Business and Marketing News
Google CEO Eric Schmidt addressed newspaper publishers this morning at the NAA Annual Convention in San Diego, giving a high level, thought-provoking talk (without apparent notes) about the future of information and the role that newspapers, search and consumers will play in it. (While I attended the event, the talk was streamed online here). Schmidt noted that there are … Read more
When veteran newspaper design consultant Alan Jacobsen called last year to tout his new classifieds video site, Real People Real Stuff – “the marriage of Craig’s List and You Tube” –I thought it was kind of fun but didn’t have very good business prospects. Video classifieds can’t be efficiently searched on a local or category basis; video … Read more
Rich Barton – Mr. Vertical – has added a new recruitment oriented vertical to a lineup that now includes Expedia (sold), Zillow and Avvo. The new effort is GlassDoor.com, which provides recruitment oriented information. It solicits and publishes detailed salary and bonus information by position and company; as well as indepth reviews about company culture and views of top executives. The … Read more
Living Social, the Facebook breakout that includes Virtual Bookshelf and eight other verticals (music, movies, video games, television shows, restaurants, beer, slopes, iPhone apps), has gone local, hiring a sales rep in both New York and Washington D.C to sell special “Living Social Deals.” Additional large cities are envisioned in the near future. The coupon offers are limited to … Read more
Using the Web to drive customers to restaurants via online ads, 2-fo-1 coupons, certificates, menus and/or reservations is a big idea that hasn’t totally arrived, but is getting closer. There has definitely been some progress in the space. For instance, OpenTable, the high end reservations manager, appears to have finally secured its niche. Restaurant.com hopes that it … Read more
OpenTable has affiliate relationships with hundreds of sites, which receive a percentage of OpenTable’s reservation fees in exchange for the link. Diners are treated as regular OpenTable customers. They register and are entered into a Guest Directory, where they are eligible for dining credits etc. Now, OpenTable has opened its network a bit, allowing registered Yelp users to … Read more
Groupon Founder and CEO Andrew Mason talked about the roots of the “deal-a-day,” collective buying phenomenon and how he intends to protect has franchise against one hundred plus competitors during a keynote appearance at Marketplaces 2010 this week in San Diego. Mason noted that Groupon launched in November 2008 and now has 3.5 million in 46 … Read more
Do user reviews for sushi restaurants and promotions for Target and Lowe’s really mix? Especially when the user reviews come from a highly defined community like Judy’s Book? They may not, but Judy’s Book is motivated to try to ride both horses. The hyperlocal pioneer, which launched its first version in Feb. 2005, changed direction a couple of … Read more
By some accounts, more than 50 percent of local businesses that advertise have Websites. But they still need to be found by the search engines. That’s the role that PremierGuide, a local search vendor that works with 250 newspapers, TV stations and geodomain sites, hopes to play with its new “Microsites.” The PremierGuide microsites, for instance, … Read more
As we reported last week, we’ve learned that eBay Motors is going full speed ahead with local. Now we have more info. Within four-to-six months, sources tell us that the auction leader will be launching a full-fledged, re-branded local auto site. The site will including a full range of auto-related listings, services (oil changes, detailing, etc.), … Read more