How to Start a Craigslist Posting Business
Because of the pervasive influence of Craigslist.org, people are turning to it as a marketing tool--in some cases, even the primary marketing tool for a new business. The beauty of establishing a Craigslist-based business is that it allows you to work from wherever you please, avoiding the overhead costs of an expensive storefront. Even better, posting to Craigslist is free, cutting out many marketing costs. This, of course, is also what presents a challenge to a Craigslist-based business, as the site's no-fee service creates an environment of almost unlimited competition, meaning you must get creative to distinguish your products from those of competitors.
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Instructions
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Starting the new business
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Choose a product. This is perhaps the most difficult and most important step. Unlike an online shopping site such as eBay or Amazon, Craigslist is about local vending, so you must research the local market to find the niche you can fill. If you have a particular skill already, such as candle making, look on Craigslist, specifically in the local area, to see if other candle makers exist and if so, how you can make candles that are somehow different or superior, or perhaps just more cost efficient.
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Establish a Craigslist account. On the Craigslist.org homepage, there will be a menu column on the left. The second item in that column says, "My Account." Click this link. This will take you to another page with blank login fields. Underneath the login fields will be a link that says, "Don't have an account? Sign up." Click this link. At this point you will be required to provide an e-mail address, and Craigslist will send a verification email to that address and ask for a password. Once you provide the password, the account is established. Craigslist does not require an account for posting, but establishing the account is important because it will give you name recognition in the Craigslist community.
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Write a headline for the advertisement. This headline should contain a clear, concise description of what the product is and a price. It helps if you can insert an adjective that somehow distinguishes the product you sell from competitors' postings. Do not go overboard, and do not try to sell by typing in all caps or by using excessive exclamation marks, as these are tactics common to Craigslist scammers.
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Write the ad copy. In a short paragraph, explain the product. Make sure to explain specifications that are important to customers. For instance, if you sell restored televisions, include the dimensions of the screen. Also take advantage of the space to explain why this product is a good deal in relation to similar products. If you want to experiment with "limited-time offer" sales methods, make sure to include that information in the copy.
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Attach photographs. If customers can see the product first, they are more likely to take the chance to drive out to retrieve it. Use good lighting and flattering angles, but do not try to hide anything, as this will waste everyone's time when the customer comes to pick up the product and sees a flaw not displayed in the photo. Take pictures yourself rather than using stock photos, as potential customers can usually tell when a photo is a stock photo and will not trust that what is depicted is the actual product.
Making the sale
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Publish the posting. There are strategic times to do this, such as in the early evening when people are about to get off work. When you publish the posting, Craigslist will include a link that allows customers to send questions without revealing your email address. Other contact information is optional, but including a phone number may be worthwhile, as phone conversations can expedite transactions and make customers feel more at ease.
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Answer queries promptly. It's likely that potential customers will have questions. If they send questions by phone or email, answer as soon as possible.
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Arrange meeting times with customers. Once you've closed a sale, you will need to arrange a time to meet in person and make the exchange. Try to be as accommodating to the customer as possible.
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Make the sale. When the customer arrives, have the product packaged as nicely as possible, and be ready for a quick transaction. The more prepared you are, the less of your own or the customer's time you are likely to waste.
This, essentially, is the beginning of a Craigslist business.
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Tips & Warnings
Correct spelling is important, as it can give you legitimacy. Run the headline and the ad copy through a spell checker.
The formatting on Craigslist is very uniform. You can distinguish an ad by using different fonts and colors.
Use caps and exclamation points very sparingly. Both can come across as overselling and can even lead potential customers to believe you are hiding something or are a scammer.
Because of the anonymous nature of Craigslist, there are a lot of scam artists. Be aware that you are inviting strangers to meet with you, so you may not want to run the business out of the home for this reason, and you also may not want to meet late at night.
Keep receipts and records so that you can stay in tax code compliance.
