May 18, 2005



Online Classified Ads: Craigslist Shows The Way

 

Though I had been hearing a lot about a US-based free online classified service called Craigslist but it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I started to realize the effective power and usefulness of this service also for many people outside the US.

colors_2_by_neza_350ox2.jpg
colors_2_by_neza_350o.jpg
Photo credit: Neža Čerin

Craigslist has been frequently pointed to for decimating classified advertising revenue of local newspapers, though the likely reason why newspapers are losing circulation is that too many traditional journalists have been losing the credibility and trust of their readers.
Online news readers seem to prefer the "independent", "open source" model of journalism where a growing number of individual investigators, news reporters, and bloggers act as genuine news reporters, fact checkers for the mainstream reporting, and early scouts of many unique stories.
What Craigslist offers is the opportunity to post online free classifieds through a web-based system that makes it both extremely easy and effective to sell or seek anything from an apartment to an expert in just about any field.


The first time I came in direct contact with Craigslist was a few weeks ago, during my stay over in San Francisco.

My host, a long-time friend from the university days, received during my stay a nice and unexpected present from her next door neighbors: a set of eight tickets to the next day baseball match, in some of the best seats available at the stadium.

I couldn't believe my eyes.
Within minutes my friend received multiple requests for the tickets and by providing to the prospective buyers her Skype number she was in no time talking to some of them.
In fifteen minutes all tickets were sold.

So, you may wonder, what are the "traits" that make Craigslist such a uniquely efficient tool for matching classified requests?
Read more to find out.

Conversation Tags:
Readers' Comments    
2007-11-13 19:12:36

Howard Cranny

I have heard great things about Craigslist, and thought I would give it a try. After several hours I found my way in to the posting area. Though, I spent the following day trying to get back in, so that I may edit and add pictures of the automobile that I'm trying to sell. It has been a difficult day. At this point I'm finding your service a navigational nightmare. Is there anything to be suggested that can rescue me from this abyss?



2005-05-18 17:56:16

David Smith

Hello Robin

I enjoyed seeing an article about the blessings of Craigslist, finally! I have used it personally and professionally. Most recently, my new firm needed an administrative assistant. One partner was prepared to write and place an paid ad in the local newspaper. I placed an ad in Craigslist instead and received 16 replies in two days. I had narrowed the list to four qualified candidates in the same amount of time it would have taken the newspaper just to publish our ad. One feature that your article did not mention is anonymity -- Craigslist provided me with an anonymous e-mail address for responses, which were forwarded to my email account. We are now blessed to have Anna helping us build our company with us.

I believe Craigslist shows the power of the idea -- not the power of the programming -- defines a great service.

David Smith
david@webconferencing4u.com
www.webconferencing4u.com



Recent Articles


September 27, 2008
Media Literacy: Making Sense Of New Technologies And Media by George Siemens - Sep 27 08


Is virtual learning better than classroom face-to-face instruction? Are the benefits for learning at a distance as effective as those obtainable from a traditional in-class curriculum? Tough to say. Different researchers report different experiences and given sometimes the shallowness of their investigation or the limited numbers... read more




September 20, 2008
Media Literacy: Making Sense Of New Technologies And Media by George Siemens - Sep 20 08


Understanding the concept of "information funnels" is critical to anyone passionately dedicated to become a successful independent web publisher. This is it. Photo credit: Teemu Arina I am indeed glad that George Siemens, who weekly authors these insightful digest, has himself chosen to point to the relevance of... read more




September 13, 2008
Media Literacy: Making Sense Of New Technologies And Media by George Siemens - Sep 13 08


"The growing complexity of technology and tools for designing learning leaves us at an interesting point: should educators/trainers become technologists? Or should the tools of design become so easy to use that technical skills are minimal? Or do we move the technology to specialized design teams... read more




September 6, 2008
Media Literacy: Making Sense Of New Technologies And Media by George Siemens - Sep 6 08


Are media and technology making you dumber? Do you feel socially distanced from what you really care about due to your increased use of technologies? We search Google and think we have acquired knowledge. We blog and think we have subjected our ideas to peer... read more




August 30, 2008
Media Literacy: Making Sense Of New Technologies And Media by George Siemens - Aug 30 08


What will look like education in the future? Are we going to see a revolution in the education system we have built in the last 100 years or a dissolution of the same as new approaches to education and learning slowly contaminate our fast changing society?... read more




August 27, 2008
Online Ad Management And Optimization: The Google Ad Manager Is Here to Optimize Advertising ROI


Google has just announced the public release of Google Ad Manager, a hosted platform for the full management and optimization of online advertising campaigns to improve your ROI (Return on Investment). To access it one needs only to have an existing AdSense account. Google Ad... read more




posted by Robin Good on Wednesday, May 18 2005, updated on Tuesday, February 21 2006


 

 

 

 

Understanding comes from exploration

Home | Subscribe | RSS Feeds | Site map | Syndicate
Consulting | Publications
About | Privacy | Contact

 

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.





View blog authority

 

3371