Daily deal website LivingSocial adds Omaha to its list of 52

There’s no doubt about it, three things are currently trending: email newsletters, daily deals, and Justin Bieber’s song Omaha Mall. There are few similarities between the three, especially with the latter in the mix, but one that hits on them all is the news of the day: LivingSocial adds Omaha to its list of 52…

There’s no doubt about it, three things are currently trending: email newsletters, daily deals, and Justin Bieber‘s song Omaha Mall. There are few similarities between the three, especially with the latter in the mix, but one that hits on them all is the news of the day: LivingSocial adds Omaha to its list of 52 markets.

Based out of Washington D.C., the local group shopping site, LivingSocial, offers one deal every day with discounts of up to 90% at restaurants, bars, spas, theaters, and more. LivingSocial, founded in 2007, launched LivingSocial Deals, the service we’re reporting on today, in July 2009. The company also owns the Facebook apps Pick5 and Visual Bookshelf.

While teen fans flock to Bieber in droves, LivingSocial hopes to have costumers do the same for its clients. After you buy a deal (each available for 24 hours), you’re given a unique link to share. If three people buy the deal using your link, then your deal is free.

This model differentiates itself nicely from the other popular daily deal site and email, Groupon, which began serving Omaha this past February. Groupon awards discounts to a group of buyers when a set quota of the coupon is purchased, e.g. 55 percent off a bike tune-up when 40 people buy the coupon.

According to today’s press release, LivingSocial has a user base of more than 85 million across its three products.* I couldn’t find Groupon’s user base but they report having sold 7.2 million Groupons. LivingSocial’s expansion of 25 cities brings its total to just over 50 markets. Groupon’s city list reaches 100.

In today’s press release, Tim O’Shaughnessy, CEO and co-founder of Living Social, said they’re “committed to becoming the pre-eminent way for local businesses and consumers to interact.”

This is quite the goal as competitors continue to establish themselves and more pop up monthly. LivingSocial and Groupon are clearly on the forefront, however. CrunchBase reports that LivingSocial has raised 49 million dollars and Groupon 173 million dollars, which includes a notable 135 million dollar round in April of this year.

“We will not rest until we’ve truly created a new way for local commerce to occur,” O’Shaughnessy said in the press release.

To stay on top of top of their game, LivingSocial hires sales reps in each of its markets. In Omaha, Jeff Harp, formerly an account executive at NRG Media, earned the position.

Today’s deal from LivingSocial is $10 for $20 at Amsterdam Falafel and Kabob. Groupon’s is $10 for $20 at Boulder Creek Amusement Park (30 people have to buy). And, sadly (or not), Omaha Mall is no longer a trending topic on Twitter.

*Sunday, August 22 – Clarified the user base number by adding “across its three products.”

This story is part of the AIM Archive

This story is part of the AIM Institute Archive on Silicon Prairie News. AIM gifted SPN to the Nebraska Journalism Trust in January 2023. Learn more about SPN’s origin »

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