PlaceLocal's Impressive Local Advertising Solution
PlaceLocal is a new service from PaperG, an advertising technology company in New Haven, Connecticut. The service aims to help local businesses create engaging ads with the utmost ease and provide targeted opportunities with a few simple clicks of a mouse.
Advertisers start by entering the business name and location. PlaceLocal will then search for the exact business address, website, industry, logos (or any other images) and user reviews across the Internet. The advertiser can then begin building the ad by choosing an appropriate logo or image, and confirming details such as addresses, phone numbers and websites. Then, you will see a preview of the ad -- including logo, scrolling photos and user reviews, physical location for the business and a phone number (see example below.) The advertiser can choose different ad sizes and formats, as well as specify the linked URL for a user click. Further customization is possible after the ad preview, including uploading your own photos or the option to use stock photos, choosing specific user reviews, adding any awards and including any custom text.
Finally, ad plans are chosen. Some options include:
- Basic Plan -- 20,000 approximate ad views, unlimited ad updates and reporting, $300 per month
- Plus Plan -- 46,000 approximate ad views, unlimited ad updates and reporting, $700 per month
- Premium Plan -- 66,000 approximate ad views, unlimited ad updates and reporting, $1,000 per month
Plans will auto-renew but cancellation is an option at any time.
Currently, PlaceLocal ads appear on a network of more than 32 local media websites (including Time Out New York and Chicago) and 29 network TV affiliates from Hearst Publishing. Some other partners include a series of newspaper websites (New York Times Regional Group, Boston Globe, Newsday, etc.) and MTV College Media Network. The list is also to include more locally-targeted websites, such as ESPN New York or ESPN Chicago.
Publishers can use PlaceLocal as well, to create targeted ads for interested businesses for placement on their websites.
In all, the test we ran was quite impressive. An ad for a local pizza restaurant was created in under two minutes, with vibrant, appropriate images, correct business listing information and positive user reviews from sites like Yelp.com. PlaceLocal might not be for every local business, but it's worth a look. And, if anything, it proves that online ad creation can be a painless experience no matter the level of technical savvy from the advertiser. It's a very slick interface and a very accessible link to the online advertising world for just about any local business owner.
