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What Do You Think Of My Idea & Plan? - Hyper-Local Business Directory

by krzysiek
6 replies
Hi guys,

Have had a diverging thought recently on a business directory. I say diverging because it doesn't really tie in with what I am currently doing.

Right now I am doing a bit of the site rental model, but I focus on getting my clients phone to ring. So far it has been working well (only have 4 clients though) but needless to say: the game requires consistent work.

Rankings to tend to drop off at times (eventually) and it's hard to always please Google with their consistent updates to the algo.

So I've recently though about a method where I am not relying on Google for traffic - but rather a complete offline method of getting the visitors I need to run the business successfully.

So, I've been thinking:

I could make a local business directory type site just for my specific town.

My town has a population of around 20,000 people. If I say that there are 3 people living per house, then we have approx 6,666 houses to reach out to.

I can get a nice full colour post card printed up and sent off to all of these homes advertising the hyper-local business directory (should be appealing as it is keeping it very local) and I am thinking with a well designed directory theme - this could take off.

I could send out an additional mailing to all 6,666 homes later on again after a month or two to ensure they've really had a look on the site.

Using a post card, the message would be seen by people as they don't need to open it to see what it's all about. It wouldn't be a postcard so to speak, but post-card sized.

What do you guys think of this?

The only hard part is signing people up first. It's a tough one and I am not sure what to do, but I do have an idea on how to get people signed up for this from within the area in an efficient manner.

Any thoughts?
#business #directory #hyperlocal #idea #plan
  • Profile picture of the author Madam X
    Well, I've thought about starting my own City Directory many, many times. It's pretty cost intensive & you'd have to have you own server - not to mention the programming headache of adding a population of maybe 10,000. I doubt that you'd have the time to do it yourself. You'd have to at least have a partner help you with it.

    Also, it's taken Google & Yelp & MerchantCircle & localedge, locallytype, globexweb, local-ranking, qualitysubmissions, casedetails, localdirectory & on & on & on to get their directories up & running. They have teams of people & I think I could get a job at any one of those places that I just mentioned. They are always looking to hire someone to sell directory listings for them.

    I don't mean to discourage you & I agree with you that this would be the next progression to what you're now doing. Feel free to PM me to conspire.

    Madam X
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  • Profile picture of the author krzysiek
    Hi Madam X

    Thanks for your reply!

    Although, I do think you are perhaps overestimating the difficulty involved. As long as you have some knowledge of the Wordpress platform, you should be more than fine for setting up a directory site.

    While the population of my town is around 20,000 - that is just people who may potentially visit my website.

    But when it comes to business listing, the businesses can either submit the listing themselves (some Wordpress themes allow this functionality) or maybe I would need to submit their business listing for them (as an Admin of the wordpress site) but the amount of businesses would perhaps be 100 or less. Not in the thousands. So on a hyper-local level, it is definitely do-able from what I can tell.

    What are your thoughts?
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  • Profile picture of the author DennisM
    Hi,

    There's really not a better opportunity to sell to local business then with a local directory.

    Here's the deal, YOU can get the directory ranked locally for those local keywords. Now you have something to sell a business owner. Example let's say you want to sell to dentists. You could rank locally for the keyword "xx city dentist". Then, you have a door opener to get the business to talk to you.

    Get the local directory ranked for a few keywords in 5-10 services business' such as plumbers. Now you won't rank right away for premium keywords but just get decent keywords ranked that have some traffic.

    Then, call local business' and offer a FREE listing in your main directory. Then you can upsell into the page in your directory that's ranked on page 1 for your main keyword.

    What's great about this model is YOU own page 1 for that keyword and not the customer's site you worked hard to get them ranked.

    This is an easy door opener. Just call local business, tell them about the new local directory and that "I'd like to come in and meet you, get your business details and run your FREE ad". Now you have a chance to upsell right there.

    Good luck!
    Dennis
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  • Profile picture of the author krzysiek
    Hi Dennis,

    I'm already doing something similar to what you are describing with my site rental model.

    The idea behind this type of hyper-local business directory was to specifically *not* rely on Google but rather on spreading the message offline through postcards to every home in the locality.
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  • Profile picture of the author kinlane
    Let me know where you need help on the Hyper-Local business directory. I"m building several prototypes and starter project local directories right now for my client.

    I build PHP, Python and Ruby local directories that run from CityGrid Places API as well as a Wordpress add-on.

    My project is called Hyp3rL0cal.

    I'm working on other mobile tools as well...let me know where you need help.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marketer Matt
    I think that's a pretty good idea as long as you actually think through what it's going to take to make the local directory work. As long as you acknowledge that it's going to take some consistent time and effort, I think you are on to something. I say this because I tried the same thing in a different niche, and I hadn't taken into account the amount of time it was going to take to market and run the directory so it never really got off the ground. I learned a lot though, and we are ready to jump back in here and try it again in the next few months.

    I also thought this would be helpful. It's a review of some of the top local business directories out there for WP, which makes setting up one pretty simple.
    Local Business Directory Themes - Geo Places vs Geo Theme vs City Guide vs Vantage | There is a Theme For That
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