Comments on: Troubled Insider Pages Acquired By CitySearch http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/ Startup and Tech News Tue, 13 May 2008 05:32:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Yelp Raises $15 Million Fourth Round, Rumored Valuation $200 Million http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-2008057 Yelp Raises $15 Million Fourth Round, Rumored Valuation $200 Million Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:42:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-2008057 [...] Analytics stats that the company shared with us). Yelp is in a competitive space with InsiderPages (acquired by Citysearch), and YellowBot. The real competition, though, will eventually be Google Local and Yahoo [...] […] Analytics stats that the company shared with us). Yelp is in a competitive space with InsiderPages (acquired by Citysearch), and YellowBot. The real competition, though, will eventually be Google Local and Yahoo […]

]]> By: Complete List of 2007 Web / Technology Acquisitions » The StartUp Blog at PartnerUp http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1895972 Complete List of 2007 Web / Technology Acquisitions » The StartUp Blog at PartnerUp Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:07:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1895972 [...] was not disclosed, but TechCrunch reported that the price was approximately $13M.Press Release | TechCrunch | [...] […] was not disclosed, but TechCrunch reported that the price was approximately $13M.Press Release | TechCrunch | […]

]]> By: GarageSeek Rates Mechanics, But Yelp Will Kill This Category Too | K E K U [alpha] http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1647587 GarageSeek Rates Mechanics, But Yelp Will Kill This Category Too | K E K U [alpha] Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:54:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1647587 [...] and starting back in 2004. Despite this, Insiderpages went through a slew of layoff and eventually sold off to CitySearch for $13 [...] […] and starting back in 2004. Despite this, Insiderpages went through a slew of layoff and eventually sold off to CitySearch for $13 […]

]]> By: GarageSeek Rates Mechanics, But Yelp Will Kill This Category Too http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1645836 GarageSeek Rates Mechanics, But Yelp Will Kill This Category Too Tue, 25 Sep 2007 21:24:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1645836 [...] and starting back in 2004. Despite this, Insiderpages went through a slew of layoff and eventually sold off to CitySearch for $13 [...] […] and starting back in 2004. Despite this, Insiderpages went through a slew of layoff and eventually sold off to CitySearch for $13 […]

]]> By: Larry Chiang http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1106435 Larry Chiang Fri, 02 Mar 2007 19:56:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1106435 perpetuity (n) - to operate an entity ad infinitum. Its a non silicon valley goal to have. Its also opposite the hit it and quit it model that has worked so well for companies managed in a portfolio liquidate (v) - actions a VC with zero nerve take in an effort to make the $2k in carry Hockey stick employee growth doesn't always precede hockey stick revenue explosion Hmmm, who can I fire JK Yelp. http://bigducky.yelp.com. Ad sales are great but what about charging users for features that augment their community factor (i.e. hook up catalyst: 1) ghost authors. Yes I'd pay to have someone draft and org my thoughts 2) Featured Yelpers. Yes I'd pay for placements on Yelp pages at jean, christinem , lilpeanut and especially, therockstar perpetuity (n) - to operate an entity ad infinitum. Its a non silicon valley goal to have. Its also opposite the hit it and quit it model that has worked so well for companies managed in a portfolio

liquidate (v) - actions a VC with zero nerve take in an effort to make the $2k in carry

Hockey stick employee growth doesn’t always precede hockey stick revenue explosion

Hmmm, who can I fire JK

Yelp. http://bigducky.yelp.com. Ad sales are great but what about charging users for features that augment their community factor (i.e. hook up catalyst:
1) ghost authors. Yes I’d pay to have someone draft and org my thoughts
2) Featured Yelpers. Yes I’d pay for placements on Yelp pages at
jean, christinem , lilpeanut and especially, therockstar

]]> By: yellowbot http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1104605 yellowbot Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:58:15 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1104605 Regardless of what everyone thinks of Yelp, I'll be interested to see what Citysearch ends up doing with Insiderpages. I came across an article that says they're planning to move the team up to San Francisco, possibly near (parent company) IAC's Ask City rather than down to West Hollywood, CA where CS is. Remember, IP used to be in Pasadena, CA (Idealab offices) not too long ago...that's just a hop, skip, and a jump away from West Hollywood. Regardless of what everyone thinks of Yelp, I’ll be interested to see what Citysearch ends up doing with Insiderpages. I came across an article that says they’re planning to move the team up to San Francisco, possibly near (parent company) IAC’s Ask City rather than down to West Hollywood, CA where CS is. Remember, IP used to be in Pasadena, CA (Idealab offices) not too long ago…that’s just a hop, skip, and a jump away from West Hollywood.

]]> By: Greg http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1103030 Greg Fri, 02 Mar 2007 14:26:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1103030 Lots of good points. Of course Yelp's advantage is that people are much more likely to be inspired to review a great bar or restaurant than they are a great plumber. Yelp wisely targets people who are online all the time anyway and writing about this stuff anyway. Getting people to care enough to write a review is tough for other sectors because it's an effort, no matter how dis/satisfied you may have been with a service. As I said earlier, Yelp/Citysearch are very different than IP. That's why IAC's multi-site approach makes perfect sense to me. Lots of good points. Of course Yelp’s advantage is that people are much more likely to be inspired to review a great bar or restaurant than they are a great plumber. Yelp wisely targets people who are online all the time anyway and writing about this stuff anyway. Getting people to care enough to write a review is tough for other sectors because it’s an effort, no matter how dis/satisfied you may have been with a service. As I said earlier, Yelp/Citysearch are very different than IP. That’s why IAC’s multi-site approach makes perfect sense to me.

]]> By: Rajeev Vashisht http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1100655 Rajeev Vashisht Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:42:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1100655 No smoke without fire, strong nose, keep going. http://www.o3.indiatimes.com/voiceofindia No smoke without fire, strong nose, keep going.

http://www.o3.indiatimes.com/voiceofindia

]]> By: Ashley http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1096200 Ashley Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:17:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1096200 is yelp considered a social networking site? is yelp considered a social networking site?

]]> By: lawrence coburn http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1095966 lawrence coburn Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:42:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1095966 Patrick, you nailed it. Yelp is a lightweight, group, structured blogging platform. Reviews falling naturally out of self expression. I don't get that feeling from any of the other big guys - they seem to be all business. The problem about being all business, is that it ain't fun to review in that environment. Patrick, you nailed it. Yelp is a lightweight, group, structured blogging platform. Reviews falling naturally out of self expression. I don’t get that feeling from any of the other big guys - they seem to be all business. The problem about being all business, is that it ain’t fun to review in that environment.

]]> By: Patricia http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1095656 Patricia Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1095656 I've always used citysearch but it's gotten a lot harder to find what I need with all the junk they've got on it. Yelp is great but I find it doesn't have as much on it for searching, etc., so it's hard to use as a replacement for citysearch (at least for now) Citysearch seems to have fallen behind a little so it's great to see them making moves. I’ve always used citysearch but it’s gotten a lot harder to find what I need with all the junk they’ve got on it. Yelp is great but I find it doesn’t have as much on it for searching, etc., so it’s hard to use as a replacement for citysearch (at least for now)

Citysearch seems to have fallen behind a little so it’s great to see them making moves.

]]> By: superhelix http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1095651 superhelix Fri, 02 Mar 2007 00:00:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1095651 Patrick - I said what you said in 9 words, before you even said it. Top that. Patrick -

I said what you said in 9 words, before you even said it.

Top that.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1095087 Patrick Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:53:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1095087 I've got a great slogan for Yelp that sums up why they've succeeded: "I review, therefore I am." I’ve got a great slogan for Yelp that sums up why they’ve succeeded: “I review, therefore I am.”

]]> By: Patrick http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1095061 Patrick Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:50:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1095061 It's pretty simple if you remember that users are inherently selfish. Insiderpages has little benefit to the user who is submitting reviews. The reviewer has to spend time to write a review and only the business and other users get any benefit from that time. This is the same problem that Citysearch has. Yelp differs in that it subtlely focuses on the user, that is, the user is creating their online identity through the places they visit and the reviews they write. Read some of the reviews of popular restaurants and you'll notice that they frequently start with some long-winded story about the trip to the restaurant/nightclub/whatever or a completely irrelevant story. Only in the last few sentences do they actually make any mention of the place. The other type of review is what I call the "masturbatory" review: the type where the reviewer is showing off his/her command of aristocratic English and/or knowledge of gastronomic terminology. If you haven't figured it out yet, Yelp is actually a blogging service disguised as a review website. The majority of its content is being created by people who define their online identities by the ability to review places and services. THAT is why Yelp is succeeding. As long as Insiderpages, Citysearch, and other competitors continue to advertise their services as "good for the community", they'll never top Yelp. Good for the user always trumps good for the community. Even Jimbo Wales over at Wikia knows that. It’s pretty simple if you remember that users are inherently selfish. Insiderpages has little benefit to the user who is submitting reviews. The reviewer has to spend time to write a review and only the business and other users get any benefit from that time. This is the same problem that Citysearch has.

Yelp differs in that it subtlely focuses on the user, that is, the user is creating their online identity through the places they visit and the reviews they write. Read some of the reviews of popular restaurants and you’ll notice that they frequently start with some long-winded story about the trip to the restaurant/nightclub/whatever or a completely irrelevant story. Only in the last few sentences do they actually make any mention of the place. The other type of review is what I call the “masturbatory” review: the type where the reviewer is showing off his/her command of aristocratic English and/or knowledge of gastronomic terminology. If you haven’t figured it out yet, Yelp is actually a blogging service disguised as a review website. The majority of its content is being created by people who define their online identities by the ability to review places and services. THAT is why Yelp is succeeding.

As long as Insiderpages, Citysearch, and other competitors continue to advertise their services as “good for the community”, they’ll never top Yelp. Good for the user always trumps good for the community. Even Jimbo Wales over at Wikia knows that.

]]> By: superhelix http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1095038 superhelix Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:48:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1095038 Yelp has personality. IP does not. End of story. Yelp has personality.

IP does not.

End of story.

]]> By: KevinL. http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1094893 KevinL. Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:29:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1094893 I think MerchantCircle has the only truely unique model (then again, I work for them). But think about it, reviews, local, consumers... who's watching out for the business owners?!? We aggregate all these reviews for them so they can see what's being said about them and we give them a free web presence! That I think is complementary.... I think MerchantCircle has the only truely unique model (then again, I work for them). But think about it, reviews, local, consumers… who’s watching out for the business owners?!? We aggregate all these reviews for them so they can see what’s being said about them and we give them a free web presence! That I think is complementary….

]]> By: Go Away Yelp http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1094583 Go Away Yelp Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:42:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1094583 @ #27 Carmen, Are you referring to yelp.com or Insiderpages? @ #27 Carmen,

Are you referring to yelp.com or Insiderpages?

]]> By: vanguy http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1094414 vanguy Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:21:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1094414 I've seen so many of these companies just flame out because they cannot monetize on what ever unqiue attributes they had or thought they had. It is nice to see Natural Selection working on the Web as well. I’ve seen so many of these companies just flame out because they cannot monetize on what ever unqiue attributes they had or thought they had. It is nice to see Natural Selection working on the Web as well.

]]> By: Mooland http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1094266 Mooland Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:00:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1094266 Didn't know that Citysearch is still around; thought it went under a few years back. I used to frequent Citysearch to look for restaurants information but stopped using the site a few years back because the site looked dead and didn't find any new content. Didn’t know that Citysearch is still around; thought it went under a few years back. I used to frequent Citysearch to look for restaurants information but stopped using the site a few years back because the site looked dead and didn’t find any new content.

]]> By: pureweb20.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1093660 pureweb20.com Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:44:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1093660 <strong>Troubled Insider Pages Acquired By CitySearch...</strong> In crunching the publis numbers, it appears Insider Pages elected to cut their loses early selling for $13 millions after raising a total of $9 million.... Troubled Insider Pages Acquired By CitySearch…

In crunching the publis numbers, it appears Insider Pages elected to cut their loses early selling for $13 millions after raising a total of $9 million….

]]> By: carmen http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1093602 carmen Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:38:06 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1093602 this company is beyond bad. the fact that the investors got their money back says something about the current market. ive tried to use it numerous times and its aparent that 99% of the reviews on the sight are downright fake, perhaps generated by some sort of markov script. youll find a bunch posted a minute apart from eachother by the same reviewer in random parts of town, with no useful information other than the name of the place substituted into some kind of template.. truly horrible. and definitely not worth $13 million. this company is beyond bad. the fact that the investors got their money back says something about the current market.

ive tried to use it numerous times and its aparent that 99% of the reviews on the sight are downright fake, perhaps generated by some sort of markov script. youll find a bunch posted a minute apart from eachother by the same reviewer in random parts of town, with no useful information other than the name of the place substituted into some kind of template..

truly horrible. and definitely not worth $13 million.

]]> By: god yelp us! http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1093556 god yelp us! Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:32:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1093556 i do not know how the discussion of citysearch/insiderpages led to discussing yelp but.....yelp is good for a reference point but not for anything mobile. you can text them about your interest in a place and all yelp does is send you information and reviews back (thats pointless) google local does the same thing. maybe google should buy yelp to add to their listings in google local integrate with something more mobile friendly about whats going on in the city. i do not know how the discussion of citysearch/insiderpages led to discussing yelp but…..yelp is good for a reference point but not for anything mobile. you can text them about your interest in a place and all yelp does is send you information and reviews back (thats pointless) google local does the same thing. maybe google should buy yelp to add to their listings in google local integrate with something more mobile friendly about whats going on in the city.

]]> By: Greg http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1093548 Greg Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:31:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1093548 @Tom...thanks for the update @Boris...I'm flattered you liked my earlier post so much! @br...I'll take that bet (at $0 ;-), hey, we're bootstrapping here). Flickr isn't Yahoo photos. YouTube isn't Google Video. Clearly, InsiderPages is not abrnad on the same scale, but there's nothing to be lost by maintaing a brand with a distinctive set of users. I don't think it's an accident that most local sites are strong on restaurants and bars or contractors and plumbers, but rarely strong on both fronts. It's all local user reviews but entertainment outside the home and services done inside it are two distinct sectors. @Tom…thanks for the update
@Boris…I’m flattered you liked my earlier post so much!
@br…I’ll take that bet (at $0 ;-), hey, we’re bootstrapping here). Flickr isn’t Yahoo photos. YouTube isn’t Google Video. Clearly, InsiderPages is not abrnad on the same scale, but there’s nothing to be lost by maintaing a brand with a distinctive set of users. I don’t think it’s an accident that most local sites are strong on restaurants and bars or contractors and plumbers, but rarely strong on both fronts. It’s all local user reviews but entertainment outside the home and services done inside it are two distinct sectors.

]]> By: Colin Dowling http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1093529 Colin Dowling Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:29:28 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1093529 "Can I come up with a similar but slightly better idea and get funded??" You don't need an original idea, much less a "better" idea to get funding for anything. You need to be able to demonstrate that your execution of the idea will produce positive results and you need to know how to get in touch with the right $$$ people. “Can I come up with a similar but slightly better idea and get funded??”

You don’t need an original idea, much less a “better” idea to get funding for anything. You need to be able to demonstrate that your execution of the idea will produce positive results and you need to know how to get in touch with the right $$$ people.

]]> By: Alaska Miller http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1093509 Alaska Miller Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:26:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/03/01/troubled-insider-pages-acquired-by-citysearch/#comment-1093509 Yelp is such a badly designed website. But it has a tad bit more traction. Yelp is such a badly designed website. But it has a tad bit more traction.

]]>