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Craigslist postings - Nice presentations that avoid flagging

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with St. Louis Real Estate Society

If you post frequently on Craigslist for real estate, you have undoubtedly ran into the problem of having posts flagged. Sometimes people don't take kindly to a link to a youtube tour or something similar, but it usually comes down to a couple spiteful people just decided to have a little fun and flag every post within a week-long period. It can be frustrating to say the least.

Until about a year ago, I always did what I would call a fancy presentation, with lots of graphics and photos. Pretty similar to a webpage layout. I started having big problems with flagging using this design, so I switched to something very basic. The thought was that the less my posts look like business ads, the less likely I will be targeted by flaggers. under this new style, the only fancyI did was input a large display pic and photo thumbnails into the post via html. It gets the info you need across without crossing the threshold of looking like it is a professional posting.

So did it work? I am happy to say, since this change, I no longer have any issues with flagging on Craigslist. Other than a random incident now and then, most of the 15+ ads I have up at any given time seem to pass through unscathed. If you are having similar problems, this might be a move to consider.

On the flip-side, I sometimes wonder if I am missing out on any potential clients by not having a flashier presentation. I have considered adding a few more features back into the mix to experiment, but just haven't gone through with it yet. I'm curious if anyone has any advice tips and pitfalls they have encountered on Craigslist?

Douglas Lovitt
Washington Management Company, Inc. - Mill Creek, WA

Matt, I think you change was for the better.  It's been my experience that the leads you get from there are more bargain shoppers and real sophisticated buyers.  Simple beats flashy!

Jan 21, 2010 02:57 AM
Eric J
Eric J - Dream Home Financing - Freehold, NJ
Dream Home Financing

What kind of action/traffic are you getting from those ads?

Jan 21, 2010 03:02 AM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

I use my website listing html AND postlets html and rarely have issues and when the posts are re-posted, they don't get flagged a second time.

All my CL ads, have links BACK directly to my website.

Jan 21, 2010 03:09 AM
John Queenan
CDPE, Nicholas H. Fingelly Real Estate - Sandy Hook, CT

Matt,

I mix it up, some postlets, some basic html with photos, some text only with a single photo. My theory is different ads will appeal to different people.

Flagging seems to come in waves, I can go weeks without a single flag then have a half-dozen or more flagged in one night. Typically about the same time a particular someone else happens to be posting. Hmm.

Jan 21, 2010 03:09 AM
Matt & Riahna Kastner
St. Louis Real Estate Society - Saint Louis, MO
Multi-family Real Estate Brokers - St. Louis City

Eric -  I have been putting all my "For Sale" properties on Craigslist for a few years and it has been very helpful. I think I have only sold one property directly through it before, but I ended up getting both sides of that deal via transaction brokerage. That alone was worth all the time. But looking back, the thing it has helped me with the most is connecting me with people that are not working with an agent. I specialize in investment properties and get a lot of repeat business. I can think of about 5 of my currently active clients that I first met because of Craigslist. The real bread and butter comes from my apartment listins though. I think I have about 12 different units listed right now and it is the only way to go.

Wallace - Interesting point. Come to think of it, I don't really think back linkis have ever been a problem. I have links on my basic ads and have little issue. The issue seems to be splashy presentations that draw the ire of the craigslist community.

John - Good point about flagging coming in waves. But nothing spurs a change in my marketing practices like having to completely repost all my ads from scratch.

Jan 21, 2010 03:19 AM
Anonymous
Eduardo

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Nov 05, 2014 02:58 PM
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