Boosting your business on Craigslist can pose a bit of a challenge when you first start working with it; not because it's incredibly difficult, but because it may just be a new ordeal for you with the customary learning curve that goes along with it. My wife and I have used Craigslist for a number of things. Searching for items, rentals, classes, jobs, etc. It can be tedious at first, but once you get the hang of it you begin to get a feel for what's real and what's not. Here's how you begin.

Step 1. Go to Craigslist.org and sign up for an account.
Initially, you'll have to input your email address, the captcha letters and wait for Craigslist to send you your activation email. So go immediately to your email address and check your inbox and/or your spam folder, if you don't see your "New Craigslist Account" email from them.

Step 2. Once you get your activation email from them, you click on the link that will take you to the Craigslist password creation page.
This is where you're going to type in a password for your account and retype the password. You'll then be directed to the "Terms of Use" page.

Step 3. Once you're directed to the "Terms of Use" page you're going to, first read the terms and then if you agree with and accept the terms, you'll click on the "accept" button and be taken to your Craigslist homepage.

Step 4. At the top left side of your screen [on the right hand side of your email] you'll find the 'settings' link. Click on it and select your preferred city then click the 'change' button [it'll update your account], then select the amount of time you'd like to stay logged in and click the change button in that field as well [it'll update your account again]. You're now ready to start posting and utilizing all that Craigslist has to offer you and your business.

You can now post ads, look up jobs, join or create forum topics or posts, use it for market research, etc.

As with all of the online platforms, Craigslist should never be considered the 'end all', it should, however, be looked at as a great marketing and traffic supplementary tool. You should use it with this in mind: different people use different tools online, so instead of creating the best site where no one will find you, you go to where they are at and let them know, on their terms, that you exist and are open for contact and for business. Some of your potential contacts are readers, some are visual, some are listeners, some need great sales copy to woo them into your clientele Rolodex; and because of that you're always going to want to think on the different platforms available to you where your potential market could find you. Craigslist is just another one of the many places you'll want to use to your advantage.

As always, it's been my pleasure sharing these business building concepts with you. Until next time...