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The holidays are just around the corner. Soon lights will line the roof tops and the hustle and bustle will begin as holiday shoppers search for those perfect gifts. Not only will shopping malls transform but online traffic will increase as this busy season comes to life.

As online shopping becomes more and more popular, its no wonder sites like Craigslist have caught the attention of both buyers and sellers. Each month over 10 million people visit Craigslist.org to buy or sell just about anything.

Craigslist was launched in 1995 and has become the 7th most popular website. Amongst personals, housing and job postings, there are twenty four 'for sale' categories and fourteen 'service' categories to choose from. The beauty of Craigslist is that searching or posting ads is completely free, except for job postings in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco. Unlike other classified sites or auction sites like EBay, which charge fees, Craigslist offers a value Marketers can take advantage of; free listings targeted to a specific city or region.

For the online or brick and mortar store, advertising on Craigslist is a great alternative to costly advertising fees from traditional sources. Not only do ads have the potential of reaching a phenomenal number of people, but can be seen by people looking specifically for items or services in that particular category. Posting to Craigslist is easy. Keep in mind, a simple design that matches the down-to-earth feel of the Craigslist community will be most effective. For best results, post ads in the most relevant categories. Creativity in posting to other less logical, but relevant categories can be a great advantage as well. An ad must be legitimate. Content should be concise, accurately portrayed and stand out among other similar listings. Careful attention to proper spelling, grammar and punctuation help to create legitimacy. Familiarizing oneself with Craiglist's terms and conditions will contribute to a more positive experience. Besides simply posting ads, answering ads seeking those products or services is also a great way of generating business.

Buyers looking to take advantage of wholesale or discounted prices, will find that Craigslist is a convenient place to shop with an easy to navigate site. Crowded shopping malls can be avoided by searching local listings in a region, with 24/7 access to the World Wide Web. New and used, unusual and unique are the items that can be found when shopping on Craigslist.

Common sense should be used when engaging with online sellers. If the item purchased is being shipped to the buyer, buyer should obtain the contact information of the seller in case the item doesn't arrive. If the transaction will take place in person, a safe, public meeting place should be chosen and never a secluded one.

These tips and recommendations will help buyers and sellers make the most of the holidays by taking advantage of online shopping and free advertising on Craigslist.