Top 10 Reasons a Membership is Much Better
Than a Free or Claimable Listing

A Free or Claimable listing is where many of the listings on the Windsor Local platform start. Members can join using the 'Free Plan', and Claimable Listings are the result of data entry or submissions from the 'Suggest a Business' link. They are free, but only show the company name, contact name, phone number, address and map. There are no further changes allowed until you claim the listing and move it up to one of the paid Membership plans, starting as low as $10/month.

Here we highlight the Top 10 Reasons a Membership is Much Better Than a Free or Claimable Listing:

Membership vs Claimable Listing

Number	Reason	Membership	Free or Claimable
	Leads and Referrals Receive FREE leads and referrals via direct messages from potential and existing customers. You will be notified by email and text.
	Enhanced Search Results Show up at the top of the search results listings in Windsor Local. Also show up in Google search results. The About Me/Us section allows you to describe yourself and/or your business in detail. Keywords within your description will also allow you to be included the search results for those keywords. This can also help boost your social media following!
	Cheaper or Free and Unlimited Posts There are several Post Types you can utilize to amplify your online presence, including: Classified Ads, Blog Articles, Deals & Coupons, Member Discussions, Events, Giving Back Requests (for nonprofit and charitable organizations), Job Listings, Photo Albums, Products & Services, Real Estate Properties, Audio Posts and Video Posts. Posts can significantly add to your business' brand awareness as well as educate your potential and existing customers about your company, products or services.
	Communicate, Build & Sustain Our Windsor-Essex Community Communicate with other Members to make new contacts, share ideas, ask for help, etc. Our online platform supports building a much stronger Windsor & Essex County community through supporting local businesses. We are helping to restore the damage done by the large online and big box stores during the pandemic.
	Amplify Your Online Presence and SEO It will boost your local SEO and provides a significant and separate avenue for online visibility where you can create much more than your website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. allows. It is always better to be seen in as many online avenues as possible, especially in a one-of-a-kind platform dedicated to Windsor & Essex County like Windsor Local. Our platform works as a powerful tool for attracting more customers and communicating with local residents and visitors. Join over 5,000 listed local businesses.
	Leverage Windsor Local's Marketing Use Windsor Local's marketing to your advantage! Your membership also gives you access to collaborative marketing opportunities, access to our private group on Facebook, social media shout outs, sponsor contests and more. Our marketing will help get residents to the Windsor Local community, building traffic to your profile and posts. Daily visitors are searching our website to support local businesses, organizations and professionals. Our goal is to 'Keep It Local' to help build and sustain our Windsor & Essex County community.
	Simple to Setup, Simple to Use and Complete Control is in Your Hands Nothing to install or download. Hassle-free, quick and easy setup. Easy to use Dashboard to monitor and manage everything. You have your own login and can access, add and modify your profile listing and posts anytime, 24/7/365. You are in complete control; however, we are here to help any time you need it.
	Local Support and Resources are Always Available We are here to help you! You can get help from Windsor Local staff regarding anything you need help with on the Windsor Local site, including setup, configuration, how to use different posts, tips on what to include and how to make it look better — just about anything you may need! In addition, we provide helpful videos, FAQs and documentation, help desk support tickets, phone and remote support.
	Giving Back To Our Community One of the main goals of the Windsor Local platform is to support giving back to our community. We are making it easier to match volunteers, sponsors and donors with the people and organizations that need help. Nonprofit organizations and charities can post Giving Back Requests, which can be seen by local residents and Members. The request provides information about the organizations requiring help and outlines what their needs are, making it easier for everyone in our community to help those in need.
	Everything About Your Business in One Easy to Find Place Everything all in one place for your prospects and existing customers to view. The tabs in your profile offer a single place where you can show off everything about yourself and your business, in one place, unlike anything else out there! There are so many ways to promote yourself and your business. Pick and choose what you would like to show: Company overview, additional details, About Me/Us section, profile photo, logo and cover profile, website and social media links, tabs for your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter feeds, search categories your business belongs to, reviews from within Windsor Local, external reviews (Google, Yelp, Trip Advisor, Facebook, etc.), private messages between members, your content and articles, events, real estate properties, products and services, job listings, photo albums, audio posts, video posts, deals and coupons, members-only discussion posts, classified ads, QR Code to your profile listing and access to business and mindset training courses (courses available to VIP and VIP Plus Members only).
	Automatically a Member of the Separate Private Windsor Local Business Community Portal The Windsor Local Business Community (WLBC) is a private place where local business owners, organization managers and professionals can CONNECT. Make it easier for us to find what we need, share ideas and insights, give feedback, get inspired, and get help working through our unique business issues. To help each other GROW our local business.