10.19.08
Build a Website about Your Home Town
Are you considering building a new website but can’t decide on a subject? Why not make it about your home town.
Consider the main advantages.
1) You know your subject inside out
2) Anything you don’t know can be researched easily
3) Easy to advertise locally for free. e.g car stickers, teeshirts.
4) Can be monetized.
No matter how many websites there are about your home town there’s always room for another that expresses your own personality and explores your own interest. It’s just like publishing a local newspaper but without the cost.
What are the present topics in town? Here’s your chance to make your voice heard and possibly meet some great people. You might even start a forum.
In these times of economic difficulty many small businesses are closing down and the most vulnerable are those stores that are off the beaten track. These businesses could be approached initially with the promise of a free advertising page in your website. Small businesses like this often don’t understand about the power of the Internet for advertising and how it can raise their profile.
In return they would distribute small flyers to their customers advertising your website. Later, if they find business coming through your website they might be persuaded to take a couple more pages and pay a maintenance fee. In return you would put up their loss leaders or special offers. Much cheaper than advertising in the Press, and it’s always there.
Once you start thinking along these lines the sky’s the limit. I ran such a website a few years back and had a page for swaps and sales of computer gear. I sold some of my stuff and bought several bargains.
To be honest, I closed it down eventually because of lack of time and experience on my part, but now I’m going to start again and have some fun. The new website will cost little to advertise and will point to my other, profit-making websites. Also I need more help in writing copy and will advertise for likeminded people locally who I can meet.
Might even start a Seniors computer club. Yep- I’m that age.
Running another website these days is much cheaper than it’s ever been. All I have to pay for is a domain through GoDaddy or NameCheap. I can run as many domains as I like on my existing server here http://www.shed18.com/links/host.php . At only $7.95 a month it’s great value.
I’ll keep you posted
Ron