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Emailing craigslist leads

by Rendition
10 replies
Recently we began emailing leads via craigslist. So we have been going into the web design hiring section and have been targeting companies looking for web design and content management (who are usually looking for a full time web designer to come work for them). The ads they post are usually reaching out for a single individual to hire. We, however, offer a comprehensive service with a team of specialists that we source to.

I'm just looking for opinions on how we should approach this. Should we try to keep the email short and brief? Should I phrase it as if I am inquiring on my own, just to get the call? After all, I'm just trying to get them to call us so we can set up an appointment for a consultation.

What I have been doing recently, so far to no avail, is to explain that we offer the benefits of an entire team of specialists that we trust, something an individual cannot usually offer. But I am starting to think it might be best to inquire as if I am applying for the position on my own, and to only reveal our true service after they call...but seems a bit shifty.

Anyway, I am looking for feedback from anyone who has experience with these sorts of emails. Basically sending inquiries to companies that are already looking for web design services. Much appreciated. If anyone has examples they have used for these sort of emails, that would be particularly helpful.
#craigslist #emailing #leads
  • Profile picture of the author xInd
    Funny I was actually just looking for somebody to delegate posting ads on CL and other classifieds and doing email follow ups to related listings etc.
    I would suggest you apply for the position as an 'employee' then you get the phone and explain how you have some clients of your own and you will spend x hours per week working hands on directly and with them, available over the phone regularly etc, but you will have your in house support staff take care of many of the trivial time consuming tasks to provide them with more value and results for less money.
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  • Profile picture of the author freeadstime
    There is a note on most classifieds saying that please do not contact this person with other commercial interests. In a sense your letters might still be safe and it actually may work. Try to keep it short and have them to either contact you or ask them to send more info about their task back via email, so that you can give them more accurate pricing.
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    • Profile picture of the author bawls
      The problem is that a 100 other people are do exactly the same thing and all your emails ARE going to be viewed as spam when in a sea of the other 100 emails...you better be prepared for a 10,000/1 lead ratio.
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      • Profile picture of the author CyberAlien
        Originally Posted by bawls View Post

        The problem is that a 100 other people are do exactly the same thing and all your emails ARE going to be viewed as spam when in a sea of the other 100 emails...you better be prepared for a 10,000/1 lead ratio.
        Exactly - your email is just going to be one of the hundreds they receive when you're targeting people on Craigslist.
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  • Profile picture of the author DaniMc
    In general, people do not liked being tricked into conversation.

    If anything, since the job market is tight and it is hard to find real talent, maybe you can offer to help fill in the gap until they can hire a full-time staff member.

    These companies want to hire someone full-time. It is very doubtful this one person will be able to handle every aspect of what needs to be done. What if you make a note of the company, then a month later contact them and ask if they hired someone.

    If they were unsuccessful in hiring you might get somewhere. If they were successful, that new hire will be a good person to form a relationship with. That could be your inroad to the company when services are needed that person cannot fulfill.
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    • Profile picture of the author Deidra Renee
      You would think that emailing people on Craigslist already looking for your services would be a no brainer, but it usually just gets you nowhere fast. The way to make money on Craigslist (or least the way I've done it) is to make a post in that section.

      Like someone mentioned before, they almost always have something regarding it's not ok to contact this company with other services/offers. It's basically a way of saying *no soliciting.* What you should do is create a post stating your services (your own Craigslist ad) and let them contact you. Most of those companies are looking to hire employees, and aren't interested in freelancers working from home.

      This might sound like it doesn't work, but it does. And just an FYI a very overlooked section of craigslist is the computer section. Even if they're not advertising that they're looking for a website, they buy websites like crazy!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rendition
    Thanks for the information everyone. It was actually pretty interesting, I was cold calling for several hours and then to take a break i started hitting craigslist, and by the second or so ad there was a number listed. When I called the number it actually turned into a warm lead that I'm going to pursue further in a day or so.

    The rapid success made me want to pursue the craigslist strategy more, because its a lot easier to talk with someone on the phone who is already looking for web design than to try to wiggle my way in the door for those who aren't.

    Again, thanks for the feedback so far people, and I'd love to hear more ideas.
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  • Profile picture of the author wislndixie
    Originally Posted by Rendition View Post

    Recently we began emailing leads via craigslist. So we have been going into the web design hiring section and have been targeting companies looking for web design and content management (who are usually looking for a full time web designer to come work for them). The ads they post are usually reaching out for a single individual to hire. We, however, offer a comprehensive service with a team of specialists that we source to.

    I'm just looking for opinions on how we should approach this. Should we try to keep the email short and brief? Should I phrase it as if I am inquiring on my own, just to get the call? After all, I'm just trying to get them to call us so we can set up an appointment for a consultation.

    What I have been doing recently, so far to no avail, is to explain that we offer the benefits of an entire team of specialists that we trust, something an individual cannot usually offer. But I am starting to think it might be best to inquire as if I am applying for the position on my own, and to only reveal our true service after they call...but seems a bit shifty.

    Anyway, I am looking for feedback from anyone who has experience with these sorts of emails. Basically sending inquiries to companies that are already looking for web design services. Much appreciated. If anyone has examples they have used for these sort of emails, that would be particularly helpful.
    Somewhere on this forum last year there was someone doing what you are doing but what set them apart was they used a video as a resume. It include some screenshots of some of their prior work and he was having great success in getting hired for freelancing work.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mohsin Rasool
    Do they really read and respond to those emails! As I also have experimented with something like this in the past and did not get any response... I wonder if they got my email!

    If you can post in Craigslist (no we cannot from here), then I think best thing is to post your own ad for your own services so let them contact you to start this conversation...

    This is the best thing to happen for a service business, where you get leads to contact you so you can control the conversation and sell your plan to them without any time wasting...

    Best Regards,
    Mohsin
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  • Profile picture of the author Rendition
    Yeah so far they don't, but every once and a while I stumble upon a phone number, and when I can call them it is much much easier to turn it into a warm lead even if what they were looking for initially was a full time employee. But this is different from cold calling because they are looking for web development to begin with.

    I've decided that unless there is a number listed, its really not worth pursuing these ads via email since they get so many replies. If anyone else has been trying this method, this thread might bring you some insight.
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