R. Sundar

Q. Please explain the background to the launch of your highly successful websites TimesJobs.com, MagicBricks.com and SimplyMarry.com. How did a conservative publisher like The Times Group, India, get involved in web publishing?

A: The Times Group is far from being a conservative publisher, it has been and remains a dynamic and progressive media group, creating many firsts on its path to becoming one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and the leader in the publishing business in India.

The Times Group has always embraced new and interactive media in its quest to provide ever-increasing value to its customers and is an emerging leader in the Internet, recruitment, events, broadcast, and mobile VAS arenas.

Q. Just how successful are these websites in terms of traffic? Where do you see the best growth potential?

A: We have some of the highest traffic witnessed online to our sites. A recent study of 121 of the most popular Indian websites by online research firm Juxt Consult has revealed Times Business Solutions brands TimesJobs.com, SimplyMarry.com and MagicBricks.com as among the most user friendly sites in India.

MagicBricks.com has not only been adjudged one of the most user friendly sites across categories, but is the number one website in its own category of property portals.

Not only that, SimplyMarry.com has been adjudged as the matrimonial portal with the best practices, achieving a score of over 95% within just three months of its launch.

Q. How do you explain the success of your websites? What is the Unique Selling Proposition?

A: The success of our websites is primarily due to the continuous improvement. We undertake user feedback and market monitoring.

Times Business Solutions undertook in-depth user-research identifying 'pain-points' for each of its portals, and addressed them in a manner that empowered the user to overcome, or circumvent each of these issues.

For instance MagicBricks.com provides a host of powerful tools such as loan information, detailed city value charts and best buys. The portal also provides enhanced features such as blogs on topical subjects, industry news, interviews with leading developers and analysis by the best consultants globally.

MagicBricks.com has a very strong research and analysis wing that constantly monitors the property and real estate market in the country, providing insights and impact assessment reports to MagicBricks.com users in layman's language.

Q. Is the Middle East a focus for your activity with its large NRI audience? How will you develop this readership?

A: The Middle East is definitely a very high focus area for Times Business Solutions. We brought the first Indian Jobsite - TimesJobs.com to the Gulf and have forged a number of alliances and have a presence in Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and of course, the UAE.

Q. How do you make a profit from your business? Do you think web advertising will overtake conventional newspaper advertising in India as it has in the UK?

A: Times Business Solutions provides innovative platforms for Internet users across the globe to assist them in every aspect of their lives.

We cater to all their requirements, such as getting married (SimplyMarry.com), to printing their personal classified ads across media houses in the country (Ads2Book.com) to buying their dream home or choicest commercial property (MagicBricks.com) and by finding them their perfect job through India's leading e-recruitment services (TimesJobs.com).

As we are primarily in the business of online classifieds. Our revenues are generated through our premium memberships and special products and services to businesses which see the enormous value that our websites can provide them, with their global user base.

The power of the Internet stems from real time responses and interactivity, which lack in conventional media. In India, web advertising will supplement and enhance conventional advertising, providing another touch point and avenue to reach readers and users.