Z57 Website and Marketing Support

Area Information Pages


We already know that a vital step in generating business from the website is to provide visitors with valuable information that will make them want to stick around to explore now and to keep them coming back in the future. An Area Information Page is something that can really help someone from outside of the area in their research and to help you really sell the area.

Page Organization

I would recommend organizing the page in one of two ways.  

  1. Divide the page into sections according to Area.  Include Subsections in each area for the topics suggested below. This will be a good option if you work in multiple areas that are far apart or very disimilar.
  2. Divide the page into sections according to Topic. Have the information reflect the area as a whole.  This will be a good option if you work in a single area or the statistics and information applies to all your areas more or less uniformly.  If you choose this option, you may want to include an additional section dedicated to the breakdown of your area with any specifics people may want to be aware of.  

Suggestions

You should be able to find most if not all of the statistical information from official city websites or your local chamber of commerce. Whenever you find information from elsewhere online it is very important  to cite the original source! Also, make sure the source is a reliable one (just because it is online does not mean it is correct) and that the information is kept up to date.

The following are ideas for the kinds of information that visitors could be searching for as they research a particular area.

Demographic Information

  • Income
  • Crime Rates
  • Population Data and Estimated Growth
  • Percentages of Religious and Political Affiliations
  • Agriculture, Import/Export, Industry
  • Link to your Community Reports page

Dining, Shopping, and Recreation

You can double up on the links in your Local Resource section. Remember that these are also excellent networking opportunities. Consider adding brief reviews or commentary on each.

  • Popular Restaurants, Bars, Nightlife
  • Malls and Shopping Centers
  • Family Activities, Parks, Beaches, Playgrounds, Entertainment Centers, Baseball/Soccer Fields, Skate Parks
  • Nearby Attractions, Amusement Parks
  • Hiking/Biking Trails, Climbing, Fishing, Boating, Skiing, Equipment Rentals, etc.
  • Dog Parks/Beaches

Employment

  • Employment Statistics and Job Outlook
  • Top Employers in the Area
  • Average Wages Per Field
  • Minimum Wage, State Labor Laws
  • Job Searches/Postings

Geography

  • Maps of the Cities/Counties
  • Neighboring Cities/Counties and Borders
  • Major Geographic Landmarks (Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, Canyons, etc.)

Real Estate Market

  • Current Median Home Prices
  • Current Interest Rates
  • Historic Market Trends
  • New Developments
  • Planned Developments and Expected Growth

Schools

Again, you can double up on the links in your Local Resource section. This is also a good place to include a link to your "School Reports" page.

Transportation/Getting Around

  • Public Transportation
  • Taxi Companies/Shuttles
  • Ridesharing/Carpooling Services
  • Long Distance Travel: Airports, Train Stations, Harbors, etc.
  • Traffic Reports

Weather/Climate

  • Temperature Averages by Month
  • Precipitation, Humidity
  • Elevation
  • Overview of the Seasons
  • List of Popular Seasonal Activities

Area Breakdown and Overview

This is a good section to include if you choose to lay your page out the second way.  If you are focusing on a county, break it down at the city level and include a brief overview of each. If you are focusing on one or only a couple cities, consider breaking it down into the sections/developments that are commonly referred to by locals. For example, I could break Carlsbad into Downtown, Northern Carlsbad, La Costa, Aviara, etc. You may want to include an explanation of the geography and give an overview that points out how each differs from the others.