Tag: Hyperlocal

  • Building a hyperlocal business directory: call for suggestions

    I’ve long been planning to build a hyperlocal directory for The Lichfield Blog and something which can be used by other hyperlocals. B31 Blog launched their business directory the other day using a simple form submission and manual entry of listings. Owner Sas Taylor complained on Twitter about the lack of a decent business directory…

  • BT’s Content Connect might threaten hyperlocal TV’s prospects

    Not content with shying away from laying down fibre while competitor Virgin does a JFDI like a good little broadband supplier, BT is now trying to single-handedly demolish net neutrality in the UK. Below are my thoughts, which I’ve sent in a letter to my MP, Michael Fabricant. — Via a number of sources including…

  • The choice is clear for out-of-work journalists: pay £2,750 or… less than £100

    As a freelance WordPress consultant by day I am horrified that a company can justify charging £2,750 for a WordPress site built using a pre-built theme costing £55 . The example they give on their hideously long sales page is unremarkable at best. Let’s do a quick comparison; euvue.co.uk for £2,750 thelichfieldblog.co.uk for less than £100…

  • This is not a transaction.

    I blogged the other week about The Lichfield Blog’s print debut in the Birmingham Mail with an article I wrote about Fuse Festival. It sparked a nice few comments and I thought they warranted a second blog post to clear one thing up. The printing of that article was not one side of a transaction, nor…

  • The day my hyperlocal blog post was published in a major regional newspaper

    Plenty of people will be skeptical about this bit of news but boy am I excited. I’d love to hear if this has happened before or not, but so far it’s the first time that I’m aware of, and I’m chuffed it’s me. If you pick up a copy of the Birmingham Mail today you…

  • More House of Commons exposure for The Lichfield Blog

    Whilst discussing his vision for local TV during a House of Commons debate on the future of local media [& video], Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries Ed Vaizey mentioned The Lichfield Blog and it’s efforts in the local media landscape. In response to a request from West Bromwich East MP, Tom…

  • Content creators are the ones moving journalism forward

    A while ago I spoke at the news:rewired conference organised by Journalism.co.uk about The Lichfield Blog and hyperlocal in general. The panel I was on got around to the whole ‘citizen journalist’ debate and who is or isn’t a journalist. I made the point (one I feel strongly about) that many hyperlocal bloggers do not…

  • New hyperlocal WordPress plugin: OpeningTimes.co.uk

    I received a tweet the other day from the wonderful Andy Mabbett. It read; http://opening-times.co.uk/ is very #hyperlocal oriented. They’re on Twitter: @opening_times / @willperrin @getgood (widget, @philipjohn ?) So I toddled over to the Opening Times web site and had a gander, found some XML there and thought to myself, Hmm that’ll only take…

  • OpenAustralia plugin for WordPress

    I’m delighted that after my release last week of my TheyWorkForYou.com plugin for WordPress, Henare Degan has created an adaptation which provides the same functionality but using OpenAustralia, an Australian version of TheyWorkForyou.com. You can download the plugin from Henare’s github, just click on “download” at the top and select “ZIP” then follow these instructions…