Comments on: Too Early To Go Local? http://twopointouch.com/2007/social-media/too-early-to-go-local/ web 2.0, blogs and social media Mon, 30 May 2011 20:58:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Jacob F.http://twopointouch.com/2007/social-media/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-11494 Jacob F. Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:03:14 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2007/01/21/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-11494 The whole trouble with hyper-local is that at a certain point it just becomes easier to bypass your site in favour of actually stepping out into your community. At the hyper local level you're competing with established local newspapers, community associations, bulletin boards etc. - at some point people prefer to be in physical contact with local media rather than using a website to do the same thing. - JF The whole trouble with hyper-local is that at a certain point it just becomes easier to bypass your site in favour of actually stepping out into your community. At the hyper local level you’re competing with established local newspapers, community associations, bulletin boards etc. — at some point people prefer to be in physical contact with local media rather than using a website to do the same thing.
– JF

]]> By: Simon Wakemanhttp://twopointouch.com/2007/social-media/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9582 Simon Wakeman Tue, 23 Jan 2007 07:12:22 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2007/01/21/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9582 Ian - would be happy to talk about the project, probably best in a couple of months once funding is in place. We're planning to launch in June 2007. sw Ian — would be happy to talk about the project, probably best in a couple of months once funding is in place. We’re planning to launch in June 2007.
sw

]]> By: Ian Delaneyhttp://twopointouch.com/2007/social-media/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9549 Ian Delaney Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:14:57 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2007/01/21/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9549 That's a sensational story, Michael, and is great evidence for why hyperlocal sites *DESERVE* to succeed. That’s a sensational story, Michael, and is great evidence for why hyperlocal sites *DESERVE* to succeed.

]]> By: Michael Wood-Lewishttp://twopointouch.com/2007/social-media/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9548 Michael Wood-Lewis Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:05:54 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2007/01/21/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9548 <a href="http://frontporchforum.com" rel="nofollow">Front Porch Forum</a> is enjoying a great response from people in our initial location. Our mission is all about helping neighbors connect and foster community within neighborhoods. Recently a couple posted a note in their neighborhood's forum looking for helping moving their household, hoping for a couple strong backs. THIRTY-SIX neighbors showed up and moved their entire four-person home out of the old place and then into the new in 90 minutes! Story like this are multiplying. Next up... generating revenue to sustain all this. Track our progress on <a href="http://frontporchforum.com/blog" rel="nofollow">our blog</a>. Front Porch Forum is enjoying a great response from people in our initial location. Our mission is all about helping neighbors connect and foster community within neighborhoods. Recently a couple posted a note in their neighborhood’s forum looking for helping moving their household, hoping for a couple strong backs. THIRTY-SIX neighbors showed up and moved their entire four-person home out of the old place and then into the new in 90 minutes! Story like this are multiplying. Next up… generating revenue to sustain all this. Track our progress on our blog.

]]> By: Howell Joneshttp://twopointouch.com/2007/social-media/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9519 Howell Jones Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:58:19 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2007/01/21/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9519 Greeting Ian, The social aspect is an element that deserves some attention...does the element have enough gravitas to be a stand alone site...so far, the market place say No...But in communities where the right people drive traffic to the content, then YES! But does the concept have staying power...will it become stale as people become preoccupied with other sites...I just have a hard time grasping the concept for the long term Greeting Ian, The social aspect is an element that deserves some attention…does the element have enough gravitas to be a stand alone site…so far, the market place say No…But in communities where the right people drive traffic to the content, then YES! But does the concept have staying power…will it become stale as people become preoccupied with other sites…I just have a hard time grasping the concept for the long term

]]> By: Ian Delaneyhttp://twopointouch.com/2007/social-media/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9517 Ian Delaney Mon, 22 Jan 2007 18:44:54 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2007/01/21/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9517 Hey there Howell, DiscoverOurTown looks like a good idea to me in terms of revenue. Directories like yours always seem to do well (in my very limited experience). But will it be possible to add a social element to the site, without diluting the attention your advertisers get? Just to be clear, I'm not talking about *all* local sites, but ones with a social networking basis. Hey there Howell, DiscoverOurTown looks like a good idea to me in terms of revenue. Directories like yours always seem to do well (in my very limited experience). But will it be possible to add a social element to the site, without diluting the attention your advertisers get?
Just to be clear, I’m not talking about *all* local sites, but ones with a social networking basis.

]]> By: Howell Joneshttp://twopointouch.com/2007/social-media/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9509 Howell Jones Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:00:17 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2007/01/21/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9509 Hear me....See me... I'm here waving my arms like a Katrina victim on o roof top!! Hyper-local can work, is working!!! If your revenue models are on target with what others consider valuable....then the value is automatic, to many people are trying to sell the idea that some of these local sites are valuable just because of the local user generated content...and usually the content is derived from a handful of locals that are town ego-maniacs that take the open forum to advance their opinions...when in the real world, people discount these reviews...Let's redefine Hyper-local to be accurate local information generated by the business owners - as they are the focus of advertising dollars and the only ones that should be able to convey the truth about their business....bottom line if a business is poorly run the locals stop using it....but Hyper-local is to wide a vertical...DiscoverOurTown is Hyper-local with user generated content from the only person that matters...the business owners!! The local news – the local gossip should be one tab among many on a site…not the whole site…I’m waiting for JudysBook to announce the same problem soon…even though it has taken a very large step into the advertising model with banners, towers and more with national advertisers!...Just what the consumer wants in a local site…Right??? Hear me.…See me… I’m here waving my arms like a Katrina victim on o roof top!! Hyper-local can work, is working!!! If your revenue models are on target with what others consider valuable.…then the value is automatic, to many people are trying to sell the idea that some of these local sites are valuable just because of the local user generated content…and usually the content is derived from a handful of locals that are town ego-maniacs that take the open forum to advance their opinions…when in the real world, people discount these reviews…Let’s redefine Hyper-local to be accurate local information generated by the business owners — as they are the focus of advertising dollars and the only ones that should be able to convey the truth about their business.…bottom line if a business is poorly run the locals stop using it.…but Hyper-local is to wide a vertical…DiscoverOurTown is Hyper-local with user generated content from the only person that matters…the business owners!! The local news – the local gossip should be one tab among many on a site…not the whole site…I’m waiting for JudysBook to announce the same problem soon…even though it has taken a very large step into the advertising model with banners, towers and more with national advertisers!…Just what the consumer wants in a local site…Right???

]]> By: Ian Delaneyhttp://twopointouch.com/2007/social-media/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9490 Ian Delaney Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:47:56 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2007/01/21/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9490 Hi there Simon, I'd seen that you'd introduced a podcast into Medway and social networking seems to me like a great next step. Would be great to talk to you more formally (ulp!) when you're ready to speak about it. I really believe that these sites have a great deal of value but that commercially they're going to struggle for the time being. Hi there Simon, I’d seen that you’d introduced a podcast into Medway and social networking seems to me like a great next step. Would be great to talk to you more formally (ulp!) when you’re ready to speak about it. I really believe that these sites have a great deal of value but that commercially they’re going to struggle for the time being.

]]> By: Simon Wakemanhttp://twopointouch.com/2007/social-media/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9471 Simon Wakeman Mon, 22 Jan 2007 07:17:27 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2007/01/21/too-early-to-go-local/#comment-9471 Hi Ian, Interesting post - I'd seen some of the hyper-local services, but not the quote about Backfence. As someone working (some of the time) in local government comms it's interesting you make the link with local council websites - the challenge is to use social networking functionality to enable communities to connect and develop that would not otherwise have existed. We're working on a climate change/environmental awareness website that hopefully will encourage residents to form into local groups in our area. Some social networking functionality will be used to help make this happen. cheers, sw Hi Ian,

Interesting post — I’d seen some of the hyper-local services, but not the quote about Backfence.

As someone working (some of the time) in local government comms it’s interesting you make the link with local council websites — the challenge is to use social networking functionality to enable communities to connect and develop that would not otherwise have existed.

We’re working on a climate change/environmental awareness website that hopefully will encourage residents to form into local groups in our area.

Some social networking functionality will be used to help make this happen.

cheers,
sw

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