How should I have craigslist leads contact me?

Omar Soriano Music · 8th Dec 2015, 06:29 PM

Hello all.

I am in the process of building my Latin Music production business. Alongside of developing a website, I have decided to experiment with craigslist ads. Nothing to zany to start ; just using the three ads per day allowed to one account.

Yesterday was day two. And, look, I've got response already. Although I had given thought to talking points with a lead, I hadn't given much thought to how I want leads to contact. I suppose I should give some thought to what works best to convert leads into clients.

Options:

- give em every way to contact me. Phone, text, email. Pros: easy access. Cons: lol, too much access! Being interrupted constantly by people who aren't serious stops me from working, which is what makes me money.

- text. Pros: its easy, and not very intrusive to me. Con: its not easy to be persuasive via text.

- email: I'm leading towards switching towards just emails. It allows me to respond with a thoughtfully written sales email.

- direct to my website. Ideally, I'd like them to visit my website,where they can hear my sound, which is sort of a way of vetting people before they even contact me. If they fill out the form there, its highly likely they're already somewhat interested. Of course, you can't have direct links in craigslist. Does anyone have success with links in images,

Thanks in advance for insites.

Jarvis Edwards · 15th Dec 2015, 01:31 PM

Hey there,

I'd highly recommend only allowing people on Craigslist one way to contact you, and that's via that anonymous email provided via Craigslist. Also, make sure to use a NEW email address that you will not regret deleting once you are done with your ad campaigns.

Because so many people on Craigslist are there to harvest your contact info and either sell it to spammers or start spamming you themselves. You'll notice it within a week or two of giving your cell number or email address away on there...usually.

Craigslist no longer allows links of any kind to my knowledge, and no longer allows using images that link to websites. You'd have to enter your information to be copy/pasted, I believe. Leading them to your website in the Craigslist ad seems like the best deal, and then they can contact you via email or your website after hearing your music, if they want.

Do you have analytics set up to see where your website visitors are coming from?

wiifm · 15th Dec 2015, 02:07 PM

Can we assume you have some kind of call to action in your Craigslist ad? So they respond, what are they supposed to get? You do have their email address at this point, so thank them and provide what they asked for, but leave a signature at the bottom with a link to your website. Like you say, the ones that are curious and interested are going to click it, so have an optin form to invite them to get updates with no hype. It works for me on other advertising,

craigsposterpro · 16th Dec 2015, 04:59 PM

You need to first define what constitutes a serious lead. There's a whole segment of people who are no longer comfortable calling but may be more prone to a quick text message or email. You can't prejudge or rule out a lead as not being serious or legit just because of someone's communication preference. The bottom line is you want to be able to engage them to qualify them on your own with an actual phone call or email exchange. What works best to convert leads into clients is a meaningful exchange with them - there's no substitute for real human contact.

I was never a fan of website links within a Craigslist ad (even when you could include them) as you can't quantify or gauge ad response or ROI very well from blind and anonymous website hits where you don't get that opportunity to engage them.

Many of our posting clients include both a phone and email response option to accommodate most ways leads may prefer to contact them. We're increasingly seeing clients add that texting option as well.

wiifm · 18th Dec 2015, 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by craigsposterpro

You need to first define what constitutes a serious lead. There's a whole segment of people who are no longer comfortable calling but may be more prone to a quick text message or email. You can't prejudge or rule out a lead as not being serious or legit just because of someone's communication preference. The bottom line is you want to be able to engage them to qualify them on your own with an actual phone call or email exchange. What works best to convert leads into clients is a meaningful exchange with them - there's no substitute for real human contact.

I was never a fan of website links within a Craigslist ad (even when you could include them) as you can't quantify or gauge ad response or ROI very well from blind and anonymous website hits where you don't get that opportunity to engage them.

Many of our posting clients include both a phone and email response option to accommodate most ways leads may prefer to contact them. We're increasingly seeing clients add that texting option as well.

This makes good sense, I am going to make some adjustments. THANKS!

Jarvis Edwards · 21st Dec 2015, 11:47 AM

I forgot to add in my last post. If you want people to be able to call you, you should get a Google voice number and use that as your contact number for Craigslist. That way, you can always discard the number when you no longer need it, and your personal privacy won't be affected.

Other than that, I would only recommend using anonymous email.

Omar Soriano Music · 1st Jan 2016, 04:07 PM

sorry for the slow reply. I've got to figure out how to have this forum notify me of replies.

thanks for the feedback, I am digesting it now

Omar Soriano Music · 1st Jan 2016, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by Jarvis Edwards

Hey there,

I'd highly recommend only allowing people on Craigslist one way to contact you, and that's via that anonymous email provided via Craigslist. Also, make sure to use a NEW email address that you will not regret deleting once you are done with your ad campaigns.

Because so many people on Craigslist are there to harvest your contact info and either sell it to spammers or start spamming you themselves. You'll notice it within a week or two of giving your cell number or email address away on there...usually.

Craigslist no longer allows links of any kind to my knowledge, and no longer allows using images that link to websites. You'd have to enter your information to be copy/pasted, I believe. Leading them to your website in the Craigslist ad seems like the best deal, and then they can contact you via email or your website after hearing your music, if they want.

Do you have analytics set up to see where your website visitors are coming from?

thanks for the heads up

You need to first define what constitutes a serious lead. There's a whole segment of people who are no longer comfortable calling but may be more prone to a quick text message or email. You can't prejudge or rule out a lead as not being serious or legit just because of someone's communication preference. The bottom line is you want to be able to engage them to qualify them on your own with an actual phone call or email exchange. What works best to convert leads into clients is a meaningful exchange with them - there's no substitute for real human contact.

I was never a fan of website links within a Craigslist ad (even when you could include them) as you can't quantify or gauge ad response or ROI very well from blind and anonymous website hits where you don't get that opportunity to engage them.

Many of our posting clients include both a phone and email response option to accommodate most ways leads may prefer to contact them. We're increasingly seeing clients add that texting option as well.

Thank you.

Can we assume you have some kind of call to action in your Craigslist ad? So they respond, what are they supposed to get?

The call to action is "Text or email, and let's talk. Let's make that hit happen."

So, following up, I've been doing this for three weeks.

Ads uploaded: 27
Leads Generated: 2
Sales Closed: 0

I also did some CL scraping and Google scraping
Messages send from scraping: 8
Leads Generated: 1
Sales Closed: 0

I'm guestimating that is takes about 10 leads to generate a sale. So I'm aiming to create at least 100 leads in 2016 to generate 5 to 10 new clients. I'm not sure whether my estimate are realistic or not.

yukon · 1st Jan 2016, 04:35 PM

I would only use email unless you enjoy answering the phone 24/7 (yea I know about voicemail). Email works great for CL leads & staying organized.

Omar Soriano Music · 1st Jan 2016, 04:42 PM

funny thing is, the two leads I have gotten so far have been via text. I wonder if they would have written me if I had email only as an option set up

MattNic · 2nd Jan 2016, 02:25 PM

how do you get them to go to your page from the craigslist ad if you are not allowed to post links?

enjamulahsan · 4th Jan 2016, 09:59 PM

I already think about collection emails from craiglists. But this will be not effection. Because most of the craiglist emails not works well for marketing. Because the email owners not checks them recently.

8th Dec 2015, 06:29 PM	#1
Omar Soriano Music Warrior Member Join Date: 2015 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	How should I have craigslist leads contact me? Share on: Hello all. I am in the process of building my Latin Music production business. Alongside of developing a website, I have decided to experiment with craigslist ads. Nothing to zany to start ; just using the three ads per day allowed to one account. Yesterday was day two. And, look, I've got response already. Although I had given thought to talking points with a lead, I hadn't given much thought to how I want leads to contact. I suppose I should give some thought to what works best to convert leads into clients. Options: - give em every way to contact me. Phone, text, email. Pros: easy access. Cons: lol, too much access! Being interrupted constantly by people who aren't serious stops me from working, which is what makes me money. - text. Pros: its easy, and not very intrusive to me. Con: its not easy to be persuasive via text. - email: I'm leading towards switching towards just emails. It allows me to respond with a thoughtfully written sales email. - direct to my website. Ideally, I'd like them to visit my website,where they can hear my sound, which is sort of a way of vetting people before they even contact me. If they fill out the form there, its highly likely they're already somewhat interested. Of course, you can't have direct links in craigslist. Does anyone have success with links in images, Thanks in advance for insites.

15th Dec 2015, 01:31 PM	#2
Jarvis Edwards Hyperactive Copywriter Join Date: 2011 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California Posts: 199 Thanks: 12 Thanked 58 Times in 41 Posts	Re: How should I have craigslist leads contact me? Share on: Hey there, I'd highly recommend only allowing people on Craigslist one way to contact you, and that's via that anonymous email provided via Craigslist. Also, make sure to use a NEW email address that you will not regret deleting once you are done with your ad campaigns. Because so many people on Craigslist are there to harvest your contact info and either sell it to spammers or start spamming you themselves. You'll notice it within a week or two of giving your cell number or email address away on there...usually. Craigslist no longer allows links of any kind to my knowledge, and no longer allows using images that link to websites. You'd have to enter your information to be copy/pasted, I believe. Leading them to your website in the Craigslist ad seems like the best deal, and then they can contact you via email or your website after hearing your music, if they want. Do you have analytics set up to see where your website visitors are coming from?
	Jarvis Edwards - Copywriter & Marketer

15th Dec 2015, 02:07 PM	#3
wiifm HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2002 Location: Oregon , USA. Posts: 181 Thanks: 25 Thanked 56 Times in 48 Posts	Re: How should I have craigslist leads contact me? Share on: Can we assume you have some kind of call to action in your Craigslist ad? So they respond, what are they supposed to get? You do have their email address at this point, so thank them and provide what they asked for, but leave a signature at the bottom with a link to your website. Like you say, the ones that are curious and interested are going to click it, so have an optin form to invite them to get updates with no hype. It works for me on other advertising,
	Now ANYONE Can Create and Sell Their Own Product! http://2trk4.us/show/how

16th Dec 2015, 04:59 PM	#4
craigsposterpro US Craigslist Poster Team Join Date: 2014 Location: Middleton, Mass Posts: 204 Thanks: 11 Thanked 72 Times in 59 Posts	Re: How should I have craigslist leads contact me? Share on: You need to first define what constitutes a serious lead. There's a whole segment of people who are no longer comfortable calling but may be more prone to a quick text message or email. You can't prejudge or rule out a lead as not being serious or legit just because of someone's communication preference. The bottom line is you want to be able to engage them to qualify them on your own with an actual phone call or email exchange. What works best to convert leads into clients is a meaningful exchange with them - there's no substitute for real human contact. I was never a fan of website links within a Craigslist ad (even when you could include them) as you can't quantify or gauge ad response or ROI very well from blind and anonymous website hits where you don't get that opportunity to engage them. Many of our posting clients include both a phone and email response option to accommodate most ways leads may prefer to contact them. We're increasingly seeing clients add that texting option as well.

21st Dec 2015, 11:47 AM	#6
Jarvis Edwards Hyperactive Copywriter Join Date: 2011 Location: Inland Empire, Southern California Posts: 199 Thanks: 12 Thanked 58 Times in 41 Posts	Re: How should I have craigslist leads contact me? Share on: I forgot to add in my last post. If you want people to be able to call you, you should get a Google voice number and use that as your contact number for Craigslist. That way, you can always discard the number when you no longer need it, and your personal privacy won't be affected. Other than that, I would only recommend using anonymous email.
	Jarvis Edwards - Copywriter & Marketer

1st Jan 2016, 04:07 PM	#7
Omar Soriano Music Warrior Member Join Date: 2015 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How should I have craigslist leads contact me? Share on: sorry for the slow reply. I've got to figure out how to have this forum notify me of replies. thanks for the feedback, I am digesting it now
	www.omarsorianomusic.com \| Cutting Edge Latin Music

1st Jan 2016, 04:35 PM	#9
yukon Banned Join Date: 2010 Posts: 22,778 Thanks: 2,721 Thanked 11,364 Times in 7,490 Posts	Re: How should I have craigslist leads contact me? Share on: I would only use email unless you enjoy answering the phone 24/7 (yea I know about voicemail). Email works great for CL leads & staying organized.

1st Jan 2016, 04:42 PM	#10
Omar Soriano Music Warrior Member Join Date: 2015 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: How should I have craigslist leads contact me? Share on: funny thing is, the two leads I have gotten so far have been via text. I wonder if they would have written me if I had email only as an option set up
	www.omarsorianomusic.com \| Cutting Edge Latin Music

2nd Jan 2016, 02:25 PM	#11
MattNic Ascended Master Warrior Join Date: 2014 Location: Kamloops, British Columbia Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: How should I have craigslist leads contact me? Share on: how do you get them to go to your page from the craigslist ad if you are not allowed to post links?
	Problem solved! Get your own *powerful cash generating system* here and *generate cash easily* and ethically. *Earn cash* just by *clicking a mouse*!

4th Jan 2016, 09:59 PM	#12
enjamulahsan Banned Join Date: 2016 Location: The Best Place On Earth Posts: 236 Thanks: 65 Thanked 36 Times in 35 Posts	Re: How should I have craigslist leads contact me? Share on: I already think about collection emails from craiglists. But this will be not effection. Because most of the craiglist emails not works well for marketing. Because the email owners not checks them recently.