Selling the car? Want to get rid of your old computer? Selling some gig tickets? Looking to raise some extra money fast? Then advertising in the 'For Sale' section of the local newspaper looks like a good way to go. Right?

Let's face it, most of us buy the local newspaper to find out what's going on in the area. And, of course, we'll take a look at the personal or for sale columns, too, whether accidentally or intentionally. I mean, it's human nature. We all like to know what is being sold and for how much, even if we've no intentions of ever buying. A minute or two later and the newspaper is tossed away. But just when you really need it, to find the number to call to place an ad, for example, it's nowhere to be found. Sod's law!

What to do now? The Yellow Pages - of course! Obvious. Thumb through it until you find  the section 'Newspapers and Periodicals' and then carefully go through the list. There's the number. Grab a pen, note down the number and dial.

The friendly female voice on the other end of the line politely asks what department you want and you reply, "Advertising". You're almost there. Patience. A few seconds later another female voice asks how she may help you, and you blurt out you want to place a 'For Sale' ad in this week's edition.

"You want to place an ad in next week's edition", she says, abruptly. She hasn't understood. "No, in this week's edition", I repeat. "Sorry sir, can't do it. If you'd only called half an hour ago. You've just missed this week's advertising deadline, which is always midday on a Tuesday, no exceptions. Do you want to place an ad in next week's edition?"

Keep calm. Don't get annoyed. Think. The paper comes out at the end of the week but my ad should have gone in half an hour ago. This IS Tuesday. What's the matter with you people

? Never heard of give-and-take? Local newspapers suck. You can keep them. No choice, hang up the phone before I blow a fuse or say something I might later regret.

But wait a second. This is the age of the Internet, instant communication, web sites, email! No need to panic. After all, you've seen many a classified ad site on your web travels, right? You've never given them a second thought. Maybe now you should.

Open up the browser, go to Google and enter 'classified ads'. Easy, a ton of classified ad sites show up in the search results. So many to choose from.

The scene above may be a simple story but there is a serious point or two behind it. It neatly illustrates one of the very best reasons to consider using freeads sites - instant advertising. No waiting around. No deadlines.

And here's another good reason. Cost. It usually won't cost you anything to sign up with a freeads site. And it won't cost a penny to post your ad either. Post as many freeads as you want, too. Saves a boat-load of cash!

Reason number three - there are LOTS of classified ad sites out there. Literally hundreds to choose from. Probably thousands. Sign up for as many as you want. And signing up is usually quick and easy, too, requiring only a valid email address, nothing more.

The fourth good reason is reach. The local newspaper may have a circulation of a few thousand, or a few tens of thousands, confined to the area you live in. A classified ad site, because it is web-based, can reach across the country, or across the world. That means no matter what you are trying to sell, someone, somewhere will probably be interested in it.

Reason number five - usually you can add a picture of the item for sale at no cost whatsoever. Try doing that in your local newspaper and see what it does to your bank balance.

John Donaldson is the owner of classified ads site Freebie Ads. Costs nothing to join or to post ads. Have a look at http://www.freebieads.co.uk