about | help | faq – Craigslist
How do I post a free posting?
How can I edit my posting?
How soon does my posting expire?
How can I delete my posting?
How do I repost my posting?
How often can I post?
How can I post anonymously and still receive responses?
I have not received the email to self-publish my free posting, what should I do?
Can I add a picture to my posting?
Can I use HTML tags or URLs in my posting?
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
What kind of postings are prohibited?
What should I do if someone harasses me by posting a prank posting?
Can I post to all of craigslist’s sites?
What category is appropriate for posting focus group opportunities?
I saw a particular posting 6 months ago and would like to see it again. Can I?
Where can I advertise my services/business on craigslist?
Can I offer a posting service or act as a posting agent on craigslist?
Can I put a link in my for sale posting to an auction site like ebay?
Can I scalp my tickets and popular gift items on craigslist?
You can post a free ad without having an account or logging in to our site. To learn how, please read our help page on how to create a free post. However, having a craigslist account will allow you to post, edit, delete, and repost more easily.
Edits for postings are now self-service.
If you posted while logged in to your account, you can edit from your account homepage.
Otherwise, use the link provided in the same self-posting email you used originally to self-post. If you can’t find this, try having it re-sent.
View the full list of posting lifespans.
If you posted using an account, you can delete your posting from your account homepage.
Otherwise, use the same link provided in the self-posting email that you used to post the ad originally. If you can’t find this, try having it re-sent.
Please note, all postings are automatically deleted upon expiration.
For more information on reposting free ads, see this page.
For information on reposting paid ads, please visit this page.
You may post to one category and in one city, no more than once every 48 hours.
If you try to post something similar to an active post of yours on the site, you may get a blocked message. Removing the similar active post should help, unless it is less than 48 hours old.
When submitting a posting, you are asked to provide your email address.
You have three options:
You can use craigslist 2-way email relay. Responses are relayed to your actual email address.
Your email address can appear in your posting just as you have typed it.
No email address shown at all—you’ll need to provide contact information in the body of your post.
Using craigslist 2-way email relay helps protect both your email address and the email address of anyone who replies to your post. It is generally recommended and is the default option.
craigslist mail relay is always an option, but some of the options listed above may not be available in other categories. For example, if you are posting in the personal categories, option #2 is not available.
If you are using an online email account, please check your bulk/junk/spam mail folder(s).
You may have entered your email address incorrectly—it only takes one typo!
Some email providers and ISPs have implemented “spam filters” some of which are badly designed or misconfigured, resulting in craigslist emails being filtered out or intercepted.
Your email provider may be experiencing delays, or other technical issues.
In some categories, you will be offered the option to “Add Images” during the posting process. You will be prompted to upload images from your computer to craigslist.
Please use HTML sparingly. Users generally prefer ads with little or no added HTML.
Please use only HTML tags appropriate for the
No support is provided for JavaScript, applets, Flash, or other embedded non-HTML content.
For more information see our HTML Guidelines.
If you use HTML in any part of your posting, you must use it throughout.
Please consult the Terms of Use.
Category-specific guidelines posted in specific sections of the site must also be observed.
For your reference, there is also a non-comprehensive list of prohibited items/content.
If you are the target of a prank or other harassment related to a craigslist post, please contact us immediately using the suggestions we outline on our abuse help page.
Please choose just ONE local craigslist site for which your ad is most relevant—generally the site closest to you. If your ad is equally relevant to all locations, your ad does not belong on craigslist. Please find another service. Posting the same ad to multiple locations on craigslist is prohibited.
Focus group opportunities can be posted to the “et cetera” jobs category, or in the “gigs” section.
Generally not. We will however respond to a valid subpoena for that information.
Only in the “services offered” categories please.
Unauthorized posting agents/services are prohibited. Violators agree to pay CL liquidated damages for each posting.
No. Please post a set price, do not solicit bidding, and do not link to auctions elsewhere.
Many users will flag posts scalping tickets or popular gift items for way over face value.
How to Cross-Post on Craigslist – ItStillWorks
i Jupiterimages/ Images Craigslist is an online local classified ads service, so your ad has to be relevant for the community to which you post. Cross-posting a general ad in multiple cities is considered spam and goes against Craigslist’s terms of use, but it may be considered legitimate if you live near two cities and your ad is appropriate for both communities. In this case, wait at least 48 hours and remove the original ad before you post the second one. If you try to post two similar ads at the same time, you’ll get a blocked message. Step 1Go to Craigslist and click “Post to classifieds” in the upper left menu bar. Step 2Follow the prompts to enter the type of ad, your email address and the text of your ad. Step 3Click the login button in the upper right area of the screen if you have a Craigslist account. Enter your username and password, then follow the prompts to select the category and add your text. Click the “post” button to immediately upload your ad to the Craigslist site. Step 4Check your email for the self-publish link if you don’t have an account or chose not to log in. Follow the link to post your ad anonymously. Step 5Wait at least 48 hours. According to Craigslist’s terms of use, you can post to one category in one city every two days. The rule is necessary to preserve server space and bandwidth. Step 6Log in to your account and click “Remove” to take down the original listing, or go to your self-publish email and click the link to remove the post. Craigslist ads stay on the servers for seven to 45 days, so you have to manually take the ad down if you want to post a similar one somewhere else. Step 7Go back to the “Post to classifieds” link and follow the process to create a new ad, this time in another category or city. Limit the number of times you do this; every ad costs Craigslist bandwidth and storage fees. References Writer Bio Aubrey Kerr is a writer and photographer. With a B. A. in media arts and public relations, she has helped small business owners design and implement online marketing campaigns since 2004. Her work appears on several websites including and the Houston Chronicle.
6 Ways to Avoid Ghosting on Craigslist – Knock CRM
It is undeniable that Craigslist is an essential channel for multifamily property managers because it is a free channel that prospects regularly visit as they look for new apartments. However, it may not seem so “free” when leasing agent time is spent posting and that post is flagged or deleted by Craigslist – a practice known as “ghosting. ” When a post is ghosted, your ad will be visible from your account but will be hidden from public view. Unfortunately, when it comes to posting to Craigslist, there are many things completely outside of anyone’s control. Ghosting happens to be one of them, but we have pulled together some helpful information on how to avoid this. Please keep in mind these are just tips and there are no guarantees – but this will give you the best shot of your posts being seen by prospects! Things to be aware of when it comes to Craigslist flagging and moderation: There is a very active moderation community on CL. These are Craigslist users that review posts, looking for any content that (they perceive) violates the Craigslist terms of use: There are paid services that specialize in flagging posts (their goal is to flag all posts so only their customer’s posts are the only ones left! ) Craigslist utilizes their own manual and automated moderation tools. The exact methods they use are private, but see tips below There is a wide belief that users who have their posts flagged and removed have a lower flagging threshold in the future. This makes it very important to prevent getting these 6 suggestions to avoid your craigslist posts being flagged. 1. Don’t post the same/similar unit more than once per 48 hoursYou are only able to post to the same city / category once every 48 hours for the same item. If the price range is close / identical, it could be perceived as posting the same item. 2. Don’t post repetitive content. This includes:The same body of the ad, including a description or special. You should also avoid posting the same set of photos. Just re-arrange the photo orders, and don’t use more than 8-10. 3. Don’t promote your community, instead promote your unitCraigslist is a marketplace to buy and sell, not advertise. So, ads that aren’t specific in what they are selling, or if there is a “bait and switch”, a post may get flagged for removal. 4. Don’t use spammy or salesy wordsWhile such language doesn’t violate Craigslist Terms of Use, spammy language is often cited as a reason for community moderators to flag posts. 5. Don’t leave out key informationWhile there are no rules on what is required in an ad (other than what is required in the posting process), community moderators often flag posts that are not descriptive of the item (unit) being offered. 6. Don’t over-stylize your adsThis includes using multiple font sizes, bold fonts, underlined fonts, italics, and unnecessary capitalization. While stylizing ads doesn’t violate Craigslist Terms of Use, over-stylized posts may be perceived as coming from a template, which may attract more nclusionFollowing these six steps will give you the best chance of your posts being seen by prospects looking for a new apartment. If you want to learn more about how to better optimize Craigslist content to improve conversion within the channel, check out our post on how to Up Your Craigslist more tips like these, sign up for Knock’s newsletter.
Frequently Asked Questions about craigslist faq
Can I post on Craigslist for free?
Craigslist is a free online classified and forum site. Craigslist users can post items for sale or seek out items they are hoping to purchase. This classifieds site also allows people to post housing for sale, lease, or rent. The listings even go beyond simply buying and selling.
Can I post on Craigslist in multiple cities?
Cross-posting a general ad in multiple cities is considered spam and goes against Craigslist’s terms of use, but it may be considered legitimate if you live near two cities and your ad is appropriate for both communities. … If you try to post two similar ads at the same time, you’ll get a blocked message.
How do you get around Craigslist posting limits?
Follow these 6 suggestions to avoid your craigslist posts being flagged.Don’t post the same/similar unit more than once per 48 hours. … Don’t post repetitive content. … Don’t promote your community, instead promote your unit. … Don’t use spammy or salesy words. … Don’t leave out key information. … Don’t over-stylize your ads.