Thursday, August 5, 2010

AOL Tries to Make Patch Work

The next logo for AOL, used from 2006-2009Image via Wikipedia
Jumping into the hyperlocal news market with both feer, AOL, Inc. is now operating 99 Patch sites in nine states, according to a story in today's Boston Globe.

According to The Nielsen Co., as of June 2010, when AOL had 85 Patch sites up and running, AOL averaged 210,000 unique visitors to the sites nationwide.  The Globe is taking a keen interest in Patch because it has touched down in Massachusetts where the Globe's online site, www.Boston.com, already operates its own hyperlocal Your Town news sites, and GateHouse Media, Inc. also competes with its Wicked Local sites in Bay State communities.

The Globe article claims that its Your Town sites averaged 200,000 visitors to its 25 outlets in June, compared to Wicked Local's 529,000 visitors spread out among its 160 sites. AOL, which purportedly is doling out $50 million to expand its Patch network this year, expects to build on its 13 Mass. sites before the end of the year.


Enhanced by Zemanta

1 comment:

  1. Hi Sheldon,
    I am writing for West Orange patch.com. I think AOL is onto something that still escapes the Star-Ledger.
    Jeff Rudy
    Co-Founder
    Where Peace Lives - Remember ... the Possibility of Peace Lives in YOU:)
    www.wherepeacelives.org
    wherepeacelives1@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete