Comments on: Craigslist — a giant cash machine http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/16/craigslist-a-giant-cash-machine/ ... at the intersection of media, technology, business and the web Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:38:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mathew Ingram http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/16/craigslist-a-giant-cash-machine/#comment-66768 Mathew Ingram Tue, 17 Oct 2006 15:22:07 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/16/craigslist-a-giant-cash-machine/#comment-66768 That's a good point, Anuvinder. Craig has really stuck to his knitting, as the finance types like to say. Contrast that with, say, Friendster. That’s a good point, Anuvinder. Craig has really stuck to his knitting, as the finance types like to say. Contrast that with, say, Friendster.

]]> By: Anuvinder Singh http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/16/craigslist-a-giant-cash-machine/#comment-66731 Anuvinder Singh Tue, 17 Oct 2006 13:31:04 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/16/craigslist-a-giant-cash-machine/#comment-66731 I think Craigslist is a wonderful service and has been running a really tight ship like in the old days-no VC Funding, no frivolous expenses, no redundant staff. It's a model on how to focus on your business and ignore the noise (VC funding, shinnier corporate offices, increased headcount etc). Perhaps a number of Web 2.0 companies (or other startups) should take note- Do you really need that additional $10 mn or can your little mashup work without the dose of additional capital and the "corrupting influences" it brings! I think Craigslist is a wonderful service and has been running a really tight ship like in the old days-no VC Funding, no frivolous expenses, no redundant staff. It’s a model on how to focus on your business and ignore the noise (VC funding, shinnier corporate offices, increased headcount etc). Perhaps a number of Web 2.0 companies (or other startups) should take note- Do you really need that additional $10 mn or can your little mashup work without the dose of additional capital and the “corrupting influences” it brings!

]]> By: Mathew Ingram http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/16/craigslist-a-giant-cash-machine/#comment-66693 Mathew Ingram Tue, 17 Oct 2006 12:16:32 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/16/craigslist-a-giant-cash-machine/#comment-66693 Thanks for pointing that out, Sulemaan -- I've changed the post. And Haydn, I think you are right about changes affecting the community, and that being a major risk if someone tried to push the money thing too far, and I think Craig realizes that. However, the changes so far don't seem to have hurt -- if anything, they have actually improved the service by decreasing spam. Thanks for pointing that out, Sulemaan — I’ve changed the post.

And Haydn, I think you are right about changes affecting the community, and that being a major risk if someone tried to push the money thing too far, and I think Craig realizes that. However, the changes so far don’t seem to have hurt — if anything, they have actually improved the service by decreasing spam.

]]> By: haydn http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/16/craigslist-a-giant-cash-machine/#comment-66608 haydn Tue, 17 Oct 2006 08:37:16 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/16/craigslist-a-giant-cash-machine/#comment-66608 Matthew, I have my doubts. Craig is very conscious of nurturing a community around the list and doing only what the community wants done. Of course he could earn more but look at why he is charging now in those cities - to improve the community experience. My guess is if he went for the dollars his community, in part, would leave, maybe not enough to wreck the business but to do significant damage to the ehtos. Thre might be an important lesson about the limits of long term profitability in Craig's List. Matthew, I have my doubts. Craig is very conscious of nurturing a community around the list and doing only what the community wants done. Of course he could earn more but look at why he is charging now in those cities - to improve the community experience. My guess is if he went for the dollars his community, in part, would leave, maybe not enough to wreck the business but to do significant damage to the ehtos. Thre might be an important lesson about the limits of long term profitability in Craig’s List.

]]> By: Sulemaan http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/16/craigslist-a-giant-cash-machine/#comment-66567 Sulemaan Tue, 17 Oct 2006 05:22:13 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2006/10/16/craigslist-a-giant-cash-machine/#comment-66567 Matthew, Love reading your work. One little thing. The link at the end of your article from Reuters states that Craiglist actually has 22 employees versus the 14 you note in your posting. (Not that 8 or another 80 will make a difference to their P&L given the projected revenues...) Matthew,

Love reading your work.

One little thing. The link at the end of your article from Reuters states that Craiglist actually has 22 employees versus the 14 you note in your posting. (Not that 8 or another 80 will make a difference to their P&L given the projected revenues…)

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