A guy that could be an instant Billionaire if he wanted

Scott Ames · 07-04-2009, 09:05 AM

I think Craig Newmark of Craigslist could be an instant billionaire if he either sold the company or ramped up the revenues, then sold.

I shake my head everytime I use Craigslist. Its ugly, it's plain, it looks like something from the early days of computing, but it is extremely popular. Even the big boys have not been able to unseat it.

Brad Gosse · 07-04-2009, 09:15 AM

Perhaps the simplicity is what is being overlooked as a reason for success.

A site that is almost entirely text based loads fast and serves its single purpose.

Classified people don't care about cosmetics and maybe if it was prettied up with graphics and ads they would lose their appeal.

Right now it has this granola flavor that appeals to the user base. Why mess with that?

Entropy4 · 07-04-2009, 09:18 AM

Yeah, you're discounting the power of its branding and ability to stay unique in people's minds.

Loren Woirhaye · 07-04-2009, 09:33 AM

Ebay owns a quarter of Craigslist - and fully owns its prettier
(though much less popular) cousin Kijiji.

One reason people like to use Craigslist is the strong sense,
just like here, that it is a community first - not a billboard
asset in which to cram banner ads down our throats.

Curiously, people seem to prefer that sort of classifieds
site. If one were to try to monetize CL it would be treading
on thin ice. I'm sure the company does pretty well selling
paid listings in major markets... but if it were to assert its
right to charge in all markets it would quickly turn into
a ghost-town I bet.

Hamish Jones · 07-04-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Ames

Even the big boys have not been able to unseat it.

Craig Newmark is one of the big boys. There is a benefit from being first. Now you just have to be different.

Sean Donahoe · 07-04-2009, 10:10 AM

It does amaze me how popular it became considering the lack of design. That being said, there is a lot to the "Keep it Simple" approach. Look at Google's home page for example! No news feeds, no hype, just a search box and 2 buttons.

Craig is definitely one of the big boys (whether he likes it or not) and I am sure he would be tempted to sell it one day. Same goes for Twitter, I am sure those guys will just wait for the right offer to come along.

Sean

worlok · 07-04-2009, 10:32 AM

Just look at Drudgereport. It's one of the most popular sites on the net. I like it that some simple concepts can be huge. It gives me hope.

07-04-2009, 09:05 AM	#1
Scott Ames I'm getting fat War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West of Rockies Posts: 4,808 Thanks: 194 Thanked 304 Times in 168 Posts	A guy that could be an instant Billionaire if he wanted I think Craig Newmark of Craigslist could be an instant billionaire if he either sold the company or ramped up the revenues, then sold. I shake my head everytime I use Craigslist. Its ugly, it's plain, it looks like something from the early days of computing, but it is extremely popular. Even the big boys have not been able to unseat it.
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07-04-2009, 09:15 AM	#2
Brad Gosse Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Orangeville, Ontario Posts: 1,186 Thanks: 157 Thanked 157 Times in 105 Posts Social Networking	Re: A guy that could be an instant Billionaire if he wanted Perhaps the simplicity is what is being overlooked as a reason for success. A site that is almost entirely text based loads fast and serves its single purpose. Classified people don't care about cosmetics and maybe if it was prettied up with graphics and ads they would lose their appeal. Right now it has this granola flavor that appeals to the user base. Why mess with that?
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07-04-2009, 09:18 AM	#3
Entropy4 Warrior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 12 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: A guy that could be an instant Billionaire if he wanted Yeah, you're discounting the power of its branding and ability to stay unique in people's minds.

07-04-2009, 09:33 AM	#4
Loren Woirhaye gypsy accordion menace War Room Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Amherst, Massachusetts Posts: 3,159 Blog Entries: 11 Thanks: 75 Thanked 489 Times in 354 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: A guy that could be an instant Billionaire if he wanted Ebay owns a quarter of Craigslist - and fully owns its prettier (though much less popular) cousin Kijiji. One reason people like to use Craigslist is the strong sense, just like here, that it is a community first - not a billboard asset in which to cram banner ads down our throats. Curiously, people seem to prefer that sort of classifieds site. If one were to try to monetize CL it would be treading on thin ice. I'm sure the company does pretty well selling paid listings in major markets... but if it were to assert its right to charge in all markets it would quickly turn into a ghost-town I bet.
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07-04-2009, 10:10 AM	#6
Sean Donahoe The Manic Marketer War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: California, USA Posts: 889 Thanks: 4 Thanked 94 Times in 65 Posts Social Networking	Re: A guy that could be an instant Billionaire if he wanted It does amaze me how popular it became considering the lack of design. That being said, there is a lot to the "Keep it Simple" approach. Look at Google's home page for example! No news feeds, no hype, just a search box and 2 buttons. Craig is definitely one of the big boys (whether he likes it or not) and I am sure he would be tempted to sell it one day. Same goes for Twitter, I am sure those guys will just wait for the right offer to come along. Sean
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07-04-2009, 10:32 AM	#7
worlok HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: New Jersey, United States Posts: 99 Thanks: 9 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: A guy that could be an instant Billionaire if he wanted Just look at Drudgereport. It's one of the most popular sites on the net. I like it that some simple concepts can be huge. It gives me hope.
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