If you are selling something include a few descriptions of the quality of the object you are selling. Make sure to lead the title with the object, followed by some descriptors. Use caps sparingly to add emphasis. Consider some of the following phrases: LIKE-NEW One owner Mint NEED TO SELL Works GREAT If you are listing an apartment or house, use homey words to create a sense of comfort in the reader. Include the basics of the property, including number of bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as square footage.
Tell a story. This is a very useful tactic when selling something. Never say you want to get rid of something because you don’t like it anymore. Instead, let someone know that you’re upgrading, or that you need to sell because you’re moving. Talk up the product. Approach the ad as a salesperson would. Tell the reader why he or she needs your product as opposed to all the others that showed up in their search results. Include specs and details to make the ad appear more professional. Compare your asking price to the object’s initial cost. This will drive home the value that the reader will be getting if they buy from you. It helps put the price into perspective. This is very useful for more expensive items. When advertising a rental property, give a detailed description of both the interior and exterior. Discuss the good aspects of the neighborhood, such as schools, close proximity to good food, recreation, etc. Mention any new renovations. Also make sure that you outline when new tenants can move in, as well as rental costs. If you are offering a job, include the position, the amount of time the job is expected to take, as well as compensation. Discuss qualifications needed, as well as what applicants can expect if they get hired. If you are offering your services for potential employers, sell yourself. Play to your strengths and list everything that you are capable of (in regards to that particular field). Treat the post as you would a cover letter for a resume. Let anyone who reads it know that you are the best person for that job. If you are writing a personal ad, get creative! Make your post stand out with witty writing, poems, and more. A unique post is much more likely to get noticed than a typical “dating site” post. Craigslist is a crazy and anonymous place, so have fun and be safe! If you are posting to find a relationship, remember to sell yourself much like you would a product. List all of your strengths, and what makes you unique. Be assertive in your post, and let readers know that you know what you want. Make sure that your personality shines through in your writing. Be sure to avoid any identifying personal information. Make initial contact through an email that can’t be connected to your real name, address, or occupation.
Pictures help immensely when selling a product. If a reader is looking for a physical object to buy and there is no picture, they are very likely to skip over it. Potential buyers like to be able to see the condition of what’s for sale. When selling a car, make the first picture a profile shot of the car. Use the other photos to show the interior and other angles. When advertising a rental property, show the front of the house or apartment in the first shot. Use the other picture for interior shots, as well as the backyard and other angles. If you’re posting a personal ad, you have to decide how comfortable you are with posting your picture for strangers to see. If you do decide to use a picture, make sure that it is flattering and does not violate any Craigslist rules. Craigslist will soon be phasing out direct linking to external images. If you want to add images to your post and you don’t want your post flagged, be sure to use the uploader. Craigslist does allow simple text links in ads to other pages, so since buyers like to see many high quality photos, you may find it helpful to use a service like photobucket, listhd, or classpics to add images then add a text link in your craigslist ad “for more images”.
“job offered” “gig offered” (short-term, small, and odd jobs) “resume/job wanted” “housing offered” “housing wanted” “for sale by owner” “for sale by dealer” “item wanted” “service offered” “personal/romance” (missed connections) “community” “event”
Each category has subcategories to pick from. Choose the one that most suits the needs of your ad. For example, if you are selling a video game system, be sure to put it in the “video gaming” category and not the “toys & games” or “electronics” category. This will make your ad easier to find. If your ad fits multiple categories, try to find the most applicable one.
Many posters use this field for phone numbers and websites. Be sure to include http://www so that it is a live link.
The anonymous email only works for the first email from the site. Any subsequent emails between you and the other party will display your actual email. It is recommended that you create an email address specifically for your dealings on Craigslist. You must put a valid email address in order to receive the confirmation email from Craigslist that will allow you to publish your post.
You can just enter your city and postal code, or you can choose to enter your exact address as well. A small map will be added to your post, and your post will appear when people do map searches.
Some sections of Craigslist require verification over the phone before your post can be published. This is to cut down on automated spam posts.
