An Internet startup in Santa Monica is offering a new website that makes it easier to compare prices on prescription drugs, according to a column by David Lazarus of the Los Angeles Times. GoodRx lets consumers type in their location and the name of a medication to get prices from several pharmacies.
For example, I typed in “65201” and “Astelin,” a nasal antihistamine spray for people who have severe allergies. GoodRx showed prices for the brand-name drug ranging from $123.57 at Wal-Mart to $141.37 through Costco’s home delivery. However, it also showed prices for generic azelastine ranging from $78.59 with a GoodRx coupon at Gerbes to $100.35 at the Regional Medical Plaza Pharmacy.
Speaking of the Los Angeles Times, it’s the latest large newspaper to announce plans for an online pay wall, according to an article on its site. As with many pay walls for newspaper websites, readers will have access to a certain number of articles for free — the Times is allowing 15 for each 30-day period. Subscribers of the print newspaper will not be charged for digital access. Other readers who want more than 15 articles a month will be charged $1.99 a week along with a subscription to the Sunday newspaper or $3.99 a week for digital-only access. Yes, the combined digital and Sunday subscription is cheaper than an online-only subscription. That’s an interesting strategy that helps the Times increase its circulation for its profitable Sunday newspaper.
Facebook is about to announce plans to place advertising more prominently on its site, according to a San Jose Mercury News article with links to documents obtained by the newspaper. According to the article, the larger ads will be targeted to friends of Facebook members who “Like” a marketer’s Facebook page. “ It almost brings advertising into the realm of the testimonial and word of mouth," Altimeter Group analyst Rebecca Lieb said, according to the article. The story noted that Facebook’s user growth is beginning to slow now that it has 850 million members. However, with an initial public stock offering set for later this year, Facebook will be under pressure from Wall Street investors to continue its exponential growth.
Sources:
Hirsch, J. (2012, February 24). Los Angeles Times offers new membership program. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fiw-times-20120224,0,1301270.story
Lazarus, D. (2012, February 24). Making it easy to comparison shop for prescription drugs. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20120224,0,1425489.column
Swift, M. & Delevett, P. (2012, February 24). Facebook plans new ads as IPO looms — will users object? San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved from http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20031974
Speaking of the Los Angeles Times, it’s the latest large newspaper to announce plans for an online pay wall, according to an article on its site. As with many pay walls for newspaper websites, readers will have access to a certain number of articles for free — the Times is allowing 15 for each 30-day period. Subscribers of the print newspaper will not be charged for digital access. Other readers who want more than 15 articles a month will be charged $1.99 a week along with a subscription to the Sunday newspaper or $3.99 a week for digital-only access. Yes, the combined digital and Sunday subscription is cheaper than an online-only subscription. That’s an interesting strategy that helps the Times increase its circulation for its profitable Sunday newspaper.
Facebook is about to announce plans to place advertising more prominently on its site, according to a San Jose Mercury News article with links to documents obtained by the newspaper. According to the article, the larger ads will be targeted to friends of Facebook members who “Like” a marketer’s Facebook page. “ It almost brings advertising into the realm of the testimonial and word of mouth," Altimeter Group analyst Rebecca Lieb said, according to the article. The story noted that Facebook’s user growth is beginning to slow now that it has 850 million members. However, with an initial public stock offering set for later this year, Facebook will be under pressure from Wall Street investors to continue its exponential growth.
Sources:
Hirsch, J. (2012, February 24). Los Angeles Times offers new membership program. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fiw-times-20120224,0,1301270.story
Lazarus, D. (2012, February 24). Making it easy to comparison shop for prescription drugs. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20120224,0,1425489.column
Swift, M. & Delevett, P. (2012, February 24). Facebook plans new ads as IPO looms — will users object? San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved from http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20031974
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