing user base with over 20,000 users registering since launch. In addition to being a forum for buying and selling, Local Ads has created a notice board service for charity shops and other non profit making community based organisations such as schools, clubs and churches. www.localads.co.uk