Northcliffe Digital, part of one of Britain’s largest media groups that includes the Daily Mail, is rolling out across the country through its community franchise websites, www.localpeople.co.uk.
There are already 160 sites attracting more than threequarters of a million unique visitors a month and Northcliffe aims to become the leading community website network in the UK.
The franchise only costs a one-off investment starting at £6,995 plus VAT, depending on territory, and according to Northcliffe could earn an income of more than £5,000 a month.
The role of the franchisee is to manage the editorial content of the site, facilitating discussions and highlighting important issues to create an active online community, whilst profiting from display advertising, enhanced business listings, and providing digital marketing opportunities for local businesses to increase their sales and online presence.
Lee Williams, general manager of Northcliffe Digital, said: “Our franchise model means that we will be looking for experienced and committed individuals, who are passionate about their local area and can use their knowledge and relationships to run the sites. We believe that the new sites will thrive in the hands of local people who can manage content and crucially attract the right local advertisers.”
Northcliffe Digital has developed two market leading regional and local brands – thisis and localpeople. These brands, in conjunction with the group’s recruitment, motoring and property networks, are leading forces in the regional and local digital market, allowing their users to access content across a wide range of different genres