Outlaw Design Blog

If you have ever posted anything worth wile on Craigslist, you know what it’s like to get an endless amount of emails. When a business posts a need for a designer, they too experience this avalanche of emails. Many of the emails they receive are generic emails that have been copied and pasted in regards to other Craigslist ads. So, how do you make yourself stand out? How do you write and effective Craigslist email? Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Be Personal
   The first mistake in any Craigslist email is starting with a “Dear Sir/Madam.” This screams “ I didn’t really read your post I just want the job.” If the poster has mentioned their name anywhere in the post, make sure to use it in your email. If there is no name, use a more friendly greeting such as hello or hi there.

2. Answer Questions
   Most ads on Craigslist have a few questions in them such as, how much do you charge, where can I see samples of your work, and what is your experience. Make sure to answer these questions. Many employers or business will simply delete your email right away if they don’t see these answers. Try using bullet points to make your answers stand out more.
3. No Attachments
   Don’t send any attachments in your first email unless it was mentioned in the Craigslist ad. If you send attachments before you have made any type of connection with the prospect it may be considered a virus and deleted right away. Instead, send links to work online.
4. Subject Line
   Most of the time when you reply to a ad on Craigslist the subject line in your email is the same as the posting name on Craigslist. If it is not, make sure to change it to the title of the job posting.

Have you found any other proven tactics for writing emails to Craigslist job posters? Share them below!