Local website ideas?

I am currently working on a local classifieds site and was wondering if others have any success stories about doing local sites. Any ideas about what kind of sites would work on a local level. Local business directory and write businesses let them know about it. Maybe a site with local car sales where car lots can list their inventory online. Just brainstorming. Just wanted to find out what others have done.

Put up a local directory and list all the local businesses for free. Off course you can contact thee business owners and offer to front page or highlight their listing for a discounted fee.

Car sales are a hassle because they will want to update their inventory all the time and are usually not too computer literate(I work with them daily) also big money advertisers like trader media assist these companies to set up their own free sites.. but as a business listing on there own they can be treated the same as any other busoness.

I would recommend narrowing your town/region to a small sized area that doesnt get much press and I can tell you from experience that you need to take a long term view with a directory. Usually over a year before you can approach local businesses and they will be aware of who you are.

Duffers5000 said:

Put up a local directory and list all the local businesses for free. Off course you can contact thee business owners and offer to front page or highlight their listing for a discounted fee.

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Did you have any success with a business directory that charges a small fee one time or a small monthly fee to be listed. I don't know if a business would go for that. It is probably cheaper for them than any other advertising they do. Or is the best way to make it free and then charge for extra ad place on the pages?

Duffers5000 said:

Car sales are a hassle because they will want to update their inventory all the time and are usually not too computer literate(I work with them daily) also big money advertisers like trader media assist these companies to set up their own free sites.. but as a business listing on there own they can be treated the same as any other busoness.

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I was thinking about maybe a classifieds type site where the car lots can list their cars for a set time before the listing expires. Kind of like a closed classifieds site that only the dealers have access to. When they have a new car, they just put in the few details and uploada pic done. After a set time the ad expires.

Duffers5000 said:

I would recommend narrowing your town/region to a small sized area that doesnt get much press and I can tell you from experience that you need to take a long term view with a directory. Usually over a year before you can approach local businesses and they will be aware of who you are.

Click to expand...

How much did you charge for listings on the small local level. I would figure that small businesses would jump on nay kind of advertising that comes at a low price to them. Maybe take out an advert in the local newspaper to bring awareness to my site. Do you have any experience with local advertising?