South African startup OfLocal has launched, aiming to provide reliable consumer-generated information in the form of top 10 lists of everything from biltong to web developers.
OfLocal aims to provide users with useful insights on location and venue specific information, while simultaneously offering businesses location-based listings.
These insights are generated by means of lists, which are published, shared and voted for by the consumer. Local business owners can also create and publish their own personalised lists.
“The idea is not to compete with the well-established review websites, but rather provide real-time community-driven top 10 lists of everything – from biltong, to web developers and wedding photographers,” founder Joubert Botha told Disrupt Africa.
The voting cycle for lists is 12 months, after which OfLocal will produce a television series of the winning entries on popular lists. The video will also be embedded on the website and featured on a prominent South African TV channel.
Direct links to the websites of featured businesses will be provided on the platform, enabling consumers to gather additional information on a specific business of interest that will likewise contribute in an increase of traffic referral to business websites.
