To All Our Friends,

As we enter the Holiday Season, two thoughts seem common among most of us. First, is the special time spent with family & friends making memories. Second, is a natural self-reflection of where we’ve been and what we’ve done in this journey called life; combined with fresh ideas and rekindled hopes to better our lives in the new year that lies ahead.

At TheLocalProject we’ve come a long way since our launch 30 months ago; the CONNECTLocal platform which started as an idea is now a reality.

What sets CONNECTLocal aside from all of today’s popular platforms is our approach to the User, their privacy, their personal data, and the delivery of advertisements. It’s front page news that platforms like Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Yelp all collect the User’s data in order to sell it to advertisers, so advertisers can then target “us the consumer”.

If you use these platforms “you are the product” and “access to you” is what’s being sold to generate revenue for these platforms. Recent reporting shows there’s little discretion in what information is sold or what access is given. Nearly everything we enter into these platforms including our private messages is offered to 3rd parties so they can market to us. Even the microphones in our cellphone, Alexa, and Echo are used to listen for when we say keywords like Bahamas, Chevy, eye-liner; so digital ads can be “targeted to us” whenever we touch a digital device.

As an alternative, CONNECTLocal utilizes the concept of MyChoice Advertising which puts the User in full control of what advertising they see. In our model, we never compromise the User, their data, or their privacy to an advertiser. Our revenue model calls for businesses to pay a flat-fee to have their business represented in the network and allows Users to select which advertising and businesses they want to access.

Much could be shared about TheLocalProject’s Mission, credo and CONNECTLocal. We are a grass-roots initiative of people working together to build a network for their community that they would like to have. The modern term is “crowdsourcing”, however the principal is the same. We believe people can do a better job building their town’s network than those in the Ivory Towers of Silicon Valley.

That’s where you come in! You can play a role in expanding the platform nationally, statewide, regionally, or simply where you live. Get involved as little or as much as you like. When you support the “Project”, your contributions combine with the contributions of others to create a local network built by Users for Users.

We’re looking for people at all levels to join the effort. Opportunities include equity ownership of the national parent organization, State Sponsorships, Regional Management, and more. If you have interest, we’d like to talk with you.

I find the last 2 weeks of December the most special time of the year, a loving, peaceful time to reflect on the past year and prepare for the year upcoming. If you would like to discuss the role you can play in expanding our operations I both welcome and encourage you to reach out during this holiday season. Other than the important times such as Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve…I’m available to visit with everyone who shares in the passion of our mission.

All of us at TheLocalProject would like to wish you and your family a joyous Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

George W. Bogle Jr.
Founder & Executive Partner
TheLocalProject
Building a Better Internet
724-725-8000 – 281-500-1450
Text Us 844-307-1500
bogle@localproject.net
www.thelocalproject.net

Dashboard

The Dashboard is a secure location for managing all your CONNECTLocal applications from your desktop or favorite tablet. This includes:

  1. Your Company Profile
  2. You VIP Subscribers
  3. Offers & Specials Builder
  4. MobileCONNECT Message Creator
  5. MobileCONNECT Inbox
  6. Mobile Connect Sent Messages
  7. MobileCONNECT SMS Setting
  8. Access Help Videos
  9. Access How-to Information for building and using your VIP List
  10. Access print collateral to promote SMS Subscriber signups.
  11. And Much more…


This will close in 0 seconds

Desktop Inbox

Your MobileCONNECT Inbox is the place to view, manage, and reply to, inbound messages.

When a User sends a text message to your business it appears in the Dashboard Inbox. This allows you to respond to messages from any desktop PC.

Simply open your Dashboard to the Inbox and let it run in the background. Your computer will audibly ring every 7 seconds whenever a new message arrives.


This will close in 0 seconds

VIP Subscriber List

The VIP Subscriber List is where you can view and manage your Subscribers.

There are 3 ways Users can join your list:

  1. Clicking the Connect Icon on your company profile.
  2. SMS Keyword Signup
  3. Direct Entry

Clicking the message icon next to a particular Subscriber allows you to send a 1to1 message to that Subscriber.


This will close in 0 seconds

Free In-App Messaging

MobileCONNECT allows you to send unlimited In-App messages absolutely free.

In-App messages can be sent with Push Notification so that Users are notified of the new message regardless if they have the CONNECTLocal App open or closed.

Be sure to encourage your new Subscribers to download the CONNECTLocal app so they can access all the features in their community.


This will close in 0 seconds

Broadcast Messaging

Regardless if your list has 10 Subscribers or thousands, you can broadcast a message to the entire list at once.

You choose if you want to send to the list In-App only which is 100% free or if you would like to send via text message. (SMS message rates apply)

In-App messages have the option to send with a Push Notification so users are notified in a similar manner they would when sent via text message.


This will close in 0 seconds

1to1 Messaging

MobileCONNECT allows you to send 1to1 messages to any Subscriber on your list.

This is perfect for service industries such as:

Mechanics – send a message letting your customer know their car is ready to be picked up.

HVAC or Plumber – Let your customer know the service tech is on their way.

Lawyer – Let your client know their papers are ready to be picked up or a court date has been set.

Or maybe just wish your best customer a Happy Birthday.


This will close in 0 seconds

Connect Icon

The Connect icon is show in the CONNECTLocal app on your business profile.

Clicking the Connect Icon allows users to join your VIP list without having to SMS text your keyword.

Once connected, your business is immediately added to the User’s Connections List inside the CONNECTLocal App.


This will close in 0 seconds

Keyword Signup

The keyword signup allows Users to join your VIP List by texting your Keyword to either 844-307-3500 or 866-866-7109.

For example, if you were a pizza shop your keyword might be “PIZZA”. Whenever a User texts the word PIZZA to 844-307-3500 or 866-866-7109 they are automatically added to your VIP list.

New Subscribers are auto-sent your custom “Welcome Message” and are also invited to download the CONNECTLocal app. When Subscribers download the app they receive better access to their community and you are able to send them in-app messages for FREE!


This will close in 0 seconds

Direct Signup

The Direct Entry function of the VIP Connect List allows you to manually add a new member to your list.

Are you a mechanic? Why not ask your customer if they would like to receive a text message when their car is ready?

Retail Shop – Ask your customers at checkout if they would like to receive your specials and discounts.

Service Tech – Ask your customers if they would like to get a text message when the repairman is on the way.


This will close in 0 seconds

After-Hours Message

As much as we would like to service our customers 24 hours a day, we all need to sleep.

The After-Hours Autoresponder automatically sends your custom “after-hours” message whenever a customer tries to reach you outside your business hours.

The After-Hours Message provides an immediate response letting customers know you will be getting back to them on the next business day.


This will close in 0 seconds

Message Pause

There will be times during the course of the work day that you will be unable to immediately respond to new customer messages.

In those cases, you can set the “Pause” feature to manage your incoming messages and automatically send Users a custom “Unavailable” message. Your custom message let’s users know you have received their message and you intend to reply back soon.


This will close in 0 seconds

Number Cloaking

Reasons we can’t text most businesses include business owners do not want to give out their personal phone number or carry two different phones.

MobileCONNECT keeps your personal phone number private. When you send customers a text message it is processed through our system and delivered from a phone number in our pool. When the User responds, our system keeps track and relays the message back to you.

This allows you to receive and send messages without revealing your personal number


This will close in 0 seconds

In-App Text Icon

CONNECTLocal Users simply browse the directory to find businesses they can message in their area.

Businesses that accept inbound messages are identified by the “Text US” icon notifying Users they can receive a text.

Users simply click the Text Icon to open the message window.


This will close in 0 seconds

Individual Addressing

When sending out broadcast messages, each message can be personalized to each Subscriber.

This personalization lets the Subscriber know you are communicating directly with them.


This will close in 0 seconds

No Cross-Talk

No Cross-talk prevents Subscribers from seeing replies from other Subscribers.

When sending out broadcast messages, each message is individually sent to each Subscriber.

Unlike standard group messaging, this insures when recipients reply only you will receive a copy of their response.


This will close in 0 seconds