MTM#43: Growing & Franchising Online Content Site w/ Mike Shapiro of TAPinto.net

Michael Shapiro (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmshapiro) is the CEO and Publisher of TAPinto.net (http://www.tapinto.net), a network of more than 60 independently owned and operated online local newspapers in New Jersey and New York with over 5.5 million readers. In October 2008, after five years of practicing law in New York City, Shapiro started an online, objective, local daily newspaper for his town, New Providence, as well as the adjoining towns of Summit and Berkeley Heights. He began franchising sites in December 2013 to people who wanted to start online newspapers in their own town.

Michael will talk about the challenges of growing a local news network in a time when the industry is so crowded, the effect of sites like TAPinto on traditional publications, how he scaled to over 5 million people in just a few short years and how he took on the unique business model of franchising a web property; along with lessons in business and tips for our community to learn from.

Before becoming a successful New Jersey entrepreneur, Michael graduated Rutgers College, Rutgers University and Stanford Law School.

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/6/8/6/600_458378534.jpeg

Agenda for the evening is as follows:

6:30 to 7:00 Pizza & Networking

7:00 to 7:10 Updates

7:10 to 7:20 Audience/Member Announcements and Requests

7:20 to 7:30 James Curley of Digital Coaches (http://www.digital-coaches.com)

7:45 to 8:45 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Michael Shapiro (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmshapiro) of TAPinto.net (http://www.tapinto.net)

8:45 to 9:00 Networking

After 9:00 Drinks at Vanderbilt's in the Hamilton Park Hotel 175 Park Ave Florham Park, NJ 07932 (https://www.google.com/url?sa=D&oi=plus&q=https://maps.google.com/maps?expflags%3Denable_star_based_justifications:true%26ie%3DUTF8%26cid%3D16356950445471689601%26q%3DHamilton%2BPark%2BHotel%2B%2526%2BConference%2BCenter%26iwloc%3DA%26gl%3DUS%26hl%3Den) - Just exit through the Florham Road / Park Ave exit of FDU and you will see the Hotel on the left before you reach Park Ave.

---------------------------------------------

This meetup is made possible by our incredibly supportive sponsors:

Founding Sponsors - Gearhart Law (http://www.gearhartlaw.com/) & iEnterprises (http://www.ienterprises.com/)

Platinum Elite Sponsors - McCarter & English (http://www.mccarter.com/)

Gold Sponsors - Wiss (http://www.wiss.com/)

Please visit their websites and consider using their services. They have been vetted by us as being among the top service providers for startups and SMBs in the NJ/NY region.

https://a248.e.akamai.net/secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/8/0/9/5/600_457652917.jpeg

------------------------------------------------

Directions - Complete directions to the FDU library are available here - http://view.fdu.edu/files/directionstolibrarymonningercenterandorangerie.pdf

Parking - Park behind the library, across from of the dorms or in one of the larger (but further) lots. See the parking map below.

https://a248.e.akamai.net/secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/d/2/f/2/600_282054002.jpeg