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Should all our massage therapy industry sue Craigslist?
In the past years, craigslist has been a good source of getting clients for a lot of therapists. Including myself. One year ago, Craigslist started charging $10 per ad for postings in the therapeutic section AND the erotic section. Their excuse was that they wanted to "regulate" the people posting on the erotic section and to stop the over-posting on the therapeutic section, specially to stop the erotic ads.
It would be great if that would be the case. But its not. Craigslist charges to post in the therapeutic section but they still approve erotic/sensual ads on this section. And what is even worse, they ban and reject legitimate posts from serious licensed therapists. I have tried to post an ad and it has been rejected. And I see the ads that they approve and the most of them are not really legitimate.
Craigslist behavior its only degrading the image of our industry. They are discriminating with no reasons legitimate posts and they are approving the illegitimate ones in our section.
So, is this not reason enough to sue this website against our industry? I think that the national board should do something about this! we have to do something about this!
What do you think?
It would be great if that would be the case. But its not. Craigslist charges to post in the therapeutic section but they still approve erotic/sensual ads on this section. And what is even worse, they ban and reject legitimate posts from serious licensed therapists. I have tried to post an ad and it has been rejected. And I see the ads that they approve and the most of them are not really legitimate.
Craigslist behavior its only degrading the image of our industry. They are discriminating with no reasons legitimate posts and they are approving the illegitimate ones in our section.
So, is this not reason enough to sue this website against our industry? I think that the national board should do something about this! we have to do something about this!
What do you think?
Views: 5005
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on
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Good luck with that. It's considered freedom of speech. I'm not defending it; I'm just saying that's how it would be viewed in a lawsuit.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa on
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i think you should leave Craigslist to the exotic and find other ways to advertise. find your target market and then go after THEM. Craigslist is dangerous and a free for all. i would NEVER advertise there.
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Permalink Reply by Angela Lind on
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Laura, wow.. I didn't know that. So that means they can do whatever they want, degrade our image freely? so unfair!
Lisa, I know. But like it or not, craigslist its a good source for getting clients. Many of my regulars they found me first on craigslist (years ago). It's been months I haven't posted anything there and I tried yesterday to post again, and I found out I was banned without reason. So what other websites are good to advertise then?
Lisa said:i think you should leave Craigslist to the exotic and find other ways to advertise. find your target market and then go after THEM. Craigslist is dangerous and a free for all. i would NEVER advertise there.
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I agree with Lisa. There are plenty of better places. Most of the MTs I know avoid Craigslist like the plague for that very reason.
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Definitely!! That site its terrible now... ugh...
Laura Allen said:I agree with Lisa. There are plenty of better places. Most of the MTs I know avoid Craigslist like the plague for that very reason.
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i think you have to first decide what clientelle you're lookin for.
for me...i am very much into sports massage, deep tissue and relaxation. i first targeted the mountain bike community since i'm a mountain biker. i was able to get a good amount just through their bike club forum. not only did i get the athletic clientelle i was looking for...i also got their wives and girlfriends that were just looking to relax and destress.
some other areas i am gonna start pushing myself with are Chiro's, PTs, teachers/school admins, local fire departments, etc. basically you want to figure out what type of massage you want to give and then access those people through their every day lives. make sense?
Angela Lind said:Laura, wow.. I didn't know that. So that means they can do whatever they want, degrade our image freely? so unfair!
Lisa, I know. But like it or not, craigslist its a good source for getting clients. Many of my regulars they found me first on craigslist (years ago). It's been months I haven't posted anything there and I tried yesterday to post again, and I found out I was banned without reason. So what other websites are good to advertise then?
Lisa said:i think you should leave Craigslist to the exotic and find other ways to advertise. find your target market and then go after THEM. Craigslist is dangerous and a free for all. i would NEVER advertise there.
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Well, the type of massage I focus on is neuromuscular therapy. Where/who do you think would be a great target?
Thanks Lisa! :0)
Lisa said:i think you have to first decide what clientelle you're lookin for.
for me...i am very much into sports massage, deep tissue and relaxation. i first targeted the mountain bike community since i'm a mountain biker. i was able to get a good amount just through their bike club forum. not only did i get the athletic clientelle i was looking for...i also got their wives and girlfriends that were just looking to relax and destress.
some other areas i am gonna start pushing myself with are Chiro's, PTs, teachers/school admins, local fire departments, etc. basically you want to figure out what type of massage you want to give and then access those people through their every day lives. make sense?
Angela Lind said:Laura, wow.. I didn't know that. So that means they can do whatever they want, degrade our image freely? so unfair!
Lisa, I know. But like it or not, craigslist its a good source for getting clients. Many of my regulars they found me first on craigslist (years ago). It's been months I haven't posted anything there and I tried yesterday to post again, and I found out I was banned without reason. So what other websites are good to advertise then?
Lisa said:i think you should leave Craigslist to the exotic and find other ways to advertise. find your target market and then go after THEM. Craigslist is dangerous and a free for all. i would NEVER advertise there.
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Permalink Reply by Julie Onofrio on
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As you found out advertising on craigslist is very controversial. I would never go there because there are so many 'others' on there and it is easily confused. There are much better ways of promoting yourself online one of which is having a website that comes up in the first spot on Google when someone searches for 'massage, your city'.
The national board has nothing to do with advertising or anything like that. Your massage association would be a more likely place to provide assistance in this. The police are already cracking down on arresting the 'others' who advertise on there but there will always be prostitutes.
Julie
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My point was not me suing Craigslist as an individual, but the whole industry of Massage Therapy. But I understand now that it will be a lost battle.
Definitely its better to stay away of that site! the further the better! :0)
Samantha J. Bennett said:As massage therapists we should be better than advertising our skills/services on a site saleing objects for the most part like Craigslist, in my opinion. Esp.ly after what happened to that other therapist that got killed in the hotel room thing a while back. Sites like these are yes good for getting your name out there- but in all legit factors- i don't think they stand up!
Unfornately it's their business and people tend to do what they want. I guess that's what amercia has to offer as well- the freedom to do with your business as you see fit. We don't have to agree with it if we don't want to- so you just move on. Sounds like you've started a pretty succussful business so far with it's help- but things change so, so do we! Good luck in other adventures! As for the sueing thing- if you have the money- i'm all for ya! People tend to sue for anything these days- so i'm not suprised if you won't find a lawyer that agrees with you and will stand behind you! Good luck & tc
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I thought the board was there to protect our industry, but well... I understand that we are alone on this. Any support from nowhere, neither department of health nor national board. So sad... :0(
Julie Onofrio said:As you found out advertising on craigslist is very controversial. I would never go there because there are so many 'others' on there and it is easily confused. There are much better ways of promoting yourself online one of which is having a website that comes up in the first spot on Google when someone searches for 'massage, your city'.
The national board has nothing to do with advertising or anything like that. Your massage association would be a more likely place to provide assistance in this. The police are already cracking down on arresting the 'others' who advertise on there but there will always be prostitutes.
Julie
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Permalink Reply by Kim Goral on
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Just an fyi, if you are referring to the "craigslist killer" thing that happened in Boston last year, though an unfortunate event the gril was NOT massage therapist she was a prostitute. She was from New York and had no license of certification or anything, I'm not sure she even had training (does anyone know this fact about it?). Not that she deserved to die, but just saying she was not offering legitimate massage services. (I'm from the Boston area, drove me nuts seeing "masseuse" in the headlines every day rather than just calling her what she was).
I agree with the majority- there are much better places to advertise than Craigslist.
Samantha J. Bennett said:As massage therapists we should be better than advertising our skills/services on a site saleing objects for the most part like Craigslist, in my opinion. Esp.ly after what happened to that other therapist that got killed in the hotel room thing a while back. Sites like these are yes good for getting your name out there- but in all legit factors- i don't think they stand up!
Unfornately it's their business and people tend to do what they want. I guess that's what amercia has to offer as well- the freedom to do with your business as you see fit. We don't have to agree with it if we don't want to- so you just move on. Sounds like you've started a pretty succussful business so far with it's help- but things change so, so do we! Good luck in other adventures! As for the sueing thing- if you have the money- i'm all for ya! People tend to sue for anything these days- so i'm not suprised if you won't find a lawyer that agrees with you and will stand behind you! Good luck & tc
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Permalink Reply by Erica Olson on
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So what about posting informational blurbs on Craigslist, detailing the differences between a massage therapist and a "masseuse"? Y'know, a free education sort of thing. I wonder if they'd let an MT do that. *curious* Just a thought.
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