Someone suggested to me the other day that Craigslist shouldn't be overlooked as a place to market commercial real estate.  This person was someone that a lot of people look up to for their expertise, and so I was a bit surprised.  Probably most of you already know, but just in case you don't, I thought it might be of interest to remind everybody that craigslist doesn't really welcome the kind of marketing that I think most of you do for your commercial real estate services and/or properties.  The short of it is from what I can tell, craigslist users don't want to have anything to do with commercialization.  Its founder, Craig Newmark, continues to support this philosophy. The whole idea behind craigslist is one of community and dealing locally.  It was really built for, and the community wants to keep it for, the John Doe's of the world.  In my opinion, it's more of an online reliable flea market.   Believe me, I like flea markets.  I just don't think they are the best way to market commercial real estate.  So I say, we have enough places to be, so let this one alone.  Don't play in that sandbox.

So why do I even bring up Craigslist?  I can see why it's tempting, given that more than 10 million a month use Craigslist - 6 million post classifieds and another 4 million post comments in the various user forums available on the site.  But that's not the point.  It's that while it's the wrong place to be, that doesn't stop someone well intentioned (just like the person who suggested to me the other day that Craigslist shouldn't be overlooked), from passing along misinformation.  No one means any harm.  It's just that this kind of recommendation coming from a seemingly credible source, results in people running down rabbit holes that are only going to waste their time.  It's these kind of excursions, trying this and trying that because someone said the "toy is good", that sends one off trying to figure out where to play.

We are all subjected day in and day out to tidbits of information.  How many times do you find yourself sitting at a lunch with some really smart people and someone starts talking about how valuable they found something for their business?  You wonder if it would be good for you.  If you're like me, always curious and always wanting to learn, you might not be able to stop yourself from taking some time to explore it.  I want to save you from that and if I can help, I hope you'll use me as a source when applicable.  So in this case, assume you asked and here is my answer...don't do it.  Don't use Craigslist for commercial use.  Craigslist is a great website for a very specific purpose; connecting people, much in the same way classified ads in newspapers did.  Think about it.  It is all text and discourages the use of images.  But you get a visual of newsprint. Is that where you want to be seen?  Stay in the sandbox with kids your own age.  They have toys you like better.