Mathew's comments - Latest Comments in Craigslist — a giant cash machine

Re: Craigslist — a giant cash machine

Mathew Ingram — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 11:22:07 -0000

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.

Re: Craigslist — a giant cash machine

Anuvinder Singh — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 09:31:04 -0000

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!

Re: Craigslist — a giant cash machine

Mathew Ingram — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 08:16:32 -0000

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.

Re: Craigslist — a giant cash machine

haydn — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 04:37:16 -0000

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.

Re: Craigslist — a giant cash machine

Sulemaan — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 01:22:13 -0000

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...)