Promoting a local site?

[Menard]

I am starting a site which is a directory of bars and pubs in the central part of the state where I live. http://ckypubs.com/

The site basically allows bar and pub owners to sign-up and have their own mini-site within the directory; which they can update as they please, tell about events, provide a menu, and post coupons.

Of course, there are limitations as it is only for the local area.

There are the standard promotion strategies I can use, and will, but I was wondering if anybody else has a site for local interest only and what additional methods, and sources) they would use to promote it?


Do regional directories provide a useful service?

I have also thought of the possibility of search for local shopper's site, etc., and seeing if they might have a place to post links, or if they mught be intereted in a link exchange.

[johnhask]

Get listed in local directories and spread out to regional directories. I idea being that your directory will be growing and reaching a wider search market.

[SensoVision]

John is right, I would recommend the same. And if I have to advertise local site I would use my city forum site to buy advertisement space for some time, if I can come with catchy name or slogan I consider making advertisement posters for cars or some small items like pens with imprinted domain and give them out to friends(or people who is registered in your directory).
Since this site about pubs probably it would be better to make not pens but beer holders with your logotype on it(not sure if I used right name but it's usually round or square paper or plastic item which used to put glass on). What do you think about this?

[Menard]

And if I have to advertise local site I would use my city forum site to buy advertisement space for some time, if I can come with catchy name or slogan I consider making advertisement posters for cars or some small items like pens with imprinted domain and give them out to friends(or people who is registered in your directory).
Since this site about pubs probably it would be better to make not pens but beer holders with your logotype on it(not sure if I used right name but it's usually round or square paper or plastic item which used to put glass on). What do you think about this?

Interesting that you bring up advertising specialties: http://putnamehere.com 

Pens, though inexpensive, are not very effective. They can be used as a supplemental form of specialty advertising if funds warrant it, but if I recommend pens for someone I will go with a high quality (a.k.a. expensive) pen that has a good heft and feel as someone is more likely to keep it and use it.

The beer holders are known as koozies and huggers and aren't a bad idea. Of course, there are two reason why I would not consider them at this point: I don't have the funds, and most bar patrons by the time they leave a bar are too inebriated (drunk) to remember what they had let alone what they saw on a koozie the following day.

The other thing about advertising within bars is that I am most likely advertising to the wrong people. They are already there; not to mention that the bar may not take kindly to advertising a site that will give their customers access to the competition (other bars).

If I were to use advertising specialties, I would, most likely, use t-shirts and baseball caps.

I live in a redneck area where pick-up trucks, country music, beer, and baseball caps are popular. Give a guy a baseball cap and he'll wear it; it is also a cheap way to use his forehead for advertising.

The t-shirts? I would put those right where men look: on a woman's chest. If imprintable pants were affordable, I'd put it on their swiss cheese spaces as well.

Unlike hiring college girls to wear my t-shirts at football games, you can actually give them away at bars and the ladies will wear them.

Another place to put a t-shirt is a stripper's chest. Between shows, she will be carousing the floor and flirting to get tips; and she will be wearing clothes as not to give a free show. I could offer to trade building and hosting a website for some local strippers in exchange for wearing my t-shirts between shows. Is that what you call advertising keeping abreast of the times?

[SensoVision]

most bar patrons by the time they leave a bar are too inebriated (drunk) to remember what they had let alone what they saw on a koozie the following day.

If I were to use advertising specialties, I would, most likely, use t-shirts and baseball caps.

good points, Bob! T-shirts would probably work best, not sure about caps as I think it's hard to get info which would be well seen from distance and would leave something in memory of person who see it.

The other thing about advertising within bars is that I am most likely advertising to the wrong people. They are already there; not to mention that the bar may not take kindly to advertising a site that will give their customers access to the competition (other bars).

maybe not if you give motivation to bar owners... Consider offering them customized huggers but with name not of your site but their specific page. This way they would advertise themselves so customers know where to find information about events etc. and in same time they would advertise your site.

I would try the rest ideas you've posted, as they shouldn't harm anyway and could bring you some extra visitors, you may also have a poll to make some estimation of which campaign work best.

[Andy]

I would look at getting a bookmark on Google maps or other similar services. Then people exploring your area on the map would check out your link.

Also take photos of the bars and post these to the map sites as views of the local area.

Also, set up a squidoo lens with a tightly focussed theme on the bar scene in your area. Maybe just list the bars with a photo and a brief description of each bar.