Search Tips For Using Classified Websites Like Craigslist to Generate Sales Leads

Classified websites like Craigslist are a great way to generate sales leads. You can find your targeted market. However, to find that targeted market you must first familiarize yourself with some helpful search tips. Please keep these in mind when using classified websites like Craigslist to generate sales leads.

Tip #1 - Selecting Your Search Radius

On Craigslist.org, you are limited to only searching one city page at a time. However, there are websites known as Craigslist search tools that eliminate this limiting hassle. For example, you can find a desktop program that allows nationwide Craigslist searches. You can find a website that does the same thing. However, you can also find websites and programs that let you search thousands of websites at once, including Craigslist.org.

The point being is that you have a number of options. Most of these websites and programs are setup so that you can key in a zip code and select a radius to search. Should you do a nationwide search or a local search? It all depends on the products or services you sell. Local services (such as babysitting and lawn care) should be local searches only. Online services (such as freelance writing) should be nationwide searches. Big products that only be delivered locally should be local searches, whereas items that can delivered through the mail can be nationwide searches.

Tip #2 - Search Classified Websites Multiple Times a Day to Find Sales Leads

Whether you do a search directly on Craigslist.org or another classified website or if you use one of those above mentioned programs that let you search thousands of websites at once (and do a nationwide Craigslist search), you are going to see a lot of results. Why? These websites are often updated every minute! That is a lot of sales leads to weed through. But, you don't want to miss anything important either. After all, more business owners are starting to use classified websites to generate sales leads. So not only should you search often, but you should have a call planned out or an email sales pitch ready to go; act before someone else does.

Tip #3 - Know When To Use Filters and When Not To

Many desktop programs and websites that let you search thousands of classified websites at once, including nationwide Craigslist searches, have extra search filters for you to take advance of. But wait! Should you? For example, you might find a housing search filter that has a bedroom count; you can select a two bedroom home. These are great filters to narrow down your search results, but you don't always want or need to use them.

Lets say that you are an apartment broker. You are trying to help a landlord find a paying tenant and visa versa. Not everyone outlines online what size bedroom they are looking for. You might limit yourself too much.