Category Archives: Small Business Advertising
Need local survey respondents?
A Burlington business reached out to the community with a survey this month and got more than 500 responses. They used social media, their own popular e-newsletter and Front Porch Forum to get the word out. Here’s where they got their respondents:
45% Front Porch Forum
40% Company’s e-newsletter
8% Facebook
7% Twitter
“Charlotte neighbors and FPF – thank you!”
Jill in Charlotte posted this yesterday on her FPF…
Recently, I posted on Front Porch Forum about accommodation for my sister and her family over the holidays. I received such wonderful responses, a range of great possibilities! She did end up going with one of them.
And, just today, I picked up my car from Chris at Charlotte Collision. I called him because I remembered at least one FPF post singing his praises. I’d like to add my voice: Chris looked at the damage to my car, gave me an estimate and an appt, and today it was ready for pick up. It looks great and Chris was very reasonable, commonsensical, easy, and lots of fun to do business with.
Charlotte neighbors and FPF — thank you!
Giving Thanks for FPF Sponsors
In this season of thanksgiving, please join us in thanking the major Front Porch Forum sponsors for 2014. Without their support, your local forum would not be possible. Special appreciation to:
- New England Federal Credit Union
- Building Energy
- Bourne’s Energy
- Lake Champlain Chocolates
- Cabot Creamery
- Smugglers’ Notch
- Bolton Valley Resort
- Almartin Volvo
- The Edge Sports & Fitness
- VTrans
- VPIRG
- Casella Waste Systems
- The University of Vermont Medical Center
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
- Vermont State Colleges
- University of Vermont
- Windows & Doors By Brownell
- Wick & Maddocks Attorneys at Law
If your Vermont business, nonprofit, institution or agency would like to join this community-minded group, please contact us at localbiz@frontporchforum.com or 802-540-0069 x1. Learn more about how FPF advertising can help you reach Vermonters.
Additional 2014 FPF sponsors to whom we’re also grateful include:
- SunCommon
- Vermont Teddy Bear Company
- Jay Peak Resort
- Stowe Mountain Resort
- Dealer.com
- TIAA CREFF
- Vermont Gas
- Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District
- Healthy Living Market and Cafe
- Natural Provisions
- Greater Burlington YMCA
- The Essex Resort & Spa
- Johnson Law Group
- The Vermont Realty Team
- Computers for Change
- University Mall
- Morning Dew Landscaping & Stonework
- Big Rock Landscape
- Cathedral Square Corporation
- Vermont Precision Woodworks
- SerVermont
- Go Vermont
- Chittenden Co. Reg. Planning Comm.
- Chittenden Solid Waste District
- CCTA and GMTA
- VAST
- Northwestern Medical Center
- Copley Hospital
- Vermont Health Connect
- Champlain College
- Vermont Tech
- Community College of Vermont
- Sterling College
- The Schoolhouse
Best wishes to all this coming holiday season.
Vermont inventor uses neighbors to test prototypes
From today’s Burlington Free Press…
Doug Hartwell, founder of Bitybean, developed an UltraCompact Baby Carrier, a business that he has launched…
“… when we got closer to our final prototypes, I actually put an ad on Front Porch Forum saying: ‘Looking for Moms with Babies.’ Whenever we changed something in the prototypes or materials, I’d call them up and ask them to meet somewhere where they could try it on and tell us what they thought. One of those moms became the model for our first promotional material…”
“Bitybean was named one of the top 10 innovative products in the whole industry. That was huge break for us as it came just as we launched the business.”
More and more Vermont small businesses are using FPF to find customers, make hires, and complete research such as Doug. In a recent survey, 58% of the respondents shared that FPF helps local companies gain information valuable to their business.
Discuss local civic engagement and Front Porch Forum
Michael Wood-Lewis, co-founder of Front Porch Forum, will be speaking at the following events this month…
Western Slopes Business Association session, Richmond, Vermont, Sept. 16, 2014, 8 AM- Vermont Connected Summit, Vermont Statehouse, Montpelier, Sept. 23
- First-Year Seminar about In The Neighborhood: The Search for Community on an American Street, One Sleepover at a Time, by Peter Lovenheim, Castleton State College, Sept. 23, 7 PM
Please come and join the conversations.
Neighbors addressing Vermont unemployment…
Posted to the Windsor FPF by Tracey this week…
Dear Community – About a month ago, I posted an ad on our Front Porch Forum asking for a few hours of help with my project. Thanks to the Forum and the nice folks at the Windsor Library who saw the post, I got connected with Todd…
Todd has proven himself to be reliable, honest, and hardworking. We decided to ask him to stay on help us with the project, which includes yard work, demolition, carpentry, drywalling, painting, heavy lifting, etc. I’ve been really thankful to have been connected with Todd. He shows up for work every morning, and always early. He’s hardworking, is attentive to details, has neat habits and always puts things away, learns quickly, is willing to listen, can work independently, is a creative problem solver, is cost conscious, considerate, communicative, and this list continues.
I don’t understand how a capable worker like Todd has been unable to find employment, shelter, and a means to support himself. If anyone were to deserve a break, it would be Todd. He has a bike, but does not have a car. That has proven to be a huge obstacle in finding a job. However, without employment, I don’t see how he could afford a car.
Our project will end this week. By posting to the Windsor FPF again, I wish that Todd may be connected with other job opportunities, and find safe shelter where he could exchange chores for low rent. Please contact me and I’d be happy to show you the work he has done. Please contact Todd if you have a job or housing lead.
Robots, kids, classes and FPF
Christine at Robots 4 Kids 2 just shared the good news about their recent round of classes…
“Our classes filled in 2 days so that’s fantastic. We will definitely advertise again with Front Porch Forum.”
If you’re interested in advertising your Vermont business across many FPFs, please contact with ample lead time… space does sell out.
Appreciation for Vermont sponsors of local FPFs
#VT – On behalf of our son & his bride-to-be, we would like to thank the many people who responded to my recent post. The response was immediate, numerous & very much appreciated by our family. I have been in touch personally with each individual who offered information on their properties. Once again the people who make up our lovely community are caring & supportive.
A special thank you to Front Porch Forum & their sponsors who make sharing information among our community possible.
Shared by Barb on the Alburgh FPF today. Three cheers for the great response she got from her neighbors. Hundreds of Vermont businesses sponsor local FPFs across the state through the advertising they purchase. Details about FPF advertising opportunities are here.
Campaigns, Businesses and Nonprofits put FPF to work
#BTV #VT – 45,000 Vermont households participate in their Front Porch Forum now. Use FPF advertising and campaign postings to place your message into neighborhood conversations.
“Front Porch Forum is the finest tool ever invented for speaking directly to your constituents, or to potential voters. It’s direct, it’s personal, and it’s increasingly powerful as more and more homes come online. Where I used it in my last election, my vote totals visibly increased, because it’s less a form of advertising and more a kind of conversation — and that’s the way we should be doing campaigns in Vermont.”
– Philip Baruth, Vermont Senate Majority Leader
“We just conducted a survey, seeking respondents through many local news channels. Our Front Porch Forum campaign outperformed every other link by a huge margin! So huge in fact, that we needed to retool our workflow to manage the high number of FPF-generated responses. Front Porch Forum is amazing! It will always be an integral part of our ongoing community outreach effort.”
– Cal Workman, Greater Burlington YMCA
“We book with FPF because we feel it’s a great, cost-effective way to reach local consumers who are actively engaged with their communities and looking to support local businesses/organizations.”
– Elisa Garcia-Rey, Karen Fahey Advertising
“There is no doubt that Front Porch Forum was immensely helpful in making this year’s conference our most successful event ever.”
– Charlie Brooks, 15th Annual Vermont Breast Cancer Conference
About Blog
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
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