Shmigola

I live in a small town (with a population 120K) on the Mediterranean coast. From April till October here is a tourist season. I'm going to build a mobile directory where I want to place the information about local businesses in categories are relevant to tourists (restaurants, bars, beauty salons, shopping places etc.). The site with domain name something like city.info or city.mobi. Amount of businesses in each category will be limited by certain number. I'm going to charge a month fee about placing in directory. (I know it is not a new idea).
But I have the issue. I don't know how to promote this site:
- signs and flyers with QR codes? where to place them? in hotels? why will the hotel owner want to place the flyers? in street signs? (I think this very expensive way).
The second issue follows from first. Since I don't know how to promote the site I don't know how to convince a prospect to put the advertising in my site. I'll welcome any suggestions and tips. Thanks.

rainingproblems

You gotta hope the hotels or businesses you're looking at are not chain businesses that have to get permission from corporate hq.

This question I believe was answered in other threads on here, but briefly...you're not going to be charging the hotel. If you talk to the owner, they may be willing to put up your poster in the front lobby or in every room, such that when an visitor wants to order food etc, they can either scan the QR code or go too your site.

The difficult part as you already figured is getting the other local business to want to pay you for listing their site. You'd have to show them how you're driving business to them from the hotel. One suggestion was to use a tracking phone number.

This doesn't really explain a lot but check out the discussion in other threads here.

Big Mac

good plan, reminds me of midasman the don's idea.

what are you using to create the mobile directory?

You would have to encourage the hotel manager to let their guests know about your mobile site to increase service and reduce reception desk time when checking in a new guest.

"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."

LocalFocusSEO

I am working on a similar project in a SMALL town, population ~3,500. I am building a web site and mobile site. To generate traffic I am incorporating a Community Calendar so that my site will be the GO TO site for residents as well as tourists.

Shmigola

Thanks for replies and tips.
In my city there are 4 major hotels. One from them belongs to big chain of hotels and marketing decisions are made by chain managers. I'm going to offer to 3 others mobile sites for FREE. Return of it they should to place my promote materials in the hotels. Yesterday I met with 2 hotel owners. They promised to give me an answer within a few days. It looks like they are afraid of some dirty trick. They can not believe that they offered something for free.
There are several apartments for short terms in B&B style in my area. I'm going to offer them a place in my site for free.

Yes, I stole this idea from midasman. Midasman, sorry and thank you.