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Ok, here is my new business idea....

I live in a small town, that is growing now, finally, and have been doing websites for a few years- I recently started again (doing websites) and immediately got 3 new BIG customers- one is a store call Sound Citation (big name here in town selling speakers and radios and such, the other is a scrapbook store here in town (the only one) and another is a local band- very popular here. and a few other business have requested sites too - they are waiting LOL

Anyway, alot of places here either do not have a website or have a poor one. And the city is lacking a get together on the internet-- sooooo

I am planning on starting a website for the city, with message boards, classifieds, maybe even free personals, and of course business listings. Offering businesses a way to get online with options like just a simple listing, or even a one page business card like website hosted at the site- and OF COURSE, website design, getting them a domain name and the such.

The only other 'city' sites are 2 that are outdated, and poorly designed with no message boards or anything.

I plan on making the site first, adding the sites I have completed thus far as listings (kinda a gift for being my first set of clients in a while LOL) then getting friends and family to get on the message boards and start getting that active, word of mouth etc- make it where businesses want to advertise, THEN, make a 'presentation' to show new businesses about where we are now and our future plans, (inticing them to get in now before we raise rates) stating plans of a billboard advertisement, newspaper and magizine ads, ads at the local hight school foot ball field etc that will all start after we hit a 'quota' of businesses (so I can pay for it LOL)

so, i have to figure out a way to present that without saying it that way, making it more professional, you know.... any ideas- or does this whole idea stink? LOL

thanks in advance!

Sounds like a great idea! You are going to be one busy mama!

I think that's fantastic! Good for you!!! Do a press release also for your local papers & join networking communities, BNI, maybe rotary club, etc.

I like your incentive to get in as the first customers before you raise prices. You will be wildly successful! smileys/smiley4.gif smileys/smiley36.gif

Just keep marketing everyday!

I think the idea is a very good one, I've considered trying to start a kind of "town square" type of local site for my town at some point, just haven't set aside the time to get a complete plan together.

Like anything I can think of, getting off the ground seems like the toughest part. Here are a couple of (untested) ideas I've had:

*Offer local businesses a free listing, and have a simple form for them to let you know what information to include. This could include the business name (and the name of the owner, manager, or somebody with authorization to make decisions), slogan, checkboxes to choose a category, address, phone number, URL (with a little self-promotion somehow included for those who don't have a web presence, wink, wink), etc. This could be for 6 months or some other amount of time, after which you could follow-up and invite them to renew their listing for a nominal fee, and the more expensive option of premium ad placement, graphics, coupons, whatever. Hopefully by this time your site will be bursting with listings for much of the town's commercial sector (and maybe some community info) and nobody will want to be left out.

*With a little creativity (the details of which I haven't exactly ironed out...), you may be able to get something going with fundraising organizations like the PTA, churches, boy/girl scouts, etc. These groups are often very good at getting people to purchase goods, services and advertising space at premium prices in exchange for a good percentage to cover their many expenses.

That's all I have for now, but maybe it'll help some.

You can get alot of ideas for content and subject areas by checking out my local area website. It's not "mine" but it's local to my part of town. I wish I'd thought of it way back when


http://www.hamptonroads.com (http://www.hamptonroads.com)

One I have seen that has done well over time is called www.simplyfredericksburg.com (http://www.simplyfredericksburg.com)


I think is a great idea if you are up to the task over the long haul. Sites like that take true passion to keep going.