BITPORTERS ltd.

I really hate using the YellowPages – both the book and website. Actually more specifically, I hate trying to find a business or service provider that a friend can’t personally recommend to me. I always feel like I’m taking a leap of faith when I choose something from the phone book. Seeing as I’ve moved around a lot I always have to start over in each new town. I’ve got screwed over my last few attempts to find some quality service for my hard-earned money so I decided to do something about it – but more on that later.

First let’s clarify the problem – what’s wrong with the YellowPages? What really bugs me is how the data is presented. Ads/sponsored items first, then the rest alphabetically. What are the chances you’re going to find the best?

For a good solution - does it really matter if the directory contains EVERYTHING? Do you care about the middle of the pack? If you are like me you want to know the BEST (so you can use it) and the WORST (so you can avoid it). Obviously the answer here is to have a directory sorted by votes – but that’s not enough.

Have you ever seen a sign up in a window, or even a slogan in an ad saying “The best X in Y!” Says who? How do you even know there was a vote at all? Chances it was all based on the opinion of a small group of people. What if you don’t fit into this group of people? Then obviously it wouldn’t be the best for you.

TownRenowned.com is my attempt to solve this problem. TR sorts local establishments/services by user submitted votes. Users can then see what the voters also like as well as their comments on each item. This could save you from a bad experience, or open the doors to something incredible that’s been right under your nose for years. Would this save time? Would this reveal the quality of the greats and expose the frauds/slackers?

I think so – so far we’ve had some interesting results. TownRenowned.com has been out for two months. We have three locations - Ottawa, Guelph and London Ontario. At the moment we are just focusing on Food, Fun and nightlife but plan to add categories that cover more local business. However as is, I’ve seen some interesting trends pops up and I’ve seen some old favourite’s surface in London (I used to live there a few years ago).

It still has a long way to go – but it’s my hope that when TownRenowned catches on - it will help locals reveal the best their city has to offer. Not to mention it will help visitors and newcomers experience a city for what it really is and not what lame businesses with the biggest advertising budgets want them to see.