An Airdrie woman is hopeful her new online portal can help further connect the local community. The Airdrie Exchange website, which will be launched by Lindsey Coyle Sept. 4, will include a directory with listings provided by local businesses, as well as a local events calendar. Coyle, who ran for Airdrie City Council last fall and previously started the Airdrie Block Parent Program, said she hopes the site will help create a “centralized communication hub” for Airdronians. “I believe we need a centralized communication hub, so the residents have access to information, and makes it easier to be involved in the community,” she said. “I, myself, want to be involved in the community and I didn’t know half of [the current directories] existed until I started researching.” For a listing on Airdrie Exchange, businesses pay a $300-per-year participation fee, which drops to $250 per year for a three-year commitment. However, Coyle said the first 100 businesses to join will get a 50 per cent discount for the first year. To promote Airdrie Exchange, Coyle said she is hoping to advertise through billboards, storefronts and other means. “I’ve contacted local businesses that own their real estate to see if they’d allow me to put Airdrie Exchange banners on them,” she said. “I’ve contacted people that own billboards on their property to see what they’d charge me to get my company up there.” Another way Coyle hopes to spread the word is through a text-message referral campaign. She said she plans to ask those who list businesses on Airdrie Exchange to text three other business owners about the concept. “Emails, I find ineffective, as are phone calls. But a text message from someone you know lends your credibility,” she said. With the power of search engine optimization (SEO) determining visibility online, Coyle said she believes a locally-focused directory will benefit Airdrie businesses and people who want to get the word out about community events. “Currently, with Google, it’s first page or die,” she said. “If you do a search for ‘Airdrie plumber,’ when you look at the listings that come up, they’re not actually from Airdrie – they just have their SEO and can afford to be on the first page. “I want to override that and allow local businesses to have visibility here.” Coyle said she is also sponsoring the information booth at airdrieFest Sept. 8, where she will be available to answer questions about her new initiative. To find out more, visit airdrieexchange.com
