Online Classifieds Usage Doubles In Four Years

Almost half (49%) of all Internet users have visited an online classified site like craigslist, a percentage that’s more than doubled over the past four years. In 2005, that number was just 22 percent, according to Pew Internet.

On any given day, about a tenth of Internet users, (9%) visit online classifieds, up from four percent in 2005.

Pew’s findings are based on an April 2009 telephone survey of 2,253 adults. Pew says the margin of error sits at about plus or minus 2.4 percent.

“In the world of online classified advertising,” writes Pew, “Craigslist is by far the most used website in the United States. In March 2009, classified sites averaged 53.8 million unique visitors, up 7% from February. Craigslist had 42.2 million unique visitors in the month of March.”

That’s continued bad news for traditional newspapers, who made millions upon millions of dollars from classified listings over the decades. Likely all the controversy surrounding the so-called “craigslist killer” and subsequent assaults by state attorneys general has only helped craigslist in terms of brand recognition.