Recent Improvements for Managing Listings

We have done several improvements on the FoundLocally listings, that have made the site work faster, and reduced the steps to accomplish common tasks.

We have sped up the login, improved the "Welcome" screen and made it easier to add/update listings witha new "Administrator Action" menu.

Read all of Recent Improvements for Managing Listings

FoundLocally launches “Phase One” of improved TransCanadaHighway.com travel website

FoundLocally.com Media Inc.  has just released “Phase One” of a new version of their popular TransCanadaHighway.com   website. TranscanadaHighway.com is a nine year old website which documents many details of travel along Canada’s 7,821 km (4,860 mi.) long national highway, which connects St John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador with Victoria, British Columbia.
Many new features and improvements were added in this release.

Read all of FoundLocally launches “Phase One” of improved TransCanadaHighway.com travel website

Social Media: what every Business Person / Manager needs to know.

There has been much hyped about Social Media tools, like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Linked-in (and don’t forget, that FoundLocally incorporates many Social Media elements, too). How much is "hype" by those that have “already drunk the Kool-Aid” (a reference to cult followers of Reverend Jim Jones, and their mass suicide-by-Kool-Aid on his orders) and how much of it is a real benefit for the average business?
 
FoundLocally prides itself on having been able to expand geographically, and add services based on traffic and advertising growth generated by “organic” search engine traffic (based on extensive solid local content) and repeat visitors, rather than using more expensive pay-per-click or much more expensive traditional media advertising. We figure there are some lessons learned worth sharing. And who wouldn’t like to grow website traffic to a million visitors each month without paying for advertising?
The questions everyone keep asking is, how can I use Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to buil my business  (or sales, membership, attendance, or other success measure), without becoming   so distracted from my real bread-and-butter business?
 

Read all of Social Media: what every Business Person / Manager needs to know.

Some of our Favourite SEO Tools and Websites

We've found a couple of sites and software tools we find indispensible for a web marketer. Some are tools that a professional web marketer might use, while some are “quickies” that give a business owner/manager an quick advantage, without a steep learning curve or large investment of time.
 

Read all of Some of our Favourite SEO Tools and Websites

Using Google's Desktop tools to help with reputation management on Twitter

Tired of having to log into all those Social Networking sites just to see what people are saying about your company? Keeping an eye on the online world is getting to be a lot of work, not to mention a drag on computer screen real estate.

I've actually considered getting a THIRD monitor just to keep an eye on social networking sites. I've found a way to use the Google Desktop to "lurk" on Twitter and see what people are saying about you.

Read all of Using Google's Desktop tools to help with reputation management on Twitter

Will Google's Caffeine search change SEO practices?

This new version of Google has been in testing since early August, and is getting a lot of buzz, presumably as Google's reaction to the recent Microsoft Bing - Yahoo deal (that's the way MSNBC spins it).  I suspect this update has been in the works for much longer than that.  But how good is it really? And should you care?

Read all of Will Google's Caffeine search change SEO practices?

Scams that try (but fail) to get a free listing

We see, surprisingly regularly a number of businesses that appear to be scams, trying to use our site to reach an online audience. Over the years, we’ve learned to appreciate honest disclosure by businesses about the products or services they are selling, and have developed a keen eye for signs of “scams”. We figure, sometimes, simple inattention in writing the listing description may cast some doubt on a listing’s legitimacy, so we send an email requesting clarification. When we get no response within a week, these listings are quickly deleted from our Human Review Queue (and with customer service like that, who wants to do business with them?). The public never sees these listing attempts, which ensures the quality of our site’s businesses directory.
 
The business listings that typically fail to make it into the FoundLocally directory include pyramid schemes, work from home schemes, and over-aggressive multi-level marketers.

Read all of Scams that try (but fail) to get a free listing

Canwest closes 2 western Canadian TV stations, sells two others

Winnipeg-based Canwest Global  said it will close CHEK-TV in Victoria and CHCA-TV in Red Deer, Alta., by the end of next month. It will also rebrand CHBC-TV of Kelowna, B.C. into an affiliate station of Canwest's Global network. Last month, Canwest agreed to sell two stations in Montreal and Hamilton for an undisclosed sum to specialty TV operator Channel Zero Inc.

This follows a months-long campaign to get the CRTC to force calbe operators to pay a "fee for carriage" for their publicly-available broadcast signals, obstensibly to support local broadcast stations. This network tanturm had ended in a ruling where cable operators and broacasters have a year to find a suitable mechanism to do this.

Let's hope that the cable companies use this to show the CTRC regulators that the networks never meant to save local TV stations, but needed to find another source of cashflow to stem losses from massive amounts of debt incurreed to fund corporate media take-overs in past years. Let's not let the network moguls use this as an opportunity to skewer (te nice word) the Canadian public.

Read all of Canwest closes 2 western Canadian TV stations, sells two others

Web marketing for Home Improvement and Repair businesses on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for home improvement and repair businesses using the FoundLocally.com free listings.
 
Roofnig Contractor installing new roof tilesHome improvement and repair can promote themselves and their expertise using FoundLocally directory, even if you:
  • Run their business from a cell phone (making you ineligible for a Yellow Page ™ listing),
  • Work from a home office (and don’t want to publish the address)
  • Are either an incorporated or are an unincorporated business or individual.
  • Have or don’t have a website. While having one is helpful, it’s not a requirement to be on FoundLocally. Many find their FoundLocally listing is all they would have said on a website, anyway, so think of all the time and money you'll save! 
FoundLocally can raise your visibility, attract clients for home improvement or renovation services, and build your brand precisely where and when shoppers are doing their online research.

Read all of Web marketing for Home Improvement and Repair businesses on FoundLocally

Web marketing for First Nations on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for First Nations, and their Economic Development Offices and Visitor Bureaus and band-owned businesses using the FoundLocally.com free listings. Your goal is to create the highest traffic and visibility for your First Nation and its members to increase economic opportunities.
Native Dancer at Calgary Stampede's Indian VIllage 
Note: FoundLocally recognizes the status and roles of First Nations can be a combination of federal, provincial, and municipal governments, so we have always had several distinct First Nations categories in our Government and Public Service categories.
 
FoundLocally is a great way for First Nations to raise their own visibility, not just by adding themselves to the high-traffic community directory, but by posting news, jobs, events, and savings to increase the number of pages on their FoundLocally listing, and therefore the number of link-backs to their website. This is especially handy for those hosting events and festivals, or those taking a lead in community business advocacy.

Read all of Web marketing for First Nations on FoundLocally

Web marketing for Government Departments and Facilities on FoundLocally

Governments have an obligation to ensure public assets are put to the use of the widest range of residents and taxpayers. Managers and Politicians also have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure public funds are spent wisely, and to look for prudent cost-saving methods for promotion and building awareness.
 
FoundLocally has categories in the Public Service categories for all levels of governments (from federal to municipal) including departments, agencies, crown corporations as well as elected politicians & candidates. Especially welcome are municipal swimming pool, ice arena, waste / recycling, and library facilities.
 
We have special web marketing tips for First Nations on our blog

Read all of Web marketing for Government Departments and Facilities on FoundLocally

Web marketing for Senior Care Providers and Facilities on FoundLocally

There are two reasons for senior care providers to be on FoundLocally: 1) if you are trying to build your business, your marketing needs to be aggressive, yet cost-effective, and 2) so potential clients (or their caring relatives) can find you easily (very important if you do not have a website). This is why senior care providers and facilities need to be on FoundLocally.
 
FoundLocally is a great way for senior care providers and facilities to raise their own visibility, not just by adding themselves to our high-traffic community directory, but by affordably (and, in FoundLocally’s case, free!) posting news, jobs, events, and savings to increase the number of pages on their FoundLocally listing, gaining both greater visibility while saving ever-lager amounts of money otherwise spent on advertising in other media.

Read all of Web marketing for Senior Care Providers and Facilities on FoundLocally

Web marketing for Healthcare: Doctors, Dentists, Clinics and Hospitals on FoundLocally

There are two reasons for Healthcare providers to be on FoundLocally: 1) if you are trying to build your medical practice, your marketing needs to be aggressive, yet cost-effective, and 2) so existing clients can find your contact info online (even if you do not have a website). This is why healthcare professionals and facilities especially need to be on FoundLocally.

FoundLocally’s healthcare directory includes medical doctors (the “traditional” category), dental care, counselling services (distinct from product sales), as well as non-traditional practices. The TIPS section will cover affiliated categories typical of some healthcare providers.

FoundLocally is a great way for health care professionals and facilities to raise their own visibility, not just by adding themselves to our high-traffic community directory, but by posting news, jobs, events, and savings to increase the number of pages on their FoundLocally listing, gaining both greater visibility while saving ever-lager amounts of money otherwise spent on advertising in other media.

Read all of Web marketing for Healthcare: Doctors, Dentists, Clinics and Hospitals on FoundLocally

Ways to use the FoundLocally RSS Feeds

These are accessed from the light blue tabs across the top of the website. Click on the orange RSS logo on the page, or select a specific ‘stream’ or sub-set for more specific information. RSS feeds are displayed in a browser-friendly format (great for small screen sell-phones or PDAs!). Each listing in the RSS feed has a summary overview and a clickable link to the original posting on  FoundLocally for further exploration.
To subscribe to the displayed RSS Feed, select “Subscribe to this feed” using your RSS software or your browser. These are then included in your RSS panel in your reader or browser, along with any other feeds you have subscribed to. You can unsubscribe in your reader or browser’s RSS pane at any time.

Read all of Ways to use the FoundLocally RSS Feeds

Web marketing for Economic Development Offices and Visitor Bureaus on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for Economic Development Offices and Visitor Bureaus  and YOUR MEMBERS using  the FoundLocally.com free listings.  Your goal is to create the highest traffic and visibility for members and community businesses, and needs to promote not only the organization but the various stores and services that create economic opportunity in the community.

FoundLocally is a great way for communities and business districts to raise their own visibility, not just by adding themselves to the high-traffic community directory, but by posting news, jobs, events, and savings to increase the number of pages on their FoundLocally listing, and therefore the number of link-backs to their website.  This is especially handy for those hosting events and festivals, or those taking a lead in community business advocacy.

This approach is very effective for SEO (search engine optimization): the more pages on FoundLocally the more link-backs you have, and the higher your ranking and findability! Many  Economic Development and Tourism Offices overlook the business opportunity for member businesses, who SHOULD ALSO increase their online footprint by participating in as many directories as possible (and especially the free ones!) With a little bit of effort, they can enhance their online marketing to support their operations: posting jobs, promoting events, promoting sales, discounts and coupons, posting news announcements.  Help your member businesses  reach an ever-increasing online customer base, save money [on traditional media], increase revenues and become more profitable,

FoundLocally provides additional opportunities for editorial promotion of your communities."

Read all of Web marketing for Economic Development Offices and Visitor Bureaus on FoundLocally

Web Marketing for Musicians, Performing Arts Groups, Authors (often travelling)

Band Playing on the roadMusicians, Performing Arts Groups, Authors have two objectives:

1) to drive traffic to their web site where they can provide fans more information, as well as sell records, books, and parapharnalia, and

2) to promote their appearances (gigs, performances, or readings) in or away from their home community, moving fans to a venue, ticket-buying, or RSVP website so fans can attend events in their own community.

FoundLocally lets performers, groups and authors create a listing in their home comunity, where they can post news and other updates, but enables them to post events to other FoundLocally sites , where it is included in the local events calendar. The clone feature makes it easy to post a tour, by creating one listing with description, web links and categories and chaning only the date & location as required.

Read all of Web Marketing for Musicians, Performing Arts Groups, Authors (often travelling)

FoundLocally.com Media releases a new MovingInCanada.com website

June 2, 2009 FoundLocally.com Media Inc has released a new http://MovingInCanada.com web site, which already attracts over 50,000 unique visitors a month. The site has expanded and improved community information about hundreds of communities and thousands of neighbourhoods across Canada. Information is integrated with Google’s maps and relevant Realtor.ca* MLS* listings. The site also provides powerful search tools to find local realtors, builders, and movers, accessing the thousands of businesses and individuals that have added themselves to FoundLocally.com’s free directory, but keeping users close to MovingInCanada.com’s local real estate and community information.

Read all of FoundLocally.com Media releases a new MovingInCanada.com website

Web marketing for Politicians and Political Parties

Get the highest online visibility for Politicians, Candidates, and Political parties using the FoundLocally.com free listings. Gain traction & visibility for greater momentum for when an election is called.

FoundLocally is a great way for political parties, riding associations, elected  politicians and candidates to raise their own visibility, not just by adding themselves to our high-traffic community directory, but by posting news, jobs (and, volunteer opportunities, too!), as well as events to increase the number of pages on their FoundLocally listing, and therefore the number of link-backs to their website.

This approach is very effective for SEO (search engine optimization): the more pages on FoundLocally the more link-backs you have, and the higher your ranking and findability! Many political groups overlook the opportunities online to not only extend reach, but  do so economically  and to extend tight campaign budgets by increasing their online footprint by participating in as many directories as possible (and especially the free ones, like FoundLocally.com!) With a little bit of effort, they can enhance their online marketing to support their operations: posting jobs, promoting events, promoting sales, discounts and coupons, posting news announcements.

We also can provide access for provincial or federal groups to quickly post News items to all their listings on FoundLocally with just a few mouse clicks, providing consistency, an unfiltered message (no reporters to botch it up!), time-savings in a busy campaign, and a significantly greater reach

Read all of Web marketing for Politicians and Political Parties

Web Marketing for Chains and Franchises on FoundLocally

Chain and franchise organizations are successful because they combine the power of a strong brand with the economies of scale of an ever-growing organization. Individuals joining a franchise organization to leverage their capital with the systems, processes, and standardization that has already proven both successful with customers—and profitable for owners. FoundLocally has developed a number of powerful tools that make internet marketing and business promotion a breeze and very cost-effective (ie free!)

Also, unlike other business directories and directory websites, your FoundLocally listing also lets you post jobs (from customer service up to management), news, events, and savings (coupons, sales or discounts). Each of these features might cost you hundreds of dollars a year using some other publication, media or online venue. All included for free with your FoundLocally.com business listing.

Read all of Web Marketing for Chains and Franchises on FoundLocally

Web Marketing for Restaurants, Lounges, Pubs and Nightclubs on FoundLocally

Restaurants can easily spend thousands of dollars a month in various print directories and magazines (especially the hotel-room travel variety), though consumers are rapidly moving to using online resources to find, evaluate and select their dining options.

Food and beverage establishments can not only raise their online "footprint" but gain operational efficiencies and save on costs by taking advantage of online ways to post jobs, events, news and coupons/discounts compared to traditional ways of promotion. These features are all free with your FoundLocally directory listing.

Read all of Web Marketing for Restaurants, Lounges, Pubs and Nightclubs on FoundLocally

Web marketing for Golf Courses on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for Golf Courses using the FoundLocally.com free listings.

Golfers walking a courseGolf courses offer a wide range of goods and serbivces intheir communities. They are a facility for playing golf (sometimes public, sometimes not, or semi-private with a mix), they have golf professionals offering lessons, have pro shops selling a variety of golf equipment, clothing and consumables, providing knowledgable advice hard to find at some other sport goods retailers. Most courses also have food and beverage operations, catering services for weddings, gatherings & business meetings, Some courses have other fitness facilities and services like massages, mini-golf, swimming, racquet sports that broaden their appeal to members and the public. Most courses host a variety of tournaments and fundraisers, attracting traffic and participants not usually playing at your course. All of these elements can be marketed to members of your community using FoundLocally!

Read all of Web marketing for Golf Courses on FoundLocally

Is the Broadcast Business Model Broken?

Recently executives from CTV GlobeMedia and Canwest appeared before the CRTC (Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission) to appeal for revenues from cable and satellite operators across Canada or more accurately, their subscribers, like you and me), in order to make their organizations more viable, citing the "Broadcast Business Model is broken".

Read all of Is the Broadcast Business Model Broken?

Web marketing for Industry Groups and Professional Associations

Get the highest online visibility for Industry Groups and Associations and YOUR MEMBERS using the FoundLocally.com free listings.

FoundLocally is a great way for business groups and professional associations to raise their own visibility, not just by adding themselves to the high-traffic community directory, but by posting news, jobs, events, and savings to increase the number of pages on their FoundLocally listing, and therefore the number of link-backs to their website. This is especially handy for those hosting events & trade shows, or those taking a lead in industry advocacy.

This approach is very effective for SEO (search engine optimization): the more pages on FoundLocally the more link-backs you have, and the higher your ranking and findability! Many Industry Groups overlook the business opportunity for member businesses, who SHOULD ALSO increase their online footprint by participating in as many directories as possible (and especially the free ones!) With a little bit of effort, they can enhance their online marketing to support their operations: posting jobs, promoting events, promoting sales, discounts and coupons, posting news announcements. Help your member businesses reach an ever-increasing online customer base, save money [on traditional media], increase revenues and become more profitable,

Read all of Web marketing for Industry Groups and Professional Associations

Web marketing for BRZs, BIAs and Shopping Malls on FoundLocally.

Get the highest online visibility for Business Revitalization Zones (BRZs) or Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and YOUR MEMBERS using  the FoundLocally.com free listings. Shopping Mall Management also works to create the highest traffic & visibility for their tennants, and needs to promote not only the Mall but the various stores and services that draw in traffic.

FoundLocally is a great way for business districts to raise their own visibility, not just by adding themselves to the high-traffic community directory, but by posting news, jobs, events, and savings to increase the number of pages on their FoundLocally listing, and therefore the number of link-backs to their website.  This is especially handy for those hosting events & festivals, or those taking a lead in community business advocacy.

BIAs, BRZs, and SHOPPING MALL MANAGERS, should also review our time-saving web marketing recommendations for chain & franchise organizations.

This approach is very effective for SEO (search engine optimization): the more pages on FoundLocally the more link-backs you have, and the higher your ranking and findability! Many BRZs and BIAs overlook the business opportunity for member businesses, who SHOULD ALSO increase their online footprint by participating in as many directories as possible (and especially the free ones!) With a little bit of effort, they can enhance their online marketing to support their operations: posting jobs, promoting events, promoting sales, discounts and coupons, posting news announcements.  Help your member businesses  reach an ever-increasing online customer base, save money [on traditional media], increase revenues and become more profitable,

Read all of Web marketing for BRZs, BIAs and Shopping Malls on FoundLocally.

Changing the City of a Listing in FoundLocally

When a business is sold, or if the owner moves, it is sometimes necessary to move a listing from one FoundLocally site to another (not just a community or neighbourhood within a FoundLocally site). This does not happen very often, so we don't have an automated process, but we have a work-around to handle this situation.

Read all of Changing the City of a Listing in FoundLocally

Web marketing Colleges, Universities, and on-campus groups on FoundLocally.

FoundLocally provides the opportunity for colleges and universities (as well as their on-campus groups) to promote themselves, their news, and their events to students, faculty, and the surrounding community. Here are tips and suggestions for how post-secondary organizations can get the most out of the FoundLocally.com free listings.

While schools do not need to do web marketing in the traditional (commercial) sense, they want to ensure students, faculty and the community are involved with a major community institution. Stakeholders should be aware of events, news, job and volunteer opportunties, and its contributions to the community, and be able to get additional details from the organization's own website. Each faculty, department, and on-campus student organizations should add and manage their own FoundLocally listing

Read all of Web marketing Colleges, Universities, and on-campus groups on FoundLocally.

Listing K-12 Schools on FoundLocally.

FoundLocally provides the opportunity for schools at all levels to promote themselves,their news, and their events to parents, students, and their surrounding community. Here are tips and suggestions for how public and private schools can get the most out of the FoundLocally.com free listings.

While schools do not need to do web marketing in the traditional (commercial) sense, they want to ensure students, parents and community are involved with a key community assets. Stakeholders should be aware of school events, news and its contributions to the community, and be able to get more details form the school's own website. Get the highest online visibility for Public, private, elementary, middle and high schools using FoundLocally.com free listings.

Read all of Listing K-12 Schools on FoundLocally.

Tips for Effective School Websites

Schools should have web sites for a couple of reasons: inform parents, inform students, and showcase its talent (both students and teachers) and its community contribution. The importance and priority of these differs with each school, school board, and community based on their individual needs.

Read all of Tips for Effective School Websites

Web marketing for Art Galleries and Museums on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for Art Galleries and Museums, using the FoundLocally.com free listings.
 
Art Galleries and Museums exist to promote art and artists, though the two have entirely different purposes, with galleries existing primarily to sell art (typically form currently living and painting artists) while museums showcase works often with a historical perspective and combine rotating exhibitions with a museum’s core exhibits. FoundLocally has a free community business directory that has the capability to broadcast information about the exhibition venue as well as about the rotating exhibitions.

Read all of Web marketing for Art Galleries and Museums on FoundLocally

Web marketing for Event Planning and Event Marketing firms and their clients on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for  Event Planning and Event Marketing  professionals, using the FoundLocally.com free listings.

An Event Planning and Event Marketing  professional's role is to ensure a broad audience for their client's events and message. With the decline of traditional media, and the loss of their influence with key segments of the marketplace, everybody is struggling to reach the broadest audience and keeping budgets under control. FoundLocally has a free community business directory that has the capability to broadcast news releases for a business or community group. Events can be posted under the Event Planning and Event Marketing firm’s name, or through the client’s listing(s).

Read all of Web marketing for Event Planning and Event Marketing firms and their clients on FoundLocally

Marketing Hotels and Accommodation on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for your property and facilities using  FoundLocally.com free listings.

Hotel Lobby

Hotels, Motels, Beds and Breakfasts, Wilderness Lodges, Vacation Rentals, and long-term accommodation can use FoundLocally  promote their properties, as well as their other facilities like restaurants, stores, banquet facilities and other services. Properties can easily spend thousands of dollars a month in various print directories and magazines, though consumers are rapidly moving to using online resources to find, eveluate and select their travel and dining options.

FoundLocally can help chain or franchise operators to ensure all their locations are in our site’s directory and setup location managers to update their location’s listings.

Read all of Marketing Hotels and Accommodation on FoundLocally

How Churches and Places of Worship can 'Spread the Word' using their FoundLocally free listings

First Nations Catholic Church in Kamloops, BC

Churches and places of worship (including synagogues, mosques, temples, and umbrella religious groups)  are all welcome to promote themselves and their activities on FoundLocally.com

There are two challenges unique to churches & places of worship: 1) reaching both their faithful know about their activities, including visitors already belonging to the same faith as well as those not yet members but wishing to learn more about the faith and 2) promoting the regular religious services so the community at large can attend.

Some churches have a website, while others are more traditional in their approach. Both can use FoundLocally to raise traffic to their website and their services, and for the more traditional places of worship, the FoundLocally listing can act AS your online presence. Umbrella organizations, and religious charities are also welcome on FoundLocally.com's community directory.

Read all of How Churches and Places of Worship can 'Spread the Word' using their FoundLocally free listings

Web marketing for Non-Profits, Charities, Community Groups on FoundLocally.

Get the highest online visibility for your Non-Profits, Charities, Community Groups  using  FoundLocally.com free listings.

Organizations in the non-profit sector are challenged by having to not only provide the services they are missioned to do, but seek the resources--both financial and human--to get the work done. This involves spreading awareness about themselves to public, so they can choose to get involved with thir group based on their own personal interests, goals and abilities. Such organizations have this challenge compounded by having non-technical staff or volunteers, who often settle for doing things the old fashioned way using traditional media and P/R, overlooking the vast (and growing) audience of  the online world, which provides tools that help them do what they need to do very quickly, and surpisingly affordable (if not free). They do not realize that their own website (in whatever shape it is in) does not have to be--and should not be--their only foray into communicating with an online audience inan online world and that they can dramatically expand their reach and "footprint" beyond that initial effort.

Read all of Web marketing for Non-Profits, Charities, Community Groups on FoundLocally.

Web marketing for Sports Teams and Sports Leagues on FoundLocally.

Soccer is one of many amateur sports can be promoted on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for your Sports Teams & Leagues using  FoundLocally.com free listings.

Why should only "major league" sports teams and leagues get the public attention? FoundLocaly provides the opportunity for all amateur sports to promote themselves,their news, and their events (sign-ups, games, end-of-season awards, and fund-raising events), using a self-serve toolkit.

Read all of Web marketing for Sports Teams and Sports Leagues on FoundLocally.

Long Time, No See! What FoundLocally.com looked like in the past

Here is an archive of FoundLocally screenshots and a discussion of the site changes over the years, since 1999 when the website was launched.

Mark Ruthenberg, FoundLocally.com General Manager
Perspective, by Mark Ruthenberg G.M.

See how FoundLocally changed over several iterations over the years, as it expanded geographically across Canada, and added functionality to its community information and its business directory. FoundLocally has grown organically, not based on a sudden influx of financing or venture capital but based on public request for features implemented when revenue from operations allowed us the time to research, write and program such enhancements. We've heard from many people, some who have visited often and observed the gradual progression, and others who have not visited in a while--sometimes not for several years--who noticed the "sudden" proliferation of features & functionality. This story gives everyone a chance to look back.

Read all of Long Time, No See! What FoundLocally.com looked like in the past

Web marketing for Festivals and Community Events on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for your Festivals and Community Events using  FoundLocally.com free listings.

FoundLocally's self-serve toolkit makes it easy for all festivals and community events organizers to provide year-round visibility for event organizations, promote and fill both paid and volunteer positions, and promote their festival's entire schedule. Post not only the festival itself, but all component events, using a "clone' tool to quickly post similar events, and the ability to re-use/update events posted in prior years to save time.

Read all of Web marketing for Festivals and Community Events on FoundLocally

Web marketing for Web Designers and SEO Professionals on FoundLocally.

Get the highest online visibility for web designers and search engine optimization (SEO)  marketers and YOUR CLIENTS using  the FoundLocally.com free listings.

FoundLocally is a great way for Internet professionals to raise their own visibility, not just by adding themselves to the high-traffic community directory, but by posting news, jobs, events, and savings to increase the number of pages on their FoundLocally listing, and therefore the number of link-backs to their website.

This approach also works for SEO clients: the more pages the more link-backs! Many SEO marketers set up one listing for a business’s website, when a multi-location business is entitled to a listing for each location (each with a link-back to the website). Web marketers also overlook the business opportunity for clients (with them as a Registered Contact to update their own info) to use more online marketing to support their operations: posting jobs, promoting events, promoting sales, discounts and coupons, posting news announcements. They can save money [on traditional media], increase revenues, and experience more day-to-day success with online marketing, making the web marketer ever-more important.

Read all of Web marketing for Web Designers and SEO Professionals on FoundLocally.

What's wrong with traditional media?

A discussion of failings of "traditional" media including newspapers, television and radio.

Mark Ruthenberg, FoundLocally.com General Manager
Opinion, by Mark Ruthenberg G.M.

It’s not that consumer expectations have risen out of reach of these well-established media, but that the executives have found cost-effective shortcuts for creating and publishing / broadcasting content that have short-changed consumers. With the advent of the Internet, consumers have instead chosen to read, listen and watch online what they want, when they want, and where they want. Advertisers follow consumer trends and activity have reacted to this, carefully moving their ad dollars away from their traditional media (which used to be both effective and safe) into online venues, fundamentally threatening the economics of traditional media.

Read all of What's wrong with traditional media?

Web marketing for HR Professionals and Agencies on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for your human resource professionals and recruiters/agencies (and job postings) using the FoundLocally.com free listings.

HR professionals have to not only market themselves and their capabilities but advise and assist corporate clients with filling their ongoing staffing needs, and those providing career transition services mush also help individuals find suitable re-employment. While we consider FoundLocally site as a "one-stop shop" for this, many HR professionals are already committed to using other websites (often at a very high cost per job or per month) should consider FoundLocally as a supplementary online resource to evaluate its effectiveness, especially since the price is right (free!), and if they see positive results they can reduce the use of more expensive online and traditional media alternatives.

Read all of Web marketing for HR Professionals and Agencies on FoundLocally

Web marketing for Flea Markets and Farmers Markets on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for Flea Markets and Farmers Markets using the FoundLocally.com free listings.

Flea Markets and Farmers Markets are unique in that they are aggregators of a number of local growers, craftsmen, artisans and businesses into a popular an high-traffic venue, and often open only for limited days or hours each week.

Many of these indpendent businesses do not have their own website, their own branding and marketing, and do not need them because of the success and traffic of the market they participate in. FoundLocally helps such markets promote themselves and their tenant businesses to both locals and visitors.

Read all of Web marketing for Flea Markets and Farmers Markets on FoundLocally

Web marketing for PR Firms and their clients on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for Public Relations professionals, using the FoundLocally.com free listings.

A PR professional's role is to ensure a broad audience for their client's news and message. With the decline of traditional media, and the loss of their influence with key segments of the marketplace, everybody is struggling to reach the broadest audience and keeping budgets under control. FoundLocally has a free community business directory that has the capability to broadcast news releases for a business or community group. Releases can be done under the PR firm’s name, or through the client’s listing(s). And for large corporate clients or chain/franchise organizations, we have the ability to set up all their locations to multiply the impact of announcements, and spread them geographically to all communities where the client organization has a presence.

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Web marketing for Car Dealers on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for automobile dealers using the FoundLocally.com free listings.

Car dealers are successful when they do four things right: hire the right people, promote the cars they are selling, get consumers in the lot to buy their cars, and bring them back for maintenance services. We help car dealers and their consumers with all four of these. FoundLocally helps drive traffic to a dealership's website, or if you prefer, the website where your on-lot inventory is promoted. FoundLocally helps leverage your existing investment by getting you greater online visibility and traffic, to catch local consumers precisely when they are looking for a car to buy. And at a price every car dealer can afford in these challenging times: Free!

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Web marketing for Real Estate Agents and Realtors on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for real estate professionals using the FoundLocally.com free listings.
FoundLocally provides a free self-service toolkit for individual realtors and for real estate offices to promote themselves, increase findability, and promote their open houses to help drive sales. These tools are great for those with websites (more link-backs) and for those without (finally, an affordable web presence!)

Read all of Web marketing for Real Estate Agents and Realtors on FoundLocally

Web marketing for Home Builders on FoundLocally

Get the highest online visibility for home builders and developers using the FoundLocally.com free listings.

Home buyers looking at home under construction

Home builders can promote both their home building activities as well as their showhomes in new and emerging neighbourhoods & suburbs. FoundLocally can raise your visibility, attract home buyers, and build your brand. Land developers should ensure they, and their home-building partners, are listed where home shoppers are doing their online research. And FoundLocally offers a "two-fer": your listing is also included in sister website MovingInCanada.com

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Review of Advertising Revenues in Canada since 1999

Internet Advertising has outgrown all other ad media since 1999

As consumers have shifted viewing, listening and reading habits, advertisers are closely following their habits.

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SEO Basics: META Tags and Content

Basic tips and techniques for improving a website's findabilty by search engines and your customers

Before trying more labour intensive and sometimes more expensive ways to raise your traffic from search engines, every web site owner should look at the basics: having good content that guides consumers through a sales process and knowing what search terms consumers will use to find you (or your competitors) on the search engines. Your mission-critical in-house skillset is (or should be) knowing your products, your customers, and your competitors. We recommend doing a competitive analysis so you can improve your site so it is more findable, and has better information once consumers are directed to your website. Remember, a poor website won’t improve business no mater how much you spend on SEO marketing.

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Are We There, Yet?

How to see which of your locations are already entered in the FoundLocally.com directory.

Many small businesses have previously entered themselves into FoundLocally's database and may potentially repeat that effort as part of their periodic web marketing. FoundLocally now makes it easy to check if you already have a listing. For chain or franchise stores & restaurants, that may have hundreds of locations across the country, FoundLocally has a StoreSearch.asp feature to quickly see which locations are already entered—which searches across all FoundLocally communities. FoundLocally also provides easy-to-use tools for assigning/updating contacts to for individual listings, as well as adding or removing locations as required

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Pre-selected Category Templates added

FoundLocally has added a number  of templates for pre-selecting categories for many businesses frequently added onto FoundLocally.

Each of our listings goes through a 'human review' to ensure both localness and that appropriate categories are selected, consistent with the listings's description. For many common types of businesses and organizations we have created category templates to speed the listing process, and reduce category selection errors, or missed category opportunities. The Category Templates pop-down list is found at the bottom of the PROFILE page for adding a new listing.

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About 24/7 RealMedia

Canada's largest interactive agency represents FoundLocally and over a hundred major Canadian websites.

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Advertising in the Internet Era: Beyond Frequency and Reach

What leading edge ad professionals know: measurable results move beyond Frequency and Reach.

Advertisers are looking for new success-based metrics for evaluating competitive advertising media. See how online media are turning things upside down, especially with the ubiquity of competiing advertising messages in our day-top-day enviironment.

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Who is FoundLocally?

Overview of the company and its portal websites.

FoundLocally provides free information about 30 cross-Canada communities, integrated with a free iocally-focussed community and busines directory. The site is support ed by "banner" display advertising, which is managed and represented by 24/7 RealMedia, which has worked closely with FoundLocally since 2001.

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Choosing and Using Web Marketing Services

Tips for selecting web marketing services to help you improve web marketing results

Some webmarketing services can dramtically improve the commerical success of your website, while others are clearly "too good to be true" and a waste of your money (even if the amount looks small and worthwhile). How can YOU tell the difference, and make a good business decision?

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Using Software to speed the web marketing process

Popular sofware tools can automate web marketing.

If you are choosing the do-it-yourself route, whether to save money, to gain experience, or to internalize a skillset that you feel is mission-critical and core to your venture, here are some time-tested and worthwhile software tools, that are often the ones that professionals also use.

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Getting Listed in Directories and Search Engines

Techniques and strategies for do-it-yourself web marketing to get ito directories and search engines.

Here are some tips to help small businesses and internet managers in larger business get started on their web marketing. We've included do's and don'ts based on a decade in the Internet business, and FoundLocally's own success in organically building traffic to a million monthly visitors using only online marketing techniques, which we like to call "word of mouse".

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Web Directories vs. Search Engines (with Directory of Directories)

Differences in web marketing approaches when using directories and search engines.

This article also has a searchable listing of other local online directories web marketers can use to promote their clients' businesses and web sites.

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What is Web Marketing?

Overview of web marketing tools & techniques.

Consider a mix on online meothods including having a website, organic directory and search engine listings, paid submission directories, cost-per-click SEO advertising, as well as display/banner advertising.

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Viewing Jobseekers' Resumes

Check out resumes posted by local job hunters... see who is already looking to save time and effort.

Business people or HR managers can quickly scan exisitng online resume postings, to save time in filling positions. But they can ONLY review resumes if they have a free listing in our community directory.

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Job posting Shortcut for chain organizations

How FoundLocally's cloning tools make it easy for chain or franchise organizations to post job descriptions or job openings to multiple locations. Time-saving standardization with a few clicks of a mouse!

One of the efficiencies of a chain or franchise organization is the standardization of processes, procedures relating to products, service, locations, and staffing. FoundLocally has a great way to leverage that standardization to post your proven and standardized job ads on our site, and to "clone" them to all locations, whether they are currently looking for staff or not. That way, when they ARE looking, all the need to do is login, and activate the listing… no re-typing, and there's no cost to post the job on FoundLocally! Your locations save time, save money, and hire better people (our visitors are more literate and techno-literate than the population average)!

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Tips for HR professionals and recruiters

How the FoundLocally site has helpful features for Human Resources professionals and recruiters

Not only can HR professionals promote their business and gain new clients with a FoundLocally listing, but they can efficiently expand their range of services using the HR tools included in their free business listing. Review posted resume, post jobs and reach a solid number of job seekers, and integrate the postings with your preferred submission methods (in person, mail, fax, email, or online form). In-house HR staff can save thousands of dollars a year in job postings over other Job or Career websites. Those in outplacement /career transition counselling can use FoundLocally's database and editorial resources to assist their private clients in the job hunting process.

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Turning Job Postings On and Off

How to activate and de-activate job postings... re-using postings without having to re-type everything or having to pay for another placement (like you would with newspapers and other job sites).

Re-use and Re-cycle more that your garbage. FoundLocally lets you re-use and re-activate prior JOBS postings, so you have less typing to do, you benefit from lessons learned from the prior posting, AND you don't pay for the posting. Not the first time, and not the second time either!

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Getting Applications and Resumes

How to specify how you want job applicants to respond. How FoundLocally integrate with the way YOU do business

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Choosing Job Categories

Specifying/classifying the types of job opening

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Posting Job Opportunities

Information about the types of jobs and volunteer postings you can post to your listing's JOBS tab

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JOBS Help for Business Listings

Information about posting jobs and volunteer opporutnities to our Jobs Board using the JOBS tab of your FoundLocally listing

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EVENTS Help for Business Listing

Information about posting different types of Events to FoundLocally's interactive Events Calendar, using your listing's EVENTS tab.

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News/Announcement Help for Business Listings

Information about posting News and Announcements to the community, using your FoundLocally lisitng(s)

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SAVINGS Help for Business Listings

Information about how to post coupons, sales, and discounts on FoundLocally.com

FoundLocally provides the ability to post any number or any combination of coupon offers, sales announcements (these are not typically considered NEWS or EVNTS items), or discounts. The business directory lets you manage the offers, modify disclaimers or limitations, set expiry dates, and even re-use or clone savings offers again to save time, timing effort, and (of course) money. Savings postings on FoundLocally can link to any page or document (even PDF versions) on YOUR WEBSITE, so you can track referrals and links using your  analytical software, and also t easily manage the sales flyers in one spot.

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RATINGS Help for Business Listings

Basic information about using Ratings & Reviews to your competitive advantage

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Entering Descriptive Fields

How to improve findability (and by the right clients)  by using the descriptive fields: Description. Products/Brands and Environmental.

Use keywords and phrases to improve your findability, since FoundLocally's search feature looks at more than just a businesses' name. It helps you find a sushi restaurant, even if "sushi" is not in its name, so why not use this feature to help your clients find YOU, too?

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Entering Web Links for Website, Logo and Contact Email

how to ensure your website gets traffic, your logo is properly displayed with your listings,  and you get inquiry e-mails

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Selecting the Areas Pop-Down Fields

How to improve findability by FoundLocally users looking for neighbourhood resources

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Entering Addresses

What to enter to improve search reults, and help customers find your location

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Business Names

What to enter in the two Business Name fields for optimal search results

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CATEGORIES Help for Business Listings

Basic Help for selecting Categories for your business or ogranization

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Setting up many Contacts for a Chain Organization

Special issues when setting up contacts for multiple listings, typically for a chain or franchise organization.

FoundLocally provides a choice of Excel templates to quickly set up contacts for each location's manager, as well as setting up regional managers and an overall national contact (you?) who can post news, jobs, events, and savings items with a regional or national scope to all listings for your organization.

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Completing the Form

Discussion of Registered Contact form

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Becoming a Registered Contact

Overview of issues when adding a Registered Contact in order to post and/or update a business/community listing.

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PROFILE Screen Help

Overview of  things to consider when posting a new profile for a community organization or business

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Technorati Profile