Feb 10, 2021 – ONTARIO – Today,  the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) launched a new service for Ontario communities to drive economic development by rewarding people for exploring. Called EDCO Insider and powered by 468 Communications, the service allows individual communities to easily and cost effectively create their own customized apps and build incentives for people to visit places of interest or make purchases locally.

“Now more than ever, we need to help Ontario communities support their local businesses,” said Heather Lalonde, CEO of Economic Developers of Ontario. “With this new service, a community can quickly and very affordably create their own app that showcases local gems while driving traffic and purchases for businesses around town.”

Once a community purchases an annual EDCO Insider license, within several weeks they can have their own app available in the app stores. Using an intuitive online control panel, clients apply their own branding, locations and content to their app.  The control panel provides valuable data about visitor activity, with reports showing popularity of individual locations, periods of peak activity, and where visitors are from.

Locations in EDCO Insider apps can be assigned points, which users earn when visiting, and then redeem at reward locations. This creates incentives for people to both visit and make purchases at local businesses.

From tourism marketing to shop local and educational programs, Insider apps powered by 468 Communications have generated increased visitor engagement, data and revenue for clients across Canada. For more information about EDCO Insider, including pricing, visit edco.on.ca/insider.

Webinar

Join EDCO and 468 Communications on March 2nd, 2021 at 10:00 AM EST for a special walk-through. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYucuirrD8tGN0VxfDjOCRrjGo_SQFDbiJ6  

About EDCO

The Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) is an independent, non-profit, incorporated association engaged in fostering the economic development profession in the province of Ontario. For more information, visit edco.on.ca.

About 468 Communications

Based in Canada and the U.S., 468 Communications specializes in communications services and location-based marketing. 468 works with clients across Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Washington State. For more information, visit 468communications.ca.