AOL's community site Patch sounds like a great idea in theory, but has struggled in execution. CEO Tim Armstrong is attempting to turn the site around with the redesign launched Sunday night, which moves Patch from a traditional news site into more of a hyperlocal social network.
In an effort to defray their editorial costs, more of Patch's content will be created by its users, something Patch hopes will turn the site into a community hub. Increased user content means there will be more user engagement, and Patch hopes this will present opportunities to build higher-margin, more interactive marketing and commerce products.
While I think this is a good idea for Patch to try, the site is going to have a lot of competition from Facebook, Foursquare and Yelp, all of which are also looking to build out their local product offerings. It remains to be seen whether users will really engage with yet another social network.
Check out the articles below for more information:
Patch Redesign Emphasizes Social as Path to Revenue Growth
In Patch redesign, more focus on users - and less on editors
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