Ghost of Midnight

Truly Local Online Sites sell Ads

The Local Onliner reports today…

I love to see examples of grassroots innovation in local online marketing. One of my favorites is an e-newsletter from Sprocket Entertainment, the producers of a local comedy night in my hometown of Carlsbad, CA.

Sprocket is a startup by two comedians which also produces shows in Spokane, WA. It gets everyone to sign up for the newsletter when they use PayPal to buy tickets to their once-a-month event at a renovated theater, which they consider an alternative night out for “people who aren’t into loud music and pickup bar scenes.”

So far, Carlsbad Inn, Overstock Spas, Spoon Grill & Bar, and Tamarack Beach Resort have all signed up. From the looks of things, Sprocket is doing about as well with local advertisers as more concerted efforts by Carlsbad.com, a chain of beach town city guides.

Some similarities with Front Porch Forum here. We’re testing the waters with local sponsors… a half-dozen have signed on during our testing phase, including…

• Seven Days – alternative weekly newspaper
• Vermont Frost Heaves – local ABA basketball team (defending national champs!)
• Burlington Electric Dept. – operates largest biomass powerplant in the country
• J.P. Peach & Associates – local web hosting company
• HungryVT.com – online restaurant listings, reviews, etc.
• Carolyn L. Bates Photography – specializing in portraits and architecture

Another 70 or so have joined our waiting list as we move beyond testing in the months ahead.