MyLocalMichigan.com is a digital marketplace to help Michigan entrepreneurs and established businesses have an AFFORDABLE online source to promote their businesses, products and services. We also provide a source for shoppers to support their local businesses while still having the ease of shopping online, bringing the entire state of Michigan, local businesses and the world of technology together. My Local Michigan is a source of hope; that there are still people and companies that operate with integrity, honesty and have the best interest of people in mind.
Once upon a time the only big stars and celebrities we heard of were the ones that the entertainment industry chose to promote. If you weren’t “discovered”, you remained common. With the change in technology and popularity of social media sites such as YouTube, Pinterest, Vine and others, we are privileged to enjoy many people with great talent for music, acting, art, and much more. The game has changed for “getting the word out” about business, media and information. Hometown USA is at risk of being left behind waiting to catch up to the big cities in technology and exposure. We can no longer stand aside watching from the sidelines while only the businesses that have marketing and advertising budgets out perform and outshine the rest. It is time for small business owners and entrepreneurs in Michigan to have a chance at the American dream again.
My Local Michigan offers online advertising for very low rates to give even the smallest of businesses the help they need to succeed. We take the burden of advertising off of their shoulders so they can focus on building their business; whether they don’t know how, can’t afford other sources of advertising or just don’t have the time. Most owners and managers are wearing so many proverbial hats they just can’t give advertising the attention it needs. Maybe they need a website but the usual fees businesses charge are too high. Maybe they have a website, but only those in and around their city are aware of it. Maybe they need to target a new demographic or want to send out an email campaign. Maybe they just want to do a business mailer but don’t have the time to design or process it. Or, maybe they want to start using social media but don’t know how. That’s where we help. Whatever needs a business has, we will meet and work with them to help, AFFORDABLY. There are 6 different ways we promote our clients’ businesses to get them the exposure they deserve, some of which include radio ads, SEO and Social Media (we also will be adding to this list including branding, TV and billboard ads, all as we grow).
My Local Michigan offers city-specific business directories to give each city the opportunity to create a sense of “place” for their area. We are scheduled to present our vision to DDAs, City Counsels and Chambers of Commerce to provide support for Placemaking in their city. We want to feature each city’s unique places and events for residents and travelers to enjoy. What better way to help support Placemaking than to offer each city’s businesses a way to help spread the word about what they have to offer? Whether people didn’t know about the business, they’re from out of town, looking to try something new or they’re traveling looking for places to stop along their journey, My Local Michigan is available to assist them. What about the business that is off the beaten path or the mom & pop store that is on a side road but offers unique Michigan made products that no one knows about? What about the events and festivals going on in their area? These are some of the things that make each area unique, deserve to be promoted and we want to help.
While consumers are shopping, playing, planning, reading or doing their research on My Local Michigan we offer the current weather, local events, news, a flight, hotel and vehicle rental search, sports scores, maps, games, a kid’s page and more to create a one-stop shop for our customers. Each ad also includes a map directly to the location of the business, which gives shoppers another added benefit of finding what they need on our site. Many of our small towns have festivals, fairs and events that are specific to their area. There are several lodging places in small towns for travelers during those events, but many are smaller and haven’t had the recognition or advertising they need to stay relevant due to their lack of funds, until now.
One of the biggest advantages of My Local Michigan is we bridge the massive gap between supporting local businesses and shopping online. Not only does it give consumers a way to support local businesses, it’s also easily accessible from any smartphone, tablet or computer. It’s like having Michigan Hometowns right in your pocket; the Hometown experience for the digital era. The idea of supporting local business is on an upward swing and people are becoming more and more aware of how important it is to their local economy. “93% of US consumers believe it’s important to support the local small businesses they value in their community” (The American Express OPEN Small Business Saturday Consumer Pulse, July 2011). It is estimated that around 77% of those who conducted a local search on their phone or tablet went on to make a purchase either in-store, online or over the phone (“2013 Local Search Study” conducted by comScore, 3/28/13). My Local Michigan is always updating, growing and evolving, joining small business with online consumers.
A few statistics about technology as reported by online business resource “The Future of Digital 2013” by BI, Business Insider (http://www.businessinsider.com November 12th, 2013):
· 60% of online devices are smartphones or tablets
· People spend an average of 58 minutes on their phone and 30 min. on tablet each day
· Mobile is now 20% of all ecommerce traffic and 11% of ecommerce sales
· Mobile is the only form of media that is GROWING (print, TV, PC, radio have all decreased in past 5 years)
As awareness grows, technologies change and advance, as mobility of information becomes more and more streamlined, MLM plans on staying in step with those changes. In our five-year business plan our objective is to utilize automation technology and a smartphone app built specifically for My Local Michigan, along with any other technology that may evolve. "Technology should do the hard work so people can do the things that make them the happiest in life.", said Larry Page, CEO of Google. Applying the fast growing industry of technology to our business, we have instituted a cloud based smartphone app for our sales team to use for their customer resource management and an app for signing any and all documentation electronically; which provides us little to no need for paperwork. This use of technology gives clients the freedom and trust that My Local Michigan is taking them into the digital age.
MyLocalMichigan.com went live September 19th, 2013. We’ve already seen an increase in business for the people of which we have advertised. We have received several testimonials of how My Local Michigan helped fill the needs for the public and from businesses that needed the help but didn’t know where to turn. We now have a faithful following and solid platform that will continue to grow as we expand. We began in the Thumb and still have a team working in this area. We are currently looking to expand into Port Huron and Metro Detroit. To give you an idea of a few of our statistics: we’ve been seen in over 23 states, 38 countries and counting. We’ve had visitors from Traverse City to Detroit, Saginaw to Kalamazoo… all over the state and we’ve had over 33,000 reaches just on Facebook – only in 6 months. We use this platform to provide the public shopping and researching online while still supporting local business; which is something 93% of the public say they want. Give them what they need, affordably? Seems too easy.
Our goal is as we provide reasonable advertising for businesses and a source for shoppers to support local businesses, we assist these businesses grow, which in turn helps build better families, which helps in building better communities and the overall economy in Michigan. We want to help businesses in the State of Michigan grow, employ the great people of our state and eventually provide funding and grants to business start-ups. We want to be a source of growth for the State of Michigan, its residents and businesses. By advertising and shopping with My Local Michigan, we all join together in taking a step forward in life, business and family. If not this, then what? If not us, then who? If not now, when?
Hometown feel, a sense of place, technology driven, unique, Michigan based: My Local Michigan.
A LITTLE ABOUT US: When you have the same values, the same vision, and the same Spirit in the center of your lives, you are drawn together like magnet and metal.
“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
That’s why the notion that we must join forces and go into business together would not stop tugging at our minds and hearts. As we met and discussed our hearts desires, our gifts and talents, what came forth was an idea that was born a few years earlier, but never flourished. It sat on the shelf, waiting for its “time to fully come”, waiting for the right combination of gifts to bring it to pass in its full potential.
Here we are: My Local Michigan…… the digital publication to help Michigan entrepreneurs and established businesses have a place to promote their products and services in a fun and reasonable way. We want to offer advertising to businesses without breaking the bank!
One of us had a dream one night that was very real, very vivid and did not leave upon waking. In fact the dream came forth a few years ago and knowing that it had an important meaning she held on to the dream and kept it in her heart. This dream perfectly describes the end result that we see happening as a result of us coming together and helping Michigan prosper! The idea that we help advertise businesses as they help advertise us as a whole all together brings prosperity not only to our area, but each of our individual lives. We are meant to have life and life abundant.
Spread the word about the information and vendors you see on the site. Think of us as you have a need arise. Recommend us to others around you. Browse our site frequently for new and different ideas!
Join yourself to this vision and help the dream become reality. Help Michigan prosper!