This is an old-world approach to driving the relevance of your business. It’s also a repeat with a twist on the idea of a noticeboard in-store that I have written about many times before.
Setup a news-themed noticeboard. Local stories only. Weddings. Passings. Featuring a community group some weeks. Done well, this becomes a living newspaper.
The idea is for you to have a place where interested locals can post and read local content. While local newspapers have dominated this space, their model is changing too and I see an opportunity in some areas for newsagents to engage and be a local news ‘publisher’.
The noticeboard could equally be your Facebook page. The key is that your brand is associated as the source people trust and go to.
I have been thinking of doing this as a Facebook page. We have a few buy and sell groups in our area on Facebook and they have about 1500 friends on them. I do post new stock on this site but a community news and noticeboard it a good idea. My Local Newspaper and I have a bit of a love hate relationship already.
Go for it Carol. Take a look at newsXpress Mt Morgan (formerly Mt Morgan News). What they have done for years on Facebook is excellent on the local news front.