PLATTSBURGH — The North Country Small-Business Development Center has launched a new website to promote locally owned business to area residents and Canadians.
GoPlattsburgh.com is part of the North Country Marketing Cooperative, one of the initiatives that resulted from the Pfizer Transition Coordinating Council.
The website features information such as border wait times, price comparisons between the United States and Canada, where to find the cheapest gas prices and light-hearted information, such as where to find the best views in the area.
GET INVOLVED
Any business in Clinton County can become a member for $99, which covers the first three months. In addition to space on the website, they receive a Canadian flag and French translation guide, thanks to sponsorship by Champlain National Bank.
Members can contribute ideas designed to bring repeat traffic to the site. They are encouraged to update their pages often with discounts, seasonal information and more.
One member is Yipes! auto accessories.
"This is a great opportunity to reach out to Canadian customers, a market segment that is vital to Yipes!'s growth and success," Jack Helfgott of the Plattsburgh store said in a press release.
EVENTS CALENDAR
Another prominent website feature is its calendar, with events listed at no charge. GoPlattsburgh Coordinator Kim Rowe Manion said it is hoped it will become a go-to place for events and activities in the Plattsburgh region.
The website is designed to be French-language friendly, with the site translated constantly as it is updated.
"Almost 80 percent of my customers are French-Canadian," said Tom Pillsworth, of Vinumport Duty Free in Rouses Point and Champlain. "It's time to embrace our cultural differences and language barriers and cater to visiting Canadians."
Rowe Manion said the website is already experiencing success; Canadians can find it by searching for terms such as Plattsburgh shopping.
"These organic searches are relevant because they are free. It's the valuable and up-to-date content that is creating this success," she said.
The North Country Marketing Cooperative has also launched a campaign with posters at Champlain Centre mall in Plattsburgh and pay-per-click advertisements on google.com and facebook.com.
Members are working on other ways to get media coverage.
"North Country Marketing Cooperative and GoPlattsburgh.com have given us hope that the future can be bright if all small businesses pool our resources and work together," said Virginia Siskavich of Cornerstone Drug and Gift in Rouses Point.
The North Country Marketing Cooperative was funded through a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
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