The benefits of a Local Community Website

I live in Key Biscayne, a local community of 10,000all on We Love Key Biscayne.
residents about 10 miles from Downtown Miami inA local community website, such as is independent,
Florida. Key Biscayne is on a barrier island so theprivately run, has no axe to grind or affiliations to
community is very much in ‘splendid isolation'pamper. Businesses get a free Bronze Level inclusion
being accessed by one road and 2 bridges. As such,of name, address, contact information and a brief
the ‘village' has its own local shops anddescription and can then upgrade if they want to
businesses but cannot support any of the big retailinclude more information such as posting menus, a
outlets. We have a local community website calledlocation map, logos, photographs, videos, special
We Love Key Biscayne at which includes aoffers  etc. The free level ensures that ALL
searchable database of all the businesses togetherbusinesses are on the website and available on the
with an Event Calendar and a Message Board.  Thesearchable database. The Message Board is open to
website was started because there was no instantall and freely includes comments of interest to Key
resource available to residents, visitors, tourists,Biscayne. There is a Restaurant Review section,
workers and business owners. While others purportpeople looking for recommended tradesmen,
to provide similar information, they are either politicallycomments about the speed limit, the death of a local
motivated or logistically constrained. The local weeklycyclist etc. The Event Calendar is limited to
newspaper is dying because of the availability of‘public community' events locally and in Miami,
‘instant' news, and the Chamber of Commercewith the next 5 appearing on the homepage.  Again,
acts on behalf of local businesses but only those whoanyone can send in an event for the calendar. Past
pay.events stay on the calendar as a record with
‘When does the Library open?', ‘Quick, Iphotographs and stories being sent in by readers.
need a plumber', ‘What shall we do thisThis constantly changing local information ensures
weekend?', What's the number of the local Chinesethat Residents keep logging in.
Restaurant?', ‘I need to let people know aboutEvery local community deserves its own ‘We
my Event', ‘I've found a great electrician'' ‘ILove' local website. Our concept is available for
want to buy that book that's on special offer' –franchising.