ChosenList: For Craigslist Users Who Are Ready For Their Closeup

If there is one thing that Craigslist has proven, it's that utility outranks site attractiveness in the minds and hearts of millions. Craig Newmark's vision of a mostly free online classified site, supported by rather affordable job ads, has transformed the classified business and sent newspapers scrambling willy nilly online trying to figure out a way to pick up the ad slack.

As you know, the site is...no...defines Spartan. Blue links on white. Well organized, eminently useful, but not what you would call a visual feast.

Except that it is. It's just that your feasting on words and offers and products and jobs and all that. Not to mention some of the odd personals of people seeking horizontal dates. ;-)

So ChosenList enters the market with a proven revenue model but with a twist of being focused on video ads. It's that simple, Craigslist, but with the opportunity to make video ads to bring your item (or the item you covet) to life.

Now, those of you with dirty minds need to know -- there are no personals or missed encounters or erotic services available on this site. I know, I checked. ;-) But that probably makes sense if you are a start up trying to offer a set of services to the general pop. Porn and VC money don't mix too well. Though doubtless there are VC porn investments.

Here's how they explain themselves:

ChosenList.com’s mission is to provide a safe online destination for individuals and companies to promote their products and professional services, share videos, look for a new job and socialize with community members that have similar interests.

ChosenList.com capitalizes on the phenomena of YouTube, CraigsList and other popular web sites that allow users to use online technology to list and browse classified ads and upload videos with one very big distinction – ChosenList.com only permits safe, clean content.

Founded in October 2006, ChosenList.com, LLC is a media-rich company connecting buyers and sellers through video classified ads, discounted employment ads and a video-enabled social community. With the “right” mix of business, technology and community visionaries, the company leaders have created an online gathering place that respects the need for a community to access quality content and the ability to interact with quality people. The company headquarters are in Scottsdale, Arizona.

And here is their 1 minute elevator pitch from Tech Crunch.

I have to believe that the appeal of this will be directly tied to age. If you are under 30, I bet your intrigued. If not, I bet you wouldn't bother. At least not today. Three years from now we may all be a wandering around videoing everything. But right now, videoing is more the province of those born in the 80s and 90s. And perhaps the 2000s. ;-)

Oh anyway, it's certainly intriguing. I have covered several video classifieds and video UGC ad and other video ad start ups, and they all impress me as something the may catch on. The jury is still out. It will be more than interesting to hear their verdict.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.