Recent Developments at SNAP Newspaper Group
Blog: The History of SNAP Newspaper Group
Jon Henderson, SNAP Newspaper Group COO
In 2004, Paul Dutton and myself founded SNAP Newspaper Group Inc. after the introduction of SNAP Newmarket, which showcased a local suburb just north of Toronto Ontario, Canada. This particular community was chosen as a test market for our unique SNAP-style of community-based advertising, marketing and media. The existing publications in this area, as well as those nationally and internationally, had grown stale in the public eye and the financial situation for community newspapers looked bleak. Local markets had been continually eroding over the years as large nationals and multinationals became dominant players who delivered mostly negative and political editorial content. In short, these local publications had drastically lost touch with their community – the readership and advertisers alike, but the population had little other alternative. This opened the door for SNAP. Utilizing our extensive knowledge of the advertising, marketing and technology fields, we recognized an opportunity to deliver a truly Positive Community Based Publication, blending community support and public relations within a dynamic financial model to ensure success. Not only was SNAP Newmarket successful as the new community paper in its own right, it also proved to be the perfect foundation for future expansion across the country.
By adopting a strong community foundation and gradually implementing a progressive use of technology, SNAP Newmarket set the stage for a unique and efficiently lean business model for other SNAP communities to emulate. With this viable foundation in place, SNAP Newspaper Group began the hiring of strategic and like-minded personnel to further reinforce the business such that it could be easily reproduced and transferred into other communities across the country and into the United States.
Over the past seven years, SNAP has grown to more than 61 franchise publications across North America, with papers in the United States and Italy, and it continues to expand today. While constant upgrades and efficiencies are introduced on both the technological side and new media fronts, the business model has ultimately remained the same to this very day; support your clients, support your community, and both will support you in return.
Blog: Social Business Made Simple
Jon Henderson, SNAP Newspaper Group COO
As local community marketing specialists SNAP Newspaper Group spends a great deal of our time speaking about the benefits of hyper-local marketing and targeted social media. We talk about return on investment, community engagement, cyber-networking, clear communication and win-win promotions. As experts in the hyper-local field, we often hear “All this interconnectedness and community support sounds great, but how do I make more money?” Our response: social commerce.
Social commerce is a new arm of social media and you can bet your bottom dollar that if you’re not addressing social commerce now you are sure to be left standing in the dust. This form of commerce has been building staggering momentum and is about to break free. For years we’ve all been going on and on about the power of the “world-wide-web” as it relates to connecting with one another, in groups and within communities. The social media phenomenon has caused us all to get a glimpse at this power first-hand, but few experts know how to move cyber-friends into engaged, loyal customers.
The simple fact is we have to start realizing that our cyber-friends are not all that dissimilar from our physical friends, especially when it comes to how we interact. We are all just social beings and more than ¾ of us will believe strongly in the recommendations of a friend. We’d rather have our friends suggest something and simply tell us what the “best” product is, and this recommendation holds far more weight than a TV commercial. Well – cyber-friend or next-door neighbor – market research is starting to prove the distinction between the two is rapidly diminishing.
Make no mistake - social commerce is coming, and coming fast. Let our team at SNAP Newspaper Group help show you the way.
New SNAP Franchise - SNAP Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie, May 1, 2011 - One of North America’s fastest growing Media and Marketing businesses is pleased to announce the latest member to its growing list of Ontario based publications, and launch of SNAP Sault Ste. Marie on July 1, 2011
SNAP Sault Ste. Marie is an organization that specializes in community. Photographically rich, and free to consumers, SNAP showcases the life, entertainment and overall spirit of the community. Emphasizing customer service, relationship building, technology, and marketing savvy, SNAP delivers grassroots marketing across print, web and other visually dynamic media.
SNAP Sault Ste. Marie is a family-friendly business that highlights the positive, good news and special events going on in the region each and every month. The publication will capture life, entertainment and overall spirit of Sault Ste. Marie.
First printing will take place on July 27th, and publisher, Luke Dunlop says, he hopes to have it on the racks at distributions locations a few days after. "I am so very excited to bring SNAP to my community. SNAP is taking over the Local Community Newspaper Market in Ontario, and I am happy to be a part of the team. This has been a long time coming for us, and represents something that was truly missing from the The Soo. Good news is back!" says Luke.
Ten thousand copies will be distributed once a month to start, but this number is expected to increase dramatically in the months that follow.
Why is SNAP different? For one, because SNAP goes well beyond the standards of other free publications, by providing an entertainment source that consumers want to review and pass on to their friends. Secondly, because the clients who partner with SNAP are part of a group of quality merchants and professionals who know the value of positive PR, Advertising and Community Spirit; and lastly because the community members themselves are the key contributors to the content, giving them a voice and a vehicle to share the various events and activities they partake in each and every month!
SNAP Sault Ste. Marie’s new publisher and your community partner Luke Dunlop has been and continues to be involved in marketing and sales as well as being heavily involved as an organizer and volunteer of numerous community events and organizations. He continues to be committed to the community and is excited to be giving back to an area he loves to call home. If that isn’t enough, Luke and his local team have the backup and resources of the entire SNAP Newspaper Group family who have launched over 67 publications and were ranked #34 in Profit Magazine’s Hot 50 Companies of 2009.
Get SNAP’d and help contribute to your community by submitting your local Sault Ste. Marie events online now at www.snapsoo.com
For more information please contact:
Luke Dunlop293 Rue Bay St.
PO Box 23113
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
P6A 6W6
(705) 206-1888
New SNAP Franchise - SNAP Wood Buffalo
Wood Buffalo, May 1, 2011 - One of North America’s fastest growing Media and Marketing businesses is pleased to announce the latest member to its growing list of Alberta based publications, and launch of SNAP Wood Buffalo on June 1, 2011
SNAP Wood Buffalo is an organization that specializes in community. Photographically rich, and free to consumers, SNAP showcases the life, entertainment and overall spirit of the community. Emphasizing customer service, relationship building, technology, and marketing savvy, SNAP delivers grassroots marketing across print, web and other visually dynamic media.
SNAP Wood Buffalo is a family-friendly business that highlights the positive, good news and special events going on in the region each and every month. The publication will capture life, entertainment and overall spirit of the Wood Buffalo region.
First printing will take place on May 27th, and publisher, Rick Kirschner says, they hope to have it on the racks at distributions locations a few days after. "I am so very excited to bring SNAP to my community. This has been a long time coming for us, and something that was truly missing from the Wood Buffalo region," says Rick.
Ten thousand copies will be distributed once a month to start, but this number is expected to increase dramatically in the months that follow.
Why is SNAP different? For one, because SNAP goes well beyond the standards of other free publications, by providing an entertainment source that consumers want to review and pass on to their friends. Secondly, because the clients who partner with SNAP are part of a group of quality merchants and professionals who know the value of positive PR, Advertising and Community Spirit; and lastly because the community members themselves are the key contributors to the content, giving them a voice and a vehicle to share the various events and activities they partake in each and every month!
SNAP Wood Buffalo’s new publisher and your community partner Rick Kirschner has been and continues to be involved in marketing and sales as well as being heavily involved as an organizer and volunteer of numerous community events and organizations. He continues to be committed to the community and is excited to be giving back to an area he loves to call home. If that isn’t enough, Rick and his local team have the backup and resources of the entire SNAP Newspaper Group family who have launched over 67 publications and were ranked #34 in Profit Magazine’s Hot 50 Companies of 2009.
Get SNAP’d and help contribute to your community by submitting your local Wood Buffalo events online now at www.snapwoodbuffalo.com
For more information please contact:
Rick Kirschner300-19 Riedel St.
PO Box 30135
Fort McMurray AB, Canada
T9H 0B8
780-370-7627
New SNAP Franchise - SNAP East Kootenay
East Kootenay BC, Feb 1, 2011 - One of North America’s fastest growing Media businesses is pleased to announce the latest member to its list of British Columbia based franchises, and launch of SNAP East Kootenay on March 1, 2011.
SNAP East Kootenay is an organization that specializes in community. Photographically rich, and free to consumers, SNAP showcases the life, entertainment and overall spirit of the community. Emphasizing customer service, relationship building, technology, and marketing savvy, SNAP delivers effective marketing across print, web and other visually dynamic media.
SNAP East Kootenay is a family-friendly business that will focus on the positive, good news and special events going on in the area each month. The publication will capture life, entertainment and overall spirit of the East Kootenay region.
First printing will take place on February 27th, and will first focus on the Cranbrook & Kimberley area. Publisher, Janice Sommerfeld says, they hope to have it on the racks at distributions sites a few days after. “I am so very excited to bring SNAP to my community. This has been a long time coming for us, and something that was truly missing from the East Kootenay region”, says Janice.
Six thousand copies will be distributed once a month to start, but this number is expected to increase dramatically in the months that follow.
Why is SNAP different? For one, because SNAP goes well beyond the standards of other free publications, by providing an entertainment source that consumers want to review and pass on to their friends. Secondly, because the clients who partner with SNAP are part of a group of quality merchants and professionals who know the value of positive PR, Advertising and Community Spirit; and lastly because the community members themselves are the key contributors to the content, giving them a voice and a vehicle to share the various events and activities they partake in each and every month!
SNAP East Kootenay’s new publisher and your community partner Janice Sommerfeld has been and continues to be involved in real estate marketing and sales as well as being heavily involved as an organizer and volunteer of numerous community events and organizations since moving to the East Kootenays from Saskatchewan nearly eight years ago. She continues to be committed to the community and is excited to be giving back to an area she loves to call home. If that isn’t enough, Janice and her local team have the backup and resources of the entire SNAP Newspaper Group who have launched over 67 publications and were ranked #34 in Profit Magazine’s Hot 50 Companies for 2009.
Get SNAP’d and help contribute to your community by submitting your local East Kootenay events online now at www.snapeastkootenay.com
For more information contact:
Janice SommerfeldPO Box 446
Cranbrook BC, Canada
V1C 4H9
1-250-426-8585
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