Guest Post

9 Secrets of Highly Successful

The 9 Secrets of Highly Successful Craigslist Sellers

Most of you have no doubt utilized craigslist seattle to find the most common motives. You may be looking for something (a house, used items for sale, a job or perhaps a potential partner) or you’ve got something you want to offer or sell. Either way, there are strategies and suggestions you can employ to get the most out of this service.

In reality, some knowledge can be the difference between selling an item in the space of a few days (or maybe even hours) instead of letting it sit within the archive for months before reposting. If you follow these tips, you’ll see better results the next time you list an item on Craigslist.

Be aware that these are suggestions to get sales results, not general Craigslist tips. It is important to be cautious when you are meeting persons, providing your personal details, and so forth. For those kind of tips read Craigslist’s security and scam information, and visit the highly informative Craigslist forums on your local site.

1. Repost to Keep Your Ad on Top

Wouldn’t it be nice that you could click the button and your ad that was last week’s would fly up to the top of the page right now? Well, sorry, this won’t be happening. Craigslist has taken measures to prevent that. Mostly it’s to stop spam posters from engulfing the website. But there are workarounds that spammers can’t be bothered with which is why you should think about the options if you’re determined to make your advertisement stand out. The buyers don’t like having to browse through endless pages posts from the past If you put off waiting 30 days to repost (the time is takes for your ad to expire), it could take a long time to get it sold. If you’ve not received any response within the first few days of posting, it’s most likely it’s time to go back.

The video below will teach all the information you need to know, but there’s also an abbreviated guideline for each step below.

1. Check to see if you have a Craigslist account before posting advertisements. It’s not required, but it makes life much simpler.
2. Post your ad in the normal manner (following the steps in the next section).
3. The following day, log in again then right-click the advertisement you’d like to reuse and open it in a new tab.
4. Right-click in the “edit this posting,” and open it in a new tab.
5. Right-click to your “category” you have your advertising posted in, and launch it in a brand new tab. (All of these tabs allow the quick editing of back-and forth.)
6. Click on the “post” button to the far right and select an appropriate category and a location.
7. Return to the page that contains your original advertisement, and copy and paste each of the sections into the blank template. When done, click continue.
8. Fill out the annoying captcha code.
9. Now go back to your previous ad (it should be on your second tab) and delete it.
10. Your ad is now placed at the top of the list.

2. ALWAYS Post an Image a GOOD Image

We’re visual creatures. If you’re selling something, be it a house, an old television, or even yourself in a personal ad make sure to include an image. The majority of people will prefer ads that contain images. In fact, when I’m looking for something used to make a purchase, I eliminate ads that don’t have images. My reasoning — if the person isn’t posting an image, there might be something wrong with the item. When you upload photos related to the items, make sure they’re good, clear and crisp images. Don’t take a shaky, out of focus photo on your cell phone and then call it the day. It will just make the buyer angry. They’ll move on.

3. Don’t Put a Question in Your Headline

If you’re putting up an advertisement for a job, personal ad, or perhaps an offer, it could work to your advantage. People are attracted by questions, provided they’re relevant. Questions can be very effective in personal communications. If you’re selling something tangible, like a home, a vehicle, or a thing you don’t want any more I suggest keeping the headline solely informational. Check out these headlines:

They generally contain the same information. However, the first is a no-nonsense description. The second feels like salesy marketing jargon, which is like feeling like a salesperson from a used car trying to sell me an old car with a new paint job. Be clear, similar to the listings in catalogs to Best Buy or Target. It’s the same if you’re selling a home. Be honest about it Don’t try to appear clever. This will cause you harm.

4. Be as Specific as You Can Be

Keep in mind that you’re trying make a sale that people be required to go further to come and collect. Before they take the time and the gas money to travel to your home or your place of work, they’ll want be as informed as they can about the product. I’ve seen advertisements that had only one sentence written about them.

Yeah, great. But a ad with photos of the bookcase along with measurements, types of material, its condition, information about the maker, history and address it’s much more enticing. It speaks volumes about the seller, too. It’s not like they’re able to put up the ad, but the other has done a good job. This may not be an accurate representation of who you actually are or the conditions of the item you’re selling however, on Craigslist the first impressions matter everything.

5. Do Your Homework

You thought that homework was done. craigs list seattle is vast and millions of items are advertised on it each year. If you’re thinking of selling your old furniture How can you ensure your offer is more attractive? It is best to spend some quality time surfing Craigslist. Explore the ads, and see what similar sofas are going for. Do you spot a sofa that has been posted on and off? What’s missing? What was the reason it didn’t sell? Its price is too high? No pictures or bad pictures? Do you really dig. Once you’ve figured out the lay of the land, you should be able write an appealing advertisement. However, there’s a complicated part…

6. Make Sure the Price Is Right

As with most negotiations, this one is all about compromising between what you want and the buyer wants. Buyers want to pay as little as they can and you’d like to earn the most you can. If you post an item for sale with the price you think is too high, and you’ll be ignored. If you post too low, you’ll lose your bargaining power. Craigslist buyers are always trying to and cut some costs off It’s a good idea to consider that. Generally, I take the lowest price I’m willing to take and then add 20-25 percent to it. It’s not the same for every situation (a home or car for instance) However, it’s an excellent standard. Post your sofa for $300 and take no less than $225. You’re likely to get $300, and everyone will be happy. The most important thing to remember is that you should accept CASH only, preferably in the $20 denomination or less.

7. Pair Up Items That Go Together

It may seem obvious, but many people will mention a crib and an incline in separate posts. However, if someone is searching for one, they may very may require the other as well. Thus, you should pair them. Give them a discount for taking both of your hands off. If you are willing to divide them, you could mention it also. Your single ad could bring two birds to one post.

8. Be an Eager Beaver

I’m not a fan of instant replies to emails or calls. However, as a seller on Craigslist you can increase the likelihood of selling your item by contacting or emailing people as soon as you are able to. Most people will blast several emails out to different sellers, and the first one to respond will win the sale. Make sure that you’re the first to respond, and you’re courteous and enthusiastic. If you’re taking an extended vacation or business trip make sure to post an ad on the day you return. If you’re responding to an avalanche of emails, you can use using a texter to minimize the wear and tear on your fingers.

9. Consider Trades

Bartering is still going strong, and it’s available on Craigslist. In these days, people have lots of things they don’t want and lots of things they are able to trade. One man’s trash can be the other’s treasure, so If you’ve got something you’re looking for that’s worth the price of cash, make sure you mention it too.

By following these tips, you’ll make your products move quicker than sunscreen during an intense heat wave. If you’ve got any amazing selling ideas, please let us know. But before I go, a last word…

Be a Good Craigslister and Remove Items That Sold!

It’s happened to me countless times. I search for something, locate exactly what I’m looking to find, then send out an email. Then , I get a response saying, “Sorry, that sold.” Then, why is that the ad still up? It’s even more irritating that as time passes you look for the same item, and that advertisement is still up! Please, littering Craigslist with older ads isn’t helping this invaluable community.