The Local Index, an Online Community to Promote Local Businesses, Launches to Level Playing Field for Small-to-Medium Size Businesses
Cheltenham, PA (PRWEB) February 4, 2008 -- As the economy continues to worsen, small business (www.thelocalindex.com/main/aboutus.php) owners can only expect profits to decrease. But what if they could build their customer base through a new type of online presence and effectively market (http://www.thelocalindex.com/main/joinus.php) and compete against large box stores that have "big bucks" to spend on Local Advertising? (http://www.thelocalindex.com/main/joinus.php)
(http://www.thelocalindex.com/main/joinus.php)
This is the concept behind The Local Index, a new online community that recently launched in Philadelphia and is heading to cities nationwide. By offering local businesses a free online presence where they can market their products and services online, it hopes to level the playing field for small-to-medium size businesses so they can attract more local consumers.
"Who wouldn't rather support a local business instead of a nameless corporation that doesn't invest in the local economy," said The Local Index CEO and Founder Wesly Michel. "If you knew what sneakers the sporting goods store down the street was selling and how much they cost, wouldn't you rather go there than drive further to a big box store?"
Research supports the fact that people do want to shop locally. Recent studies show that 70 percent of Internet shoppers search for local stores before making online purchases.
It also makes sense to shop locally, especially during bad economic times, because three times more money stays in the local economy when you buy goods and services from locally owned businesses instead of large chain stores, according to the Local Institute for Self Reliance.
The Local Index helps market business owners by creating attractive and informative Web sites without costing them a dime, or having to do the work them selves, giving them a higher chance for success. Business owners sign up to be a part of The Local Index in their city and provide whatever information they want to place on the new online local marketplace. Consumers log onto the site and search for businesses by name, location, products or services sold. The Local Index expects this will result in an equal playing field for small-to-medium size businesses and a boost to the local economy.
The Local Index is also extending their services to other cities including: Atlanta, Orlando, Seattle, Chicago, Washington D.C., New York, Miami, Houston, Pittsburgh and Detroit.
Editor's Note: For information, visit www.thelocalindex.com, or call Wesly Michel at 215-667-4268.
###
Related Articles:
Clickability Launches CMS Success, a New Interactive Customer Community
Web CMS provider Clickability launched today the its CMS Success community portal. The portal fosters dialog among Clickability customers, partners and employees, enabling them to exchange web-publishing best practices, product innovations and ideas. It's built using Clickability's own social media toolkit.
Chinese Tractor Owners Association, the CTOA is Proud to Announce our New Membership Rates
The CTOA in an effort to make our service more availalbe to everyone in need of assistance with their Chinese tractors and dozers has now lowered is membership fee to only $15. This low one time fee gives the member unlimted lifetime access to our useful site. The Chinese Tractor Owners Association is opened to anyone interested in the purchase or help with a Chinese made compact tractor or dozer.
University of Massachusetts Signs Groundbreaking Agreement with China: UMass Poised to Become First Approved Foreign University to
The University of Massachusetts today announced the signing of an agreement that places it on course to become the first foreign university approved to offer online education courses and degree programs in China. Under the agreement, signed in Beijing, officials from UMass and from China's Continuing Education Association (CCEA) and the CerEdu Corporation will work together to make UMassOnline, the University's award-winning distance education program, available to students throughout China.
Music City Community Chorus Announces Debut Concert
The newly formed Music City Community Chorus, under the direction of nationally known vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams, is performing its debut concert on Tuesday, January 30 at 7:30 pm at Christ Church Cathedral located at 900 Broadway in Nashville. Accompanied by the thirty-two-piece Excelsior Chamber Orchestra, the chorus will perform Beethoven's Mass in C Major and Antonio Vivaldi's Gloria.
Invisible Children and Digitaria Unveil First Online Community for Youth Inspired to 'Be A Hero'
New "Schools for Schools" Web site engages students to work together to provide relief to Northern Ugandan schools.
Enlightened Wealth Institute Student Starts Reality Blog And Mystery Contest On Making Money
An Enlightened Wealth Institute student has started a new blog which will help people make more money from real estate investments and online web business. Tammy Powell who has started the blog mentioned that the blog will help people learn how to make money online and profitable real estate investments.
Garden Decor Essentials Launches New Blog
Gardening store GardenDecorEssentials.com opens a new customer-friendly blog at DiscountGardenDecorBlog.com, allowing them more personal interaction with their customers.
Schools Out - Are You Considering Community College?
Community colleges are also known as junior colleges. Essentially, a community college is a two-year post-high-school institution that offers Associate degrees, certification programs and many other programs.
The Newly Broken-Hearted Find Friends, Fortitude at GPYP Blog and NYC Seminars
GPYP has attracted the newly broken-hearted from all over the world who credit it with their success in moving past a difficult breakup. The next seminar is March 8 in New York City.
Psoriasis Cure Now Launches Online Volunteer Center to Mobilize Psoriasis Community
"Psoriasis Cure Now," a nonprofit patient advocacy group, has launched its online volunteer center to mobilize the psoriasis community from coast to coast. By answering a few questions, people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and those who care about them, can add themselves to Psoriasis Cure Now's volunteer database to be contacted only when a project meets their specifications, no matter his or her location or limited time available.