Rating:

Amazon desribes this book as…

“Jobs. Housing. Customers. Stuff. Events. Advice. Even romance! It’s all waiting for you on craigslist… and this book will help you find it faster, smarter, and more safely. You name it, it’s covered here—with great insider tips and proven techniques! Get started today: Buy and sell merchandise, services, cars, and homes; generate leads; recruit staff or volunteers; promote your group, cause, candidate, or band; find great contractors or childcare; get or give a pet; arrange cheap rideshares and vacation swaps. Stay safe, no matter what you’re doing. This is the first book to take you deep inside craigslist and show you exactly how to get what you want there… whatever it might be!”

My notes on what I found to be of particular interest…

craigslist is known for posting classified ads, but it also provides many community services including event postings, community notices, personals, items for sale, items for free, job postings, classes, online groups and discussion forums, lost and found, artists and musicians, childcare, local news, “green” riding carpools, volunteers, pets, housing, services, gigs and resumes.
There’s an award winning documentary about craigslist called “24 Hours on craigslist”.
http://www.savetheinternet.com
Listing Tips:
Community, Housing, For Sale and Personals sections allow each posting to include up to 4 images under 160 kb each.
Listing Rules:
One listing per item in the correct category.
No cross posting between communities.
Post a maximum of once every 48 hours.
The Services section is for businesses.
Want ads go only in the forsale/wanted category.
Jobs is for paying jobs only, no compensation goes in Gigs.
No excessive HTML.
Success Strategies:
Successful ads usually have a well defined goal and an understanding of the market.
A well planned ad will have the following in mind: specifics, preferences, requirements and deal-breakers.
Suggested listing headlines: Title, objective, specifics/details, location, price, terms, preferences, requirements and deal-breakers.
Copywriting forumula: AIDA
A – Attention – Grab their attention. Make sure the ad title is arresting!
I – Interest – Keep their interest.
D – Desire – Build their desire. Use benefits. “Fast” and “easy” are hot buttons.
People buy based on emotion and justify their purchase with logic.
A – Action – Include a call to action.
Deal-breakers should be framed in the positive. No checks or money-orders? “Cash Only”
Community sections are good for finding people with a common interest and for publicising local events and news.
Groups, events and classes.
For offering classes, holding events or leading a group.
10 Questions for Activities:
1. What’s the initial goal?
2. What’s the ideal outcome?
3. How often is the gathering?
4. What does your schedule require?
5. What location?
6. Outcome from the activity?
7. Target audience?
8. Preferences?
9. Requirements?
10. Deal breakers?
Based on your product or service, what marketing activity is best for you? Seminar? Class? Local outings? Networking group? Speaking? Support group? Fundraiser?
1. Initial goal?
2. Ideal outcome?
3. Seminar, class or other?
4. Mission or purpose?
5. Describe the offering.
6. Describe target market.
7. Gathering specifics, date, time, etc.
8. Location.
9. Max number of attendees.
10. Requirements for attending.
11. Prerequisites for attending.
12. Supplies required and/or provided.
13. Fees and costs for supplies.
14. Preferences.
15. Requirements.
16. Deal breakers.
Volunteers
1. Initial goal?
2. Ideal outcome?
3. Describe business or cause.
4. ID what volunteer work is needed.
5. Specific requirements.
6. Days and times needed.
7. Locations.
8. Training offered?
9. Gains and/or benefits of volunteering.
10. Preferences.
11. Requirements.
12. Deal breakers.
Selling – For Sale is for personal items only!
1. Listing Title
2. Price
3. Location
4. Objective
5. Specific details
6. Terms
7. Requirements
8. Preferences
9. Deal breakers.
10. Photos
craigslist ads are posted chronologically, so post them when your target audience is online. Not sure when that is? Try surfing for “internet demographics” or “internet usage”.
USP – Unique Selling Position – Your brand and why people should choose you over other providers.
Sell the benefits – not the product.
What’s your marketing strategy?
What’s the existing market and what are your skills and abilities?
Nine secrets for successful online relationships:
1. Be honest.
2. Be positive and happy.
3. Express your personal uniqueness.
4. Use humor wisely.
5. Look for shared values.
6. Let people see who you are.
7. Value yourself and others.
8. Be present to whoever you’re engaging.
9. Enjoy the journey.

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