Local Media Company Launches Online Business Directory Called imarketplace.mn

    SHAKOPEE, MN, March 12, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Looking for a dog groomer? An auto mechanic? A dentist? A hair stylist?

Southwest Newspapers, which publishes seven weekly newspapers in the southwest metro area, announces the launch of imarketplace.mn to help residents find local goods and services.

The new online business directory, accessible from the home page of any of the company's newspaper Web sites or directly at www.imarketplace.mn, has a database of 28,000 south and southwest metro businesses and service providers, with information on each of them.

Each of the businesses in imarketplace.mn has a profile page. Their free listing includes an address and telephone number, and businesses can also add a website link and office hours at no charge. But many businesses are purchasing optional upgrades so they can also offer coupons, pictures, menus, detailed business descriptions and more.

"Now you can go to your local newspaper Web site to find all the local goods and services you need," said Southwest Newspapers General Manager Mark Weber. "Nobody knows the southwest metro area better than we do, and so it makes sense for us to be the local utility whenever you need to search for products and services.

"It's a very natural integration of serving advertisers and our readers at the same time."

Readers can find businesses by using a keyword search, business name, ZIP code or by going to the two dozen business categories listed on imarketplace.mn.

The site also offers weather information and the popular Let's Go! calendar of events.

Southwest Newspapers publishes the Chanhassen Villager (chanvillager.com), Chaska Herald (chaskaherald.com), Eden Prairie News (edenprairienews.com), Jordan Independent (jordannews.com), Prior Lake American (plamerican.com), Savage Pacer (savagepacer.com), and Shakopee Valley News (shakopeenews.com).

It is the publisher of a shopper called Southwest Saturday, local Resident's Guides and coupon publications, and it also operates a number of specialty Web sites, including letsgosouthwest.com (entertainment), motorbuys.com (autos), and southwestscoreboard.com (sports).

Website: http://iMarketplace.mn

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