Speurders.nl, the popular Dutch online classifieds site launched last year by newspaper company
The Telegraaf, now lets users add video clips -- which it believes to be a world first for a general classifieds site. In a press release,
Michiel van der Meer, CEO of Speurders, suggests that adding video is especially relevant for items like electrical appliances, to show that they are still working.
More than 600 video ads have been uploaded in the last few days, and on the
video ads page you can see the most popular video ads (cars, a
shar-pei dog, a diamond ring, and a home trainer), the most recent video ads, and an overview of available video ads per category.
The video platform, developed by
Easyconcepts, accepts all video files with a maximum size of 8 MB, automatically transfers them into Flash video, and plays them in a Speurders-branded player. Adding video to ads is free for now.
People pretty much upload video in all categories, and a lot of clips present just what Speurders expects -- quickly showing the pets and cars and household items people are selling. Although some put in more of an effort. There is a magician who wants to sell his "magic washing machine," and adds a
clip with him on stage. And an orange football for sale for €15 (US$20) comes with an edited clip of
two friends playing in a field.
I found that the more standard videos also offer quite an interesting glimpse of Dutch home life -- its kitchens, living rooms, and back gardens. Videos provide relevant information for potential buyers, but they are also fun. Most mobile phones and digital cameras come with the option of making short videos these days.
You can see an interesting future here: people developing their own commercials, sharing them via Speurders, which could combine them into an (Internet) TV auction channel, perhaps also charging for longer clips or adding premium services (show my video first/in higher quality/etc.).
My blogging colleague
Steve Yelvington reports that
Horsecity.com, a specialty site from Morris Digital Works, has had
videos in its classified advertising for several years. Is anyone else aware of other services that allow the public to sell things and promote them with video?
Hi Monique, In answer to your question, I run a...
