Craigslist and Facebook Merger
Ok not exactly. But close. Pete Cashmore over at Mashable writes that Facebook will be launching a classifieds section on its site.
It’s a smart move by Facebook. Totally makes sense. Selling your items to people you trust in your network of friends. I would totally take advantage of this feature. I think there is a direct correlation between Facebook’s age and the amount of time its users spend on the site. i.e.
In other words, its new features keep us young folks (even more) addicted to the site. Remember life before the news feed? I’ve been spending significantly more time on Facebook since that feature debuted. I wonder where Facebook will be 10 years from now. Perhaps the one stop Internet source for all adolescents? i.e. You will be able to do EVERYTHING on Facebook in 2017.
Your thoughts?
Tags: Facebook
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April 19th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Wether it’s Facebook, MySpace, CNN, TedsLocalFishBait.com, or YouNameIt.com, if you think a given site is NOT going to offer classifieds or think of offering classifieds at some point, you are delusional.
And, anyone who thinks that just because Facebook or TedsLocalFishBait.com has classifieds, that no one else can compete, is also delusional. Big world we live in. To borrow a line from Lewis Black - “Here’s the globe. See… Countries!”
Classifieds are one of the biggest misunderstanding of a web based business. It’s fun watching everybody jump up and offer a listing service.
The first problem: few are relevant.
The second problem: these sites try to cover all colleges and end up with only a handful of of ads here or there.
The third problem: classifieds are a devalued commodity. How can you charge $1 or $10 when everyone is offering the same customer the same free ad?
The fourth problem: college students do not pay the bills. Get it? They don’t put money in the pockets of these college centered listing services - period. They will spend $600 on an iPhone (want one), and 600 hours on Facebook, but they won’t spend $0.60 on a classified. And when it comes time to sell that bicycle, the’ll post it on Facebook, CraigsList, and TedsLocalFishBait.com if it has any traffic at all. It’s not a win or loose situation.
Finally, even if, scratch that, WHEN Facebook adds classifieds, they will still lack the broader advertiser who is looking to reach college students. Trust me on this. Talk with Sally Joe Johnson about her ad in the local paper and you will begin to understand.
Now, who the hell am I to say this? First, I’ve worked directly with college newspapers for 11 years, in the classified ad market. Second, since March 1, CollegeClassifieds.com (as tracked by Google) has reached over 16,000 users and served 86,000 page views. I know classifieds and I know college markets.
What will work in the “college classifieds” space? Relevancy, honesty, quality listings, effective syndication, upgrade paths, marketing and a REAL understanding of who is the customer and who is the audience.
Congratulations to Facebook.com and TedsLocalFishBait.com. Join the orgy!
April 19th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Derrick,
I have several friends who have launched similar college targeted classifieds. A intelligently excuted facebook classifieds section effectively craters their’s (and your) business models.
April 25th, 2008 at 11:27 am
This is a fantastic site! Thanks
We also have a Great Unlimited Posting Classifieds called Mr. Lister Online Classifieds. Please come visit us sometime at http://www.mrlisteronline.com .