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 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 often should you post on Craigslist? ›

According to the rules listed on Craigslist's website, users may post in only one category in one geographical area once every 48 hours. Following these posting rules are essential: If you post too often or post similar ads in different locations too close to one another, the ads will be blocked.

Is Craigslist still effective? ›

Craigslist is still operational and widely used for various purposes, but its popularity and usage have evolved.

Why is everything I post on Craigslist getting flagged? ›

Follow Craigslist's Guidelines

Ads are often flagged because they fail to meet Craigslist's Terms of Service and other guidelines. For example, Craigslist doesn't want you to post about auctions, bidding or business opportunities involving multi-level marketing, club membership recruitment or up front investments.

Why do my Craigslist posts keep getting flagged? ›

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.

Why does my post keep getting removed on Craigslist? ›

About Flagging

Three reasons exist to flag an ad. The first is if it is posted in the wrong category, such as a job listing in the Housing category. The second is if it is prohibited content that violates Craigslist's terms of use. The third is if it is posted too frequently and is regarded as spam.

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 is my ad being blocked on Craigslist? ›

Craigslist states that “you may post to one category and in one city, no more than once every 48 hours.” So, if you attempt to post too many ads in a day or post the same ad multiple times, it's going to trigger Craigslist to remove them and block your IP address.

How do Craigslist buyers contact you? ›

Some Craigslist listings will offer a phone contact to call or text, though most listings will only offer an email contact. You can click an email link to open your email app automatically or copy and paste the link into an email program later.

Should I use my real email on Craigslist? ›

When posting an ad, you should also use an anonymous email account. That way, if someone replies to you, you can respond without revealing your real email address. You may also copy the email directly from a received email and paste it into your Web-based account, just as described here.

Why is Craigslist so shady? ›

Craigslist is a legitimate website, and most Craigslist posts are legitimate and trustworthy as well. However, just like any other online platform, it can be used by scammers. Some people may post fraudulent listings only pretending to sell goods or services, so take precautions to ensure your safety.

How should you 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.

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

Craiglist Safety Tips for Sellers

Request cash payment when exchanging in person. If you're shipping your item, use a service such as PayPal for more security. Never accept a money order; this is usually a scam. Cashier's checks can be forged, so exercise caution when accepting these.

Why won't pictures show on Craigslist? ›

The problem is simply the picture you took, likely 5mp or 8mp is too large a file size for craigslist to upload easily. File size on a digial photo can vary widly based not just on resolution (megapixels) but also what the subject of the photo is.

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