CraigsList Clients

[Algernonep]

Originally Posted by GadgetRick

I saw that...and I don't use it there either!

lol....
I don't use that app...lol

[framed]

They are all right - Craigslist is full of people looking for freebies. I advertised a free engagement session on CL just to get some images for my portfolio. I ended up getting sucked in to TWO different sessions. Sessions were done for free, and neither of the couples ever ordered a print, and the prints were at rock bottom discounted prices. They wanted what was free and that's it. I will never do that again. I am done with freebie sessions AND Craigslist!

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by framed

They are all right - Craigslist is full of people looking for freebies. I advertised a free engagement session on CL just to get some images for my portfolio. I ended up getting sucked in to TWO different sessions. Sessions were done for free, and neither of the couples ever ordered a print, and the prints were at rock bottom discounted prices. They wanted what was free and that's it. I will never do that again. I am done with freebie sessions AND Craigslist!

BINGO! All it takes is one time.

[FrankLamont]

Oh, but Craiglist clients are the most fun to reject!

[ErikTaubman]

I use craigslist...I hate to admit it, but I do. I feel so cheap and dirty right now.

I bought a children's sandbox from a woman who listed it. She originally had it listed for $30, but I got it for $20...plus I asked her to make sure she hosed it down to clean it before I got there to pick it up.

I guess I am one of those "cheap craigslist-type people."

Seriously, I use craigslist because just like there are cheap buyers on the system, there are also cheap sellers. Point being like ilk attract.

Sales, regardless of product, is a numbers game. Price and quality play into the closing percentage, and once you know how much you need to charge (using many of the posts on this and other forums including many by Jim) you will be able to figure out what your closing percentage is.

Using some numbers off the top of my from (I think) Jim's post, if you want to make $50K, and you need (4) sales of $600 per week and your close rate is 50%, you just need 8 contacts a week. Most newbies will not have that close rate, more likely 10%, so you need to have contact with 40 people per week.

Close percentages will be different for each source. Craigslist might give you a 5-10% close rate, but personal referrals may end up being 80%-100%.

Point being (besides me bing a low life craigslist BUYER) you should track and know your close rate for each source, then you can decide if the time spent justifies the revenue received.

~~Time to go troll on craigslist for a bit - I need to find a sideview mirror for a 95 breeze (Dealer cost is $187. I will bet that before April 1, I will find one on craigslist and will not spend more than $25!) ~~~

[Jim Bryant]

We're talking about photography, who gives a crap about sandboxes and mirrors. If I want to clean out the garage I post stuff on CL too. CL does have it purposes of getting the items you want rather cheaply but I don't post my photography business looking for clients on there.

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

We're talking about photography, who gives a crap about sandboxes and mirrors. If I want to clean out the garage I post stuff on CL too. CL does have it purposes of getting the items you want rather cheaply but I don't post my photography business looking for clients on there.

It's good for used photo gear?

Sold my 80-200 for $25 less than I paid two years ago, and it went in like three days.

But yeah, I got one good assisting gig on CL a few years ago, everything else has been a bust.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by jdepould

It's good for used photo gear?

Sold my 80-200 for $25 less than I paid two years ago, and it went in like three days.

But yeah, I got one good assisting gig on CL a few years ago, everything else has been a bust.

Yea, I do see good deals on CL or camera gear, but there's a chance you take, like using eBay too. CL does, however, serve certain purposes for folks looking for good deals.

[hibou]

Originally Posted by framed

I ended up getting sucked in to TWO different sessions. Sessions were done for free, and neither of the couples ever ordered a print, and the prints were at rock bottom discounted prices. They wanted what was free and that's it. I will never do that again. I am done with freebie sessions AND Craigslist!

Bull. Craigslist wasn't your problem; being spineless was. I've never been been "sucked in to" giving something away for free. They clearly identified you as an easy mark. It's great that you've wised up to not doing free sessions. People will only value you as much as you value yourself.

I got clients off a craigslist-like-site (CL is not really used here). I had just moved here and needed to make a splash. They were all good looking young professionals and they paid me what I asked for. I don't regret it. Now I have an improved portfolio, I made enough money to buy a lens and a new website (that I have been focusing on bumping up the google ranks: now I'm on the first page for local photogs!), plus I'm getting word of mouth because they were so happy.

Now that I have gained brand awareness in the local consciousness, I am focussing my attentions elsewhere; it is my end game to not have to advertise on these types of sites. I want to be in the same league as my favourite nearby photogs who get enough word of mouth that they don't need to advertise; however that kind of reputation doesn't just happen, it is built, and it is hard to get word of mouth when nobody knows who you are. My choices have made these steps a lot easier.

There is clearly a place for Craiglist as a tool for business, otherwise this question wouldn't come up again and again. However, I think people are asking themselves the wrong questions when it comes to using the site. Ask yourself what are your goals for your business, what do you hope to achieve, and will using Craigslist help you to achieve that goal?

[arsifferlen]

Originally Posted by hibou

Bull. Craigslist wasn't your problem; being spineless was. I've never been been "sucked in to" giving something away for free. They clearly identified you as an easy mark. It's great that you've wised up to not doing free sessions. People will only value you as much as you value yourself.

I got clients off a craigslist-like-site (CL is not really used here). I had just moved here and needed to make a splash. They were all good looking young professionals and they paid me what I asked for. I don't regret it. Now I have an improved portfolio, I made enough money to buy a lens and a new website (that I have been focusing on bumping up the google ranks: now I'm on the first page for local photogs!), plus I'm getting word of mouth because they were so happy.

Now that I have gained brand awareness in the local consciousness, I am focussing my attentions elsewhere; it is my end game to not have to advertise on these types of sites. I want to be in the same league as my favourite nearby photogs who get enough word of mouth that they don't need to advertise; however that kind of reputation doesn't just happen, it is built, and it is hard to get word of mouth when nobody knows who you are. My choices have made these steps a lot easier.

There is clearly a place for Craiglist as a tool for business, otherwise this question wouldn't come up again and again. However, I think people are asking themselves the wrong questions when it comes to using the site. Ask yourself what are your goals for your business, what do you hope to achieve, and will using Craigslist help you to achieve that goal?

Wonderful post, hibou.