01/12/2026
Let's talk about what will take shape with LocaLink and in the community throughout 2026.
LocaLink started as something I genuinely wished existed when I was growing my own local business. The goal has always been simple. Make it easier for people to discover good local businesses, and make advertising feel less like a gamble for the businesses behind them.
I’ve had a lot of conversations lately about where LocaLink is going and what this actually looks like long term.
So instead of vague posts or big promises, I want to be clear and just lay it out.
THIS is the plan for 2026:
Q1 2026 - Getting LocaLink on the Ground
This is where LocaLink starts showing up around town.
-A curated group of 84 local businesses will begin appearing on the network.
-The first kiosks will go live in high traffic local locations.
-People will start discovering local businesses while they are already out running errands, waiting for appointments, or just killing time.
This stage is about making sure the experience feels natural and actually useful. No clutter. No overwhelm. Just good local businesses, easy to explore.
Q2 2026 - Improving the Experience
Once things are live, the focus shifts to making it better.
-The interface will be refined based on how real people actually use it.
-The directory will stay limited to 84 businesses so results stay meaningful.
-The network will grow to up to 25 kiosks around town.
-A dedicated app will be built so the full directory is available anytime, not just in front of a kiosk.
-Businesses that already use online booking will be able have their booking connected directly to the app, kiosks, and website.
This is where LocaLink starts to feel polished and intentional.
Q3 2026 - Expanding What’s Available
With a solid foundation in place, things begin to open up.
-More categories and subcategories will be added so people can find exactly what they are looking for.
-The directory will expand to up to 250 local businesses.
-Kiosk locations will grow to as many as 50 locations by the end of the quarter.
Growth happens carefully here. The goal is to expand without losing what makes it useful.
Q4 2026. Making It Better for Everyone
The last quarter of the year is about reflection and improvement.
-The network will expand to up to 100 kiosks.
-Each kiosk will be looked at individually to see how it actually performed.
-Businesses that perform especially well will help shape what works best going forward.
-For businesses that do not see strong results, adjustments will be made. That could be placement, presentation, or category positioning.
The goal is not just growth. It is making sure this works better heading into the new year.
If you are someone who enjoys discovering good local businesses, or you run one yourself, this is what you’ll see taking shape over the course of the year.
Why am I building it this way?
LocaLink is being built locally, tested locally, and refined locally. This is the first time the quad cities area will see something like this and I’m intentionally taking this slow and being thoughtful about it.
This ONLY works if it’s fair to the businesses involved and genuinely helpful to the people using it. A service without value is a gamble and there's enough of those when it comes to growing your business. LocaLink is designed specifically NOT to be a gamble, It is designed intentionally to provide value to every single business we work with. Real world, trackable, meaningful value.
If you want to get involved early or secure a spot before directory slots fill up, you can reach me directly at (928) 713-5561 or email [email protected]
I'm happy to answer any questions regarding LocaLink :D
More to come.
(Granite Mountain - Williamson Valley 2022)
