Strategy & Position Paper: Standardizing Local Uncovered Across WBN Local Editions

Overview

Local Uncovered has become one of WBN’s most potent and community-focused features. By profiling businesses and the people behind them, we share stories that resonate, inspire, and connect local economies across the WBN publishing network.

WBN’s Local Uncovered dives into the heart of local business—featuring the founders, stories, and successes powering your neighborhood economy.

This paper outlines the strategic benefits of officially adopting Local Uncovered as a standardized feature across all WBN local editions.

Strategic Purpose

Local Uncovered supports WBN’s mission to elevate small businesses and strengthen local economies. The column drives:

  1. Recognition for Business Owners – Celebrating the passion and persistence behind local enterprises.
  2. Editorial Value – Positioning WBN as the most relevant voice in business journalism at the community level.
  3. Audience Growth & Retention – Storytelling builds stronger connections with readers and increases shareability.
  4. Revenue Pathways – Each profile is a soft entry point for future partnerships, advertising, and deeper platform engagement.

Publishing Cadence

To meet demand and capitalize on momentum, we recommend frequency to 2–3 weekly profiles per local edition

Key Benefits to WBN

✅ Local Brand Authority

  • Positions WBN as the definitive source of local business intelligence.
  • Builds trust with both readers and local business leaders.

✅ Evergreen, Repurposable Content

  • Profiles feed:
    • Newsletters
    • Social channels
    • SEO landing pages
    • Partner case studies

✅ Monetization & Growth

  • Profiles warm up leads for:
    • Premium listings
    • Advertising packages
    • WRN memberships
    • Market Partner onboarding

✅ Local Sponsorship Opportunities

  • “Presented by” or sponsored series options for community brands or institutions.
  • Opens conversations with banks, chambers, and economic development groups.

✅ Engagement Flywheel

  • Profiled businesses are more likely to:
    • Share their story (amplifying WBN content)
    • Subscribe to newsletters
    • Attend WRN events
    • Invite others to be featured

✅ Writer Development & Editorial Strength

  • Writers build relationships, authority, and portfolios through each feature.
  • Encourages beat specialization (tech, wellness, food, retail) across editions.

Standardized Profile Format

Each Local Uncovered article includes:

  • Business Name & Location
  • Founding Story & Mission
  • Unique Offerings or Approach
  • Key Successes or Challenges
  • Vision for the Future
  • Owner/Founder Quote
  • Call to Action (visit, website, contact info)

Stakeholder Benefits: What’s In It for Each Group

🔸 For Local Editions & Publishers

  • Drives local engagement and brand loyalty
  • Monetizable through sponsorships and ad bundles
  • Builds strong relationships with local business leaders
  • Expands visibility as local editions are reshared and referenced
  • Easy-to-execute content with consistent quality and impact

🔸 For WBN (The Company)

  • Scalable editorial asset deployable across all markets
  • Boosts SEO with localized, evergreen content
  • Supports sales enablement across all business services
  • Positions WBN as the trusted media platform for small business
  • Foundation for brand campaigns, PR, and strategic partnerships

🔸 For Writers & Journalists

  • Creates high-quality, bylined portfolio pieces
  • Builds reputation and visibility within communities
  • Opens doors to freelance or consulting opportunities
  • Ensures steady assignments with creative freedom
  • Provides a valuable training ground for emerging talent

Action Plan for Publishers

  • Implement 2–3 weekly profiles per local edition
  • Use WBN’s intake form and editorial template
  • Promote Local Uncovered in email newsletters, on social media, and during community outreach.
  • Encourage local chambers and sponsors to partner or co-brand
  • Support writers with onboarding tools and access to a local business lead list

Conclusion

Local Uncovered is more than a column—it’s a strategic pillar that brings value to every level of the WBN ecosystem. It powers editorial growth, builds community connection, develops talent, and opens pathways for monetization. Standardizing this feature across all local editions is a logical step in strengthening WBN’s position as the voice of local business.

Let’s make Local Uncovered a permanent and proud feature of WBN.

Section 2: The Prompt For This Section.

📋 WBN Local Uncovered – Business Profile Generator Prompt

INSTRUCTIONS:
Use the information below to write a vivid, engaging profile for a beloved local business. This should feel like a feature story—full of character, community, and craft. The tone should be editorial but personal, vivid, and story-driven.

🔍 PROMPT:

Write a business profile for a local company using the following information:

1. Business Name + Nickname or Title (if applicable)

Example: Lee’s Donuts – Vancouver’s OG of Fresh, Fluffy, Legendary

2. Author Info

Example: ✍️ By [Your Name] | WBN News – [City/Edition]
📅 Date of publication

3. Introductory Column Line

Copy and include:

Local Uncovered dives into the heart of small business—spotlighting the founders, flavours, and stories that fuel our neighbourhood economies. Each edition reveals what makes local legends tick, sharing insider secrets, growth journeys, and community impact from Main Street to the Market.

✨ Write the Following Sections:

📍 Excerpt (Max 2–3 sentences)

Describe the business's vibe or core identity in a punchy, emotional way.

🧾 Opening Paragraph

Set the scene: Describe the location, experience, or sensory feel of the business. Use metaphors, nostalgia, or customer perspective if helpful.

🍩 The Origin Story

Who started it, when, and why? What inspired the founders? What makes it iconic or original?

🚀 Growth & Expansion

Where has the business gone since launch? Any additional locations, pop-ups, new formats, or ownership transitions?

⭐ Customer Favourites & Fan Moments

Highlight popular products/services. Share a fun story—celebrity shout-outs, viral moments, or local love.

🧠 The Secret Sauce

What makes it special? Is it ingredients, process, customer service, local supply chain, or brand philosophy?

💬 Community Impact or Legacy

How does the business give back? Local partnerships, food rescue programs, charitable giving, or local hiring?

📊 Quick Info Section (Bulleted)

  • Flavour/Service Rundown
  • Dietary or Access Info
  • Ordering or Delivery Notes
  • Gift Cards / Special Services
  • Line Tips / Best Times to Visit
  • Locations List (Main + Branches)

📌 Why It Matters

Close the piece with a 2–3 sentence takeaway about the business's meaning to the city/community and why it stands the test of time.

🔖 Full Stack Content (Auto-Generate After Profile)

Meta Tag Title (≤56 characters):
Lee’s Donuts: Granville Island’s OG Sweet Spot
→ Replace with business name + hook.

Meta Tag Description (145 characters):
A sweet legacy lives on: How [Business Name] became a local icon serving handcrafted [product] with heart, history, and hustle.

Excerpt (200 characters max):
From humble beginnings to cult status—[Business Name] isn’t just local; it’s legendary.

Hashtags (6 total):
#LocalUncovered #[CityName] #[BusinessName] #SmallBusinessSpotlight #[Product/ServiceCategory] #CommunityFavourite

🖼️ Image Prompt

Generate an editorial-style, photorealistic image that captures the essence of the business.

Image Prompt (Example):
A cozy donut shop at Granville Island with a long line of diverse customers. Warm lighting, open kitchen, and a steaming tray of honey dips in the foreground.

Image Caption (6–7 words):
Where community meets handcrafted sweet tradition.

✅ Final Output:

Your whole article should read like a short magazine feature—punchy, visual, and storytelling-focused. It’s less like a review, more like a mini documentary in words.

Prompt Development - Kirks Soda

Kirk Buxton's websitehttps://kirksprobioticsoda.com/ LinkedIn Profile linkedin.com/in/kirk-buxton-23a5b1106 : WBN Local Uncovered – Business Profile Generator Prompt INSTRUCTIONS: Use the information below to write a vivid, engaging profile for a beloved local business. This should feel like a feature story—full of character, community, and craft. The tone should be editorial but personal, vivid, and story-driven.--- 🔍 PROMPT: Write a business profile for a local company using the following information:--- 1. Business Name + Nickname or Title (if applicable) Example: Lee’s Donuts – Vancouver’s OG of Fresh, Fluffy, Legendary 2. Author Info Example: ✍️ By [Your Name] | WBN News – [City/Edition] 📅 Date of publication 3. Introductory Column Line Copy and include: Local Uncovered dives into the heart of small business—spotlighting the founders, flavours, and stories that fuel our neighbourhood economies. Each edition reveals what makes local legends tick, sharing insider secrets, growth journeys, and community impact from Main Street to the Market.--- ✨ Write the Following Sections: 📍 Excerpt (Max 2–3 sentences) Describe the business's vibe or core identity in a punchy, emotional way. 🧾 Opening Paragraph Set the scene: Describe the location, experience, or sensory feel of the business. Use metaphors, nostalgia, or customer perspective if helpful. 🍩 The Origin Story Who started it, when, and why? What inspired the founders? What makes it iconic or original? 🚀 Growth & Expansion Where has the business gone since launch? Any additional locations, pop-ups, new formats, or ownership transitions? ⭐ Customer Favourites & Fan Moments Highlight popular products/services. Share a fun story—celebrity shout-outs, viral moments, or local love. 🧠 The Secret Sauce What makes it special? Is it ingredients, process, customer service, local supply chain, or brand philosophy? 💬 Community Impact or Legacy How does the business give back? Local partnerships, food rescue programs, charitable giving, or local hiring? 📊 Quick Info Section (Bulleted) Flavour/Service Rundown Dietary or Access Info Ordering or Delivery Notes Gift Cards / Special Services Line Tips / Best Times to Visit Locations List (Main + Branches)--- 📌 Why It Matters Close the piece with a 2–3 sentence takeaway about the business's meaning to the city/community and why it stands the test of time.--- 🔖 Full Stack Content (Auto-Generate After Profile) Meta Tag Title (≤56 characters): Lee’s Donuts: Granville Island’s OG Sweet Spot → Replace with business name + hook. Meta Tag Description (145 characters): A sweet legacy lives on: How [Business Name] became a local icon serving handcrafted [product] with heart, history, and hustle. Excerpt (200 characters max): From humble beginnings to cult status—[Business Name] isn’t just local; it’s legendary. Hashtags (6 total): #LocalUncovered #[CityName] #[BusinessName] #SmallBusinessSpotlight #[Product/ServiceCategory] #CommunityFavourite--- 🖼️ Image Prompt Generate an editorial-style, photorealistic image that captures the essence of the business. Image Prompt (Example): A cozy donut shop at Granville Island with a long line of diverse customers. Warm lighting, open kitchen, and a steaming tray of honey dips in the foreground. Image Caption (6–7 words): Where community meets handcrafted sweet tradition.--- ✅ Final Output: Your whole article should read like a short magazine feature—punchy, visual, and storytelling-focused. It’s less like a review, more like a mini documentary in words.

ChatGPT said:

Updated saved memory

Local Uncovered
Kirk’s Probiotic Soda – The Bubbly Alchemist of North Vancouver

✍️ By George Moen | WBN News – Vancouver Edition
📅 April 15, 2025

Local Uncovered dives into the heart of small business—spotlighting the founders, flavours, and stories that fuel our neighbourhood economies. Each edition reveals what makes local legends tick, sharing insider secrets, growth journeys, and community impact from Main Street to the Market.

📍 Excerpt
Not your average fizz—Kirk’s Probiotic Soda is where gut health meets bold flavour. Sparkling with personality, it’s North Vancouver's most refreshing revolution in a bottle.

🧾 Opening Paragraph
Step into Kirk’s Probiotic Soda HQ, and you’ll be hit with a scent that’s part fresh fruit stand and citrus, berries, and ginger, part high school chemistry lab—in the best way. The walls hum with fermenters, and crates of citrus, berries, and ginger spill across polished concrete floors. Each can is alive—bubbling, transforming, waiting to burst open with flavor. This isn’t soda as you know it; it’s alchemy for your gut and a good time for your tastebuds.

🍩 The Origin Story
Kirk Buxton’s journey from health-conscious enthusiast to soda entrepreneur began with a question: “What if soda could be good for you?” Armed with a self-taught background in biotech and a passion for natural wellness, he launched Kirk’s Probiotic Soda in 2020—just as the world became obsessed with immunity, microbiomes, and ditching sugar. His creations, inspired by kombucha but without the vinegar tang, combine function and fizz like nothing else on the shelf.

🚀 Growth & Expansion
Kirk’s vision has grown into a local cult brand in health food stores and cafés across Canada, from a humble home kitchen to a full-fledged production space. Pop-up tasting events, wellness markets, and direct-to-door subscription boxes have fueled buzz, while his playful seasonal flavours—like Raspberry Mint Revival—keep fans guessing and sipping.

⭐ Customer Favourites & Fan Moments
Top sellers include “Lemon Ginger Zing” and the wildly refreshing “Cucumber Mojito Sparkle.” One loyal fan said, “I ditched my soda habit for this stuff—it’s like my gut is throwing a party.” Local yoga studios, tech startups, and even a film set have placed bulk orders, with one producer claiming it helped their cast stay off sugary drinks during a summer shoot.

🧠 The Secret Sauce
It’s in the ferment. Kirk’s small-batch brewing process uses real fruit, raw fermentation, and zero preservatives. There is no fake fizz or chemicals—just science, passion, and gut love. Each blend is tested for pH, probiotics, and taste. Kirk calls it “functional fun in a bottle.”

💬 Community Impact or Legacy
Kirk sources local, organic ingredients whenever possible and partners with zero-waste initiatives for packaging. He’s hosted gut health workshops at community centers and donated products to wellness programs in underserved schools. It’s not just about making soda—it’s about sparking a movement toward better health.

📊 Quick Info Section

  • Flavour Rundown: Lemon Ginger, Raspberry Mint, Cucumber Mojito, Pineapple Jalapeño
  • Dietary Info: Vegan, gluten-free, low sugar, raw fermented
  • Ordering Notes: Online orders available with 12-pack minimum; subscription options offered
  • Gift Cards / Specials: Digital gift cards available; seasonal variety boxes
  • Line Tips / Best Times to Visit: Visit during weekly pop-ups at Burnaby Farmers Market
  • Locations:
    • HQ: North Vancouver, BC
    • Carried at select cafés + health food stores throughout Metro Vancouver

📌 Why It Matters
Kirk’s Probiotic Soda isn’t just reimagining a drink—it’s reimagining wellness culture in the city. By blending science, sustainability, and serious flavour, it’s become a staple in the health-conscious hustle of Vancouver and Now Canadian life.

🔖 Full Stack Content

Meta Tag Title:
Kirk’s Probiotic Soda – Burnaby’s Gut-Healthy Fizz

Meta Tag Description:
A fizzy revolution: How Kirk’s Probiotic Soda transformslocally and loved globally soda culture with fermented, low-sugar blends full of flavour and wellness.

Excerpt (200 characters):
Kirk’s Probiotic Soda is transforming the soda aisle with gut-friendly, flavour-packed bubbles—made locally and loved globally.

Hashtags:
#LocalUncovered #Burnaby #KirksProbioticSoda #SmallBusinessSpotlight #HealthyDrinks #CommunityFavourite

🖼️ Image Prompt:
An editorial-style image showing Kirk standing behind a rustic tasting table, lined with colourful glass bottles of probiotic soda. Natural light floods through the windows of a bright Burnaby market stall. A chalkboard sign reads “Drink Different.” Behind him, customers sample the fizz with joyful curiosity.

Image Caption:
Where science, flavour, and fizz collide.

Let me know if you'd like a shorter version for social, or a LinkedIn post version next.transforms