Comments on: CitySquares Targets “In Between” Neighborhoods http://localonliner.com/2007/09/28/citysquares-targets-%e2%80%9cin-between%e2%80%9d-neighborhoods/ Peter Krasilovsky's Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:44:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: a business based on in-between neighborh … | The Hotlist http://localonliner.com/2007/09/28/citysquares-targets-%e2%80%9cin-between%e2%80%9d-neighborhoods/comment-page-1/#comment-149272 a business based on in-between neighborh … | The Hotlist Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:51:57 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=482#comment-149272 [...] business based on in-between neighborhood search???  How do things like this get funded? [...] [...] business based on in-between neighborhood search???  How do things like this get funded? [...]

]]> By: CitySquares finds funds for “hyper local” information » VentureBeat http://localonliner.com/2007/09/28/citysquares-targets-%e2%80%9cin-between%e2%80%9d-neighborhoods/comment-page-1/#comment-148373 CitySquares finds funds for “hyper local” information » VentureBeat Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:15:07 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=482#comment-148373 [...] at this time). It’s still unclear what sets CitySquares apart. It’s goal to provide info on areas in between neighborhoods may not be enough. Tags: co:Citysearch, co:CitySquares, co:Yelp, people:Jonathan Kraft, [...] [...] at this time). It’s still unclear what sets CitySquares apart. It’s goal to provide info on areas in between neighborhoods may not be enough. Tags: co:Citysearch, co:CitySquares, co:Yelp, people:Jonathan Kraft, [...]

]]> By: Ben Saren http://localonliner.com/2007/09/28/citysquares-targets-%e2%80%9cin-between%e2%80%9d-neighborhoods/comment-page-1/#comment-76311 Ben Saren Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:03:13 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=482#comment-76311 These are all great points and healthy debate. I couldn't agree more with Matthew, that if this market was an easy one to tap, everyone would be doing it. That's no fun, at least not for me. CitySquares launched in Oct '05, and had one mission in mind - prove that this <i>could</i> be of value. After about 6 months or so, we realized we were really onto something. We spent the next year or so virtually penniless and bootstrapping and moving at a snails pace. During that time we featured only a couple dozen of Boston's neighborhoods - we sliced it up pretty granularly. That's a small percentage of the greater Boston addressable market. This was intentional, to prove our concept. Now, 2 years later, our achievements might seem as, well, not such a big deal. Yet we know quite differently. The best is yet to come in this market, and the best is yet to come with CitySquares. This is a very exciting space, one I'm so grateful to be a part of. There's no other space of the Internet I'd rather be so deeply involved in, and it's one I'm committed to. I'm happy to chat with folks about anything relating to the local search and IYP markets, or about CitySquares, or about the Red Sox. Please feel free to email me at bsaren -at- citysquares.com. Ben Saren CEO CitySquares.com These are all great points and healthy debate. I couldn’t agree more with Matthew, that if this market was an easy one to tap, everyone would be doing it. That’s no fun, at least not for me.

CitySquares launched in Oct ’05, and had one mission in mind – prove that this could be of value. After about 6 months or so, we realized we were really onto something. We spent the next year or so virtually penniless and bootstrapping and moving at a snails pace. During that time we featured only a couple dozen of Boston’s neighborhoods – we sliced it up pretty granularly. That’s a small percentage of the greater Boston addressable market. This was intentional, to prove our concept. Now, 2 years later, our achievements might seem as, well, not such a big deal. Yet we know quite differently.

The best is yet to come in this market, and the best is yet to come with CitySquares. This is a very exciting space, one I’m so grateful to be a part of. There’s no other space of the Internet I’d rather be so deeply involved in, and it’s one I’m committed to.

I’m happy to chat with folks about anything relating to the local search and IYP markets, or about CitySquares, or about the Red Sox. Please feel free to email me at bsaren -at- citysquares.com.

Ben Saren
CEO
CitySquares.com

]]> By: Matthew A. http://localonliner.com/2007/09/28/citysquares-targets-%e2%80%9cin-between%e2%80%9d-neighborhoods/comment-page-1/#comment-76116 Matthew A. Sun, 30 Sep 2007 13:18:08 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=482#comment-76116 I can't speak for others, but for myself, I can't really understand the challenges that these businesses face without actually dipping my foot in the water. That's something I, personally, have been hesitant to do. Yet if CitySquares, Yelp, Smalltown, Pegasus, and other local/hyper-local models were working really well, everyone would do exactly that - "run out and start" one. That's part of the uniqueness of what these companies are doing, and the entrepreneurs starting them are to be commended. They're going after a very large and exciting market and no one has it perfect yet. That's also what keeps Peter writing and what keeps all this so interesting. I can’t speak for others, but for myself, I can’t really understand the challenges that these businesses face without actually dipping my foot in the water. That’s something I, personally, have been hesitant to do. Yet if CitySquares, Yelp, Smalltown, Pegasus, and other local/hyper-local models were working really well, everyone would do exactly that – “run out and start” one. That’s part of the uniqueness of what these companies are doing, and the entrepreneurs starting them are to be commended. They’re going after a very large and exciting market and no one has it perfect yet. That’s also what keeps Peter writing and what keeps all this so interesting.

]]> By: zippy http://localonliner.com/2007/09/28/citysquares-targets-%e2%80%9cin-between%e2%80%9d-neighborhoods/comment-page-1/#comment-76044 zippy Sat, 29 Sep 2007 17:44:44 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=482#comment-76044 I have to agree with Tim above. $200,000 gross sales after two years in business doesn't make me want to run out and start a hyper-local, advertiser-driven website. City Squares is already on death row.. 400 advertisers is a laudable achievement – but at $600/year??? Even if they could sell 10 times that amount, the cost of acquiring the ads (i.e. sales commission) means they can't make money. On another issue, the more people use review sites, the more fake/libellous/credibility-destroying and advertiser-alienating reviews will be on that site. The model is inherently self-destructive. Finally, this whole reviews fad is literally "last year". Look at the dates of the reviews in a mature Yelp market, like San Francisco. Many business's reviews have not been updated in almost two years. People are reading --we think--the three or more revews garnered by Yelp's initial buzz generation-and then not adding more comments (with the exception of hot clubs and restaurants). A lot of the activity on mature review sites is simply smart SME businesses posting fake reviews to build up their fake online reputation I have to agree with Tim above. $200,000 gross sales after two years in business doesn’t make me want to run out and start a hyper-local, advertiser-driven website. City Squares is already on death row.. 400 advertisers is a laudable achievement – but at $600/year??? Even if they could sell 10 times that amount, the cost of acquiring the ads (i.e. sales commission) means they can’t make money.

On another issue, the more people use review sites, the more fake/libellous/credibility-destroying and advertiser-alienating reviews will be on that site. The model is inherently self-destructive.

Finally, this whole reviews fad is literally “last year”. Look at the dates of the reviews in a mature Yelp market, like San Francisco. Many business’s reviews have not been updated in almost two years. People are reading –we think–the three or more revews garnered by Yelp’s initial buzz generation-and then not adding more comments (with the exception of hot clubs and restaurants).

A lot of the activity on mature review sites is simply smart SME businesses posting fake reviews to build up their fake online reputation

]]> By: Matthew A. http://localonliner.com/2007/09/28/citysquares-targets-%e2%80%9cin-between%e2%80%9d-neighborhoods/comment-page-1/#comment-76013 Matthew A. Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:57:57 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=482#comment-76013 If I understand this correctly, and from poking around their site, CitySquares' differentiation with Yelp is that they provide richer and deeper local business content that doesn't rely on users contributions. Peter quotes Ben as saying reviews are "a nice additive." It seems that CitySquares isn't so much about UGC, which could be a good thing in this crazy local arena. If I understand this correctly, and from poking around their site, CitySquares’ differentiation with Yelp is that they provide richer and deeper local business content that doesn’t rely on users contributions. Peter quotes Ben as saying reviews are “a nice additive.” It seems that CitySquares isn’t so much about UGC, which could be a good thing in this crazy local arena.

]]> By: CitySquares lands $1M; Version 2.0 imminent at Ghost of Midnight http://localonliner.com/2007/09/28/citysquares-targets-%e2%80%9cin-between%e2%80%9d-neighborhoods/comment-page-1/#comment-75879 CitySquares lands $1M; Version 2.0 imminent at Ghost of Midnight Fri, 28 Sep 2007 23:36:03 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=482#comment-75879 [...] Peter Krasilovsky reports about CitySquares‘ latest developments… neighborhood-centric directory of local businesses has got about $1 million in venture funding; almost 400 advertisers paying roughly $600 a year, mostly for “deluxe” business profiles; and an 88 percent renewal rate. [...] [...] Peter Krasilovsky reports about CitySquares‘ latest developments… neighborhood-centric directory of local businesses has got about $1 million in venture funding; almost 400 advertisers paying roughly $600 a year, mostly for “deluxe” business profiles; and an 88 percent renewal rate. [...]

]]> By: Peter http://localonliner.com/2007/09/28/citysquares-targets-%e2%80%9cin-between%e2%80%9d-neighborhoods/comment-page-1/#comment-75878 Peter Fri, 28 Sep 2007 23:30:47 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=482#comment-75878 All the community sites are a good sign. And these are all good points. But if I'm hanging out in "Jamaica Plains" with my cousin Julie, I'd rather go to a real community source that has feet in the street, ties to the arts community etc. Wouldn't you? Community begats community. I think this is what it's all about. PK All the community sites are a good sign. And these are all good points.

But if I’m hanging out in “Jamaica Plains” with my cousin Julie, I’d rather go to a real community source that has feet in the street, ties to the arts community etc. Wouldn’t you? Community begats community. I think this is what it’s all about.

PK

]]> By: Tim http://localonliner.com/2007/09/28/citysquares-targets-%e2%80%9cin-between%e2%80%9d-neighborhoods/comment-page-1/#comment-75872 Tim Fri, 28 Sep 2007 23:09:36 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=482#comment-75872 I am baffled as to why I would use a site like City Squares. Reviews? Yelp has way more. Business listings? Google maps, Yahoo local, etc. etc. have business listings. I just don't see any clear differentiation. This site faces the same challenges as other local sites that rely solely on user generated content - what motivates users to take the time to contribute? Especially when there are so many other places like Yelp where they can contribute. I think there has to be a layer of exclusive content (such as local news, sports, something) that keeps people coming back, and then you can start to layer on user content. It's good to see they are able to sell some ads, but I wonder about the long term viability of a site that has been around for over a year and hasn't yet cracked 20,000 users a month (at least according to Quancast). I am baffled as to why I would use a site like City Squares. Reviews? Yelp has way more. Business listings? Google maps, Yahoo local, etc. etc. have business listings. I just don’t see any clear differentiation.

This site faces the same challenges as other local sites that rely solely on user generated content – what motivates users to take the time to contribute? Especially when there are so many other places like Yelp where they can contribute. I think there has to be a layer of exclusive content (such as local news, sports, something) that keeps people coming back, and then you can start to layer on user content.

It’s good to see they are able to sell some ads, but I wonder about the long term viability of a site that has been around for over a year and hasn’t yet cracked 20,000 users a month (at least according to Quancast).

]]> By: CitySquares Gets Funding « Screenwerk http://localonliner.com/2007/09/28/citysquares-targets-%e2%80%9cin-between%e2%80%9d-neighborhoods/comment-page-1/#comment-75868 CitySquares Gets Funding « Screenwerk Fri, 28 Sep 2007 22:44:36 +0000 http://localonliner.com/?p=482#comment-75868 [...] Krasilovsky reports that Boston’s CitySquares recently received about $1 million in funding. I wrote about [...] [...] Krasilovsky reports that Boston’s CitySquares recently received about $1 million in funding. I wrote about [...]

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