Nairalist.com, throws in the trowel, suspend new post on its classified ad platform
Nairalist.com a Nigerian classified ad platform launched by Seun Osewa, the founder of Nairaland, the second most visited Nigerian site. The site is more or less a pioneer as the number of classified ad website increased from almost nothing to hundred in space of 2 years. At a point, dealfish.com.ng, current leader in the space (with aggressive marketing) offered to acquire nairalist.com before the platform was launched but the offer was rejected.
The site continued its growth and became the leading classified site in Nigeria at a time, currently it’s the second most visited classified site and 26th most visited site in Nigeria.
Nairalist has now suspended new ads on the site, visitors to the site can ONLY see older ads and cannot post new ads.
I asked Seun about when he will unsuspend it, he said “if/when it becomes clear that the alternatives are not satisfying the needs of nairalist users.” And how will he get to know that…he said when the request to bring it back on increases.
Your last statement is deceptive. You made me sound like a proud, pompous person who decided to freeze his site just to compel people to service his ego by begging. That’s wrong.
Here’s the actual conversation we had:
Q: When do you hope to re-open posting to Nairalist?
When you get someone to handle it?
A: If/when it becomes clear that the alternatives are not satisfying the needs of nairalist users.
Q: How will you discover that?
A: If people keep begging me to bring it back.
Context: Since Nairalist was frozen, people have been asking me to unfreeze it. I see that as a sign that the current alternatives re not satisfying them adequately. If this continues for much longer, then it means investing more time and money on Nairalist would be worth it. It would imply that there exists a genuine need for what Nairalist has to offer.
So my concern is not about people “increasing” their requests to bring it back in order to stroke my ego. It’s about whether the NEEDS of our people are being satisfied adequately.
Am not too sure what Seun meant by “when it becomes clear that the alternatives are not satisfying the needs of nairalist users” If I get it clear The unfreezing will take place when users are tired with other choices like DealFish. It really misleading as the context is what Seun and satisfaction of user is his concerned about.
I dont know the sort of logic he is basing his plans on. Quote me on this: everyday people dont use nairalist, they move on. Although I can see that webtrendsng guys are just talking up Seun. That site, nairalist is not as valuable as webtrendsng is making it look. Seun knows that site is not really wht it is being cracked up to be which is why he is dropping it.
ALEXA REPORT
Nairalist is No. 165 in Nigheria see: http://www.alexa.com/search?q=nairalist.com&r=home_home&p=bigtop
Nairaland.com is No. 10 in Nigeria. see: http://www.alexa.com/search?q=nairaland.com&r=site_screener&p=bigtop
The above will show any rational mind that Seun will decide to focus on Nairaland.com and shore it up since that one is falling behind too.
Seun,pls watever ur impression is,try and bring back nairalist.if u want to start charging for a post,that is no problem.make ur intention known to ur customers.ur priority shld b satisfying them in ur own way and nt mending ur competitors.business is all abt competting mkt.everybody hav their part tto play.thank u