Comments on: Smalltown: Micro-Sites as Substitute YPs http://localonliner.com/2006/10/10/smalltown-micro-sites-as-substitute-yps/ Peter Krasilovsky's Fri, 18 May 2012 14:01:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: The Local Onliner » Smalltown Adds 3 Locales, Video http://localonliner.com/2006/10/10/smalltown-micro-sites-as-substitute-yps/comment-page-1/#comment-50447 The Local Onliner » Smalltown Adds 3 Locales, Video Mon, 05 Mar 2007 18:41:35 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=214#comment-50447 [...] When you have access to $3 million of VC money, you are going to eventually want to spend some of it. That’s what Smalltown, an IYP site with social aspects via reviews, calendars and (now) Top 10 lists, is doing. Five months after launching SME-oriented sites in San Mateo and Burlingame, Smalltown has announced three new Bay Area locales, added video uploads, hired a VP of Sales, and begun a Google campaign. [...] [...] When you have access to $3 million of VC money, you are going to eventually want to spend some of it. That’s what Smalltown, an IYP site with social aspects via reviews, calendars and (now) Top 10 lists, is doing. Five months after launching SME-oriented sites in San Mateo and Burlingame, Smalltown has announced three new Bay Area locales, added video uploads, hired a VP of Sales, and begun a Google campaign. [...]

]]> By: Taylor Walsh http://localonliner.com/2006/10/10/smalltown-micro-sites-as-substitute-yps/comment-page-1/#comment-7172 Taylor Walsh Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:03:25 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=214#comment-7172 I just spent more time than usual browsing through Smalltown San Mateo. The design is far, far ahead of anything else I've seen: clear, precise and fast as lightning. Having so many logically-linked actions packed right there around each card is high convenience. Exquisitely done, really. It also delivered better, faster results by far compared to InsiderPages, when I used my usual search phrases (soccer equipment - bicycle repair). I wonder if the whole thing is done in Flash. I like the webcard device. It is getting close to what I'd ultimately like to see, which is to give users the same kind of position in the buying dynamic that they now have in the content dynamic. Being able to trade webcards with coupons looks like a start in that direction. But from the other direction, as Tom and others have observed, is a great yawn from behind the counter at local local establishments. Nothing a tipping point won't overcome, wherever it is... I just spent more time than usual browsing through Smalltown San Mateo. The design is far, far ahead of anything else I’ve seen: clear, precise and fast as lightning. Having so many logically-linked actions packed right there around each card is high convenience. Exquisitely done, really. It also delivered better, faster results by far compared to InsiderPages, when I used my usual search phrases (soccer equipment – bicycle repair). I wonder if the whole thing is done in Flash.

I like the webcard device. It is getting close to what I’d ultimately like to see, which is to give users the same kind of position in the buying dynamic that they now have in the content dynamic. Being able to trade webcards with coupons looks like a start in that direction.

But from the other direction, as Tom and others have observed, is a great yawn from behind the counter at local local establishments. Nothing a tipping point won’t overcome, wherever it is…

]]> By: Tom Britt http://localonliner.com/2006/10/10/smalltown-micro-sites-as-substitute-yps/comment-page-1/#comment-6867 Tom Britt Thu, 12 Oct 2006 01:18:20 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=214#comment-6867 As always, good insights. I think the other problem Smalltown will encounter is the lack of web adoption and understanding by the very advertisers they are depending on for their revenue model. With local portals, defined by town limits or zip codes, the fence gets pretty small for advertisers that a) understand the value of PPC or Internet advertising and b) have a budget for such things. What I've found with most of my local advertisers is that they appreciate the web, like it, but don't really want to buy it. In the towns that Smalltown has started, they might have a more receptive audience than Indianapolis, but expansion will be a problem. The digital divide will be their biggest obstacle. As always, good insights. I think the other problem Smalltown will encounter is the lack of web adoption and understanding by the very advertisers they are depending on for their revenue model. With local portals, defined by town limits or zip codes, the fence gets pretty small for advertisers that a) understand the value of PPC or Internet advertising and b) have a budget for such things. What I’ve found with most of my local advertisers is that they appreciate the web, like it, but don’t really want to buy it. In the towns that Smalltown has started, they might have a more receptive audience than Indianapolis, but expansion will be a problem. The digital divide will be their biggest obstacle.

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