inSideAreaCodes.com Online Communities Recharge Small Business Owners in NC Despite Recession

March 25, 2009 - PRLog -- Raleigh, NC. The inSide AreaCode.com networks in North Carolina are free online communities for the innovative and motivated micro-business owners who are building tomorrow's businesses to carry on  through this recession. There is one for every area code in North Carolina: inSide919.com, inSide910.com, inSide828.com, inSide704.com (980), inSide336.com and inSide252.com.

Launched in 2008, the pilot area was inSide919.com. Now, in mid-March 2009, there are over 1200 members local to the Triangle; almost 900 discussion topics; 770 events; over 1000 blog posts; close to 2000 photos; and almost 250 videos. The amount of activity indicates how engaging and vital this community is.

The local aspect of this community was highlighted by Kelly Welch, a career coach:  "This group offers a special 'feel' of cohesiveness that LinkedIn just cannot, perhaps because we all began with the common bond of being in '919'.  

Deidre Hughey of The Buzzbuilder and Dancing Elephants said that the group has definitely helped her business: "InSide919.com is one of the friendliest sites around! I've built partnerships, support systems and made friends. Well worth the energy...even if you don't ever sell a thing to anyone (though, if you truly care about people, they will help you sell to someone!)"

Martin Brossman, a leading “super connector” in the Triangle, a business consultant, coach, LinkedIn and social media expert, tells people, “If you’re a small business owner doing business in the Triangle and you’re not on inSide919.com, you need to get on today. It is one of the single most valuable free resources you have for expanding your community, your business opportunities and your sales.”

The specific intent of inSideAreaCodes.com networks is to support micro-businesses. Often overlooked,  they are a vitally innovative sector of the economy. Micro-businesses are mostly individuals but also include very small businesses. Part of the unique advantage that micro-business owners may have is minimal infrastructure and overhead, so they are able to quickly adapt when they find a niche or an uncovered area of service or products. One of the challenges is that they have to work around the clock because they have to focus on every aspect of their business. This can make it difficult to attend networking groups like BNI, Coffee and Contacts, or local Chamber of Commerce meetings.

Local online communities like inSideAreaCodes.com offer a real and tangible resource. Networking can happen in their own time, on their own time. Everyone in a community effectively gives consent to having some interaction with the other members. With the multiple levels of communication possible, it is easy to start a conversation. With everyone being local it is easy to take the discussion "offline" into a local coffee shop or at a local community event. Starting in March 2009, a monthly Final Thursday social event will be on the calendar.

While the competition for local online communities is increasing, the completely local nature of the inSideAreaCodes.com communities distinguishes them; members have to live and work within the area code to be part of it.  These communities stand out for their  culture of building relationships first and letting business will follow; the culture is one of paying it forward, and contributing.

inSideAreaCodes.com is focusing on developing the local North Carolina networks before formally promoting the launch of other area networks. All sites are "open gardens"; anyone can view all the pages on the sites. To see the 919 community, visit http://www.inside919.com. To find other communities, visit http://www.insideareacodes.com.

For media inquiries about inSideAreaCodes.com, contact the founder, Pat Howlett, at pat @ insidenetworx .com.

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ClearSight Publicity is a North Carolina based internet publicity firm offering research, writing, blogging, publicity campaigns, brand and reputation monitoring and other social media services.