Using Craigslist "computer Gigs" as a source for work

[tankman1989]

So, I've found that my best source of clients who bring me more clients is the "gigs" section. Sure they aren't all glamorous, but that first job you take where you do a fine/great job will reflect well upon you and probably lead to recommendations down the road as it has for me. My one "gig" turned into 17 other jobs over the last 18 months, all from answering one simple add for expanding & securing a network. These were all with SOHO or very small businesses (under 30 computers) but still, it's decent work (and out-call business rates)!

IDK how many of you check this section out, but I look every day in my 5 surrounding areas and I usually find 1-3 postings for which I am adequately skilled. I would say I get the work about 30-50% of the time when I want it, other times they are just low-balling and want work done for next to nothing. This alone gets me about 1-2 jobs a week and later referrals.

The best thing about this is that it is very often businesses looking to find contractors to fill a role their current IT person/team just can't handle for numerous reasons.

From these jobs I've gotten referrals by them to other companies for similar jobs, all paying 50/50 unless they give me hardware up front to work with, then it's all upon completion.

This is a great way to get your name known in local businesses and get some great references.

I've gotten to the point where I don't even bother looking at the "services" section or the "jobs" section because of so little reward even if you fit their needs to a "T". I have a feeling that it might be some kind of data mining within the "jobs" section - possibly to see what kind of talent is out there and what rates they are willing to accept. Any other ideas on that? I would think a qualified candidate with experience and reasonable rates would get some kind of response, especially since they are paying for the posting in larger areas.

One thing I would advise with this group of people is to keep in touch with them. Write up a simple newsletter monthly, short, and explain any important issues they might be facing, how you can help, your contact info, etc. Keep your foot in the door!

How many of you guys make use of this feature? It seems to me that it might be the only good feature left on the site at times.

 

[Xander]

I wouldn't use Craigslist if I were looking for a tranny stripper for an April Fool's Day bachelor party.

Nor would I want the kind of customers you find on CL.

 

[carrcomp]

That's right.

I sometimes use Kijiji but I'm careful with it.

 

[tankman1989]

I guess it varies by region. I've landed some jobs (employment) with 5 star resorts & country clubs who were posting there. They were great jobs.

The referrals have been great. It's the "gig's" section that is the only remaining aspect of the site that seems to offer any potential benefits.

My friend got a mamagement jog at one of the top rated ski mountains on the west coast though a "gig" that needed temps. 2 months later, she was running the mountain (had prior experience managing mountains though) but it was a foot in the door.

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

We have had modest success with craigslist.

Here is what we do:

We list a very attractive, professionally designed with photos and logos and we clearly state our services and minimums and hourly prices.

Although our hourly rate is higher than most of the other guys flat rates, we get a few calls.

Not everyone is lulled in by cheap prices for cheap work. A few smart people realize they might be better served with a more experienced and established business.

Just do not every fall into some kind of pricing war as what would be the point of that?

Most people might go to the cheap until they are stung. The people who know better might just come to you as you have no competition in craigslist for quality service shops.

 

[tankman1989]

There are TONS of promising jobs in the larger cities like Philly, NYC (&surrounding Burroughs), Baltimore, Boston, DC, LA, San Diego, San Fran, etc.

I'd rather spend time responding to those, picking the ones I like, than hoping some hit-n-miss advertising works.

Why so down on it?

 

[Tony_Scarpelli]

For those of us with operations for the past 10-20 years, we have seen attacks from all manner of situational, industry changes, pizza techs on craigslist that work for $15 and so on. maybe that has some highly aggravated at them!?

 

[tankman1989]

For those of us with operations for the past 10-20 years, we have seen attacks from all manner of situational, industry changes, pizza techs on craigslist that work for $15 and so on. maybe that has some highly aggravated at them!?

I guess that could be part of it. I try to look for the "professional" ads, where a full blown "employment" ad is over-doing it, but they need additional support for a project. That is where I have found good luck. One ad paid me $7,500 and it was 2 weeks work, so I kind of have a soft spot for some of these "gigs". I'm sure someone with more experience could have commanded about $15,000 to $25,000 for the migration, but for me, it was all profit and a great learning experience, plus a couple referrals down the road.

 

[altrenda]

I never had luck with placing ads on Craigslist.

But, like Tankman, I have had reasonable success responding to companies soliciting IT help. Usually for special projects, like transferring data to new workstations, upgrading systems, and installing wireless access points in an office. When I worked as a contractor, I picked up some jobs helping other techs with projects larger than they normally handled.

There were the usual bottom feeders that didn't want to pay much, and one guy wanted me to do the work strictly for the "experience" and for the referrals he would give me, but it's not that had to say no to work you don't want.

It's been a while since I did any of this, but it should still be a viable source of some one off jobs.

 

[pctutor]

Over a year ago I created 7 different full-image ads, one for each day of the week. Every morning I renew the one for that day. I might go a month with no calls, then one day I might get 3 calls from the ad. It's about 30 seconds of work each morning and it costs nothing, so it is definitely worth it.

Unfortunately, there was just a notice that Craigslist will soon no longer allow images to be hosted offsite - you will have to use the Craigslist "image" process. So that won't look as professional but I will still continue to post an ad there each day.

Scott
ComputerTutorFlorida.com

 

[Blue]

Every time I hear or read "Craigslist", Rob Zombie's "Scum of The Earth" starts playing in my head. It might work in some areas of the country, but definitely not mine.

 

[DocGreen]

I think a lot of you guys are misunderstanding the OP. He's not talking about placing your own ads on Craigslist... he's talking about responding to ads placed by business looking for IT work, specifically in the "gigs" section.


Personally I haven't paid much attention to the gigs section, but only because I haven't really thought to look. I had watched it a few years ago before I started my business and was looking for work though... lots of great gigs. I remember seeing posts from local banks about setting up new branches, some posts from area medical facilities, a few from unknowns I'd never heard of... but they all looked legit.

 

[Xander]

I understood him but that doesn't change my opinion about Craigslist. CL is like hanging around outside of a Home Depot waiting for someone to drive up in a pickup truck and say "We're hiring, jump in the back."
I don't want to work for those who advertise there (nor want the customers that an ad there would bring).

For kicks and giggles, I just opened up the local CL "Gigs" section and this was the finest example that I could find in 3 seconds:

WEB ADVERTISERS WANTED CASH PAYED DAILY MUST HAVE PC (TORONTO)
EXCELLENT CASH PAYED DAILY

AVAILABLE NOW

WEB ADVERTISERS WANTED
NOVICE*SKILLED*PRO

MUST HAVE PC ACCESS AND VALID EMAIL

RESPOND BY TEXT AND EMAIL ONLY

Sure...sign me up

 

[DocGreen]

I guess it depends on your area... I looked up my own:

LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO PROGRAM TURRET PUNCH PRESS (ELKHART IN)
Looking for someone to program our Turret Punch Press, Octo. Please call 574-262-4668

Seeking Tech Installer (Benton Harbor )
We are looking for a technician to set up a retail display in a bog box store. This is a one time job and the pay rate is $75. This installation will take an hour to set up.

If interested, please respond with your name, phone, and email address.

Thanks

Seeking someone to draw up a building layout of an existing building (Three Rivers, Mi)
I have a 100 room hotel that I have physical drawings for. I need computer generated drawings of this property. They don't have to be hard core specific in size, but approximate. But it must be to scale. Things that need to be specific is bathroom fixtures

Now keep in mind... there are only 3 listings in my area, and 7 from "nearby" areas. Sure, there are some bogus ads like this one, but at least in my area, the majority are "legit." They may not be amazing opportunities... a couple of the ones in my area look like they were posted by someone who had some amazing idea after finishing their 2nd case of PBR... but that doesn't make CL worthless. (Have a look for yourself: http://southbend.craigslist.org/search/cpg?query=+ )

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

How many of you guys make use of this feature? It seems to me that it might be the only good feature left on the site at times.

I haven't looked on CL for ways to get IT work, I guess I have assumed it would be bottom feeders looking for pennies on the dollar work, or where "pizza techs" advertise their pennies on the dollar rates thus that's where cheap customers go that want that kind of work done for them.

I'll start skimming it to see what kind of stuff is out there....could be a way to get our recently hired part time guy more to full time.

Regarding "might be the only good feature left on the site" comment....I still very much enjoy CL as a local classifieds for goods. A few weeks ago I sold my motorocycle (I'm upgrading) to a great old guy a few towns north of me. And in a few weeks I'll be getting a larger bike...and I'm looking in CL for that (as well as some other dealer resources)...I have my eye on 2 so far that I found on CL. I've also sold other bits of hardware through CL. We are about to purchase some new appliances for the kitchen...new professional range, fridge, and dishwasher. I'll be selling my 3 current ones through CL. It's easy to keep the spammers/scammers at bay, only put your phone number..and state cash and local pickup only.

 

[pctutor]

I have no problem with other techs writing off Craigslist as just a bad neighborhood of losers. Leaves more business for the rest of us that know what is possible there.

 

[cmonova]

I have no problem with other techs writing off Craigslist as just a bad neighborhood of losers. Leaves more business for the rest of us that know what is possible there.

+1....Been doing it for years and have made money with little hassle at all....