For almost three years, WhatcomTalk has provided Bellingham and Whatcom County residents with positive news and information about the people, businesses and organizations that make Whatcom County a great place to live, work and play. But did you know that WhatcomTalk is one of five NorthAmericaTalk community social networks serving Western Washington?
Nearly three years ago, founders Dan Jones, Martin McElliott, Stephen Backholm and Amy Rowley realized the model they created with ThurstonTalk could be replicated in other communities across the region.
The digital media company surveyed other communities across Western Washington and identified a need for similar sites.
In January of 2014, the four founders launched NorthAmericaTalk, the parent company that would serve as the umbrella for three new sites: GraysHarborTalk, SouthSoundTalk and WhatcomTalk.
By partnering with local Community Managers, sales teams and freelance writers, NorthAmericaTalk has been able to successfully expand its reach across the I-5 corridor and beyond.
“We knew what we had created with ThurstonTalk was special and that other communities would benefit from having an alternative to traditional media,” says Rowley.
“Plus, our advertisers were clamoring for us to expand to other markets where they also operate,” adds McElliott.
After measuring the success of WhatcomTalk, GraysHarborTalk and SouthSoundTalk, NorthAmericaTalk launched its fifth site, LewisTalk, in October 2015.
As NorthAmericaTalk continues to grow, the team plans to launch sites in other communities in Washington State and across the country, providing dynamic, local content for readers and targeted advertising opportunities for growing businesses.
“We have identified more than 250 communities across the nation and have purchased the digital assets to roll out these sites,” adds Jones.
If you enjoy reading content on WhatcomTalk, we encourage you to take a look at the stories our other sites have to offer. Taking a trip to Tacoma this summer? Scan SouthSoundTalk for ideas of things to see and do during your stay. Have a friend or family member that lives in Olympia? Find out what’s going on their community by scanning the articles on ThurstonTalk.
As NorthAmericaTalk continues to grow and expand its reach across Western Washington and beyond, we’re excited to highlight and share positive stories about the people, businesses and organizations that define each community and makes them unique.
