| As traditional media sources such as television | | | | 2) Patch - Patch is trying to do just that to fragmented |
| networks and newspapers lose relevance along with | | | | local news coverage by aggregating local bloggers |
| their profits and resources, several innovative local | | | | and news sources to provide comprehensive |
| news services are stepping up to fill the void. The | | | | coverage of local areas. The site currently operates |
| "hyperlocal" space is nascent and the companies that | | | | solely in the greater New York City area, but the |
| seek to deliver this information are still developing | | | | company is aggressively hiring local editors in other |
| features and determining the best content to provide. | | | | communities to expand nationwide. If the Patch sites |
| Small business owners should consider experimenting | | | | grow rapidly, they could become an important |
| with listing on these sites and interacting with the | | | | resource for small businesses to reach local |
| communities to improve their visibility within their target | | | | customers. |
| markets. | | | | 3) DataSphere - This company builds hyperlocal sites |
| 1) EveryBlock - This site, owned by MSNBC, offers | | | | in conjunction with incumbent local media |
| users a wealth of information about civic events, | | | | establishments like newspapers. The company |
| businesses, and local news, and lets users sort | | | | announced this week a $10.8 million round of venture |
| information by zip code, school district, and | | | | capital financing, so expect its production to ramp up |
| neighborhood. The site currently hosts communities for | | | | significantly in the next few months. It mainly operates |
| only the 15 top US cities, but if the site gains traction in | | | | in the Northwest US currently, but should expand to |
| those locations, expect it to spread to others. | | | | other locations with the additional funding. |