Comments on: The pessimist: Bob Wyman says ‘It’s too late’ http://www.reinventingclassifieds.com/2008/06/02/the-pessimist-bob-wyman-says-its-too-late/ Traditional classifieds are broken. Help us reinvent them. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:22:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Andre Hellmann http://www.reinventingclassifieds.com/2008/06/02/the-pessimist-bob-wyman-says-its-too-late/#comment-43 Andre Hellmann Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:19:53 +0000 http://www.reinventingclassifieds.com/?p=69#comment-43 Christopher, I am with you. This is the time where even a small group of people can come up with the solution for a big problem. And newspapers including their suppliers are a very big group with lots of smart people. The solution has to be right in front of our eyes somewhere. Let's open them... Christopher, I am with you. This is the time where even a small group of people can come up with the solution for a big problem. And newspapers including their suppliers are a very big group with lots of smart people. The solution has to be right in front of our eyes somewhere. Let’s open them…

]]> By: Notes from a Teacher: Mark on Media » Tuesday squibs http://www.reinventingclassifieds.com/2008/06/02/the-pessimist-bob-wyman-says-its-too-late/#comment-42 Notes from a Teacher: Mark on Media » Tuesday squibs Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:00:18 +0000 http://www.reinventingclassifieds.com/?p=69#comment-42 [...] Can newspapers rejuvenate or reinvent classified ads? (about Steve Outing’s latest venture), The pessimist: Bob Wyman says ‘It’s too late’ (from Steve Outing’s latest venture) and Classifieds agonistes, Doug Fisher’s reaction [...] […] Can newspapers rejuvenate or reinvent classified ads? (about Steve Outing’s latest venture), The pessimist: Bob Wyman says ‘It’s too late’ (from Steve Outing’s latest venture) and Classifieds agonistes, Doug Fisher’s reaction […]

]]> By: Ken Bilderback http://www.reinventingclassifieds.com/2008/06/02/the-pessimist-bob-wyman-says-its-too-late/#comment-41 Ken Bilderback Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:33:48 +0000 http://www.reinventingclassifieds.com/?p=69#comment-41 Which is dead, online classifieds or print? Much of the problem has to do with accounting. Online revenue accounts for about 10 percent of revenue at The New York Times, we keep reading. Classifieds for roughly 30 percent. But many classified advertisers view the web component as equal to (or in some cases greater than) the print component. So why not evenly split the revenue between print and online or, if you want to be arbitrary, apply it to online? Suddenly, 'online revenue' is one third to one half of total revenue. Changing the accounting method is more than semantics. Doing so focuses strategy where it belongs: On the future, instead of the past. We know people are willing to buy online-only classifieds, but where's the evidence people would buy print-only ads now, or certainly in the future? Which is dead, online classifieds or print?

Much of the problem has to do with accounting.

Online revenue accounts for about 10 percent of revenue at The New York Times, we keep reading. Classifieds for roughly 30 percent.

But many classified advertisers view the web component as equal to (or in some cases greater than) the print component. So why not evenly split the revenue between print and online or, if you want to be arbitrary, apply it to online? Suddenly, ‘online revenue’ is one third to one half of total revenue.

Changing the accounting method is more than semantics. Doing so focuses strategy where it belongs: On the future, instead of the past. We know people are willing to buy online-only classifieds, but where’s the evidence people would buy print-only ads now, or certainly in the future?

]]> By: Christopher Ryan http://www.reinventingclassifieds.com/2008/06/02/the-pessimist-bob-wyman-says-its-too-late/#comment-39 Christopher Ryan Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:56:31 +0000 http://www.reinventingclassifieds.com/?p=69#comment-39 Bob raises many good points -- many of which can't be disputed. But the point I most agree with is his last line: "It’s just not worth the bother unless the technology is distinctly and greatly different." That's precisely what ReinventingClassifieds.com is about -- turning traditional classifieds into a new business model (with new technology) that is relevant and competitive. Frankly, it's time for RADICAL change in newspaper classifieds. As long as there are significant numbers of newspaper readers, it is not too late. That window may not exist in a couple of years. There are lots of great minds in the newspaper industry (not everyone has moved to Google). Let's get this done! Bob raises many good points — many of which can’t be disputed. But the point I most agree with is his last line:

“It’s just not worth the bother unless the technology is distinctly and greatly different.”

That’s precisely what ReinventingClassifieds.com is about — turning traditional classifieds into a new business model (with new technology) that is relevant and competitive. Frankly, it’s time for RADICAL change in newspaper classifieds. As long as there are significant numbers of newspaper readers, it is not too late. That window may not exist in a couple of years.

There are lots of great minds in the newspaper industry (not everyone has moved to Google). Let’s get this done!

]]>