Merging MySpace With Craigslist, MetroProper Launches in Chicago
CHICAGO � Designed to merge the online social networking impact of MySpace with the online classified ads of Craigslist, MetroProper launched in Chicago on Saturday night at Motorola�s Destination Q retail store on Michigan Avenue.
Much like Craigslist uses city-specific sites like chicago.craigslist.org and sfbay.craigslist.org, MetroProper.com also acts as a mothership to scores of subsites.
ChicagoProper.com, LondonProper.com and more than 200 others around the world are then localized for each metropolitan area�s given community. Each site features blogging, RSS feeds, buddy lists, forums, event listings, real-time online status awareness, e-mail, instant messaging, classified ads, photos, tagging and bookmarking.
At Saturday night�s launch party, guests interacted with the ChicagoProper.com Web site for the first time (then located at chicago.metroproper.com) through a mobile interface designed to load on the new Motorola Q smart phone.
The MetroProper launch party was held at Motorola�s Destination Q retail store at 666 N. Michigan Ave.
Photo by Adam Fendelman/MidwestBusiness.com
While the MetroProper network is meant to mirror MySpace by way of online personals, the other half of the sell is for small businesses and their customers through paid placement and other text ads.
For example, businesses can create a profile to be featured on the front page of a given city for $100 per month.
Companies and their customers can create local profiles and add tags indicating what they sell and what they�re interested in buying.
Matching companies with customers can happen through search queries on specific tags. In addition, run-of-network text ads � like Google text ads � cost $10 for 5,000 views and $2 for each additional 1,000 views.
Classified ad listings for anyone posting are free and are deleted after 60 days.
The company�s first marketing emphasis will be on the Chicago metropolitan area where the firm is headquartered. MetroProper will also run traditional national ads and will slowly add live promotional events in other cities. Funding for a first round of investment has already been provided and MetroProper is now seeking funding for operations moving forward.
A screenshot of the ChicagoProper main page, which for the first time
was populated by public profiles from guests at the launch party.
A screenshot of the ChicagoProper classified ad interface.
A screenshot of the new MetroProper main page.
By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
adam@midwestbusiness.com
AOL: PureAdam11