The Town of Lincoln’s online shopping initiative has been named a finalist for the 2020 Awards of Excellence through the Economic Developers Council of Ontario.
The site Shoplincoln.ca was adapted to serve as a destination marketing tool encouraging both residents and visitors to engage with Lincoln’s businesses. The online platform pivoted to become more tourism-focused to help increase traffic throughout tourism-related businesses and craft beverage industry.
The town added content-rich travel blogs, advertorial videos, and strategic paid advertising to encourage visitation to the site. It also produced qualified, consumer lead generation for local businesses and raised awareness of Lincoln as a destination.
The annual EDCO Awards of Excellence, coordinated through the EDCO Awards Committee, seeks out distinctive ideas and initiatives that can become best practices in economic development for the future.
“On behalf of Town of Lincoln Council, I would like to thank our local business community for their enthusiasm and active participation in this platform’s development,” said Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton. “Special thanks also to our provincial and federal partners for their continued support of impactful recovery initiatives like ShopLincoln.ca.”
ShopLincoln.ca began as a Town of Lincoln initiative, to support local businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, the site was intended to provide quick, and easily searchable business directory listings that could help consumers make safe, informed decisions about their Lincoln shopping experience before ever leaving the house.
“Congratulations to staff and our local businesses for teaming up to make ShopLincoln.ca sure an attractive and successful tool,” said Mike Kirkopoulos, Town of Lincoln CAO. “Economic recovery and business adaptation is our primary focus as we recognize that the pandemic has proved challenging to many of our residents and businesses.”
Winners for Awards of Excellence will be announced during EDCO’s 63rd Annual Virtual Conference & Showcase from January to February 2021.
For more information, visit www.shoplincoln.ca.