Craigslist.com Personals

What is Craigslist?

Craigslist is an online classified ad site. It began with a single site focusing on San Francisco in 1995, and has since grown to include 300 sites representing all 50 states and over 50 countries. More than 12 million ads are posted each month and seen by as many as 15 million users. Just like the classified ads appearing in local papers, you can find job listings, items for sale, and personal ads.

Craigslist.com Personals

Craigslist users can post free personal ads in the following sections:

• Strictly Platonic
• Women Seeking Women
• Women Seeking Men
• Men Seeking Women
• Men Seeking Men
• Miscellaneous Romance
• Casual Encounters

One unique aspect of Craigslist.com personals is the "Missed Connections" section. Here you can seek out the woman you shared a smile with on the subway or the man you talked to at the bar last night.

Tips for Creating a Personal Ad

• Create a catchy, descriptive title - Craigslist.com personals don't offer a searchable database the way other online dating sites do. Instead, visitors are presented with a long list of links. They must click on titles to read the full ads. If your title stands out, you're going to get more clicks and more potential dates.
• Take your time creating an ad - Your message is your only chance to make an impression on thousands of readers. Show your personality with your words, and highlight your best features and attributes. It may be tempting to stretch the truth, but honesty is important in starting a relationship. Don't forget to proofread your ad to give it a final polish.
• Don't be too picky. It's great to have standards, but you should also be realistic and keep an open mind. Don't create such an impossible list of requirements that no one qualifies.
• Be ready for the responses - Craigslist is a popular site. You may want to set up a special email account, folder, or filter to organize the responses you receive.
• If you're posting in the "Missed Connections" section, be as specific as possible about your encounter. You never know what might happen.

Responding to Craigslist.com Personals

Craigslist is a big site, and depending on the city, an ad poster can be flooded with dozens if not hundreds of responses in her or her email inbox. Stand out from the crowd by following a few simple steps:

• Read the ad carefully - If you're not what they're looking for, seriously consider moving on to the next ad. You're certainly free to take a chance if the person intrigues you. However, if the personal ad asks for only non-smokers to respond, and you show up at your first date with a pack of Camels in your pocket, you're not off to a very promising start.
• Add an attention-getting subject line to your email - This will help it stand out from all the emails with subjects like "Re:Craigslist Post #45H93Q."
• Tailor your response to the ad - If you're responding to numerous personal ads, it may be tempting to send a form letter of sorts to each one. Even if you copy and paste your basic details each time, adding information related to the specific ad will let the recipient know you paid attention to his or her message. Ask a coffee lover, "Your Starbucks or mine?" or mention your European study abroad experience to a world traveler.
• Follow the directions in the ad - If they want to see a photo, send one. If they want a list of your ten favorite romantic movies, then you'd better start listing. However, don't provide any information you're not comfortable revealing. Especially don't share your phone number or address with someone you've never met before.
• Keep it light - The first email isn't the time to bare your soul, and it's not the place to make demands on the recipient's time or attention.
• Make sure they remember you for the right reasons - Don't be the one who sends a nude picture to the person posting in the "Strictly Platonic" section.

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