Southeast Missourian launches advertising site

The Southeast Missourian has launched a comprehensive online service for local businesses.

The Web site, SemoMarketplace.com, offers free listings for more than 4,000 area businesses that include such information as store hours, methods of payment and photos of the businesses.

Unlike the traditional Yellow Pages advertising, businesses who use the site can reach their customer base with additional multimedia options such as video ads, photo galleries, full product lines and online coupons for an extra charge.

"SemoMarketplace.com provides a solution to local businesses who want a better way to reach customers than high-cost yellow pages," said Jon Rust, publisher of the Southeast Missourian. "And it does so by offering local shoppers a full functionality Web site where they can get important information about shopping in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and the surrounding area."

Mirrored after the Lawrence Journal-World newspaper's Marketplace site, Rust described SemoMarketplace.com as the Google search for Cape Girardeau businesses.

Marketplace online coordinator Justin Cain said the site is the Facebook for area merchants.

"In my 20-somethings age group, people who frequent that site understand how SemoMarketplace.com will work and that excites them," Cain said. "This has been a whirlwind of excitement ever since I began talking with area businesses about this new and revolutionary advertising site."

Like Facebook, businesses will be able to constantly update information about their operations through the self-service option. Cain and other Marketplace associates will be able to help businesses set up their page on the site and will answer questions from those merchants as they arise.

For several months, Marketplace associates have entered information into the database for more than 4,000 area businesses, and employees have been verifying the information directly with merchants. Rust said the site is better than Google and Yahoo's advertising sections.

Online users can access the site directly by typing a user name and password in SemoMarketplace.com, or they can be linked there from high-visibility areas of the newspaper's Web site, semissourian.com. Rust added that Google and Yahoo searches will also direct shoppers to the Marketplace site.

"For people who live in the community, this gives them access to comprehensive information about all local businesses," Rust said. "We're a one-stop shop for local residents to find what they need about businesses and their town.

"And for merchants, SemoMarketplace.com gives them an opportunity to share information and messages about what's going on in their businesses to local residents without competing with other online sites in Washington, California and other states," Rust said. "It's a win-win situation for local businesses and merchants."

Billboards were used to advertise the site's Sunday launch. One of the most expensive campaigns in the newspaper's history, more than $100,000 has been invested in an advertising blitz, which will include newspaper, TV and radio outlets.

"Although the site is already better than Google, Yahoo and other online directories, it will get even better as more merchants take advantage of both the free and enhanced tools to showcase their businesses," Rust said. "Currently, several dozen are active with enhanced listings. That number will only grow."

Rust said all area businesses should verify their information is correct by logging onto SemoMarketplace.com. If the business is not listed, the owner or manager can list their company by clicking on the link "Add Your Business" or call the Southeast Missourian Marketplace office at 335-6611, extension 114.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137

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