Craigslist – The Challenging Site For Web Scrapers
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Craigslist is a really difficult website to do data extraction, due to how they have set up everything. You just can’t do Craigslist data extraction easily. On majority of database, commerce, and social websites, the developers offer an API for the power users for web scraping and output, this in the format they desire.
Backward Implementation with an Easy API
Craigslist works with backward implementations however it’s practical from the Craigslist viewpoint. They take benefits from allowing different businesses with huge numbers of belongings, to post in large quantities through an easy API. In contrast, they get nothing by permitting third parties for doing data extraction and most probably, show it on the non-Craigslist sites. Although all you need to do is some analysis.
Craigslist also provides RSS feeds, which you may subscribe in different regions and subsections of the website. They are accessible for the personal use, however, if you strive and use them for data harvesting in bulk as well as use the data elsewhere, then you’re expected to get the access blocked.
Why Scrape Craigslist?
The question arise that why scrape Craigslist? Well, you have many different reasons for Craigslist web scraping.
From the analytical point of view, you might always want to extract data to get a report. You might wish to scrape different posts in the given section as well as analyze about them including average product pricing or posting frequency or comparison of item types with how difficult it is to get in touch with the user. Nothing of these details is profitable; it’s only details for you that you can use. Craigslist allows doing that.
With a personal point of view, you might do Craigslist data mining for details you wish to use. For instance, if you’re searching for used cars, you might need to do Craigslist data extraction of the information of used cars for comparing locations, prices, and extract data about different vehicles.
From the profitable point of view, you can do Craigslist web scraping for something you might like to purchase or resell. One general target is event and concert tickets; you may check events, which are completely sold out and do Craigslist data mining to find the tickets for events that being sold, purchase below a definite price point, as well as resell them elsewhere to get more, like on eBay. However, it certainly relies on serious personal efforts; however, some people need to do a lot of efforts to earn only a few bucks.
From the business point of view, you may use Craigslist scraping services for lead generation. You might scrape the section ‘Wanted’ for anybody who is looking for the items or services you offer and after that reach to them for selling your products. It’s possibly not a very well-organized way of lead generation but it certainly works!
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