Posting an ad on Craigslist is probably one of the easiest things you can do to promote your Business, Event or News for free online.

For those of you who don’t know it, Craigslist is an online network which features free online classified advertisements.

You can create your own free Craigslist advertisement and have it online in a matter of seconds. Simply create your ad, and then insert it into the ad form at Craigslist.

Is posting a free ad on CRAIGSLIST really easy?

Well, yes but…

You’ll have to create a CRAIGSLIST account first.

There have been recent changes to setting up a Craigslist account – with new security features in place for some categories.

But still, the process is very easy!

Here are 10 Easy Steps To Creating a Craigslist Account

1. First, go to craigslist.org. You’ll see columns of specific cities, states, and countries.

Just click on the specific location in which you want to post an advertisement.

2. Once you are on your location page, click “post to classifieds”.

3. You will be asked what type of posting you are making. In most cases, you’ll want to select “service offered”.

4. Under the “services” section, simply click the category which best fits your Business or Service.

You’ll be taken to a page that says: “you need to have a Craigslist account…”

5. Click the “Craigslist account” link. Then click “sign up for an account” (at the bottom of the page).

6. On the next page, enter the Email Address you want associated with your Craigslist account.

(It’s important to note that this email address is for Craigslist Administrators only. You will be given a completely anonymous email address to be used for your ads)!

Then enter the verification words you see in the Box. Click “create account”.

If this is done correctly, you’ll get a thank you – but you’re not finished yet!

7. Check your email for the link from CRAIGSLIST to activate your CRAIGSLIST account.

8. Click the link, enter your password, and submit it.

9. Read the CL Terms Of Use page and make sure you understand it.

You don’t want your ads to be flagged (deleted), and you certainly don’t want your account to be suspended.

If you are sure you want to continue with CRAIGSLIST, click “I accept”.

10. You are ready to post your first free CRAIGSLIST ad!

Click “go” and go for it!

Oh yes, it’s FREE.

I work frequently with small business owners who are scrambling for creative ways to keep their business visible and vibrant on a very limited budget.

Many of them are asking:

It is possible to remain competitive while spending less on marketing?

Answer: Yes!

What Kind Of Magic Is This?

Update Your Website and Change Your Hosting Plan

In a land of nearly non-existent human attention spans, it has become more important than ever to refresh your Website and make sure that it is concise, informative and relevant.

Since a website is one of the most cost-effective ways to disseminate core information about your business – keeping your site tidy and up-to-date is essential for your success.

Web Hosting (the storing of your site on “servers” that keep your site live) can be notoriously overpriced. I would suggest that you look carefully at your plan and see if you can save some money there.

If you think you are being overcharged for web hosting, contact us and we’ll take a look.

Start A Blog

If you want your Business to have it’s own voice on the Internet, then setting up a Blog is the fastest, easiest way to get started.

Even with no marketing budget at all, you can set up a free hosted Blog at Wordpress.com.

So, you are only making excuses for yourself if you are saying “I can’t afford to be on the Internet”.

You can’t afford FREE??

Evaluate Your Message

Surely every small business owner knows how important it is to stand out with memorable marketing messages.

But as things become even more competitive, you’ll need to step up quickly – and have something NEW to say today; preferably something relevant to the current economic climate.

Just remain focused on your customers, and adjust your advertising to address their current interests and needs.

Look at your core marketing message: what are you really saying to your clients and customers?

Get Some Social Media Buzz

Twitter, Facebook, Stumble, Digg…

There are seemingly endless varieties of social media networks that help get you some media buzz FAST.

If it is true that over half of the global internet population visits social networks, then why would you NOT use one of these free social media tools?

Network Like Crazy

Rather than complain about “how slow business is”, why not use any extra time to network with other small business owners in your area.

Reaching out and being helpful in these difficult times can generate a lot of positive feedback for your business.

Get it right the first time.

Build long-term relationships with your customers, and this will increase your sales while reducing your customer acquisition costs.

And what could be better than that!

Overall, I’d say that the television commercials which were broadcast during “The Big Game” on Sunday were pretty lame.

And boring.

And stupid.

I haven’t decided if they were more boring than stupid, or more stupid than boring.

But here is our vote for the “Best of the Worst”.

(Actually, this one was quite good).

And…congratulations to the New Orleans Saints!

(Email subscribers, click the title above to visit our Blog and see the embedded Video).