How Did Craigslist Gain Its Initial Traction?

by Craig Newmark and Bram Cohen - huffingtonpost.com - February 16, 2012

Craig Newmark, Customer Service Rep & Founder

The thing got traction during its first few years, when it was just my hobby, got substantial traction, as I measure it, in its first few years. A few details:

• from beginning, did something simple and useful
• from beginning, began cycle: asked for community feedback, did something about it, repeat forever
• got lucky with simple site design, realizing I have no design skills (didn't waste time doing fancy stuff no one wanted)
• end of 1997: million page views per month (real traction, at that time)
• asked to run banner ads by Microsoft Sidewalk (turned down: I don't like banner ads, didn't need the money, not an altruistic decision)
• Turned it into a business early 1999, after having decent traction.

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