Since Mainstreet launched online four years ago, our work to expand our journalism footprint and establish a successful business model have continued on parallel tracks.
Just in the last two years, we have launched a weekly print edition, a new website, a partnership with Google, a jobs board, legal notices, a membership program and more. All of these play a role in supporting a successful local news business that will stand the test of time.
Now, we are excited to announce the recent rollout of two new products: Motor Marketplace and classifieds.
As you frequent our website, you may have seen a “marketplace” tab on the top navigation bar, which had been a pilot for an auto marketplace. We’ve now launched the real thing, complete with local vehicles from Audi Gainesville and VinFast Gainesville, an electric vehicle company new to the United States.
We hope you will check out these vehicles and consider using the Motor Marketplace for your next auto purchase. The platform is designed to make it fast and easy to peruse new and used listings.
If you have the opportunity, please thank these local dealers for being the first to jump on board with Mainstreet’s Motor Marketplace.
On the print side, we recently launched a new classifieds section. We are starting small, but we believe that connecting readers in this way is an important part of the newspaper experience.
With Mainstreet classifieds, you don’t have to worry about shady websites and spam emails. Just locals looking to make a deal.
Speaking of deals, we are pleased to provide the best classified rate of any newspaper in the region. Only $20 gets you in the print edition, which is distributed to 10,000 local homes and businesses every week.
We hope you will consider using the classifieds section as both a buyer and a seller. We look forward to seeing it grow.
Each of these new products moves us toward our goal to become the go-to source of news and information in North Central Florida.
This idea is embedded in our name. We want to be the 21st century version of what Main Street was to small towns in the past: A hub of community news, connectivity and commerce.
Despite all the progress of the last four years, in many ways, Mainstreet is just getting started.
Mainstreet continues to demonstrate a commitment to providing substantive, increasingly comprehensive local news. Its innovative – and still emerging – business model reflects a publishing company that is sharp – and serious about building and sustaining a valuable community product. Bravo.