Craigslist is an ancient site in terms of websites. The site was created in 1995 by a guy named Craig Newmark (hence the name of the site). It started out as an email list that Newmark built to disseminate information about local events, and then evolved into a classified classifieds website.
Since its inception, Craigslist has posted millions of job postings, accommodations, and a variety of items for sale. Countless numbers of people have used the site to buy, sell, find jobs, hire people, and even get dates (although personal ads are no longer part of the site).
If you visit the site now, it’s like going back in time. The design is simple, and the Craigslist team focused on simplicity rather than focusing on making it as profitable as possible. This makes Craigslist unique compared to other classified sites and is probably one of the reasons it has stayed on the market for so long. Sometimes less is better.
While there have recently been some sites that compete with Craigslist, it is still a thriving marketplace with millions of people.
If you know what you are doing, you can make good money by scrolling through something on the site, or find great deals for what you need.
How to Sell on Craigslist
To add anything to Craigslist, go to the home page and click “create post” in the upper left corner of the page.
You do not need to have an account to create a post.
If you are unsure if the item you want to sell is allowed on Craigslist, check this page before proceeding.
Choose your preferred location and the type of post you want to create. For most of the items that you sell, you will need to select “For Sale by Owner”. You will be taken to a page where you select the category of the product you want to sell.
Once you select a category, you will be taken to a listing page.
On this page you will fill in all the information about your product. Some details are optional, but you must fill in the title, description, zip code and email address. You can keep your email confidential if you wish.
Headings are important
In the title, try to be descriptive and include as many relevant keywords as possible so that your element appears in more search results.
For example, suppose you sell a custom made 1979 Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, painted in a tobacco sunburst, and you have a case that you slide into it. Instead of the name Gibson Electric Guitar in a Case, make it 1979 Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric Guitar Tobacco Sunburst + Case.
You get 70 characters for your ad title, and if you can fill it with relevant keywords, your product will attract more people.
Use a description to make a sale
You can add 1000 characters to your description to convince shoppers why they should buy your product. Don’t make your ad better than it actually is, but try to make the sale sound good.
Write a short story about how you used the item and how it worked for you. Make it like you hate letting go of it, and the only reason you get rid of it is because you need money.
The more you make the description of an item incredible, the more likely you are to make more money and sell it quickly.
In addition to making a great business idea in the description, be very specific about what the listing offer includes. Also list any defects the item may have. If you can make a customer feel like they know everything they need to know about a product by reading your description, they will be more confident that they will contact you and possibly make a purchase.
When it comes to the price of a product, I always put it a little higher than I really want because people will try to bargain you. If I need something $ 100, I can quote it at $ 125, so when a buyer asks if I will take $ 100, I get the price I want while still making the buyer feel like they’ve made a deal.
What additional information should you provide?
Besides the information you need, you can also provide some additional information if you like. Depending on the product category, you will be able to specify the brand / manufacturer, model number, dimensions and condition.
There are also options such as “cryptocurrency okay”, “shipping possible”, “add more ads from this seller link”, and a place to enter your phone number and address.
You can fill in as much information as you like, but I’ll be careful when including my home address. However, I would fill in all of the subject-specific options to keep the list as complete as possible.
Many people will want to contact you via SMS, so you can put your phone number in the list.
When everything is complete, click “Continue”. You will be taken to a page where you can enter your location. If you want to meet a customer at a specific location, you can enter the address. Otherwise, you can simply enter the city and postal code and click “Continue”.
Pictures are worth a thousand words
After you click “Continue” on the location page, you will add images. Craigslist does not actually require images, but not adding them is a big mistake. When people shop online, they want to see what the product looks like before making a purchase.
While you want to describe the item as best as possible in the title and description, images are most likely what the buyer will use to decide if they want the item…
If you have a modern smartphone, this should be all you need to take great photos. Use natural lighting whenever possible and leave nothing in the background. You want the photos to be focused only on the subject and not on the pile of clutter you were about to collect.
If I tried to sell this guitar, it would be a terrible image!
Much better.
After you have taken high-quality photographs of the item showing how it looks in real life, and having found any defects, please upload your best image first. The first image will be the one in the list, and then you can add up to 23 others for a total of 24 images. 24 is a lot of pictures, but the more you add, the better!
You should create the impression that the customer is holding the product in their hands.
Post and wait
Once you upload all the images, you are officially finished listing! After you click “Continue”, you will be taken to the overview page so you can make sure everything is the way you want it. Then all you have to do is publish.
When you click Publish, an email will be sent to you with a link. You must click the link in the email for your ad to be validated and active.… You will also use this link to manage your listing if you need to make any changes or remove it after an item has been sold.
Your listing will be active for 45 days and you will have to renew if it is not sold during this time.
And now we are waiting. Depending on the method of contact you choose, you will begin to receive responses to your ad by email or telephone.
Now all you have to do is reply to the people who contact you and, if someone wants your item, determine the time and place for the transaction. For security reasons, it is best to meet in a busy public place. You can even ask the buyer to meet at the local police station if they are nearby.
How to buy on Craigslist
Buying on Craigslist is pretty straightforward. All you have to do is go to the site, click on the category you want to search for, or click “all for sale” and either scroll through the listings, or enter a search term in the search bar to narrow down the listings.
Once you find an item you are interested in, contact the seller using their chosen contact method and see if the item is available. Sometimes sellers forget to remove an ad after selling a product. If the item is still in stock, find out when and where you can meet with the seller to buy it. Just like when you sell an item, you need to meet in a safe place.
Buying on Craigslist can feel time consuming compared to shopping at local retail stores or places like Amazon, where the goods will be delivered right to your door.
However, the beauty of Craigslist is that you can find great stuff for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere.
You can even find something for free!
I got a bunch of free tiles on Craigslist and it would have cost me several hundred dollars if I bought the same tile from a store. We ended up not using the tile and I sold it for $ 200.
Not a bad profit, and you can repeat the process in your area to resell things and make some money! Or just get great deals on products you still need to buy.
How to stay safe when chatting with strangers on Craigslist
Buying and selling on Craigslist can be great, but there are some things to keep in mind when using the platform.
The main thing to remember is to beware of scams and scams and to stay safe when meeting people.
When it comes to scams and scams, keep the following in mind:
- Don’t pay anyone you haven’t met in person.
- Beware of offers related to delivery – chat with locals you may meet in person.
- Never transfer funds (like Western Union) – anyone who asks you is a scammer.
- Do not accept cashier’s checks / certified checks or money orders – banks will cash out counterfeit money and then hold you liable.
- Transactions are made only between users. No third party provides a “guarantee”.
- Never share financial information (bank account, social security, PayPal account, etc.).
- Don’t rent or buy discreetly – this amazing “deal” may not be there.
- Skip the background / credit check until you meet in person with the landlord / employer.
- Craigslist Voicemail – Any message asking you to check or check Craigslist Voicemail or Craigslist Voicemail is a scam – there is no such service.
Here’s what Craigslist writes on its security page about face-to-face meetings:
- insist on a public meeting place such as a coffee shop, bank, or mall.
- Don’t meet in a secluded place or invite strangers into your home.
- Be especially careful when buying / selling valuable items.
- Tell a friend or family member where you are going.
- Take your mobile phone with you, if you have one.
- Consider having a friend accompany you.
- Trust your instincts.
As long as you stick to these rules, you should be fine! Many people are concerned about their safety when it comes to Craigslist, but the number of violent crimes associated with this site is minimal.
Now that you know how to buy and sell safely, it’s time to get on Craigslist and make some quick money or hunt for these deals!
This article originally appeared on Your Money Geek and has been republished with permission.
