Craigslist clients are they low end? Or am I better off with another site

[Kentroberts1981]

So I've been doing escort work for about 6 months. I was surprised at how much I was able to make so fast anyways between balancing my regular life and escort work on the side I was able to average 3-4 k a month off only using craigslist but I've had to advertise and message people constantly to get there. Lately this past month I haven't made much seems like there aren't much new clients to talk to on craigslist anymore the ones I have either have been running out of funds, stopped talking to me, or have inconsistent schedules. It's becoming harder for me to advertise and I've found myself having to lower my rate to make something still. Do you think rentmen would be a site where I could find better clients? I've stuck to craigslist because for awhile it was consistent and I've shyed away from sites like rentmen because I felt like more law enforcement would linger around in such types of sites. If anyone has experience with this please let me know I don't want to waste 30 something dollars on a membership if rentment isn't effective for most people. I also am better looking then most people so that's not the problem. I'm in the Los Angeles area so I don't live in a place like Montana or something like that. I'm great at talking to people and polite or mean if they want a dom I also never rush clients or cut time short and often find myself throwing in more time then an hour to get more repeats. Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks.

[Becket]

I don't think this business is much different than most others from the standpoint of advertising, price points, good will, building clients, and treating your customers fairly. You also have the same issues with government regulations and the IRS. One thing I hear most often from those who have worked for a long time is that they wish they had saved more money. With experience and advice from others, I bet you'll figure it all out. Congrats on your good start, and welcome to the adventure.

[Juan Vancouver]

Hey Kent.

 

So glad to hear that your first months went well. Escorting, however, is more like a marathon than a sprint, so you are finally getting into the make or break stage of your escorting career. Newness has wore off, things are slowly normalizing and it is not that you are expected to make lasting changes to the way you make business.

 

Escorting, just like every other business needs that you invest money. The more money you invest wisely, the greater your return. Normally this investments for an escort look like this:

 

Gym membership fees, correct diet, fitness classes, maybe a trainer. (Can be a huge investment but this will pay off more than anything else)

 

A clean, well located place to conduct business.

 

Professional pictures. Your images (as well as your write up) are your business card to the world. A mix of professional and casual pictures will make your product look rounded and approachable. The better your product presents, the more you can charge.

 

Down the road, an investment many escorts chose to make is to quit any menial job that might be hindering their ability to take more appointments.

 

Your personal presentation. Your skin, your hair, your clothes. This counts.

 

Lastly, but definitely not least, the most important investment an escort can make is in publicity. Ads, personal websites, social media if you decide this is within your business plan, business cards, ads in magazines, you name it. Normally this is the investment that will make a difference between a thriving business and a dying one.

 

Don't go for the basic membership. In Los Angeles there are 300 escorts. No horny man will browse 300 ads. The first ten that appear will take the appointment. Only picture collectors and sketchy people will make it to the end. If you are already making more than 2 grand, then I strongly recommend you bite the bullet and pay for a platinum ad. Populate it with an intelligent ad copy that presents you in your best possible light and upload a minimum of ten amazing pictures. You will thank me. You will see the results right away.

 

Two more things:

 

For whatever reason you are not making your clients return. This is bad. Even in such a big market as LA you will make your most money from returning clients. Either you are holding back, you are not fulfilling people's expectations, you are promising more than you are giving... It might be something as simple as your incall location. Find out what's going on and change it. Being beautiful alone doesn't cut it, specially in LA. You have to be beautiful and the experience of being with you has to be beautiful. You have to send them off with a huge smile and wanting more. I am sure if you pay attention you will find out what to tweak.

 

Lastly, do not -for any reason in the world- lower your rates. Lowering your rates out of fear sends one message to your clients: "I was not worth what I was charging, I am not doing well, you can negotiate me down whenever you want." This is a slippery slope and it's an all too common mistake escorts make when trying to establish their brand. Once you are that desperate kid, you are fucked. Even when things are not as buoyant as you want them to be, you must project a successful, relaxed, confident appearance. This itself, will move people to hire you instead of the others.

 

Study your market. Decide on your rate. Stick to it. Sometimes calls will be fewer, but soon enough when words spreads that you are a great guy, worth every penny and super successful you will find that you can choose what clients to take and how much you want to work.

 

I am sure you have it in you. Make them smile.

 

Go get'em, tiger!

[DonaldTramp]

Craigslist is the LAST place I would look for an escort. Not only because of its reputation, but is hard to find them there. You have to read all the listings to find out who is & an escort & who is not. Besides, I thought they banned escorts from advertising on CL. Although, I do see listings from time to time with the word "generous". Lastly, where are escorts found there? Men seeking Men or Casual Encounters? It's much too time consuming to weed out the bullshit on CL.

[rvwnsd]

I'd recommend using Rentmen. As a client, I find it damned difficult to find escorts via Craigslist. Rentmen is easy.

 

Many forum members live in Southern California. Perhaps you could provide a link to your ad.

[Izaak]

So I've been doing escort work for about 6 months. I was surprised at how much I was able to make so fast anyways between balancing my regular life and escort work on the side I was able to average 3-4 k a month off only using craigslist but I've had to advertise and message people constantly to get there. Lately this past month I haven't made much seems like there aren't much new clients to talk to on craigslist anymore the ones I have either have been running out of funds, stopped talking to me, or have inconsistent schedules. It's becoming harder for me to advertise and I've found myself having to lower my rate to make something still. Do you think rentmen would be a site where I could find better clients? I've stuck to craigslist because for awhile it was consistent and I've shyed away from sites like rentmen because I felt like more law enforcement would linger around in such types of sites. If anyone has experience with this please let me know I don't want to waste 30 something dollars on a membership if rentment isn't effective for most people. I also am better looking then most people so that's not the problem. I'm in the Los Angeles area so I don't live in a place like Montana or something like that. I'm great at talking to people and polite or mean if they want a dom I also never rush clients or cut time short and often find myself throwing in more time then an hour to get more repeats. Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks.

Would you mind sending a link to your ad?

I live in Southern Ca and if I see what I like, we can talk business!

[LADoug1]

Hey Kent.

 

So glad to hear that your first months went well. Escorting, however, is more like a marathon than a sprint, so you are finally getting into the make or break stage of your escorting career. Newness has wore off, things are slowly normalizing and it is not that you are expected to make lasting changes to the way you make business.

 

Escorting, just like every other business needs that you invest money. The more money you invest wisely, the greater your return. Normally this investments for an escort look like this:

 

Gym membership fees, correct diet, fitness classes, maybe a trainer. (Can be a huge investment but this will pay off more than anything else)

 

A clean, well located place to conduct business.

 

Professional pictures. Your images (as well as your write up) are your business card to the world. A mix of professional and casual pictures will make your product look rounded and approachable. The better your product presents, the more you can charge.

 

Down the road, an investment many escorts chose to make is to quit any menial job that might be hindering their ability to take more appointments.

 

Your personal presentation. Your skin, your hair, your clothes. This counts.

 

Lastly, but definitely not least, the most important investment an escort can make is in publicity. Ads, personal websites, social media if you decide this is within your business plan, business cards, ads in magazines, you name it. Normally this is the investment that will make a difference between a thriving business and a dying one.

 

Don't go for the basic membership. In Los Angeles there are 300 escorts. No horny man will browse 300 ads. The first ten that appear will take the appointment. Only picture collectors and sketchy people will make it to the end. If you are already making more than 2 grand, then I strongly recommend you bite the bullet and pay for a platinum ad. Populate it with an intelligent ad copy that presents you in your best possible light and upload a minimum of ten amazing pictures. You will thank me. You will see the results right away.

 

Two more things:

 

For whatever reason you are not making your clients return. This is bad. Even in such a big market as LA you will make your most money from returning clients. Either you are holding back, you are not fulfilling people's expectations, you are promising more than you are giving... It might be something as simple as your incall location. Find out what's going on and change it. Being beautiful alone doesn't cut it, specially in LA. You have to be beautiful and the experience of being with you has to be beautiful. You have to send them off with a huge smile and wanting more. I am sure if you pay attention you will find out what to tweak.

 

Lastly, do not -for any reason in the world- lower your rates. Lowering your rates out of fear sends one message to your clients: "I was not worth what I was charging, I am not doing well, you can negotiate me down whenever you want." This is a slippery slope and it's an all too common mistake escorts make when trying to establish their brand. Once you are that desperate kid, you are fucked. Even when things are not as buoyant as you want them to be, you must project a successful, relaxed, confident appearance. This itself, will move people to hire you instead of the others.

 

Study your market. Decide on your rate. Stick to it. Sometimes calls will be fewer, but soon enough when words spreads that you are a great guy, worth every penny and super successful you will find that you can choose what clients to take and how much you want to work.

 

I am sure you have it in you. Make them smile.

 

Go get'em, tiger!

Wow!!!

[BasketBaller]

I've never hired an escort from craigslist, but I very occasionally hooked up with someone who posted there. Lately it seems to have gotten flakier and flakier, I assume because of the popularity of apps like Scruff and Grindr.

[Kentroberts1981]

Very good advice from everyone thanks It sounds like allot of people don't use craigslist and now it makes sense why Its obvious I need to expand haven't tried scruff or grindr I created a adamforadam account and well i made a little I didn't make very much on there. I've invested in having some professional photos taken already. I'll PM some of you my link. Currently it's expired but I'll pay for a membership tomorrow maybe when I start using it lol but today I want to relax. I was making most of my living soley from repeats for awhile but things changed one guy spent most of his savings just to keep seeing me, another was always super excited to see me but I think his boyfriend found out, one started refusing to see me unless I could set up meetings where a additional guy aside from me would be present so I'd be interested in networking with other escorts for this purpose. So I don't think it's because I'm a un likable guy. I was wondering if there are any other sites worth checking out or is rentmen the most popular site out there?

[+ nycman]

No horny man will browse 300 ads.

 

Wanna bet?

 

When I'm visiting a town I scour the ads up and down for several days before I narrow the list to 5-6 guys

I'm really interested in. Then I start doing my homework here. One or two good words from posters here

that I trust is golden. I've often hired the guy that wasn't initially my first or second choice, after hearing

from clients here. Honestly, they've been spot on 100% of the time and I've never regretted going with

their recommendations.

 

So really, it's meaningless to me if you ad is #1 or #300 on RentMen.

 

Nonetheless, I humbly bow to Mr Vancouver's knowledge and amazing post above.

 

I trust that he is correct and that I'm the strange "horny man"....who is willing to look through 300 ads...to find my #1.

[+ José Soplanucas]

Wanna bet?

 

When I'm visiting a town I scour the ads up and down for several days before I narrow the list to 5-6 guys

I'm really interested in. Then I start doing my homework here. One or two good words from posters here

that I trust is golden. I've often hired the guy that wasn't initially my first or second choice, after hearing

from clients here. Honestly, they've been spot on 100% of the time and I've never regretted going with

their recommendations.

 

So really, it's meaningless to me if you ad is #1 or #300 on RentMen.

 

Nonetheless, I humbly bow to Mr Vancouver's knowledge and amazing post above.

 

I trust that he his correct and that I'm the strange "horny man"....who is willing to look through 300 ads...to find my #1.

Lol. I liked Juan's post but I also felt uncomfortable with that line, specially when he labels those who would go through the 300 ads as "picture collectors or sketchy people". I would go through 500 ads before making a decision, and I am not picture collector. I guess I am a sketchy person.

[+ Keith30309]

When I'm looking in Houston, Miami, Atlanta, etc., I look at every page and every ad that has potential. This might be 80+/- profiles. Like @nycman I research the most promising - hence my stream of "411"'s on the Deli forum - and then arrange something a couple of days in advance. If it is someone I don't know from Daddys I need a face pic. This is one reason no-shows are so problematic for me. The idea of collecting pics mystifies me but I know there are guys who do that; I don't contact anyone I'm not serious about hiring in the near term (with a very rare exception of someone from Daddys).

 

For NYC I won't look thru 300 profiles - I'll filter it down to a manageable number based on my references and then research those who are most promising.

 

I can't imagine committing to 2-3 hours at ~$200-$350/hr based solely on looking only at the first page of profiles but I suppose if a client is really desperate, in a huge hurry or not particular about who he hires he would do exactly that.

 

I've never hired anyone from CL but I use it to research pics, phone numbers, duplicate names, etc. I took a quick look at a couple of pages of Atlanta's CL and there's no one there at all who remotely interests me.

[+ nycman]

I guess I am a sketchy person.

 

Join the club.

 

I'm not a pic collector either (really why bother?).

 

So I guess that makes me "sketchy" too.

 

"Sketchy NYCman"....kinda turns me on!

[jimboivyo]

CL is for the low end, always has been

[gezellig4u]

I always quickly look at every ad, even in NYC. For this hobby, I gravitate exclusively toward slender "true" twinks (not twunks, not muscle twinks, you get the idea.), and I really have never noticed any in the platinum boost sections that matched my ideal companion's characteristics in the cities where I frequent or reside. Also, even though one technically can narrow things down with the advanced search function, I have found those to be frequently imperfect, with the direction of error usually to the exclusion of active ads by the type of companion I am seeking. As with most things, of course, one's mileage is likely to vary.

[+ DickyF]

Wanna bet?

 

When I'm visiting a town I scour the ads up and down for several days before I narrow the list to 5-6 guys

I'm really interested in. Then I start doing my homework here. One or two good words from posters here

that I trust is golden. I've often hired the guy that wasn't initially my first or second choice, after hearing

from clients here. Honestly, they've been spot on 100% of the time and I've never regretted going with

their recommendations.

 

So really, it's meaningless to me if you ad is #1 or #300 on RentMen.

 

Nonetheless, I humbly bow to Mr Vancouver's knowledge and amazing post above.

 

I trust that he is correct and that I'm the strange "horny man"....who is willing to look through 300 ads...to find my #1.

 

I too look at every ad. I won't open them all up but many of them.

Plus I often start on the last page! I'm looking for hidden gems.

[+ José Soplanucas]

I too look at every ad. I won't open them all up but many of them.

Plus I often start on the last page! I'm looking for hidden gems.

Of course Imdo,not open every ad. But I do go through all of them, opening only the ones I may be interested in.

[gezellig4u]

Yes, to clarify... I do not open every ad, but I scroll through and eyeball each posting in the city when I need a dinner and theater companion.

[LADoug1]

Wanna bet?

 

When I'm visiting a town I scour the ads up and down for several days before I narrow the list to 5-6 guys

I'm really interested in. Then I start doing my homework here. One or two good words from posters here

that I trust is golden. I've often hired the guy that wasn't initially my first or second choice, after hearing

from clients here. Honestly, they've been spot on 100% of the time and I've never regretted going with

their recommendations.

 

So really, it's meaningless to me if you ad is #1 or #300 on RentMen.

 

Nonetheless, I humbly bow to Mr Vancouver's knowledge and amazing post above.

 

I trust that he is correct and that I'm the strange "horny man"....who is willing to look through 300 ads...to find my #1.

I'm particular about who I hire so the search/refine features narrow the possibilities to a manageable number. Wish there was a search criteria to find guys who are smiling!

[AndreFuture]

When I'm visiting a town I scour the ads up and down for several days before I narrow the list to 5-6 guys I'm really interested in. Then I start doing my homework here.

 

I look at every page and every ad that has potential. This might be 80+/- profiles.

 

I always quickly look at every ad, even in NYC. For this hobby, I gravitate exclusively toward slender "true" twinks (not twunks, not muscle twinks, you get the idea.)

 

I too look at every ad. I won't open them all up but many of them.

Plus I often start on the last page! I'm looking for hidden gems.

 

Yay, there's hope for someone like me after all lingering down on page 32

[RockyHardon]

So I've been doing escort work for about 6 months. I was surprised at how much I was able to make so fast anyways between balancing my regular life and escort work on the side I was able to average 3-4 k a month off only using craigslist but I've had to advertise and message people constantly to get there. Lately this past month I haven't made much seems like there aren't much new clients to talk to on craigslist anymore the ones I have either have been running out of funds, stopped talking to me, or have inconsistent schedules. It's becoming harder for me to advertise and I've found myself having to lower my rate to make something still. Do you think rentmen would be a site where I could find better clients? I've stuck to craigslist because for awhile it was consistent and I've shyed away from sites like rentmen because I felt like more law enforcement would linger around in such types of sites. If anyone has experience with this please let me know I don't want to waste 30 something dollars on a membership if rentment isn't effective for most people. I also am better looking then most people so that's not the problem. I'm in the Los Angeles area so I don't live in a place like Montana or something like that. I'm great at talking to people and polite or mean if they want a dom I also never rush clients or cut time short and often find myself throwing in more time then an hour to get more repeats. Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks.

 

My dear...You advertise to get regulars, and to let regulars who can't keep your number/email (i.e., married clients) to know you are available. There are only so many clients on CL, RentMen, DaddyReviews, Eros, Backpage, etc. The same clients use the same sites over, and over, and over again, and the same clients see all the escorts. Your job is to make a few of those client's regulars (once a week, once a month, once every two months), and keep your regulars happy.

 

Eventually, you will go through all the guys on craigslist, and if you aren't getting repeats, there is something wrong.

[Mocha]

Eventually, you will go through all the guys on craigslist, and if you aren't getting repeats, there is something wrong.

 

Assuming you're not saying something is wrong with him? Because that would be some bullshit to assume. craigslist does not create a regular client. Most clients from Craigslist do not become regulars. It's the nature of the beast.

 

Craigslist caters to curious, last minute, ultra mega discreet types. Most of those guys will NEVER become regulars EVER. They're shopping for cars and whatnot bullshit, and then stumble upon the sex section, do it...get it out their system, maybe even regret it, and never call again. Not saying everyone does that, but majority do.

[+ José Soplanucas]

Assuming you're not saying something is wrong with him? Because that would be some bullshit to assume. craigslist does not create a regular client. Most clients from Craigslist do not become regulars. It's the nature of the beast.

 

Craigslist caters to curious, last minute, ultra mega discreet types. Most of those guys will NEVER become regulars EVER. They're shopping for cars and whatnot bullshit, and then stumble upon the sex section, do it...get it out their system, maybe even regret it, and never call again. Not saying everyone does that, but majority do.

Nice new avatar pic! Yummy.

[RockyHardon]

Assuming you're not saying something is wrong with him? Because that would be some bullshit to assume. craigslist does not create a regular client. Most clients from Craigslist do not become regulars. It's the nature of the beast.

 

Craigslist caters to curious, last minute, ultra mega discreet types. Most of those guys will NEVER become regulars EVER. They're shopping for cars and whatnot bullshit, and then stumble upon the sex section, do it...get it out their system, maybe even regret it, and never call again. Not saying everyone does that, but majority do.

 

@Mocha I hear you. I think the original post was about the quality of clients on Craigslist. And I think the consensus, is that C.L. clients are more low end, and probably fewer potential regulars. We are not in disagreement, but I stand by my position, that if you advertise on craigslist you should get at least one repeat client and potential regular if you are good at what you do.

[Mocha]

@Mocha I hear you. I think the original post was about the quality of clients on Craigslist. And I think the consensus, is that C.L. clients are more low end, and probably fewer potential regulars. We are not in disagreement, but I stand by my position, that if you advertise on craigslist you should get at least one repeat client and potential regular if you are good at what you do.

 

Yeah that's true. I just wasn't sure the extent you were referring to. Sure a person can get 1 repeat regular from CL, but it may not be sustainable. Just referring to the big picture. But yes, a person should be able to get a regular or 2 or 3 from there. But the timing can be so erratic and the pay...expect it to decrease overtime.

 

Denver was good for Craigslist. I used to meet so many guys from off there. Some of them were real studs. Never had any bad experiences. But it was never sustainable. No matter if I did backflips and somersaults over shower rods. I think I may have gotten 2 regulars off of it. All of who, eventually piss me off at some point because they'd either want it cheaper or faster. Craigslist is the McDonald's/Walmart of sex sites.