Craigslist is a free and easy way to get word out about job openings. But, since it’s easy and free, there’s a lot of crap already up there that you’ll have to compete with. Here’s some help for making yours stand out.

First, expand your reach. When you post something, you choose a category for it to be listed in. The site asks you not to post jobs in more than one category, but some experts say you should anyway (assuming it fits in more than one). You can try posting a slightly different description of the same job in a different category.

Also, try posting in different geographic locations. This also helps if you’re in one of the big cities that charges a fee to post. For example, New York City posts cost $25, but it’s free in New Jersey and Connecticut, where you’re likely to find willing commuters.

Keep it fresh

Next, make sure your ad stays at the top when people browse. Posts are listed in chronological order. In many places, so many get added every day that old ones are quickly pushed out of view. Every few days, delete your ad and re-post it.

And finally, work on the appearance. If you’ve browsed the site, you know that most ads aren’t much to look at. But the site supports HTML code, so you can format your text with simple things like bold, italics, underline and different font sizes to make yours a little more attractive. (Ask someone in IT for help, or go here for some HTML basics).

Tags: craigslist, html, job ads, Online recruiting