Ghosting on Craigslist

[Shaun Reilly]

Does anyone know what will get you "Ghosted" on Craigslist?

I don't think I am doing anything that would get to that level, but I think I would like to post more than I do and more often.

Right now I posted 3 very different ads in 3 different sections of the same Craigslist site (The Boston site has 5 sub-sections). I also used 3 different email addresses but all from the same computer (so same IP address).

I have not posted anything for a few days so none are repeats of something that is active recently on the site.

I assume that I should be okay for just these ads but if someone knows I would be interested in finding out:

- How many I can post from the same IP address (Not at the point where I'm going to hire VAs to do this) in a short time?

- How long before I can post the same ad in the same place again? (I think it should be at least 2 days)

- If it matters if I post in the different subsections since they will all show up on the main site?

- If you get bagged for posting on multiple Craigslist sites? Like will it not happen if I post the same ad in a different area (MA has a few other Craigslists that are not just subsections of the Boston, and there is the NH one that is a target for me too)?

- Is there anyway to know when it happens? I know they will send you your confirmation emails and if you click though it looks like you ad is there. But what if you just go to Craigslist in general? I go there just by typing in the URL and clicking through to the right section and I see my ads (after the usual delay in seeing them) so I assume that they are there or do they have some way of still tricking you if they ghost you and you look from the same computer?

Thanks!

[Chris Feltus]

Ghosting occurs when you attempt a combination of any of the following:

• Attempting to post similar ads/ posting multiples of the same ad
• Attempting to post multiple ads in quick succession
• Posting from the same IP or account multiple times

Based on what you described you should be safe. There is no sort of penalty or potential for being banned, all ghosting does is make it appear as if your ad posted directly. However, it will be "ghosted" (that is hidden) from the market place you posted the ad to. It's really just a way for craigslist to hide spam.

In short, you are being a bit to paranoid. You are abiding by their rules just fine. If you would like to verify that an ad was indeed been posted, and not ghosted, do this. After you post a new ad or renew an existing one you will get a link at the top of your browser. For instance:

craigslist.org/manage/1234568

Go into the market place that you posted the ad, and copy that number. In this example its 1234568. Copy and paste that code into the search bar for the market you posted it in (for example if you posted your ad originally in Dallas-Real Estate for sale - By owner you will need to be in this precise section to verify). If the ad appears you are fine, if it does not, you now know it has been ghosted.

Hope that helps