Comments on: craig still shrugging off competition http://www.cheezhead.com/2008/09/03/ved-craig-of-craigslist-still-shrugging-off-competition/ Insight and opinion from the world of employment. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:01:22 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Joseph Stubblebine http://www.cheezhead.com/2008/09/03/ved-craig-of-craigslist-still-shrugging-off-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-114780 Joseph Stubblebine Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:27:18 +0000 http://www.cheezhead.com/?p=1677#comment-114780 It seems unfathomable to me that if they could earn more revenues by adding additional fee services, advertisers, sponsored listings, etc, that they choose not to do this. Craig's keep-it-simple philosophy, combined with CEO Jim Buckmaster's socialist ideologies (he's been accused of being a communist and an anti-capitalist) is holding Craigslist back from realizing its true revenue potential - intentionally. I respect differing viewpoints and business philosophies, but even if Craigslist made some innovations that would drive revenues (like charging for postings and apartment listings in more markets, etc.) and gave 100% of those proceeds away to charity, they would increase their value to the online community and to the planet as a whole. They are in a unique position to earn hundreds of millions of dollars more in revenue; help thousands of people and make a true difference. If they don't care about making money, I can respect that; so make it and give it away. To do otherwise could be almost be construed as selfish and egotistical. Set up a trust. Create a Charity. Sponsor a country. There's lots of great things that need to be done in this world! It seems unfathomable to me that if they could earn more revenues by adding additional fee services, advertisers, sponsored listings, etc, that they choose not to do this. Craig’s keep-it-simple philosophy, combined with CEO Jim Buckmaster’s socialist ideologies (he’s been accused of being a communist and an anti-capitalist) is holding Craigslist back from realizing its true revenue potential – intentionally.

I respect differing viewpoints and business philosophies, but even if Craigslist made some innovations that would drive revenues (like charging for postings and apartment listings in more markets, etc.) and gave 100% of those proceeds away to charity, they would increase their value to the online community and to the planet as a whole. They are in a unique position to earn hundreds of millions of dollars more in revenue; help thousands of people and make a true difference. If they don’t care about making money, I can respect that; so make it and give it away. To do otherwise could be almost be construed as selfish and egotistical. Set up a trust. Create a Charity. Sponsor a country. There’s lots of great things that need to be done in this world!

]]> By: Alex http://www.cheezhead.com/2008/09/03/ved-craig-of-craigslist-still-shrugging-off-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-114777 Alex Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:10:19 +0000 http://www.cheezhead.com/?p=1677#comment-114777 I wonder why Craigslist has never considered building a database like Monster or CareerBuilder considering the fact that they have so many jobseekers visiting their website? Doesnt that sound like a viable option? I wonder why Craigslist has never considered building a database like Monster or CareerBuilder considering the fact that they have so many jobseekers visiting their website? Doesnt that sound like a viable option?

]]> By: Amy http://www.cheezhead.com/2008/09/03/ved-craig-of-craigslist-still-shrugging-off-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-114776 Amy Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:12:09 +0000 http://www.cheezhead.com/?p=1677#comment-114776 Making COOL discoveries at the local flea market like finding bargain basement prices on prostitutes? Which staff member from cl provided this entry. Sad. Making COOL discoveries at the local flea market like finding bargain basement prices on prostitutes? Which staff member from cl provided this entry. Sad.

]]> By: Ted http://www.cheezhead.com/2008/09/03/ved-craig-of-craigslist-still-shrugging-off-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-114772 Ted Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:42:27 +0000 http://www.cheezhead.com/?p=1677#comment-114772 I agree that simplicity continue to differentiate craigslist. Personally, I found my first job, apartment, and couch on craigslist. I think the simplicity has two more side effects that makes craigslist so popular. One, it shows that craigslis't has an attitude. They are against the establishment. They just don't care about fancy web 2.0 stuff and I think people connect with that. Two, you don't find on craigslist, you discover. You are not at Saks Fifth Avenue, you are at the local flee market making cool discoveries. It is this sense of discovery that drives pageviews. As far as a recruiting platform, I don't really like it. I agree that simplicity continue to differentiate craigslist. Personally, I found my first job, apartment, and couch on craigslist. I think the simplicity has two more side effects that makes craigslist so popular.

One, it shows that craigslis’t has an attitude. They are against the establishment. They just don’t care about fancy web 2.0 stuff and I think people connect with that.

Two, you don’t find on craigslist, you discover. You are not at Saks Fifth Avenue, you are at the local flee market making cool discoveries. It is this sense of discovery that drives pageviews.

As far as a recruiting platform, I don’t really like it.

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