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Does this violate craigslist tos?...

by TimothyW
3 replies
Can I have a simple (all just-plain-text) listing under services that contains a direct link to a youtube video?

Please advise.

2 ads got pulled like that, but others have not. I wondering why + wondering if maybe the local competition is trying sabotage my listings.

-- TW
#craigslist #tos #violate
  • Profile picture of the author GMD
    Banned
    Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

    Can I have a simple (all just-plain-text) listing under services that contains a direct link to a youtube video?

    Please advise.

    2 ads got pulled like that, but others have not. I wondering why + wondering if maybe the local competition is trying sabotage my listings.

    -- TW
    Craigslist makes it clear (when you post in the "Services" section) that you MUST have contact information listed in/with your post. If you don't have that, that could be a reason why your ad got "flagged".

    Second, yes, you're allowed to have a simple text ad as you've indicated with a link (even if it's to Youtube).

    Third, just because your ad got "flagged" doesn't mean you've violated any Craigslist rule: it just means that enough people got together and flagged your post. AND just because your post doesn't get flagged, doesn't mean it follows the rules either: it just means nobody got around to flagging it yet. So don't be surprised when next time an ad that made it once, may not go the distance again...

    Keep in mind that yes, people do have "Craigslist flagging software" and do use it (or pay others to use it) against others whom might be in the same niche as you.

    Keep in mind, that since you've not highlighted what you ad is or for, nobody could realistically judge if your ad as written was "okay" or not.

    You're going to have to READ and UNDERSTAND Craigslist TOS yourself. If you find that your postings clearly fall "inside the rules" then you're probably looking at some flag happy people (or software):

    craigslist terms of use
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    >>> Craigslist makes it clear (when you post in the "Services" section) that you MUST have contact information listed in/with your post. If you don't have that, that could be a reason why your ad got "flagged". <<<

    Aha! Bingo! That's what it must be.

    I wonder why CL allows the user to even make that mistake. Why not have a pop up not letting the lister go any further without correcting that mistake?

    Anyhow, thanks for that info. Very helpful. I want to operate all whitehat-ly!

    -- TW
    Signature
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    • Profile picture of the author GMD
      Banned
      Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

      >>> Craigslist makes it clear (when you post in the "Services" section) that you MUST have contact information listed in/with your post. If you don't have that, that could be a reason why your ad got "flagged". <<<

      Aha! Bingo! That's what it must be.

      I wonder why CL allows the user to even make that mistake. Why not have a pop up not letting the lister go any further without correcting that mistake?

      Anyhow, thanks for that info. Very helpful. I want to operate all whitehat-ly!

      -- TW
      You wonder why CL would allow users to make this mistake? Well, the first thing you have to take into account is that CL has a pretty simple user interface: not too many fields to put in except for your title, location, asking price (if applicable), etc.

      One pretty much has those fields to fill out and then a large text/input area. Therefore, short of them offering a place to specifically put the contact information that they require in the services area, CL pretty much lets users "police" the site.

      So putting all of that together, I THINK (no facts to back up what I think) CL is just keeping things simple by putting special "instructions" in text only in certain posting areas and trusting posters to follow the rules or risk other users (who know the rules) to flag your service because you didn't include the requisite contact information that CL is asking for.
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