Do you advertise on Craigslist? at DVinfo.net

Dylan Couper · March 19th, 2009, 11:27 AM

I'm wondering how many of you advertise on Craigslist, and what amount of business it generates?

I'm considering putting more time into advertising my services on CL, and am wondering if it is worth it or not.

Thanks!

Corey Williams · March 19th, 2009, 01:19 PM

It's free, so it doesn't hurt to try. I've hired people who've posted on craigslist and they've done great jobs.

Lori Starfelt · March 19th, 2009, 01:33 PM

People who are hiring rarely check the Resumes or Services Available ads. I do a fair amount of hiring off of CL and I never think to check either. I've put up a lot of Editor Available ads when we have had free time and I have only had one job come of it in 7 years. It turned out to be a wonderful job. The woman who hired us said she had searched for Editors on CL, because she didn't know enough about editing to put a coherent ad together.

Chris Davis · March 19th, 2009, 01:41 PM

We used to post our services on Craigslist, but then we got our first Craigslist customer. Ugh. Not a good experience. I'm convinced that anyone looking for anything on Craigslist is looking for a bargain. I don't necessarily want bargain-hunters as customers.

Denis Danatzko · March 19th, 2009, 03:46 PM

In about 3 yrs, I've only ever gotten calls from it, no business. (More calls come from my single, 1-line listing in the phone book). Over hte past year, I've got more work from the web, and in response to some spec work.

To echo others, it's free. Unfortunately, it seems mostly used by bargain hunters, but it's not likely to hurt. Also, the listings expire after some length of time, so you have to remember to re-post them.
Just be sure to hold onto finished products until you've been paid.

Richard Alvarez · March 19th, 2009, 05:02 PM

Chris wrote: I'm convinced that anyone looking for anything on Craigslist is looking for a bargain. I don't necessarily want bargain-hunters as customers.

I suspect much will depend on exactly where one is located. Up here, in NorCal - San Francisco, it is not uncommon to see help-wanted notices posted from LucasArts, ILM, Pixar and other 'majors' for editors, effects artists, and even PAs and Secretaries.

Los Angeles and NYC will likely be 'hotter' as well

I've gotten some good leads from Craigslist. It depends on what you're looking for.

Chris Davis · March 19th, 2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Alvarez

I suspect much will depend on exactly where one is located. Up here, in NorCal - San Francisco, it is not uncommon to see help-wanted notices posted from LucasArts, ILM, Pixar and other 'majors' for editors, effects artists, and even PAs and Secretaries.

You're probably right on the location aspect, but the example you posted is the opposite of what I'm talking about. The type of posting I mention (and what the OP was talking about) is us as business owners posting our services for hire on Craigslist.

Craig Seeman · March 20th, 2009, 09:25 AM

I've advertised my business on craigslist. My ads have been highly targeted to the type of customer I'm looking for.

They're usually small jobs but they do pay my hourly rate. I've made thousands of dollars from craigslist.

I think the key is targeting the type of client you want. You don't advertise services, you advertise solutions. You target the solution to the type of client who is looking for that solution.

In addition, each ad links to my web page and as a result my page seems to go up in Google ranking because of the number and duration of links from craigslist.

For example, I'll place separate ads for corporate video, local cable spots, reporter demo reels (my niche specialty). I'll include links to targeting demos rather than a general demo reel. Be a specialist, not a generalist and you can get the clients you're looking for. If they see the demos they already know the level of work you offer.

J.J. Kim · March 22nd, 2009, 07:05 PM

I've got 90% of my wedding clients from craiglists, so it's good it's free.
However, most of them want something cheap.
No overtime, no extra DVD, always ask for discount...
I stared my ad at theknot.com and have more traffic but no luck on new clients yet.

David W. Jones · March 23rd, 2009, 06:16 AM

The only thing I have ever gotten off craigslist was a good laugh.

Craig Seeman · March 24th, 2009, 09:22 AM

Then you're not marketing properly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by David W. Jones

The only thing I have ever gotten off craigslist was a good laugh.

Shawn McCalip · March 24th, 2009, 04:22 PM

I get lots of laughs from Craigslist too, but those are turning more into chills! I'm wondering if different results are obtained depending on your market and geographical location. Up here in Alaska, the pickings are quite slim, and the stuff I see being posted is more akin to scraping the bottom of the web's proverbial barrel. In the past, when I've posted a job opening for the company I worked for or some kind of advertisement, I've learned that the vast majority of responders don't read the entire ad. On top of that, the people around here are very flag-happy for some reason.

Even worse are the ads posted by people who have no clue as to what they're doing. We're talking the extreme low-ballers who say they'll shoot and edit your entire wedding for $200, make a TV commercial or Music video for $100, or restore old photos in Photoshop for a mere $3.50 per photo. The kinds of people those ads attract are very difficult to deal with and nearly impossible to educate. While many of us working in the video production field tend to talk more about our services or great we are to work with, many of the folks I've come into contact with on Craigslist aren't. They're price oriented, and they don't really care about why you charge more. The plain and simple fact is that you do charge more, so therefore, you must be trying to rip them off. Despite the fact that they may have been burned or unhappy with the service or results of the last person, THEY only charged X, when I'm charging 20 times that amount. Their minds are already made up, and they're unwilling to come around and listen to reason. Because of this, I'm reluctant to market myself or my business there.

Jacques E. Bouchard · March 26th, 2009, 04:01 PM

Well, testimonials seem to go both ways, but although properly tailoring your ad is CRUCIAL, I tend to agree that, overall, CL brings about a lot of low-ballers and people with too much weekday time on their hands.

I`ve had an ad on CL for several months, and it's gotten me two queries: one woman who asked about filming her engagement party but never answered my request for details, and one person who asked "Does that cost money???".

J.

March 19th, 2009, 11:27 AM	#1
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Do you advertise on Craigslist? I'm wondering how many of you advertise on Craigslist, and what amount of business it generates? I'm considering putting more time into advertising my services on CL, and am wondering if it is worth it or not. Thanks! __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

March 19th, 2009, 03:46 PM	#5
Denis Danatzko Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NYC Metro area Posts: 579	From time-to-time, but... In about 3 yrs, I've only ever gotten calls from it, no business. (More calls come from my single, 1-line listing in the phone book). Over hte past year, I've got more work from the web, and in response to some spec work. To echo others, it's free. Unfortunately, it seems mostly used by bargain hunters, but it's not likely to hurt. Also, the listings expire after some length of time, so you have to remember to re-post them. Just be sure to hold onto finished products until you've been paid. __________________ Denis ------------ Our actions are based on our own experience and knowledge. Thus, no one is ever totally right, nor totally wrong. We simply act from what we "know" to be true, based on that experience and knowledge. Beyond that, we pose questions to others.

March 19th, 2009, 01:19 PM	#2
Corey Williams Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: McKinney,TX/New Orleans, LA Posts: 104	It's free, so it doesn't hurt to try. I've hired people who've posted on craigslist and they've done great jobs.

March 19th, 2009, 01:33 PM	#3
Lori Starfelt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles, california Posts: 228	People who are hiring rarely check the Resumes or Services Available ads. I do a fair amount of hiring off of CL and I never think to check either. I've put up a lot of Editor Available ads when we have had free time and I have only had one job come of it in 7 years. It turned out to be a wonderful job. The woman who hired us said she had searched for Editors on CL, because she didn't know enough about editing to put a coherent ad together.

March 19th, 2009, 01:41 PM	#4
Chris Davis Trustee Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Willmar, MN Posts: 1,400	We used to post our services on Craigslist, but then we got our first Craigslist customer. Ugh. Not a good experience. I'm convinced that anyone looking for anything on Craigslist is looking for a bargain. I don't necessarily want bargain-hunters as customers.

March 19th, 2009, 05:02 PM	#6
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Chris wrote: I'm convinced that anyone looking for anything on Craigslist is looking for a bargain. I don't necessarily want bargain-hunters as customers. I suspect much will depend on exactly where one is located. Up here, in NorCal - San Francisco, it is not uncommon to see help-wanted notices posted from LucasArts, ILM, Pixar and other 'majors' for editors, effects artists, and even PAs and Secretaries. Los Angeles and NYC will likely be 'hotter' as well I've gotten some good leads from Craigslist. It depends on what you're looking for.

March 20th, 2009, 09:25 AM	#8
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	I've advertised my business on craigslist. My ads have been highly targeted to the type of customer I'm looking for. They're usually small jobs but they do pay my hourly rate. I've made thousands of dollars from craigslist. I think the key is targeting the type of client you want. You don't advertise services, you advertise solutions. You target the solution to the type of client who is looking for that solution. In addition, each ad links to my web page and as a result my page seems to go up in Google ranking because of the number and duration of links from craigslist. For example, I'll place separate ads for corporate video, local cable spots, reporter demo reels (my niche specialty). I'll include links to targeting demos rather than a general demo reel. Be a specialist, not a generalist and you can get the clients you're looking for. If they see the demos they already know the level of work you offer.

March 22nd, 2009, 07:05 PM	#9
J.J. Kim Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Wheeling, IL Posts: 270	I've got 90% of my wedding clients from craiglists, so it's good it's free. However, most of them want something cheap. No overtime, no extra DVD, always ask for discount... I stared my ad at theknot.com and have more traffic but no luck on new clients yet.

March 23rd, 2009, 06:16 AM	#10
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	The only thing I have ever gotten off craigslist was a good laugh.

March 24th, 2009, 04:22 PM	#12
Shawn McCalip Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Anchorage, AK Posts: 315	I get lots of laughs from Craigslist too, but those are turning more into chills! I'm wondering if different results are obtained depending on your market and geographical location. Up here in Alaska, the pickings are quite slim, and the stuff I see being posted is more akin to scraping the bottom of the web's proverbial barrel. In the past, when I've posted a job opening for the company I worked for or some kind of advertisement, I've learned that the vast majority of responders don't read the entire ad. On top of that, the people around here are very flag-happy for some reason. Even worse are the ads posted by people who have no clue as to what they're doing. We're talking the extreme low-ballers who say they'll shoot and edit your entire wedding for $200, make a TV commercial or Music video for $100, or restore old photos in Photoshop for a mere $3.50 per photo. The kinds of people those ads attract are very difficult to deal with and nearly impossible to educate. While many of us working in the video production field tend to talk more about our services or great we are to work with, many of the folks I've come into contact with on Craigslist aren't. They're price oriented, and they don't really care about why you charge more. The plain and simple fact is that you do charge more, so therefore, you must be trying to rip them off. Despite the fact that they may have been burned or unhappy with the service or results of the last person, THEY only charged X, when I'm charging 20 times that amount. Their minds are already made up, and they're unwilling to come around and listen to reason. Because of this, I'm reluctant to market myself or my business there.

March 26th, 2009, 04:01 PM	#13
Jacques E. Bouchard Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 442	Well, testimonials seem to go both ways, but although properly tailoring your ad is CRUCIAL, I tend to agree that, overall, CL brings about a lot of low-ballers and people with too much weekday time on their hands. I`ve had an ad on CL for several months, and it's gotten me two queries: one woman who asked about filming her engagement party but never answered my request for details, and one person who asked "Does that cost money???". J.