Free local classified site "happysheep"

Zillion launches free local classified site "happysheep"

Thursday, 6 March 2008, 3:00 pm

Media Release: Zillion

The team behind the NetGuide award-winning web site Zillion today launches its new free local classified web site "happysheep". happysheep was created as a place on the Internet where New Zealanders can advertise to people who live in their local communities. "Think about it like an online version of the public notice board that sits outside your local dairy" says happysheep co-founder Dylan Bland.

Just like a real-life community notice board, it´s completely free to advertise on happysheep. "We fondly remember when the Internet was about community and making it fun and easy to connect with people. Unfortunately the Internet today is dominated by media companies and business models" says happysheep co-founder Simon Barton.

Much of the inspiration for happysheep was drawn from the desire to give New Zealanders a web site in the spirit of craigslist.org, a community site that is reportedly used by over 25 million Americans every month. "We love what craigslist stands for: restoring a human voice to the Internet in a non-commercial environment and providing an alternative to impersonal, big-media sites", says Dylan. "In the two years since the sale of Trade Me to Australian-owned media company Fairfax there has been a surprising lack of quality local sites coming out of New Zealand."

Visit happysheep.co.nz and you will find a site that focuses on the basics and without unnecessary bells and whistles. "We believe in simplicity and have built the best site possible with the least number of features necessary" says Dylan, "and we´ve deliberately avoided intrusive banner advertising opting instead to let the content generated by our members take centre stage".

Dylan and Simon are confident that their combined experience building some of New Zealand's favourite Internet destinations will ensure that happysheep grows into a successful and thriving online community. "Between our sites (Zillion, Gameplanet, Gameplanet Store and nzflatmates) we're already touching the lives of thousands of New Zealanders every month. We've won seven NetGuide Awards and learned a lot about what works and what doesn't on the Internet. It's great to see these lessons applied to happysheep and we're very excited about the future" concludes Simon.

http://www.happysheep.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media