How to Get an HTML Photo to Show on Craigslist
By B. Steele
Updated April 09, 2018
When you create a Craigslist posting with a photo, you can upload and host the photo on Craigslist’s server, but in an effort to preserve storage space and keep operating costs down, Craigslist limits photo size significantly. Because you might require large, detailed photographs to get your items sold, you might find this limitation undesirable. Fortunately, since Craigslist supports HTML tags within postings, insert image tags in your post and link to remotely-hosted images, which can be as large as you’d like.
Upload the photo to the image hosting service or webpage of your choice. Use an image hosting service such as Photobucket, ImageShack, or Google’s Picasa Web Albums, or upload the image to your company’s website.
Note the photo’s URL. If you use an image hosting service, the URL should show up under a section called “Image Link” code or similar wording. Refer to the direct link, which should begin with “Http” or “Https.” If the image is hosted on a website, right-click on the picture and select “Properties.” Depending on the browser used, you might also be able to copy the picture’s URL directly from this menu. Copy and paste the URL into Word or Notepad temporarily.
Log in to Craigslist and create a new posting, or open an existing one to edit.
Insert the following HTML tag into the posting exactly as shown, substituting the image link within the quotes for your own photo’s custom URL:
<img src="http://www.website.com/Photo.jpg">The photo will appear in your posting at the exact location of the image tag.
Save your posting.
Tips
Some image hosting services, such as Photobucket, ImageShack and Google’s Picasa service offer free hosting accounts (see Resources).
Just as you can use the HTML image tag described here to display remote images on Craigslist, you can also use the tag to display images on your company webpage without taking up valuable storage space on your Web server, or decreasing your storage quota if you use a Web hosting service. By using an image hosting service, you can potentially free up gigabytes of storage space and decrease page loading times.
Warnings
Using image tags, you can display any photo on the Internet in your Craigslist posting -- but that doesn't mean that you should. If you don't have exclusive rights to the photo, always check with the owner before using it in your listing.
References
Resources
Writer Bio
A writer and proofreader since 2006, B. Steele also works as an IT Help Desk analyst, specializing in consumer and business user tech support. She earned a B.A. in English and journalism from Roger Williams University. Steele also holds certifications as a Microsoft-certified desktop support technician, Microsoft-certified IT professional, Windows 7 enterprise support technician and CompTIA A+ IT technician.