The Express Tribune launches Classifieds section

Partners with job website for ad publication in online and print versions.

KARACHI:

In a landmark partnership that is sure to shake up the advertising world, The Express Tribune is launching its Classifieds section today (Sunday), in collaboration with Naseeb Networks and Rozee.pk.

“It’s a win-win situation,” said The Express Tribune’s publisher Bilal Ali Lakhani, adding, “It is a partnership between Pakistan’s leading job website and a leading English language newspaper, capitalising on the strengths of each medium.”

The Express Tribune’s weekly Classifieds section also appears online, where access to advertisements and vacancies is interactive. “You can post a job online, and have it appear in print that very weekend,” explained Lakhani. “Our print and online material is fully integrated – and if you go to Rozee.pk, The Express Tribune icon will enable employers to have their ad published online and in print,” he added.

One of the Classifieds section’s most impressive features is that each ad can be identified by a unique Job ID – which, when entered into The Express Tribune’s website, will give you access to further information about the product or job.

“The print and online hybrid model is the only way to go in the long run,” says Aleem Bawany, the Express Media Group’s GM Online Strategy & Development. “Other players in the market, such as Dawn and The News, have shied away from taking their classifieds online for fear of cannibalising their print business.

The Express Tribune is looking to the future and making that investment now.” Of course, as The Express Tribune does not have a strong print classifieds section yet, it has nothing to cannibalise, and can only expect benefits from this venture.

With its crisp layout, The Express Tribune’s Classifieds section is extremely reader-friendly. All ads are written in a standardised format, and information on employment trends and other matters of interest is listed in the section too.

Monis Rahman, Chairman of Naseeb Networks, believes the collaboration will benefit users of Rozee.pk and readers of The Express Tribune greatly.

“The partnership marks the first time a newspaper in Pakistan has collaborated with an online media company to provide significant value to subscribers of both partners,” said Rahman. “It is a testament to the significant reach of the Internet in Pakistan today.”

“Through this partnership, Rozee.pk’s five million annual visitors will be augmented by the readership of The Express Tribune to the benefit of our 35,000 employers. Companies advertising jobs on the website will receive complimentary coverage in The Express Tribune’s print classifieds during our promotional period, allowing them to reach a new talent segment,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2011.