How to Export Leads From Craigslist

Craigslist is an online classified listing website that allows people in cities across the United States and around the world to list and find everything from jobs to homes to dates. While a few casual minutes on Craigslist can quickly turn into hours as you troll the innumerable offerings and requests your area has to offer, if you are looking for something serious, you will need to be more organized in your approach. While Craigslist doesn't have a function to automatically export selected leads, it is fairly simple to manually export, then organize, the leads that meet your specified qualifications.

Instructions

1. Make a list of the specific qualifications the thing you are searching for -- whether it be a new job or a new car -- needs to have. Begin with the basics: location and money, like your desired salary or the amount you're willing to pay for a new couch. Then list search terms that might help facilitate finding leads, like "administrative assistant," "receptionist," or "office manager."

2. Complete a Craigslist search, using your search terms. Try different permutations of words -- "sedan," "car," and "automobile" -- and scan list titles to find leads that will fit your qualifications.

3. For each lead, export the contact information and specifications of the job, item or person into a spreadsheet. Depending on what you're searching for, create columns that will hold the vital information about the lead. "Email" and "phone number" are relevant for all types of listings; other specifics might include "rent," "address," "color," or "condition."

4. After exporting your leads into a spreadsheet, begin contacting your leads by phone or email address. Mark beside each item when you contacted the lister and any subsequent interaction.

Tips & Warnings

• If you repeat these steps over several days or weeks, you may begin to see duplicate listings as you broaden your searches and the listing person relists items that haven't moved quickly enough. Keeping track of the specifics will help you weed out duplicate contacts.

• If you're having trouble finding leads in your area, consider trying the Craigslist sites for nearby cities. For example, if you live in Boston you might have ready access to leads listed on other New England Craigslist sites.

References

• Apartment Therapy: How to Search on Craigslist
• Apartment Therapy: How to Use Craigslist to Find the Perfect Apartment
• Chicago Tribune: How to Use Craigslist
• Get Rich Slowly: 24 Craigslist Tips, Tricks, and Resources
• 20Something Money: 5 Ways to Use Craigslist to Save and Make BIG Money
• Real Tech Guy: How to Use Craigslist to Get More Leads