There is no denying that one of the hottest portals on the web is Craiglist. I suspect I get at least an exposure a day to this property without exerting myself. It's considered a great place to place a listing, seek a situation, and more. It also comes with challenges. Foremost among these is a disproportionate volume of shady characters.
There is danger on both sides of the equation for a small business. Scammers can fool a business into performing work that leads to no payment, or to engage in any one of the many other flimflams I hear so much about. And for potential customers? More sensitive ones may bypass your listing out of concern for illegitimate "offers".
The best advice for those using Craigslist as a marketing tool is to take reasonable precautions. Provide links to your legitimate web properties, provide a searchable phone number, and be willing to meet with a prospect. Also, before accepting an engagement or sale be insistent on meeting the person in person. I strongly advise only doing business with someone locally (as Craigslist itself advises). Taking proper precautions can't hurt and can potentially save a lot of heartache!
No comments:
Post a Comment