[btbuildem]

Craigslist isn't free -- there are certain categories (like job postings in some areas) that are paid. This subsidizes the entire service.

Craigslist has indeed done very, very well. They've maintained a useful service, ad-free, for decades. Made a ton of money doing it, too.

[titzer]

Their secret is they did not try to grow at an insane rate. They have 50 employees and over $650 million in revenue. The revenue per employee is over $13 million.

The reason the giants are giant is because they are driven to become giant by people and investors who want to become billionaires.

[cpeterso]

Could Craigslist have been as successful if it launched today, instead of 1996?