AOL’s Patch.com, a chain of local and hyperlocal sites, is expanding its efforts into Massachusetts. Patch.com has 32 local sites so far and, according to the Worcester Business Journal, it is seeking editors for 10 community sites.
According to WBJ’s Livia Gerson:
“Patch sites combine news written by the company’s staff with reader-submitted announcements. Advertisers can place banner ads on Patch sites for a set rate, for example $1,200 a month for an exclusive spot on a home page. They can also use a “self-service” option to put up an ad at $15 per 1,000 views.”
Each of the Patch sites is called by the City name and then “Patch,” as in Wilton Patch, and each site uses the URL formula cityname.patch.com. However, going to the easier-to-remember citynamePatch.com redirects, as in wiltonpatch.com. (Got all that? I’m a bit URL branding obsessed.) Patch.com is based in New York City and was founded in 2007. AOL acquired it in 2009 for a reported $7 million.
