Scott County touting its Web site by direct mail

~ The site is an experiment, serving as a prototype for other rural counties.

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County is taking a cue from the business sector in promoting its Web site.

Over the next few weeks, 6,500 randomly selected addresses in the county will start receiving direct mail from the county, informing them about the resources available on the county's new Web site.

Scott County got its Web site up and running in October 2004. The goal of the site is to help connect county residents to goods and services in the public and private sector, as well as attract new businesses and visitors to the county.

The site is an experiment of sorts and funded by a USDA grant, said county developer Joel Evans. Evans said the site is to serve as a prototype for other rural county Web sites to follow on similar ventures.

Though the site has been up for a year, its content isn't static.

"It's a living beast, and we hope the changes we're making will make it a more effective tool as time goes by," Evans said.

Now the next step in making the site an effective tool is getting the word out. About half of the registered addresses in the county will receive postcards touting the features offered on the site.

The most recent of those features is called "Scott County's Best," an interactive feature that allows visitors to vote on the best things in the county, such as the best burger or the best place for a first date. The hope is that these interactive features will encourage more people to use the site, said Evans. The site also highlights local businesses and offers tools for businesses looking to start operations in the county.

Scott County is also using other marketing tools, such as signs posted on Interstate 55 at the county's northern and southern boundaries advertising the site. The county is also printing posters and mousepads with site information.

The money spent on marketing comes from the USDA grant that funded the Web site creation.

'An indirect tool'

Evans said the goal of marketing the site isn't to make money from it. No advertising space exists on the site, he said.

"We don't see this as a direct tool to generate revenue ... it's an indirect tool."

County officials hope the site can generate revenue indirectly by bringing in people and business to the county.

Even more importantly, the site can help the county better serve the needs of its residents by being a one-stop answer to their government-related questions, said Presiding Commissioner Martin Priggel.

"It's kind of the way of the future," Priggel said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182