CraigsList

Author: Jenna Vasquez

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The Good

• Easy to use
• Cost-effective connections

Craigslist is different from other freelance sites, because it acts as a connector, but not really a facilitator. What that means for our "Good" list is that Craigslist is easy to use and access. No registration on the site is required to respond to advertisements (only for advertising services yourself) and new postings appear daily. Additionally, it is cost-free to accept work (no middle-man facilitating fees), and many details (payment, etc.) are determined client-to-provider, giving both parties more control of the process. While other sites control the interactions between freelancer and client on-site for a slice of the fee, Craigslist simply connects the two in a cost-effective manner.

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The Bad

• Little facilitation

Unfortunately, the simplicity of Craigslist is a two-edged sword. Craigslist is a great resource for people to find each other, but facilitates very little. While this can be positive for the reasons offered above, it also gives greater responsibility and liability to the clients and writers who use it. Everything from discussing the project to receiving payment for the project must be planned and enforced by the parties involved, which is a responsibility some would rather avoid.

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The Bottom Line

Use Craigslist at your own discretion and practice safe and secure business. While a more of a hands-off service than we prefer, Craigslist provides a decent number of local jobs no matter your location and is a great place to connect with clients.