For years no one has been able to compete with the internet wonder that is Craigslist (except maybe eBay-owned Kijiji), but that could change now that Walmart Classifieds has launched.
They're set to launch free listings that will cover the same categories newspapers, magazines and Craigslist do, from job offers and garage sales to dating posts. The service will be powered by Oodle.
"Walmart is likely doing the deal to generate page views and advertising impressions," TechCrunch explains.
"Walmart has a mixed history of success with Web businesses, but Walmart.com attracts 26 million visitors a month in the.U.S., according to comScore. Amazon attracts 47 million."
Walmart Classifieds quietly went live last week, but although they have a huge brand name backing them and little publicity to date, they'll have to come up with something pretty clever to compete with Craigslist's 30 million uniques.
Craigslist Killers?
Walmart Classifieds
Trend Themes
1. Competitive Classifieds - The emergence of Walmart Classifieds into the market indicates the competitive nature of the classifieds industry.
2. Free Listings - Walmart Classifieds' free listing feature is bound to disrupt the classifieds business model by creating more accessibility to the service.
3. Brand-based Ventures - More businesses are starting to launch brand-based ventures such as Walmart Classifieds to capitalize on their established brand name.
Industry Implications
1. E-commerce - The rise of online classifieds services such as Walmart Classifieds presents opportunities for e-commerce businesses to expand their reach to new and existing customers.
2. Advertising & Media - The launch of Walmart Classifieds offers new opportunities for advertising and media industries to tap into a growing class of businesses that use classifieds services for ad placements.
3. Retail - The growth of Walmart Classifieds presents an opportunity for retailers to bolster their brand value by launching adjunct business ventures that cater to the changing needs of consumers.