I have a standard CL ad that actually has generated a decent amount of business for me. There is one other decorator who also advertises via CL. For some reason, my ad is being flagged and removed each day. Sometimes almost immediatly and other times after 8 hrs or so.

Has anyone else had this happen? I have gone over the TOS to make sure I am not in violation and it STILL gets flagged. Am I to think this is random, lol, or do I put on my paranoid hat and assume the competition is trying to take me out?

Btw, her ad remains untouched.

***And now for the irony!!!!!!! She is working from her home and I am the one who is legal. Of course, I am not going to do anything to her (other then send her negative chi, etc) but I am beginning to get pi$$ed seeing as I am wasting time daily trying to maintain that advertisement. If its someone else, why aren't they targeting her ad? Any advice?

Also, I am in no way trying to open a discussion about licensed v. unlicensed ~ I just thought that part added a particularly interesting twist to my dilemma.

without seeing ad, can only guess as to why.

this tho' might offer insight.
http://www.eskimo.com/~newowl/Flagged_FAQ.htm#Staff_remove_examples

note items 2 and 3.

are you over posting?

are you sounding "too much like a true business"?

-----

also, if repeating the same ad over and over and it gets flagged over and over -- then it actually makes it easier to be flagged and removed (repeat offenders get kicked off quicker)

I would think it is the competition is trying to take you out...as anyone can flag an add in craigslist if they deem it to be inappropriate...I have had the same problem a while back with the same sort of thing.

hmmm.... so if you are a real business, you can't post? I didn't realize that, lol. I will try to re-post a very basic listing and see where that gets me...

So do you think it's the actual Craigs List moderators the are pulling my listings or is it another person flagging it? Because the email notifitcation says it was pulled due to flagging rather then being pulled by CL due to violation - but I guess they don't always specify? thx

is there any way to contact CL and ask them that question? I don't know if they have a customer support type thing. But maybe they can help!

That's like trying to get ahold of someone at Paypal, in case anyone is an eBay-er....dang near impossible!

I still can't determine if I am getting flagged by community members. I am not selling my body in exchange for cake, lol....just the cake!!

So if the 'community' is up in arms because I have a cake ad up there, they must be a very organized community indeed! Or perhaps someone with a loyal following on Facebook who immediatley posts my CL link for her FB friends to zap for her. Cripes.......

I understand what you are saying about a business but isn't her ad a business? I mean, she sells cakes for money and has display pictures in her ad so I am confused why they (Craigs List, in this case) keep killing mine. My hub says to go to a new IP address and maybe it will fool the bot? This is like gibberish to me......

you've never let us see your ad....


remember: over posting the same ad is cause of flagging too (this the computer bots can do!) so, if putting up the same ad every day or multiple times a day, the computers could automatically be taking it down.

so...

every time you post -- reword the ad and use different pics.

don't list a business name.

just "Hi, I'm SuzyQ and I like to make cakes for (list.....) Here's a few pics to show you what I can do! email me for prices."

then only post every other day or so.

----

re: husband's comment -- every computer connected to the internet has a specific "address" (think of it like your mailing address). The computers that run any given site, track that address so they can "mail" you the pages and info you want to look at as well as keep track of where all the info they receive is coming from.

It can be used to block a computer that's sending out spam, posting too many times on a board in to short a time and for all kinds of other reasons.

yes, big brother, aka the INTERNET, is watching!

so, going to a computer at the library or at a friends house makes the info look like it is coming from an entirely new and different source.

-----
and if you want to see posting wars -- go visit the community>pets section --- the fights that erupt over if it is "a small rehoming fee" or "YOUR SELLING!!!!!!!"

I'm sorry Doug, I wasn't trying to avoid your request - it's just that it's been pulled. The link is dead. Do you mean list the wording here?

i HATE that CL allows anyone who wants to ...to police the site.

umm...here it is:


I'm a licensed cake designer offering custom decorated cakes that are as decadent as they are unique. I love challenging cakes and creating the unexpected! Please feel free to take a look at the pictures I have posted and if you are interested in seeing a more detailed portfolio, as well as prices and flavor options, please email me and I will send you a link to my website. *Mention you saw this ad to get 10% off all cake orders over $100.

One of my most popular items are cake truffles. These are hand dipped and drizzled with chocolate and can be made to match any color or theme ( there is one pictured individually wrapped) . In addition, I work with fondant, gumpaste flowers & bows, hand painting, sculptured cakes (often called groom's cakes) and can replicate company logos or custom photographs (with proper permission) on both cakes and cookies.

* The VAN GOGH 'Starry Night' cake pictured is merely to show an example of my work. It is a copywrited image, therefore I would not be able to sell this cake.

_____________________________________

Right off the bat I'm thinking because I said I was licensed, that totally did it? I thought I had taken that part out when I re-submitted the ad. I guess I need to keep it very short and sweet, rather then going into any details.

I also included 4 pictures of the best work I have done as examples. But it's pretty obvious I am a business so that would probably be the no-no.

edited to add: light dawns............slowly.

hot button words that scream "official business"

licensed

my website

mention you saw this ad

copyrighted image

----


simplify --- make them e

change it up every time

don't mention website -- just say "email for details"

no need to say "mention saw this ad" as should be able to tell it came from craigslist referral

follow the KISS principle

Keep It Sublimely Simple

short is better.

OK, thanks for your help Doug. I will write up a simple 2 line ad and try that.

** KISS was always one of the hardest principles for me to apply!

where are you posting your ad? in the "services"? I don't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to post an ad without any recourse from CL themselves. When an ad is flagged, anyone who sees the ad can flag it.

My first instinct was that your competition is the one flagging your ad, especially if her's isn't being flagged. Me personally I'd flag her ad a few times just to be spiteful, but that's me.

I wouldn't post my ad more than once a week though. You can change your listing title each time and maybe change up your pictures from time to time to show your newest work.

Just my 2 cents.

Actually, I was posting in the 'general for sale', so perhaps that was yet *another* thing I was doing wrong!

My husband wanted to flag her ad right away but I stopped him because what if it wasn't her? I am still not sure because apparently the Craig's List Violation Bots (totally made up name but you get where I am going with this ) will zap the ad almost as soon as it goes live.

But some of the times mine were pulled, they were flagged and then pulled hours later, so I am just not sure. If I knew for certain it was her, ruining my weekend with her madness, I would absolutely love to plan a revenge-like prank wothy of wasting some of HER time for a change.

the services section has a place for small biz ads and you could probably list in that section's event and creative section as well.

If you look in the services for sale area you'll see all kinds of services... at least in my area you can find DJ's, carpenters... any kind of service. I think that posting in that area would be more appropriate for your ad. I sell announcements and invitations and that is where I post my ads, unless I post it in the baby/children's area, but I make the ad specific for baby announcements and children's birthday invitations.

From what I know CL will no longer let you posted multiple ads. It is probably your competition.

For the record, it takes more than one flag to pull a post. Usually takes about 7 although it may be different in different areas. You have to flag from different IP addresses too...if you sit there on your one computer and flag over and over CL only counts it as one.

So if it is one person flagging you, she's going to a lot of trouble doing it. That's not saying it's impossible, but sites like craigsflagger don't really work.

If you're posting too often then you'll get lots of people flagging you because they get tired of seeing the same ad over and over. Most of the cake ads I see on CL are in the Services section, usually event services, or in the baby/kids section.

My craigslist postings are constantly pulled too. I got wise and changed my heading. I put wedding goodie then after a day or two I edit it to say wedding cakes. If I put the word cake in my heading it is almost always pulled.