Get Linked—

Website Seeks To Boost Business

By Kendra Bobowick

RSVP@Newtown.org.

It is a new email address and local businesses, for one, ought to use it. Send us your contact information, urges Economic Development Commission member Martha LaMarche, also part of a subcommittee to evaluate and upgrade marketing aids. “We’re trying to advocate for local business … we’re trying to be innovative,” she said. How? Link up with the EDC website, now under renovation. As many businesses cultivate their web presence, Newtown businesses can also “jump in” with the EDC, she explained.

“It should be a beautiful new site and above all a resource,” said Director of Economic and Community Development Elizabeth Stocker. “We recognize the importance of a state-of-the-art website for companies in town and for site selectors looking to relocate.”

The www.Newtown.org makeover involves a few significant additions, including a directory of local businesses and ability to place links to their sites. “This will make them more ‘searchable,’” explained Julia Nable, principal and marketing strategist with SandorMax, a Sandy Hook-based integrated marketing company that the EDC hired to revamp its website. The company intends to “help get [the EDCs] site found. Their main goals are, first, to attract new properties to Newtown and secondly, to help businesses grow,” she said. “We’ll focus on new business and support existing business.” Local business owners can contact RSVP@Newtown.org and send the company name, web address, contact information, and business category to the EDC.

Also on the new site, which should go live before the end of the year, replacing the current information found at Newtown.org, will be profiles from a handful of local business people. The information all will accompany a collection of Newtown-based photos provided by the Flagpole Photographers. “These images show the history, annual events, and commercial prospects which make this town the great place it is,” said Anne Eigen with the Flagpole Photographers. Noting the collaboration between the town EDC, photographers, and SandorMax, she added, “The networking that goes on between civic groups such as Flagpole Photographers, the local government, and business show how volunteers can participate for the good of all.”

The renewed site will provide tools such as maps for commercial properties and “really promote” the town and its businesses, Ms Nable said. “I think this will reflect Newtown, and it means so much because we live here and work here.” As a local company she is “thrilled” to help and possibly make a difference. The upgraded site will be a “nice, all around introduction,” she said. “It will put the right face out there …”

Where it started: Economic Development Commission Chairman Bob Rau noted that among a handful of EDC objectives, including alternative energy, business advocacy, and facilitating the development of agricultural business in town, was the goal to advocate, evaluate, and upgrade marketing aids. From there subcommittees formed, spurring the initiative to rework the website and make it an interactive site beneficial to the EDC, the town, and local businesses, he confirmed. Regarding Ms LaMarche’s subcommittee devoted to upgrades and marketing, Mr Rau said, “Most important is to get a website that’s a better marketing aid for the town.” Two main objectives, he concurred, were enticing new business to Newtown and promoting the existing business community. “The website will attract both of those [objectives],” he said.

Newtown.org in its upgraded version will be of use to businesses scouting for a place to relocate and for existing businesses to network. Establish a two-way link with the EDC and boost your natural search through Google or Yahoo. The EDC asks that businesses intending to link with Newtown.org also establish a link to EDC from their page. Send your business contact information, a website, and type of business. Involved with this community project are EDC marketing subcommittee members Catherine Adsitt, Wes Thompson’ and Ms LaMarche. The creative team at SandorMax includes Julia Nable and Zoltan Csillag.