How to Post an Ad on Craigslist (2024)

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By: Francisco Guzman

Craigslist is like the Mom and Pop shop of the internet. It may not look like much, but you'll be amazed at the things you can find. Craigslist is an internationally popular website used for posting jobs, items for sale, real estate, services and personal ads. Take advantage of this free service by creating your own advertisem*nt. Read the steps listed below and learn how to post an ad on Craigslist.

  1. Type the URL http://craigslist.org into your browser.
  2. Click on the link, "create a posting," that is located on the upper left hand side of the screen.
  3. Choose the location that best fits your posting.
  4. Click on the type of post you want to place. Choices include jobs, housing, items for sale, services and personals. Depending on what you choose, you will either be taken to a list of options that apply to your post or a list of specified categories.
  5. Click the option that best applies to your post or the category that best describes your post.
  6. Fill in the applicable fields when you arrive at the window to describe your post. Keep your posting title concise and clear. Ensure that all the fields are fully filled in.
  7. Click the "continue" button.
  8. Click on the map to pinpoint your location or type in your exact location – street, cross street, city and postal code – and click the "find" button.
  9. Upload any images that pertain to your ad.
  10. Review the mock ad for incorrect or confusing information and spelling mistakes. If you want to edit the ad, click on the "edit post" button. It will take you back to the previous screen. You can also edit the location and images. If you're pleased, click the "publish" button.
  11. Check your email. Craigslist will send you an email that will enable you to publish, edit or delete your posting. The link expires in 30 minutes.
  12. Once you've clicked the link, it's time to set up your account. You can either type in a password or go without a password.
  13. Read the terms of use. If you consent to all the terms, click on the "accept" button. If you don't consent, click on the "decline" button.
  14. You have now posted your ad on Craigslist.

Note: You can post an ad on Craigslist without setting up an account, but setting up one will allow you to be able to edit, delete or post more easily. Without that step, if you do need to make changes, you'll need to use the link that was originally sent to your email.

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How to Post Using the Craigslist App

  1. Download the Craigslist mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
  2. Once you install and open the app, tap the "get started" button.
  3. You can either share your location or tap "not now." You can type in a ZIP/postal code that best fits your posting if you decide not to share your current location. Tap the "choose this location" button if the area on the map matches your current location.
  4. Tap the "post" button (plus sign) on the bottom center of the screen to get started on your ad.
  5. Similar to the steps above, you can choose an image, fill in the applicable fields that describe your ad and confirm your location.
  6. If you're pleased, click the "publish" button. Your ad on Craigslist will be live.

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Craigslist FAQ

How do I post something on Craigslist for free?

1. Visit craiglist.org. 2. Click on the "create a posting" link in the top-left corner. 3. Choose a post category.4. Enter the details for your post. 5. A link will be sent to your email confirming the post. Once you click on that accepting it, your ad will be live.

What is Craigslist USA?

Craigslist was created in 1996 by Craig Newmark, a San Francisco-based computer programmer. He started a free website where people could exchange information, a new concept at the time. Today, it contains sections dedicated to services, items wanted, items for sale, housing jobs, gigs, community service and discussion forums. Craigslist has several versions for other countries as well.

How do I search all of U.S. Craigslist?

Craiglist is divided by cities. It doesn’t have a lot of options for searching the entire website at one time. You can do it using Google, entering "site:craigslist.org" and the name of the item you're looking for in the search bar. You can also try searching with a third-party tool like https://www.searchcraigslist.org or https://www.searchtempest.com/.

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How to Post an Ad on Craigslist (2024)

FAQs

How to advertise on Craigslist effectively? ›

Keep It Simple but include Lots of Pictures: Craigslist sees heavy HTML code as a sign of spam or fraudulent post. Keep your ad mostly text based, with simple code only and working in creative bolding. While Craigslist users prefer text ads, they also love pictures.

How to make your Craigslist ad stand out? ›

In this article, we'll give you ten tips to make your ad stand out from the rest.
  1. Know Your Target Audience. ...
  2. Use an Eye-Catching Headline. ...
  3. Include Key Information in the Body of Your Ad. ...
  4. Use Attractive Visuals. ...
  5. Use a Call to Action. ...
  6. Create Many Unique Ads. ...
  7. Be Realistic About Prices. ...
  8. Use Keyword-Rich Titles and Descriptions.
Aug 26, 2022

How do I post an ad on Craigslist for beginners? ›

Creating a craigslist posting
  1. Visit our list of available sites. ...
  2. Click on "create a posting"
  3. You may need to confirm the geographic location for your posting.
  4. Select a type for your posting.
  5. Select a category for your posting.
  6. Enter the text of your posting.

How do I get my Craigslist ad to appear on top? ›

Make a new ad and repost the information from the old ad. Craigslist doesn't offer an option for you to repost the original listing automatically, hence the need for you to manually redo the ad. Once you have submitted the new ad it will appear at the top of the listings again.

How do I get more hits on Craigslist? ›

Include at least one image to attract more viewers. Customers typically like to see the conditions or status of your offering, because this eliminates the need to contact you requesting further details. Additionally, many users prefer to search only for ads that contain images.

What should I not do when selling on Craigslist? ›

Avoid adding any personal information in the posting, including your name, real phone number or real email address. Always use the generated email address on your Craigslist posts. This creates a random email address, so the poster doesn't have your real email on file.

Does renewing a Craigslist post move it to the top? ›

Free classified posts on craigslist can be renewed. Renewing a post will move that post to the top of the list. You can renew an active free post as long as 48 hours have elapsed since it was initially posted, or if 48 hours have elapsed since it was last renewed.

How do I sell better on Craigslist? ›

6 Pro Tips for Selling Items on Craigslist
  1. Create a new email address specifically for selling on Craigslist. ...
  2. Group items with a unique “keyword.” ...
  3. Keep buyer inquiry emails organized. ...
  4. Save your backup buyers' email addresses. ...
  5. Check out potential buyers before agreeing to meet. ...
  6. Delete and repost items after 48 hours.
Feb 19, 2024

How long does a $5 Craigslist ad last? ›

Although there are specific guidelines for how long an ad stays on Craigslist based on the type of ad and posting locale, the service has a list of master guidelines that supersede the others. Under these guidelines, all job postings expire after 30 days for paid ads and 45 days for free ads.

How do I write a Craigslist post? ›

  1. Click the “post to classifieds” link in the top left corner. Select a category for the post: Click “Continue”
  2. Select the appropriate sub-category. Click “Continue” Type the posting title, city/neighborhood, postal code, description, and contact.
  3. Click “Done with Images” Review post information.

How do I advertise my business on Craigslist for free? ›

How to Post Ad on Craigslist for Your Business
  1. Step 1: Go to CraigsList.org & Create a Craiglist account. ...
  2. Step 2: Click on “Post to Classifieds” ...
  3. Step 3: Choose Your Type of Posting. ...
  4. Step 4: Choose a Business Category. ...
  5. Step 5: Sign-Up Prompt. ...
  6. Step 6: Create a Password. ...
  7. Step 7: Terms of Use.

Why is my Craigslist ad not posting? ›

Craigslist relies on community flagging to identify ads that violate their policies or are otherwise inappropriate. Check your email for any messages from Craigslist regarding the removal of your ad. Payment issue: If there is an issue with your payment, your ad may not be posted.

Why is Craigslist ghosting my ads? ›

Posting too many listings in a short period of time is considered suspicious by Craigslist, and your listings may be ghosted, or Craigslist may enforce a waiting period of several minutes or more before you can post again.

Why does Craigslist flag all my posts? ›

Therefore, the reason why your Craigslist postings keep getting flagged or blocked is because your IP address and given location don't match. Just think of those times when you visit a restricted website that can only be accessed in a particular demographic area—the same goes with your Craigslist postings.

How effective is advertising on Craigslist? ›

Because there's such a significant degree of spam on Craigslist, you may occasionally have to post your listing numerous times so that people notice it. One listing isn't likely to get noticed as often as you might like, as it can easily fall through the cracks with all the spam and other content on the site.

How do you sell effectively on Craigslist? ›

6 Pro Tips for Selling Items on Craigslist
  1. Create a new email address specifically for selling on Craigslist. ...
  2. Group items with a unique “keyword.” ...
  3. Keep buyer inquiry emails organized. ...
  4. Save your backup buyers' email addresses. ...
  5. Check out potential buyers before agreeing to meet. ...
  6. Delete and repost items after 48 hours.
Feb 19, 2024

What is the best way to accept payment on Craigslist? ›

Use cash — safely

If you're dealing with a local, the most secure way to pay or collect funds for a Craigslist transaction is with cash. To keep it even more secure, you can make the exchange in a safe place like your local police station or even at Acclaim FCU.

How do I protect myself when selling on Craigslist? ›

Don't share personal details. Never disclose your personal or financial information to strangers online. There is no need for your Craigslist contact to know your bank account number, home address, or date of birth. You might share your cell phone number with someone you are meeting in person, but not more.

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