Member Marketplace, an Iowa-based company that created a national network of local e-commerce marketplace websites, including the Shop Iowa platform, has announced a new Member Connection Marketplace to complement its e-commerce offering. According to a news release, the new software provides chambers of commerce and other member-based organizations a more interactive way to connect and promote their member businesses to their communities online. A key feature of the member connection software is the Service Request system, which allows users to post for anything they need from a local business, which could include lawn services to accounting to marketing services. Once a post is live, member businesses receive real-time notifications of these relevant lead opportunities based on the keywords they have set in their accounts. Member businesses can respond to the requestor through a direct messaging system to begin establishing connections and provide further information. Partners can also gain data on activity taking place on the marketplace to measure its impact. Some key data points include active businesses, listing and service request data and leads for businesses, including new conversations started and click referral numbers delivered to individual business websites.