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Craigslist Question - I'm Posting There for a Blind Friend ...

by Marvin Johnston
7 replies
I am not a frequent Craigslist poster, but I have been pushing a blind friend of mine to list the pianos he has for sale there. It is easier for me to do it here as I can check out any photos of the pianos, and go through the process much faster than he can using his voice synthesizer.

After I started to post his ads under his account but on my computer, I'm getting the "check your email" message to verify the email address.

It is not a problem as I just give him a call and he forwards the email to me.

Is this something I should worry about, and is this email verification going to be a regular thing?

Marvin
#blind #craigslist #friend #posting #question
  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Yes and no. When you set up an account, they will reverify every 90 days regardless, unless you post multiples every 90 days.

    You can also do SMS or telephone verification. I prefer to use that option myself.
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    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    I just got thinking too.

    Are you setting up an account with them, OR posting individual ads without an account?
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    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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    • Profile picture of the author Marvin Johnston
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      I just got thinking too.

      Are you setting up an account with them, OR posting individual ads without an account?
      Yes, he does have an account but I can't remember if I, or someone else, set it up.

      But he did get one call as a result of his Craigslist ad, so this is good .

      Marvin
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      • Profile picture of the author JMB Marketing Group
        Originally Posted by Marvin Johnston View Post

        Yes, he does have an account but I can't remember if I, or someone else, set it up.

        But he did get one call as a result of his Craigslist ad, so this is good .

        Marvin
        Marvin,

        I know that this maybe a little off topic of your question; however, you've stated two things.

        1. That your friend is blind -- so I can't imagine how difficult it is to sell things on the web, so kudos to you for helping him.

        2. Your friend has received 1 call from the Craigslist ad. Here is what I would like to suggest to get the phone ringing off the hook.

        How about you put in the ad:

        SPECIAL DEAL FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY ONLY!
        (You can tweak this title for anytime of the year as you go along!)

        If you purchase or lease (leasing might be an option if he doesn't offer it already as pianos can be expensive) a piano during the month of January -- You will get 1 week FREE of piano lessons. Or you could choose 2 weeks or 1 month)!

        Then mention your Call to Action in the Ad!

        Edit:

        He could also find piano teachers who are looking for more students. He then forms a JV (Joint Venture) partnership with 1 or more piano teachers so that while he sells more pianos and referring those customers to the piano teacher(s) he receives a continuing percentage from the music teacher(s) as long as the students remain a student or whatever agreement they want to come to.

        However, if he wants to go the JV route, he needs to make sure that he has someone on board before placing the ad offering the FREE piano lessons.

        Does this sound like music to your ear?

        If so, please feel free to contact me via PM if you would like more help with this strategy.

        The Helpful Warrior!

        JMB
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        • Profile picture of the author Marvin Johnston
          Originally Posted by JMB Marketing Group View Post


          1. That your friend is blind -- so I can't imagine how difficult it is to sell things on the web, so kudos to you for helping him.

          2. Your friend has received 1 call from the Craigslist ad. Here is what I would like to suggest to get the phone ringing off the hook.

          How about you put in the ad:

          SPECIAL DEAL FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY ONLY!
          (You can tweak this title for anytime of the year as you go along!)

          If you purchase or lease (leasing might be an option if he doesn't offer it already as pianos can be expensive) a piano during the month of January -- You will get 1 week free of piano lessons. Or you could choose 2 weeks or 1 month)!

          Then mention your Call to Action in the Ad!


          Then all you need to do is to find piano teachers who are looking for more students. He then forms a JV (Joint Venture) partnership with 1 or more piano teachers so that while he sells more pianos and referring those customers to the piano teacher(s) he receives a continuing percentage from the music teacher(s) as long as the students remain a student or whatever agreement they want to come to.

          Does this sound like music to your ear?
          Thanks!

          He is not your typical blind person by any stretch of the imagination. Some years ago, he was asked if he wanted to drive. Of course he said yes, and drove the car (with verbal instructions) into a parking lot next to a CHP officer. After a stern talking to, the officer asked what he would say if he hit someone.

          His reply ... I would have told them I didn't see them . (true story, and we both know the officer)

          Last year, we went to the World ARDF (Amateur Radio Direction Finding) Championships over in Croatia where I was an international referee and he participated in the first World Blind ARDF Championships. He took 4th out of 7 participants in his class.

          Like I said, he is not the typical blind person!

          We tried a Christmas special that only ran for a week, and the call came as a result.

          He has been tuning and working on pianos in this area for about 40 years, so he is very well known. And he gets a lot of referrals from teachers around town about students looking for a piano.

          In the ads, he includes a first tuning and moving to the new location (limitations apply) which is about $300 included in the price of the piano. And the ads do offer piano instruction (by another friend of ours.)

          One thing I don't know how to do yet is analytics to find out how many people are actually reading the ad. So that is one of the next things that needs to happen.

          I want to embed some videos of the pianos being played, but haven't been able to work out the logistics yet of getting the videos made.

          The ad referred to in the OP was a modification of the Christmas Special. It has been two days now, and no calls yet. But the copy is really basic and a typical Craigslist ad with nothing special in the copy. That needs to change, but I just didn't have time.

          Thanks!!!

          Marvin
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Yeah, if you set him up a new account, then you will only need to verify email address every 90 days.

    Otherwise, you will need to verify email on every post.
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    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author dukestravels1972
    I found that if they ask you to verify, the ads are ghosted even after you verify the phone #. Make sure this is not happening or you're wasting your time.
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