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Mastering Automation: How to Get New Craigslist Postings in Your Inbox with Zapier

Published on Feb 28th, 2024

In the digital age, staying on top of the latest listings on Craigslist can be a daunting task. Whether you're hunting for rare collectibles, job opportunities, or the perfect apartment, missing out on a new posting could mean missing out on a great opportunity. Fortunately, Zapier—the popular automation tool—offers a solution for avid Craigslist users. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to set up an automated workflow that sends new Craigslist postings straight to your email inbox.


Step 1: Sign up for Zapier
Firstly, you'll need a Zapier account. Visit zapier.com and sign up for free or log in if you already have an account. Zapier offers both free and paid plans, but for basic email notifications, a free account will suffice.


Step 2: Create a New Zap
Once logged in, navigate to your dashboard and click the “Make a Zap” button. Zaps are automated workflows that connect your apps and services to perform tasks without manual intervention.


Step 3: Set up Your Trigger
The 'Trigger' is the event in one app that starts your Zap. In this case, the trigger will be a new Craigslist posting. Since Craigslist isn't directly integrated with Zapier, you’ll use the RSS by Zapier service as a workaround.



  • Choose RSS by Zapier as your trigger app.

  • Select New Item in Feed as the trigger.

  • Enter the URL of the Craigslist search RSS feed you want to monitor.


To get the RSS feed URL:



  • Perform a search on Craigslist for the items you're interested in.

  • Scroll to the bottom of the results page and find the RSS link.

  • Copy and paste this URL into the Zapier feed URL field.


Step 4: Test the Trigger
Zapier will prompt you to test the RSS feed to ensure it's working correctly. Follow the instructions to pull in a recent item from your Craigslist search. This step ensures that Zapier can fetch new postings as they appear.


Step 5: Set up Your Action
After setting up your trigger, it's time to define the 'Action'—the task that's performed when your trigger event occurs. In this case, it’s sending an email notification.



  • Choose your email service provider (like Gmail, Outlook, or Email by Zapier for a quick setup).

  • Configure the 'Send Outbound Email' action by filling in the details like 'To Address', 'Subject', and 'Body'. You can customize these fields using the data from the RSS feed to include information about the new Craigslist posting.


Step 6: Test Your Zap
Before turning your Zap on, test it to make sure it functions as expected. Zapier will let you send a test email to yourself. If you receive the notification with the correct details from the Craigslist posting, you're all set!


Step 7: Activate Your Zap
Give your Zap a name and turn it on. Congratulations, you’ve now automated the process of receiving notifications for new Craigslist postings!


If you want to expand this functionality, consider setting up additional filters or using other actions to create complex workflows tailored to your exact needs. With Zapier, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.


Once you've followed these steps, you’ll never have to worry about manually checking Craigslist again—new postings will come directly to you. And that's just the beginning; with a tool as powerful as Zapier, the efficiency of automation is at your fingertips, giving you more time to focus on what matters most in your business or personal life.


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