Craigslist

Craigslist, PadMapper and the perils of not changing

Craigslist is like few other companies on the internet. A relative senior citizen by age, Craigslist’s most unique trait may be that it has managed to succeed and thrive with an interface that hasn’t been significantly changed in well over a decade.

On a consumer internet where the only constant is change, Craigslist is a rare example of a company that has managed to stick by a “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” approach to its product and thrive.

But what if Craigslist’s product is broken?

Craigslist’s growing PR problem

Craigslist is an internet icon, and it’s a unique one. Despite the
rapid evolution of the internet over the past decade, Craigslist in
2010 still looks like Craigslist in 2000. The fact that Craigslist has
managed to thrive largely its original form is a testament to the value
it offers.

But Craigslist is under assault. And it’s not competitors who are
attacking. It’s politicians and the media. The reason: adult service
ads which many say are frequently used in the illegal trafficking of
women and children. And which many argue Craigslist continues to allow
because they’re a lucrative source of revenue.

Craigslist could face regulation with trafficking accusations

Newspapers haven’t been able to slow the rapid growth of Craigslist’s classified advertising, but regulators might have better luck. The ongoing battle to curb sex ads on Craigslist took a turn on Friday, with a new ad campaign protesting the company’s policies about adult advertising. That same night, a federal judge blocked Craigslist’s attempt to halt an investigation
into its “adult services” section.

If regulators have their way, this could cut into a third of Craigslist’s earnings.

Should you crowdsource your SEO via the internet?

For many businesses, SEO is a black hole. Lots of stuff goes in, and almost nothing comes out.

There are plenty of reasons for this: executing an SEO effort requires the right strategy, a solid commitment and adequate human and financial resources to get the job done.