What Local Directories Can Learn From Hyperlocal News Sites

If you have a local directory, you may be interested in what a hyperlocal news site charges for advertising.

The Genessee Sun is a successful local “24/7 community news, sports, and broadcast site for Northern Livingston and Southern Monroe Counties in Western New York.”

They use a mix of paid memberships and local advertising to generate revenue. On the the advertising side, they come up with lots of creative sponsorship offers for local retailers and businesses. For example, you can buy spots in their broadcast streams of local games and events. Here is the current rate card:

http://www.geneseesun.com/wp-content…ES-OCTOBER.pdf

Consider adding news or features to your local directory to broaden its appeal and give you more vehicles to offer advertisers. News writers can be found in the ranks of laid off journalists, or look to local high school and college journalism classes.

Or perhaps set up a joint venture with a local news site, blog, station or newspaper that needs a directory resource. There is plenty of opportunity in the hyperlocal space because the big guns like AOL have pulled out.