CUSTOMIZED CRAIGSLIST

By Dave Sakamoto, CPA, MBA, Software Designer A member of our expert team

Craigslist Information for Property Managers and Realtors. Craigslist (CL) is a very effective, powerful web site for advertising vacant rental property, vacation property and selling real estate. This article will try to provide concise easy to follow information on: 1) Background 2) How it works 3) Shortcomings and Rules to Consider 4) How to effectively use it. 5) Suggestions

1. Background (1): Started in 1995 by Craig Newmark in San Francisco to post information about community events, it grew rapidly as a classified advertisement web site. As of September 2007 it was established in 450 cities in 50 countries. It continues to grow exponentially, with 100%+ growth in many cities just in the past few years. Craigslist is considered the “leading classified service in any medium.”

2. How it Works: Users log into craigslist.org to post their ads in one of numerous categories, including Rentals - “Apt-Housing”, “Vacation Properties’, and Sales - “Real Estate for Sale”. The ads are pretty simple and generic. Up to 4 pictures can be added with no description. HTML based. Most ads are free to place, while CL charges for some job listings and apartment postings in certain major cities, including New York. Ads can be reposted every 48 hours so it goes back up towards the top of the list.

3. Shortcomings and Rules To Consider: a. Time Consuming: Posting/Reposting 10 ads can take about one hour. So 30 ads will take about 3 hours, every 48 hours. To keep the ads current by posting three times a week, expect to spend around 39 hours a month for 30 ads. b. Duplication of data, where the same data and pictures used elsewhere must be entered manually into Craigslist. c. Very simple generic ad format d. Limited 4 pictures without any description e. Ads quickly go towards the bottom of the list, many pages down unless reposted. f. Requires knowledge of HTML to create eye-catching custom non-generic ads.

4. How To Effectively Use Craigslist 1. Use HTML to create eye catching ads with the power of HTML including more than 4 pictures, links to application forms, and many other HTML features. 2. Repost every 48 hours to keep your ads towards the top of the list. 3. Avoid duplication of data by using a program that enables you to enter data once that is used for Craigslist and many other purposes. 5. Suggestions To my knowledge, at this time only "One click Customized Craiglist" from Info On The Web solves these shortcomings.

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Customized CraigsList