Real Estate Virtual Assistant

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Craigslist.com Listing tricks

OK, So here I am a Virtual Assistant, manually imputting my clients listings on Craigslist.com.  7 days later, I'm typing in the same info over again. But, something always nags me...from my creative eye the listings look terrible...no matter that my ad copy sounds great~ that luxury home doesn't look any better than the overpriced condo down the street!  

Upon further review of the competition, I'm noticing listing ads that look like nice flyers, or website screen shots or something...BUT they are far more professional looking that what I'm putting in. so my detective work begins.  I go to Craigslist HELP, nothing, I post a help ticket, nothing.  Finally in very small print I find out that Craigslist will accept HTML code in the text portion of posting form. hhhhmmmmm. So I go to my clients website where we can pull up a web-flyer for our listings, color photos, link to V-tours, etc, etc.  I copy/pasted the web-flyer into my HTML editor that I use to create web-based newsletters, flick the switch to translate the flyer back to HTML, then wala....I copy/paste the code in my Craigslist posting, and now my clients listings look like beautiful flyers! Even the links all work!

So, I think there is something to be said for using Craigslist, when you can get your listings, or your marketing to stand out above the others...best of all its FREE!  Except for the Virtual Assistant ...of course:) 

 

 

 

I am the CEO of Creative Agent Solutions.com. My team and I assist real estate professionals in implementing online marketing strategies, Wordpress, social media, and business systems to catapult exposure and dominance in their marketplace, while focusing on productivity and the bottom line.

Copyright 2010 Laura Monroe | Real Estate Virtual Assistant

Creative Agent Solutions.com  916.343.3823

35 comments • Real Estate Virtual Assistant Laura Monroe • September 08 2006 04:05PM

Comments

I've been using this trick for a while and it works great :) Plus it gives you good rankings...The only bad part is the need for multiple posts...

Scott         

Posted by Oak Valley Mortgage-California Home Loans and Refinancing over 3 years ago
Yes, Scott, that's the part I hate too:( Especially with inventory going up out here in CA!
Posted by Real Estate Virtual Assistant Laura Monroe (Creative Agent Solutions.com (916)343-3823) over 3 years ago

I wil tell you a little secret if you promise not to tell anyone else...

 www.Postlets.com

ummm... Pina Colada

Posted by Bay Vista Realty over 3 years ago

Ok, Gary,

I love you! You have made my day!

I will have Pina Coladas in one hour! Be there! 

Posted by Real Estate Virtual Assistant Laura Monroe (Creative Agent Solutions.com (916)343-3823) over 3 years ago
You deserve a bonus for having the persistence to figure this out and position your client's listings for maximum exposure. This is an excellent example of the value of a quality Virtual Assistant.
Posted by John Novak - Las Vegas and Henderson NV Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace) over 3 years ago
I have been using html for over a year with client listing on Craig's List and I can also create ads that will show more than the standard 4 images.
Posted by Carolyn Nelson over 3 years ago
What a great tip!  Thanks a million.  I can't wait to try it out.
Posted by Christopher Bergeron (Coldwell Banker Grace Drapeau) over 3 years ago

Thanks for the trick Laura gonna try it tomorrow.

 

Shawn

Posted by Shawn Martin (Crosby Inspections) over 3 years ago
Great job on the research, Laura!  I'll have to keep that in mind for my own clients.
Posted by Michelle Schoen (The Permanent Record, LLC) over 3 years ago
Thanks!  I sue craigs list a lot.  What I am really sickof is not being able to re-post and entry.  I copy them into note pad, delete the old ones and then paste them back it.  Ick!  But it is free.  Today I'll try adding html. :)
Posted by Teresa Boardman (Saint Paul Home Realty) over 3 years ago
Great post i am going to have to gogive craigs list a serious look for advertising.....................
Posted by Eddy Martinez (Nationwide Funding Group) over 3 years ago

Postlets is awsome!  I don't even have to spend any time on HTML codes anymore!

Yay for Postlets and Craigslist!

Posted by Jennifer Kexel (Plantation Properties) over 3 years ago
Postlets are great and you can use them to post to other websites as well.
Posted by Donna Quanrud Realtor® Minnetonka Minnesota Fine Homes (Coldwell Banker Burnet) over 3 years ago

Laura,

  You promised not to tell....Geez!

I thought you guys might like Postlets.

I wonder if I should creat a blog with all of the great advertising sites that are free.

Posted by Bay Vista Realty over 3 years ago
Laura, Please do, that'd be great
Posted by Robert Rees - Austin Real Estate (Robert Rees Realty, Inc) over 3 years ago

I had to share,Gary....although it could have been those pina Coladas...:)

Hey, speaking of Postlets they have an upgrade for the lisitings with larger pictures, no charge yet, just refer a friend for one upgrade~

Anyone interested? 

 Postlets Upgrade

Posted by Real Estate Virtual Assistant Laura Monroe (Creative Agent Solutions.com (916)343-3823) over 3 years ago
Gary: I'll have to look into Postlets.com - thanks for the tip.  Laura: I've created a template using MS FrontPage for properties I post on Craigslist.  Works for me, and looks good, too!
Posted by South Florida Real Estate • Leanne Paynter (AAA Realty Group, Inc.) over 3 years ago

OH MY GOD! Postlets is great! This has been one of the biggest issues I had with Craigslist -- the listings are remarkably unattractive. Glad I jumped onto this thread!

Now .... where were the pina coladas?

Posted by Jonathan Dalton (RE/MAX Desert Showcase) over 3 years ago
Yes this is a great tool. I have used html in craigs list for my listings. While I have yet to SELL a listing on the site I know others who have. I think if you keep up on the the re-listing part & have an ad that looks great you'll get at least leads from the site.
Posted by Cape Coral Real Estate Broker | Susan Milner | Florida-Future-Realty.com (Florida Future Realty, Inc.) over 3 years ago

Laura,

 Thanks for sharing your knowledge. With the time we save posting repeatedly we can spend more here on AR.

Posted by Sharon Simms St Pete FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS (ALVA International, Inc.) over 3 years ago
Laura, I think that Gary should get the points for this post. postlets info......although it was a secret....rocks!
Posted by George Galvan (Professional Real Estate Partners) over 3 years ago

We use a company called VLS Homes http://www.vlshomes.com/brokers_only.htm

It costs $25 a month and you get a free website as well. You post your homes up on the VLS website then when they expire all you do it hit the "load" button and they're back up there.

It's worked out great for us. It really saves a lot of time.

Posted by Roxanne & Shannon Moore-Realtors, North Port FL (Re/Max Anchor Realty) over 3 years ago
Great post and a great tip! Thanks a bunch.
Posted by Tony Croft over 3 years ago

Great post and a great tip! Thanks a bunch.

 

 

Posted by Tony Croft Team at Ivy League Mortgage over 3 years ago
Wow, I can't wait to try this...so glad I accidently found this post. Not only about Craig's List but the postlet. KUDOS!
Posted by Gena Riede, Real Estate Broker Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699 (Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792) over 3 years ago

Hey George, I'd gladly share my points with Gary, and the Pina Coladas, its a great tip:)..

       (who cares about points..?)

 

Roxanne and Shannon; thanks for that tip too, I can use that info as well~ 

 

 

Posted by Real Estate Virtual Assistant Laura Monroe (Creative Agent Solutions.com (916)343-3823) over 3 years ago
Excellent tip Laura!! Thanks!
Posted by Ros Null, REVA (The Edge Virtual Assistance) over 3 years ago

Hello,

Just wanted to thank Gary for "sharing" and for everyone's kind words about postlets.  We're happy that people appreciate the service and are constantly working to improve the site.  We just launched our Plus version and think it's really really cool, but we'll let you be the judge.

Thanks again, send us any feedback you have, and please please please let the secret out about postlets!

Thanks,

Asher (postlets co-founder)

Posted by Anonymous over 3 years ago

Asher the biggest thing that I see as an issue is that you are linking to Bankrate.com. They are known to provide rates that people can't actually get and are involved in a lawsuite over this last I heard.

So can this feature be turned off? or better yet can you just link to a calculator that isn't a bank or lead generator site? Plcae the javascript on your site and skip linking to anyone.

Posted by Ken Smith (Suburban House Hunters) over 3 years ago
i actually joined craigslist after i read your blog. Thanks for the tip. I have advertised my services and got some positive results. 
Posted by Eddy Martinez (Nationwide Funding Group) over 3 years ago

Craigslist has been a very powerful lead generator my our clients. About 3 years ago we made a program  that speed loads listings into craigslist

It is not a cut and paste of html like postlets. 

We have a direct interface and send the information to craigslist along with 15 other web sites like yahoo, homeseekers, .Googlbase...etc In certain areas we do this automatically from the local MLS's

WWW.postyourlistings has several thousand agents as clients.

The last 7 or 8 months, we have been very busy providing cost effective marketing for our brokers and agents.

Gary 

 

 

Posted by Gary Streisand (Post Your Listings) over 3 years ago
Check out http://www.classifiedflyerads.com/ which gives you an option to have your ad automatically posted to Craigslist and the other directories.   The nice thing about http://www.classifiedflyerads.com/ is that along with your full color flyer being posted to these directories, you also get a free full color web page of your listing which often shows up in web searches.  You can choose from over 70 full color template designs, can add up to 15 photos and much more.
Posted by Toby over 3 years ago

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Sarah

http://www.craigslistpostingonline.info

Posted by Sarah about 1 year ago

http://craigslist-tricks.blogspot.com/ go here to find how to stick your ads

Posted by David about 1 year ago

Hi everyone:

I have been using a great tool to automate my postings on Craigslit. All I have to do is create a dozen ads with several different headers and tell rainmaker how often I want those ads posted. It does the rest. Whether you are at your computer or not your ads get posted.

Here is a link to download a free trial: Rainmaker (set up is a breeze!)

Another tip you might want to take in consideration: Craigslist monitors IP addresses and if they detect that too many ads were posted from the same IP in a short period of time, they might block your IP. Trust me, if that happens posting on craigslist becomes a real headache! There is however a simple method to prevent it from happening and that is to "mask" your IP. I have used very inexpensive software to do that: hide my IP 2009. (you can get a free 15 days trial by clicking here)

Start combining both softwares and you will be a true Craigslist posting machine!

Good luck!

Posted by Eric Auger (prudential Americana Group, Realtors) about 1 year ago

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