Question to Craigslist advertisers

[Krynn72]

First let me put up my shield for the inevitable:
- Yes, I know craigslist customers are generally cheap and undesirable
- Yes, I know there are more effective ways to advertise to more desirable clients.


So with that out of the way, I wanted to ask those of you who do advertise there, do you put your main business phone number on there? I'm concerned about spam calls, or being called by CL customers even after I stop advertising there. Do you add an email address to the listing, and if so would it make sense to create an email acct just for craigslist (so you can just delete the account when the time comes?

 

[GTP]

make sense to create an email acct just for craigslist

I created a separate email that I could use for eBay, Gumtree and Craigslist. I also bought an "el-cheapo" mobile phone for $40 and a $2 pre-paid sim and used that number for them only. Some crazy people on there!

 

[Y.F.N.C.G.]

Whenever I advertise on Craigslist, I don't put any contact info in the ad and just let them contact me through the Craigslist interface. Never had a problem with that.

 

[FixOn3]

May I ask advertising for what kind of service? thx!!

 

[ccritchie]

I put my phone number on Craigslist ads and use the email relay service instead of my email address. I'm using Google Voice, and it's pretty good at filtering out and screening spam calls. Yes, I still get the occasional spam text message (saying that someone is in another state and wants to pay more than what I'm asking & have me ship it to them), but those are fairly easy to spot anymore. Also, with GV, I can easily block phone numbers that I choose to.

 

[Digital Micro]

I put my phone number on Craigslist ads and use the email relay service instead of my email address. I'm using Google Voice, and it's pretty good at filtering out and screening spam calls. Yes, I still get the occasional spam text message (saying that someone is in another state and wants to pay more than what I'm asking & have me ship it to them), but those are fairly easy to spot anymore. Also, with GV, I can easily block phone numbers that I choose to.

I use GV also. I might be wrong, but I remember gaving it setup where if it rings my cellphone and I let it go through to voicemail my GV voicemail would play. Now it goes to my personal cell phone voicemail. Does yours do that?

 

[sapphirescales]

I list my real business information on Craigslist. That being said, I sell a bunch of stuff as a "regular person" on Craigslist too, as there's some stuff I don't want to have to warranty. For example, any Macbooks or Imac's older than 6-7 years get posted there. Not because there's anything wrong with them, but because Mac's are too expensive to fix if something goes wrong with them.

I also post older PC's that I don't want to have to warranty. I fix them up as best as I can, but I don't want to be on the hook 6 months later when the cooling fan dies on the laptop or whatnot. I generally don't sell any "cheap" computers in my store as it attracts the wrong kind of customer. So anything under $200 I generally flip on Craigslist as a regular person. The exception is business class laptops. I'll sell a $150 business class laptop under my business because it's generally better quality than a cheap 7 year old Walmart PC.

 

[ccritchie]

I use GV also. I might be wrong, but I remember gaving it setup where if it rings my cellphone and I let it go through to voicemail my GV voicemail would play. Now it goes to my personal cell phone voicemail. Does yours do that?

It could be that the Call Screening feature is turned off in Google Voice. I would assume that it would only just forward to your cell phone. Or perhaps if your cell is set to kick over to voicemail after just three or 4 rings, it's picking up your cell phone vm before it has a chance to forward to the GV voicemail. Just guessing here, though.

 

[Krynn72]

I use GV also. I might be wrong, but I remember gaving it setup where if it rings my cellphone and I let it go through to voicemail my GV voicemail would play. Now it goes to my personal cell phone voicemail. Does yours do that?

I also have GV and it does do its own voicemail separate from my cell number. I remember when I set it up on my new phone that it asked if I wanted to use my cell's voicemail instead, but I said no, so maybe you hit yes to that by accident? I'm sure its buried in the settings somewhere.

May I ask advertising for what kind of service? thx!!

Computer/Phone/Tablet/Console repairs. Trying to drum up enough business to cover the bills, because I need to leave my full time job in less than 2 months. I only intend to do it long enough to let me get more reliable clients and roll out some MSP work. Break/Fix residential stuff is what I know best right now, so I figure I'll just suffer through this cheap work to keep me going while building something better.

 

[GTP]

Trying to drum up enough business to cover the bills, because I need to leave my full time job in less than 2 months.

Rather than look for clients (eew!) on craigslist, why not introduce yourself to local businesses?
Always look presentable. (no offence intended here!) Always display your logo (if you have one) on your shirt etc
People don't/won't mind if you tell them about your services, especially if your local. Local means faster service!
Be polite, smile when you get the knockbacks. Just leave your card with them and say something like "if you ever need assistance with your IT, I'm available."
While your there, look around at their infrastructure. (trying not to look like your prying!)
If you see something that looks odd, (maybe) offer a suggestion on how it could be improved.
Its amazing how much word of mouth spreads as well.
Ask your family to give out cards at their workplaces, friends etc.
Leave cards at the local tennis club, sports clubs, take away food shops etc.
Just some suggestions in good faith.

 

[callthatgirl]

I just posted this on another thread. When I read about techs working off craigslist, it takes me back to my old days of checking craigs and thinking I was competing with those techs. Now that I'm beyond that, I never think of CL ads to review and compete with. Question is...are you past that level and what are you better off using your time to do other business networking opportunities. Probably. Stop going there, and work on social media and here is something I said on my last podcast, stop trying to win a sale, start trying to build a relationship. Takes more time, but everyone in our business will agree with me on that one.

 

[Krynn72]

I just posted this on another thread. When I read about techs working off craigslist, it takes me back to my old days of checking craigs and thinking I was competing with those techs. Now that I'm beyond that, I never think of CL ads to review and compete with. Question is...are you past that level and what are you better off using your time to do other business networking opportunities. Probably. Stop going there, and work on social media and here is something I said on my last podcast, stop trying to win a sale, start trying to build a relationship. Takes more time, but everyone in our business will agree with me on that one.

At what point do you consider yourself "past" craigslist? Is it before you have enough work to cover your bills? I've been doing this as a side job up until now, putting the money aside or using it to legitimize the business. But I'm leaving my full time job soon and I need to start covering my expenses asap, and things that "take longer but are worth it" aren't going to pay the bills that are due tonight. They will pay the bills in the future, and thats why I'm of course still going to work towards that. But I can't pay bills with prospects.

I got your book on SEO for wordpress and will be getting into that tonight, I've got business cards I've been handing out even more than usual, and am going to be ordering a couple shirts with my logo on it and possibly a quick slogan / blurb on my company to perhaps draw some attention or questions about my company while just wearing it around outside of work. I'm going to find and join local small business groups and etc. But I don't want to be sitting around doing a bunch of unbillable work and just drawing from my savings to pay bills until those efforts start to pay off. This is just temporary measures

 

[GTP]

One thing I did and still do is make up some simple printed "discount certificates" that I give to pubs, clubs and social groups. Each certificate entitles the bearer to a 10%? 15%? 20% (or whatever your comfortable with) discount on service (not parts) when presented, for their computer.
I have some T's & C's with them but have picked up some work via these.
They get handed out as prizes or gifts etc to patrons.
Just a thought

 

[callthatgirl]

I think I stopped checking Craigslist when I closed my stores and was remote only. At that point, my competition was not local. I know though that many other techs will agree, that it's not worth competing with those techs. I am sure though that many techs here have great success with Craigs, I don't know how they are doing it, I'm sure with a strong ad, not like the crappy ads.

I think once you are FT and getting business through other successful avenues, you will naturally not go to craigs. Unless of course, it's working for you haha, hard to say, maybe you will be the King of CL.

 

[sapphirescales]

Honestly, you people are crazy for not using Craigslist. I get THOUSANDS of extra $$$ per month using Craigslist. The trick is, have the best ad and be better than the rest of the pizza techs. I net at least 5 calls per day from Craigslist, probably more. If you look professional and not like another pizza tech, the people calling aren't expecting to get their computer repaired for $30. Out of the 140 calls I get per month from Craigslist, I'd say only 5 or so are cheap wads looking for a $30 computer repair.

 

[GTP]

Out of the 140 calls I get per month from Craigslist, I'd say only 5 or so are cheap wads looking for a $30 computer repair.

Hmmm....Maybe time to have another look at Craigslist?

 

[sapphirescales]

Hmmm....Maybe time to have another look at Craigslist?

I don't know. Maybe it's just my area, but I've been on Craigslist ever since it came into existence and I've always had good luck with it. I think the main reason why people fail on Craigslist is lack of effort. Because it takes a LOT of effort. I have a good 100 ads on there constantly. EVERY computer I have for sale, every monitor, every accessory. And I also advertise repair in the repair section.

Then again, I have the most kickass looking ad in the entire state. That probably keeps the cheapwads away and attracts the type of people I'm looking for. Some of my best clients have come from Craigslist. And having both quality AND quantity helps too I'm sure.

You'd think that having 100 ads on there at all times would piss people off, but so long as you don't post all 100 ads at a time and limit it to 3-5 per hour or two, you're good to go.

 

[GTP]

I don't know. Maybe it's just my area,

most kickass looking ad in the entire state.

Just out of curiosity, what "state" are you in?

 

[sapphirescales]

Just out of curiosity, what "state" are you in?

Sorry but I don't say anything online that can reveal my true identity. If I hadn't said that I "have the most kickass looking ad in the entire state" then I'd tell you, but if I told you what state I'm in it would be a dead giveaway. My competition on Craigslist is pathetic. Most of my real competitors don't feel like Craigslist is worth their time, and because of that it's a goldmine for me.

However, I might "have the most kickass looking ad in the entire state," but I'm sure it's not the best ad in the entire country. Take a look around Craigslist in all 50 states. I think you'll be surprised with what you find. There are some computer guys that are putting out even more effort than I am, and they're not doing it because it's fun, let me tell you! They're doing it because it brings in loads of business.

Just remember, just like eBay, the more items you post, the more you'll sell and the more clients you'll get. Don't be spammy, but if you list a ton of stuff you'll get a ton of interest. That's just how it works. Fortunately most people are too lazy to put the effort in, so I'm eating their lunch!

 

[GTP]

Sorry but I don't say anything online that can reveal my true identity.

Respected

Take a look around Craigslist in all 50 states.

Got it.