Almost everyone has heard of Craigslist. It’s a classified ads website that allows anyone to set up and place a free message, advertising anything they want. All ads are targeted to specific geographic locations, and can be for people looking to meet, people looking to buy things, people trying to get rid of free things, or of course, those looking to sell. In the auto industry, Craigslist has become a powerful tool for helping the sale of new and used autos, by connecting buyers directly to deals in their local neighborhoods.
While most people understand the basic idea of a classified ad, the fact that these ads are online gives a whole extra dimension to the marketing effort that you might not have considered. The use of pictures and hyperlinks can make the posting seem more real, more alive, and even interactive, depending on where your link takes them.
One of the best ways to use Craigslist is not to simply sell an item, but rather to try and enroll people in a program, or get them signed up for a newsletter. This can be done by using a link which leads the potential customer to a page where they are given some sort of free incentive for joining the mailing list, or putting in their phone number. In this way instead of capturing a single sale, you are instead developing a lifetime lead that you can sell to periodically for years to come.
If you aren’t familiar with all of the techniques that can be used to sell autos, both new and used, on Craigslist, then you should consider consulting with a company that specializes in Craigslist new and used automobile advertising, as they will have the experience and tools necessary to make the campaign a success.