4 Hyperlocal Trends to Watch in 2013

StreetFight reporting:
2012′s rush to capture the hyperlocal audience has begun to wane as the reality sets in that while the online SMB market is huge and untapped, it remains hard to get those mom-and-pops to spend money on newfangled marketing methods. Last year’s intense startup activity has revealed four trends going into 2013:
–Local no longer revolves around online news sites; channels connecting SMBs to consumers have multiplied
– Banner ads are no longer cost-efficient for SMBs
– Local media needs to retool client relationships, moving from “advertising” to “marketing”
– SMBs must start building brand advocate networks in lieu of advertising
1) Decentralization of local media hubs
Up until now, the online sites of local newspapers (and to a lesser extent online TV) have been the main media hubs for local communities. These communities (including arts organizations, civic groups, causes, and businesses) would route their marketing, advertising, and PR through these hubs and either hope or pay for publication. These entities are now shifting to content marketing and social media to publicize their events, and asking media hubs to link to them. Every tweet or status update they make points to their content. This newly created local content will become metatagged, curated and aggregated by a growing set of community publishers...
2) End of the Local Banner Ad...
3) Replace local media sales forces with ad networks and marketing talent...
4) The building of brand advocate networks...
http://streetfightmag.com/2013/01/03/four-top-hyperlocal-trends-to-watch-in-2013/