4 ms·

I think before you want to make something like a CL killer, you first need to understand what is CL, why is that so popular as it is - essentially what is the

by sonink 18y ago

I think before you want to make something like a CL killer, you first need to understand what is CL, why is that so popular as it is - essentially what is the primary driver of business for CL. As other would have already commented, it seems that the simple interface is one of hte biggest drivers for CL. You would find the same if you dig through tons of forbes/media articles. I think that is not the case. That is just post-facto insight - something which gets generated a lot in the media. The primary driver of business for CL afaik is data and the people who already use CL. If I want to sell something I go to CL because it offers me the most amount of buyers. If I want to buy something vice-versa. It is a self-fulfilling loop. The only way to beat CL is to figure out how do you overtake CL in its primary driver of business. It will not be easy - I dont know even if it is possible. But what I do know is that anything else (neat UI, AJAX) is just inconsequential.

RobGR 18y ago
The existing user base of CL, and the chicken-and-egg problem of buyers and sellers, are definitely valid issues. However I would keep a very simple interface. There are things that I have sold on craigslist and I knew that I would get more and sell it faster on ebay, but right then I just wanted to get it "in the process" of getting gone, and ebay is a pain. It may be because of the computer or browser I use, but it is slow, it loads up all kinds of ads and kruft to show me what I want in a tiny 2 square inches in the center of my big monitor. In fact, I would go further, and provide RSS feed interfaces and even a newsgroup interface ( not many people will use that, so maybe make a few million first).
- colemaniac 18y ago
  i especially like the idea of RSS feeds or even a search that will notify you when the item you're looking for is listed (i think ebay may have something similar?)

by sonink 18y ago

RobGR 18y ago

The existing user base of CL, and the chicken-and-egg problem of buyers and sellers, are definitely valid issues. However I would keep a very simple interface. There are things that I have sold on craigslist and I knew that I would get more and sell it faster on ebay, but right then I just wanted to get it "in the process" of getting gone, and ebay is a pain. It may be because of the computer or browser I use, but it is slow, it loads up all kinds of ads and kruft to show me what I want in a tiny 2 square inches in the center of my big monitor. In fact, I would go further, and provide RSS feed interfaces and even a newsgroup interface ( not many people will use that, so maybe make a few million first).

colemaniac 18y ago
i especially like the idea of RSS feeds or even a search that will notify you when the item you're looking for is listed (i think ebay may have something similar?)