| Craigslist can prove to be an excellent | | | | way makes it far more likely to reach an |
| avenue for business promotion. Whether an | | | | audience of those who are planning a move in |
| individual has a small business which they | | | | the desired county than it would if the same |
| operate on a part time basis or a thriving | | | | exact advertisement was placed as a job |
| business which has become a time consuming | | | | advertisement under the category of |
| endeavor, Craigslist can help the business to | | | | government jobs in a county in New Hampshire. |
| increase in profits and popularity. The two | | | | |
| main components to successfully promoting a | | | | Besides being free for most postings, |
| business on Craigslist include reaching the | | | | Craigslist offers additional benefits. The |
| target audience and running a marketing | | | | most significant benefit is a large audience. |
| campaign which will appeal to this target | | | | Craigslist receives over 4 billion page views |
| audience. This article will discuss these two | | | | per month. With such a large audience it |
| components in greater detail to help the | | | | makes it possible for those who post on |
| reader realize how Craigslist can be used to | | | | Craigslist to reach a large audience. |
| grow a business. | | | | However, as previously mentioned, care should |
| | | | be taken when placing the post to categorize |
| Reaching Your Target Audience on Craigslist | | | | the advertisement correctly to ensure the |
| | | | advertisement is reaching the target |
| Promoting a business on Craigslist doesn't | | | | audience. |
| have to be a difficult process. However, it | | | | |
| is not necessarily automatically easier than | | | | Effectively Marketing on Craigslist |
| promoting offline either. Promoting your | | | | |
| business through Craigslist does have some | | | | Marketing effectively on Craigslist is not |
| similarities to the process of promoting your | | | | very different from marketing effectively in |
| business offline. The main similarity is that | | | | other forms of print media. One of the most |
| the business promoter musts do their research | | | | important elements of an effective marketing |
| to find out who is included in their target | | | | campaign on Craigslist is professionally |
| audience. | | | | written copy that appeals directly to the |
| | | | target audience. Hiring a freelance writer |
| Even the most well thought out and innovative | | | | skilled in writing sales copy is an excellent |
| marketing campaign will falter if it is not | | | | idea in this situation. The business owner |
| reaching the intended audience. This is why | | | | might be quite knowledgeable about their |
| it is so important for those who are trying | | | | business but they do not likely have the |
| to promote their business on Craigslist to be | | | | skills necessary to convey the purpose of the |
| sure they categorize their advertisement | | | | business while also effectively convincing |
| correctly to ensure their intended audience | | | | those who read the posting to perform a |
| will receive the intended message. The | | | | specific action. The specific action may |
| majority of posts on Craigslist are available | | | | include visiting a website and making a |
| free of charge with the exception of job | | | | purchase, requesting additional information |
| listings in New York City, Los Angeles and | | | | about the products or services or performing |
| the San Francisco Bay area as well as | | | | some other desired action such as visiting a |
| brokered housing listings in New York City. | | | | traditional store or place of business. |
| Therefore small business owners can take | | | | |
| advantage of the free posting on Craigslist | | | | The other component to marketing effectively, |
| to reach their target audience in a number of | | | | as previously mentioned, is placing the |
| different locations. | | | | advertisement in the correct section of |
| | | | Craigslist. Categorizing the advertisement |
| Consider an example of a company offering | | | | correctly is important but it is also |
| moving services in Portland, Oregon. A small | | | | important to place the advertisement in the |
| moving company that is relatively new might | | | | right physical location. Products and |
| want to take advantage of the free | | | | services which are only offered in a limited |
| advertising available on Craigslist. To have | | | | area such as a particular city or county |
| the best opportunity to reach the target | | | | should be advertised in these exact |
| audience the company should place a services | | | | locations. However, those who offer products |
| offered posting under the labor and moving | | | | via a website might consider placing their |
| category for the counties in which the | | | | advertisement in all of the location to which |
| services are offered. Placing the post this | | | | they are willing to ship their products. |