Ad Finder Functionality

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Create Ad Finder allows the user to create saved criteria to help them find ads that match what they are looking for. Note: Ad Finder functionality is only available on the frontend; administrators cannot create ad finders. The Create Ad Finder section is a one-page form in which the user completes the information about items they are looking for.

Begin by first specifying the title of your ad finder. You can call it anything you wish, as long as you have not used that title for a previous ad finder. You are the only one who will see your ad finder title and match criteria.

Continue by choosing the category of the item you are looking for. Select a sub-category (if applicable). If you choose to not specify a category or sub-category, the system will look for matches in all categories. In order to enter ad finder criteria for category-specific fields, however, you must select a category.

If you do not select a category or sub-category for your ad finder, the only fields that you can specify criteria for are the fields that are built in to every listing. These fields are:

Search Text

Keywords you would like to look for in the title of an ad.

Minimum Price

The minimum price of matching ad items.

Maximum Price

The maximum price of matching ad items.

Listed By (username)

The username of the user who created the ad.

If you do select a category or sub-category for your ad finder, the custom fields for that category will appear. You can enter match criteria into the custom fields for that category.

You can create multiple ad finders. There are no limit on the number of ad finders per user.

Click Save once you are finished entering all your ad finder match criteria. If there were no errors your ad finder will be saved, and you will be notified by email when new ads are posted that match your ad finder criteria.

Ad Finder Matching

Newly approved ads are matched with ad finders based on minimally matched information. The more criteria entered for each field, the more ad listings the ad finder will match with. Your ad finder will match ads based on the specific criteria you enter. Therefore, if you leave a field blank, the system will match your ad finder with listings based on the other fields you specified.

Example

Assume you create an ad finder in the Book category. You enter "health" in the Search field, a Maximum Price of $25.00, and check the box "2000 to present" for Publication Year. You will be sent an email alerting you of a match if a new ad is posted that has the word "health" in the ad title, has a price less than $25.00, and has a publication year after 2000. The ad listing must match all three criteria to be considered a match.

Example

Assume you create an ad finder in the Book category. You enter "health" in the Search field, a Maximum Price of $25.00, and check the boxes "2000 to present", "1990 to 1999", and "1980 to 1989" for Publication Year. You will be sent an email alerting you of a match if a new ad is posted that has the word "health" in the ad title, has a price less than $25.00, and has either a publication year after 2000, a publication year between 1990 and 1999, or a publication year between 1980 and 1989. The ad listing must match the first two criteria and one of the third criteria to be considered a match.

Ad Finder Emails

When an ad is approved that matches your ad finder criteria, the system will send you an email informing you. The administrator can select how often these emails are sent out, and how many matches are sent in each email. (See Ad Finder Settings)