WhirLocal Media Group

03/04/2026

Really appreciated this kind note from Teri after attending the Oregon Festival and Events Association annual conference last week.

It meant a lot because our goal isn’t just to talk about AI… it’s to help people actually use it in their day-to-day work.

Our workshops are very hands-on. Instead of just hearing about trends, attendees walk away with practical tools and ideas they can start using right away.

If you're part of an association, chamber, nonprofit group, or other member-driven organization, we’d love to bring this training to your group.

Helping people work smarter with AI is something we’re really passionate about.

Feel free to reach out if you'd like to explore it for your organization.

03/03/2026

Decatur, AL is built on strong local relationships, and businesses like Wil Rose Insurance are part of what makes this community feel connected.

We recently had the opportunity to feature Wil Rose Insurance in a WhirLocal Spotlight, sharing more about their story, their work with local families and small businesses, and their commitment to serving the Decatur area.

It is always great to highlight businesses that are actively involved in the community and focused on helping neighbors navigate important decisions.

Take a few minutes to read the full feature and learn more about Wil Rose Insurance in Decatur, AL.

Read the Spotlight here:
https://whirlocal.io/content/wil-rose-insurance-in-decatur-al-helping-small-businesses-and-families-protect-what-matters-most/

01/07/2026

𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟯-𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁?

If not, your brand story might be holding you back.

We recently asked ourselves the same question and realized our messaging needed work. We clarified who we help, what we deliver, and why it matters.

That simple shift has made a huge difference in how we communicate with customers and partners.

If your message isn’t as clear as it could be, you are not alone. Let us show you how to clarify your brand story and create momentum for your business.

01/02/2026

𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺

We talk a lot about the importance of a clear brand story and messaging for local businesses. But recently, we had to take a hard look at our own.

Even though we were helping others clarify their brand stories, we realized our own message had become too focused on tools and features. It wasn’t clear who we help or how we help them.

So we went back to our five-part 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 and clarified everything.

Now, our message is focused, consistent, and easier to share. And it’s already making a difference.

If you're a business owner and your messaging feels scattered or hard to explain, we’d love to help. A clear brand story builds trust, referrals, and real momentum.

Article link in comments.

12/29/2025

11/07/2025

Meet Gabby Gonzales-Heck and Phillip Heck, co-founders of Sidekick Creative Company in Arkadelphia, AR!

Gabby and Phil are the powerhouse duo behind this full-service digital marketing agency that’s helping small businesses thrive through purpose-driven storytelling and creative strategy. From their tiny house on the river to big ideas for local brands, they’re building something truly special.

Read their inspiring story and see how they’re supporting local entrepreneurs with heart 👇

10/31/2025

When someone close to Philip Korniotes introduces him, they don’t start with job titles or career highlights. Instead, they might say, “Phil is all about starting a nonprofit called WholeWay to help transition people from recovery to leadership.” That one sentence captures the heart of a man whose work blends purpose, community, and a desire to create real change.

Read the full article. Link in the comments.

09/16/2025

Yesterday we had the opportunity to speak on the topic of AI at the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce. The room represented a wide spectrum of experience. Some members are using AI every day, some are just getting started, and others had never tried it before.

It was a great reminder that progress is not necessarily about being on the cutting edge, but about taking the first step from where you are.

A big thank you to Debbie and the Roseburg Chamber for inviting us and for investing in your members. We truly enjoyed connecting with your community and experiencing the beauty of your part of Oregon.

09/09/2025

"I found you via ChatGPT"

It’s something we’re starting to hear more often.

The shift is happening.

From Google search (Local SEO) to AI Answers (AEO).

And here’s the key: both rely on the same foundation.

* Optimized content
* Consistent citations (name, address, phone)
* Reviews
* Backlinks
* Solid website structure

That’s why we’re bringing Local SEO and AI optimization together with WhirLocal.

Whether you’re a small business looking to get found in both search engines and AI tools like ChatGPT, or you provide Local SEO services for your clients, we’re here to help.

09/02/2025

AI for Main Street? We're Making It Happen.

We’ve been meeting with Chamber of Commerce and association groups across the region as part of our Heart of Local AI Tour, helping business and nonprofit leaders understand how AI can work for them.

If you’ve been wondering how to use AI tools to save time, cut costs, and get better results in your business or nonprofit, this is for you.

✅ Practical examples
✅ Real conversations
✅ Built for Main Street

We’re adding more stops to the tour right now in Oregon and beyond. If you're part of a chamber or association group and want to bring this session to your members, let’s connect.

08/05/2025

We just built a Smart AI Assistant in one hour.

It now saves us about an hour every week. And it gets better results than doing it manually.

Let’s do the math:
1 hour invested
1 hour saved per week
52 weeks in a year

That’s a 52X ROI in the first year.

We like that math. A lot.

If you're a small business owner or nonprofit leader, ask yourself:
What is one hour of your time worth?
$100?
$250?
$500?

This assistant handles a weekly process we used to do by hand.
It’s the kind of task every small business or nonprofit should be automating.

We’re adding this Smart AI Assistant to our Local Champion Membership.
Just $37 per month or $365 per year.

And now, we’re launching a Custom Smart AI Assistant Service.
We’ll customize 10 Smart AI Assistants for your organization.
Each one customized for your brand voice, your systems, and your workflows.

Not just one.
Ten.

How many hours could you and your team reclaim each week?
10? 20? 50?

Imagine the ROI on that.

If you want the details, just comment "Assistant" and we’ll send them your way.

07/24/2025

In this week's edition of the Heart of Local newsletter, we're talking about what to do when you're wearing too many hats.

That feeling of being pulled in every direction is something we hear all the time from local business owners and nonprofit leaders.

The truth is, some of the most exhausting parts of your day might be easier to automate or take off your plate than you think.

Try This AI Prompt:

Act like a seasoned productivity coach. I’d like to identify 5 things that I don’t need to do myself—things I could delegate to someone else or automate with AI. Guide me through a process to identify these tasks by asking clarifying questions one at a time and helping me brainstorm things that drain my time, feel tedious, or don’t require my unique skills. Then, summarize the top 5 in a bullet list, especially focusing on tasks that are easy to hand off to a human or AI assistant.

Let me know what you come up with in the comments. 👇