Dear BLG Customers:
It's been over three months since the launch of the Beaches Living Guide (BLG). Since then, we have been busily working behind the scenes to make it an even better service for your business and our Beaches community. Now it is time to unveil what's been happening at the BLG, please read on...
What's New And Exciting?
The BLG Updates!
Participate in The Taste Of The Beaches!
Join us as the Beaches Living Guide hosts its first annual Community Open House. There's something for everyone! We'll be offering a variety of tempting cuisines, a silent art auction by thirteen local artists, business showcases, and an intriguing presentation on the history of the Beaches. Space will be available to display and demonstrate your products, distribute marketing material, and give away free samples. Space is limited - please contact us for more information.
Visit the BLG Website, See It Yourself!
Your business is listed at least FIVE times on the BLG website at www.beachesliving.ca, under the Business Directory. We get 700 new visitors each month and the number is increasing by 25%. The Toronto Metro newspaper featured an article about Fashion in the Beaches and they referred to the BLG website as an information resource anchor and our community map as a tool! Find out yourself by visiting the website. Tell your customers about it too! Read on to learn about the other dynamic features on the site that you have paid for.
Free Coupon Update on the BLG Website
Coupons in BLG work! If you missed getting a coupon in the guide, you can now add it to the website at no cost. Just let us know what you want to offer and the expiry date, and we will update it for you on the website immediately. Just remind your customer that they can print your coupon from the BLG website at www.beachesliving.ca.
Put Your Video Infomercial on the Website
We're very excited to tell you about the new feature - 40-second video infomercial on the website. Now you can highlight your business and reach new customers with a professional-looking video. To view sample videos, visiting the website www.beachesliving.ca and clicking on the Sample Videos link. Contact us for more details.
Recommend a Business on the Website
Have you gone out of your way to make a customer happy? Ask them to tell the world about it with the Recommend a Business in BLG feature on the Beaches Living Guide website at www. beachesliving.ca. We carefully review each submission for accuracy, and to ensure that it is a positive endorsement for your business.We will not publish any submissions that we can't verify.
Submit an Event on the Website
You can submit an upcoming event on the BLG website under the Community-Event page. Check out the event page for details.
If You Missed the Launch Party...
If you were not at the launch party of the Beaches Living Guide (BLG), now you know what you have missed! The BLG Premier issue was launched on July 15th 2004, during a well-attended evening at the Beaches Lion clubhouse by the lakeshore. Among the prominent attendees were Gene Domagala, Glen Cochrane, Joe Abbinante (BBPA), and Michael Prue, Beaches-East York MPP who unveiled the publication and congratulated everyone involved for their commitment to the community and local businesses. Everyone felt special to be there sharing this special moment and to be the first ones to see the publication before distribution to the general public.
A special thank you to those of you who made it to the parking lot, but were not able to attend the event due to parking space. We'll be sure to provide more detailed information for future events. To catch up on some of those special moments, you can now view the event photos by visiting the BLG website at www.beachesliving.ca under LAUNCH EVENT.
What People Are Saying...
It was a hit! Since the very first day of the distribution of 32,000 copies, an overwhelming response has flooded in by phone, email and in person. The response from the pubic has been extremely enthusiastic and exciting. Here's what people are telling us:
"I loved it, how can I get extra copies to send to my niece and
grand-daughter in Vancouver? Jack"
"I enjoyed your launch issue of the Beaches Living Guide and I am
keeping it as an excellent reference. As I look through it once again,
I am curious where exactly is (or was) York Station Located? You
have an historical blurb about it on page 25. With thanks, Donna."
"Got your magazine and just love it! Keep up the great work.Chris."
"Overall, it looks great and I look forward to the fall edition!Pamela"
"It's a lovely magazine with very useful information. Nadine"
"Great guide. I looked at it this morning! This guide will be really
useful for people visiting here as well as existing Beachers. Great
job in so little pages! Alex"
"We used it and found a really good restaurant. It is not cheap,
over $200 for two of us, but it is worth it. Ash"
"Beautiful site... The interactive map is really cool... Alex"
The BLG distribution throughout the Beaches, Riverdale, Scarborough and south of the Danforth, surrounding areas, and at locations in the downtown core. The inaugural edition of the BLG was read by all members of all households with great interest and appreciation.
Businesses Are Reaping Results With BLG...
In addition to all the positive public reaction to the premier issue of the Beaches Living Guide, many businesses who are listed in the BLG have received immediate responses to their listings. Some have shared their success stories with us:
"We got a lot of calls and were asked if we are new because they
had not heard about us until they saw our listing in the guide."
"We have averaged 2-3 coupons being redeemed per day"
"It has been great for our business"
"People have called and left messages telling us they found us in
the Beaches Living Guide."
"Hey,I got the coupon back two days after the publication.It works!"
"We have customers walk in with the BLG in their hand, opened at
our page!"
"A couple have came to my studio after they read about me and
my art works in the Beaches Living Guide"
In fact, customers who have seen the BLG read it, use it, and keep it as a handy resource for finding local services. Even when they don't use it right away, they will refer to it in the coming weeks and months when they'relooking for a specific product or service like yours.
Keeping the Beaches Living Guide Special!
What's special about the BLG? Its hard copy is designed to be kept as a Business Directory and Community Living Guide, while its companion website, at www.beachesliving.ca, is a comprehensive, dynamic and easy-to-use online directory that promotes your business in at least FIVE different ways. The BLG is currently published twice a year, in the spring and fall - not quarterly. This not only makes it cost effective for you, it also reduces the risk of the BLG as being perceived as just another throw-away flyer. The informative and useful content in the print is for everyone living in the Beaches and for our visitors! Every time people open the BLG, they know you are there, ready to serve them!
In contrast, the BLG website is the most interactive and up-to-date showcase for your business. If you haven't visited the BLG website, you have only seen less than half of the value you paid for in listing with the BLG. Some one-of-a-kind features on the website include:
- Businesses are listed in five different ways, just like in the print version
- Interactive pages such as Find a Business on the Map, Printable Coupons, and Submit a Local Event
And best of all, your happy customers can share their satisfy- ing experience with others on the BLG website. See the "What's New And Exciting?" section in this newsletter for details. We want to hear your comments and feedback, and how to make the BLG work for you!
Why You Should Renew Now - Plus a Chance to Win a $900 Promotion Package
The first cut-off date for the next issue is December 1st, 2004, so now is the time to renew your BLG listing. Renewing your listing now will ensure you will have time to plan ahead with your text and graphics, and time for us to help you to create the most effective content for your business. Avoiding last-minute rushing also ensures the overall quality of the publication - and that's good for everyone! By planning ahead, you can fully benefit from the useful promotional features, such as coupons, and from updates on the BLG website. Best of all, you avoid the busy Christmas season rush. If you missed out this year, reserve your space NOW for the next issue and get your business listed on the BLG website before the next issue is released. Don't forget: due to the nature of printing, space becomes limited quickly. So call us to renew your listing and discuss your new content and artwork!
Just one more good reason to renew NOW - renew by December 1st and you'll be entered in a draw to win a large-screen promotion for ONE month on all SIX screens at Alliance Atlantis Beach Cinemas . That's a $900 value! Any questions, give us a call!
