Ever since the internet became a thing, advertising shifted from print media to cyberspace. Where recruiters had to look for prospects in the local newspapers, classified sites like Craigslist have made such processes quick and simple. With a reach that covers over 70 countries and 700 cities across the globe, it’s no wonder why both large and small institutions are always looking for opportunities to exploit Craigslist to their benefit. However, to get the maximum value out of your advert, it’s important to get in-depth knowledge about the platform and its cost implications.The question of the hour is – does Craigslist charge to post ads?
The simple answer to this question is; it depends on where you stay and what you want to post. In most cities where Craigslist is still establishing a market, it’s free to post an ad. However, in most US states and Canada, fees per advert range between $10 and $75. Apartment ads in the New York, Boston, and Chicago areas attract a flat $5 fee. If you’re looking to sell something, then be prepared to pay $3 to $5 for your advert. Job postings cost around $7. Let’s explore the cost implications of placing an ad at the world’s leading online classifieds platform in more detail.
How Much Does It Cost to Post an Ad on Craigslist?
Until recently, posting an advert on Craigslist was completely free. In fact, this is still the case in several countries and cities. However, even for the areas that require payment, Craigslist remains the lowest classified advertising platform you’ll come across on the internet. To provide an accurate answer to the pressing issue, let’s zone in on some of the most popular markets.
Pay-to-Advertise Markets
In the San Francisco Bay Area, where Craigslist made its first breakthrough, posting a job posting costs a whopping $75. Other listings cost slightly less. In the US, over 40 states are currently enlisted on the pay-to-advertise system. These include areas like Los Angeles, New York, Washington, San Diego, and Seattle. Recruiters in most of these states have to pay $25 to post their vacancies. Since Craigslist has a powerful influence in other countries like Canada, many recruiters in those areas also fall under pay-to-advertise markets. Advertising fees in these areas range between $10 and $50.
Free-to-Advertise Markets
Despite boasting an elite status, Craigslist is still growing. This means the pay-to-advertise setup is not available across the board. There are many areas where Craigslist is still trying to get a foothold and can’t yet charge people to post ads. Exemption for the pay-to-advertise scheme, however, does not excuse recruiters in these areas from following the company’s regulations. Apart from posting the permitted number of times, posters should not post the same advert multiple times in cities located close to each other. While it comes with a fee, utilizing the service of a freelance Craigslist poster may be helpful.
How Long Does an Ad Last on Craigslist?
Because you’re paying for your ad, it’s only natural that you’d want it to generate leads for as long as possible. Paid adverts on Craigslist appear for 30 days after which they expire. If you wish to keep the advert for a longer period, there is an option to renew it. On top of the longer lifespan, paid adverts have the potential to reach wider markets. As we mentioned before, several markets are exempted from the pay-to-advertise scheme. Naturally, the adverts posted in these areas have a different lifespan from those listed under the pay-to-advertise arrangement. Recruiters in such areas can expect their adverts to last for up to 45 days. As enticing as this program appears to be, keep in mind that adverts are placed according to the sequence in which they are published. As such, your listing can fall to the bottom of the pile within days. For this reason, you need to keep a close eye on your job posting and renew it when the need arises.
Conclusion
When it comes to reach and influence, Craigslist is the top online classifieds platform. Not only do recruiters and marketers get value for their money in terms of reach, but the cost of advertising is relatively lower than at most competing sites. Depending on where you’re located and what you want to advertise on the site, Craigslist charges between $3 and $75 for each posting. Of course, there are several areas where posting ads is still free. In these areas, however, you’ll have to keep reposting your ad to keep it on top of the pile and there are limitations on the number of ads that can be posted. In addition to Craigslist posting experts, you can also find Whatsapp developers and ad experts.
