Returning After an Abscence, Question About Community Site

Originally Posted by Bozo

When you said a site with traffic wasn't needed, I gave some thought to accusing you of selling crap painted up like strawberries.

But then I thought...Nah, why bother. Idiots will buy anything that looks like a strawberry to them, who am I to try selling real strawberries?

Thanks for clearing the air.

Hey Mr. BOZO,
The fact IZ....... you can only sell fake strawberries for so long before word gets out that its really crap.

Stay with the real strawberries if at all possible! When ever possible, dip them in chocolate to as to give the client a bit extra than they expect!!

Reporting from the field,
ggina

[Ankesh]

Thanks Marty.

If you focus on new movers - then yes - your website URL is definitely better.
But for new movers - do you even need a website?

One time booklet with coupons and information is simple and good enough - no?

1. Find a source of data that lists all the new movers in the last week
2. Create a sell sheet and mail it to local vendors.
3. Follow up with these vendors and make the sale - they pay $x and you include their gift certificates / coupons.
4. Mail these gift certificates booklet to the new movers.

Why complicate things with a website? (Unless you think you can get a bit more from vendors if you throw in a website listing...)

[MMacGillivray]

Hi, Marty - I notice that you are using wordpress for the site - and wondered if you had considered running ads via an affiliate program. For instance, it would be possible to sign up for one of the hotel programs and put in details for your local hotels, possibly also vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts.

People moving to your town need accommodation while they check out property; people living in the town, with visitors, might need to book accommodation for events such as wedding parties.

Creating a category for hotels and adding in one post per hotel promoted will allow you to use their keywords and marketing in your website which should also help the seo. Some of the hotel affiliate programs also provide affiliates with a lot of useful advice on local amenities - so it might speed up the content creation quite a bit.

Hope that's a new slant on things
best
Margaret

Great info, John - thanks. I hope you can come down my area again soon. If so, please let me know.

Originally Posted by Ankesh

Thanks Marty.

If you focus on new movers - then yes - your website URL is definitely better.
But for new movers - do you even need a website?

One time booklet with coupons and information is simple and good enough - no?

1. Find a source of data that lists all the new movers in the last week
2. Create a sell sheet and mail it to local vendors.
3. Follow up with these vendors and make the sale - they pay $x and you include their gift certificates / coupons.
4. Mail these gift certificates booklet to the new movers.

Why complicate things with a website? (Unless you think you can get a bit more from vendors if you throw in a website listing...)

Ankesh,

Yes, this thought has occurred to me previously and I believe you're correct. People may not take the time or the effort to go to the website, and having somthing in their hands could be a lot better. A website could be added later on.

Margaret,

It definitely is a new slant and worth exploring. Thanks for this valuable input.

Marty,

You win the Most active thread communication Award for 2010!

Nice to see a Good mix of SowPubber's sharing Great information once again...

Just to add on to Margaret's ideas...

A few Excellent Local search engine related resources for Researching, Networking and Spying
on Endless other Local Blogs etc...

Creatively duplicate the Many Successful blog business models Simply by Adding a nice little “Twist” into a Fresh new idea...
http://www.placeblogger.com/
http://www.metblogs.com/
http://local.blogdigger.com/index.html
http://outside.in/
http://outside.in/cities

Phil

Great advice, Phil, as usual. I guess I joneust want to communicate with everyone who responded, and I also appreciate the value in what people have brought forth.