Local Business Directory in Northern Standard

An article on the local business directory was featured in the Northern Standard, 15th September 2011.

Launch of the Mid Monaghan Business Directory
The Doohamlet District Community Development Association (DDCDA) has developed a new online local business directory to service the mid-Monaghan area. The directory will service localities around Castleblayney, Ballybay, Lough Egish, Doohamlet, Drumhowan, Tullycorbett and Clontibret. The aim of the directory is to support local business and to encourage local people to utilise the local services available on their doorstep.

The concept of the business directory came about a number of years ago when the Association was first formed. “As one of our objectives we had planned to create a business booklet to be delivered to all of the houses in our area”, said PJ Harte, current Chairperson of the DDCDA, “but we were concerned that many booklets and brochures tend to end up hidden in drawers and people don’t use them regularly. The printing costs associated with printing booklets and brochures can be quite high, and for a small local business the cost of advertising in a hardcopy directory would be too much in the current economic climate. The information contained in a printed booklet can also go out of date very quickly, for example in our local area we have noticed a big increase in the number of small businesses in our area. Creating an online directory will mean information can be kept up to date and new businesses can be added at any time.”

“We felt it was important to create an online directory, as there has been a major shift toward internet usage. It is more and more important for every business to have an online presence, even if it is just to have a phone number and contact details listed. Although we appreciate that not everyone is comfortable in using the internet, most people will know someone who can look information up for them online. We are confident that we will have a lot of people referencing and regularly using the online directory”.

“Many people whose previous work situation has changed over the past 2-3 years have started out on their own and have created new businesses. Local people are running businesses in the most unlikely locations – in home offices or spare rooms in their homes, in outhouses and garages, and down country lanes off the beaten track. Very often, people in the locality may not even be aware the business exists. We want to give these entrepreneuers a platform to promote their business to their local market. We also want to offer value for money”.

The directory will be officially launched at the DDCDA’s AGM in September 2011. Applications to be listed are currently being accepted, however businesses can join the directory at any stage. Being listed on the local business directory can cost as little as €

10 per annum - any income generated will be used in the DDCDA in the course of it’s work. A webpage service is also being offered at a small additional charge – this is an ideal stepping stone for businesses that are thinking about commissioning a website. The webpage can also be linked to facebook and twitter pages to complement any online profiles the business may already have. For more information, see www.midmonaghandirectory.com.