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Carson Porter

Baltimoresun.com's new auction marketplace

We're working on a new section of our website that should launch in January. The idea is to create a marketplace for local auctions and get them exposure to a huge audience that they otherwise would not reach.

First of all, I am a huge proponent of auctions. I bought my house almost four years ago at an Alex Cooper auction. Despite doing almost everything wrong, the deal has worked out very well for me. I now have a pretty nice house in an improving neighborhood. I can walk to O's games, Ravens games, the harbor, Fed Hill bars, etc. The best part is that I'm only in for about $100k and the house is worth roughly $150k.

I want to help get these great opportunities in front of our readers who might otherwise not consider going the auction route. We will have content on the benefits of buying at auction, possibly some video as well.

But the main draw will be our comprehensive database including Alex Cooper, A.J. Billig, Auction Brokers, Express Auctions, Trac Auctions, Fox Auctions, Steve Dance Auctions, etc, etc, etc. This way our readers can do one search and see auctions from all these great companies. For more details, they can then click over to the auctioneer's web site.

We're still working on the layout, but here is a sneak peak. Any input is welcome!

The Baltimore Sun Readership is Strong and Growing - Press Release

Usually I don't pass along internal memos or press releases. But this one is a little different. I think it's huge our print readership is growing as well as our online readership at a time when these numbers are dropping for most papers in major markets. It's also important to communicate this to our readers, advertisers, and critics.

With that being said, here is the press release and the proof:

For release December 2, 2008

MEDIA CONTACT
Renee Mutchnik
Marketing/Communications Director
410-332-6431
renee.mutchnik@baltsun.com

The Baltimore Sun Readership is Strong and Growing
Print and Online reach 1.1 million readers each week

A growing number of readers in the Baltimore market rely on the news and information found in The Baltimore Sun and baltimoresun.com, which reaches 1.1 million Maryland readers each week.

The most recent Scarborough Research shows that The Baltimore Sun Sunday readership is up 3.2 percent, to 900,580 readers, in a six-month period ending August 2008. Daily readership is up .9 percent, to 570,816 readers, for that same period.

In addition to the increased print readership, baltimoresun.com users are growing as well. Since its inception, page views of baltimoresun.com have steadily increased to over 30 million in August 2008. The website had a record number page views - 36.1 million - in September, and is on pace to reach 400 million this year. Synergy and innovation between the two platforms has helped to spur readership growth, said Tim Ryan, CEO and president of the Baltimore Sun Media Group (BSMG).

“Strong print readership, along with increased traffic at baltimoresun.com, means our integrated audience is engaged with The Baltimore Sun’s content, which enhances our advertisers’ opportunities to reach consumers,’’ Ryan said.

BSMG continues to provide opportunities for new audiences in both print and online. In April, BSMG introduced b and bthesite.com, a free daily newspaper for young adults in their 20s and 30s. Its current circulation is more than 75,000 and will be increased to 100,000 early next year due to significant consumer demand.

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The Baltimore Sun Media Group, a Tribune company, publishes The Baltimore Sun, baltimoresun.com, 30 community newspapers and magazines, and a growing portfolio of targeted print and online products, including b and bthesite.com. In print and online, the Baltimore Sun Media Group reaches 1.2 million readers each week in the Baltimore area, making it the region's most widely read source of news and information.

Worldwide real estate auctions: Williams & Williams

I just noticed a lot of MD auctions from Williams & Williams on AuctionZip, are they new? They run a lot of online auctions too which is an awesome idea. Anyways, there is another auctioneer out there to look at and as usual, here is a handy dandy widget that pulls in their listings.

Get on the Bus to Cumberland with The Creig Northrop Team

Baltimoresun.com officially best local website

At least, according to the City Paper. The full article is here.

It's not all good news for us. Somehow, we lost best local newspaper to the Examiner. The Examiner's Adam Meister also won "Best Local Blog". And to rub a little salt in the wound, we also got a nice sarcastic award for "Best Business Plan".

Not that I can completely disagree with these choices. I followed Adam Meister a while ago when he was doing the whole TechBalt thing but fell off the bandwagon during his political campaigns. There are several blogs on AR I'd rather read, but he's not bad.

Oh, one thing I do argue with is "Best Billboard". It's obviously the one with the Natty Boh guy proposing to the Utz girl. Not even close!