More Burke Companies Utilizing MNC Website
Free Manufacturing Directory Provides Greater Online Visibility to Potential Customers
BURKE COUNTY, N.C. (September 18, 2012) – If you’re a business owner, chances are you spend a good bit of time thinking about how you can increase sales. Often, that process centers on one (not so simple) question – How can I let more people know about my products? Manufactured in NC is a free website providing North Carolina business owners with an answer.
The website was designed to give companies greater visibility and exposure to potential customers and create another outlet to generate sales. The site allows any North Carolina manufacturer to create a free profile page, which can include information about the company, what the company can produce, who they serve and how to reach them.
“We had a company contact us a few weeks ago that found us on MNC,” said Jim Toner, President of Toner Machining Technologies. “The guys came down from Charlotte to meet with us and see our facility. We have quoted a bunch of work for them and I hope we’ll get some orders from it soon.”
Toner Machining is one of 13 Burke County manufacturers listed on the site. The company’s profile page, created in December 2011, has had 152 unique visitors from 26 states and 19 different countries. Supported by the NC State Industrial Extension Service and a grant from the NC Rural Center, the site is growing quickly.
“It is going very well and the outside world is beginning to take notice,” said Nathan Huret, Existing Industry Coordinator at Catawba County EDC, who has led the project. “The site averages more traffic now in one month than it received over the first four months of 2012 combined. We are beginning to see profiles showing up on the first or second page of Google Search results – often higher than a company’s individual website.”
The site, launched in October 2011, was designed to showcase the products and capabilities of North Carolina manufacturers to potential customers around the nation and the world. Burke County, along with Alexander, Caldwell and Catawba counties, were involved in the original launch, but the site is now being offered to any company in the state.
G&G Moulding, a wholesale picture frame company, created a profile in June. Since then the company’s page has had visitors from eight states and three different countries.
“You want to get your name out there as much as possible so other people know who you are and what you do,” said G&G Moulding Owner Don Grigg. “We are a family owned company and we believe in buying locally and in supporting other family owned businesses in North Carolina. That requires relationships with those companies and this site helps us create those relationships.”
Goals for the site include growing the diversity of manufacturers enrolled and continuing to make improvements, specifically improving the search function, which allows people to make more informed and quicker connections. Huret hopes to have 1,000 manufacturers enrolled by Oct. 31.
“To create a page it takes 10 minutes of your time and costs nothing,” said Huret. “Business owners and executives are starting to see the possibilities this can bring to their company. Many people are surprised this has never been done before. The concept is so powerful yet so simple at the same time.”
From Jan. 1 to now, the site has had nearly 11,000 unique hits and visitors from 50 states and 122 countries. To learn more about Manufactured in NC or register your company, visit www.manufacturednc.com.
About Burke Development, Inc.
Burke Development, Inc. (BDI) is a nonprofit organization supported by private and public funding that is charged with accelerating economic growth in Burke County. BDI works with industry leaders, site selection consultants, government agencies and other entities to facilitate expansion strategies for existing businesses and recruit target industries to Burke County. For more information about BDI visit www.BurkeDevInc.com.
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Contact:
Sara Chester
828.674.3141