Our mobile app, GO Lake Country is now live

The result of about three months worth of work here at the Timberjay is now available for free at both the Apple Store and from Google Play.

Since December, we’ve been working to develop a new smart phone app, which we’ve named GO Lake Country. It was originally designed as a mobile supplement to our printed visitors guide, known previously as the Lake Country Fun Times (we’re rebranding the print version as GO Lake Country starting this year) but it’s actually a whole lot more than that.

It’s already a vast compendium of general information about our area, from local history, to fishing, to dining, lodging, shopping, and real estate. It’s also a direct link to things to do. Want to know how to plan a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters, or locate a good hiking trail in the area? You’ll find it at GO Lake Country. Looking for area attractions or parks? You’ll find information on those things as well.

Nature lovers, like me, will really appreciate the nature section under the Things to Do category. It’s got pictures and descriptions of dozens of common local wildflowers, top bird finds in our area, as well as stories on boreal forest ecology, bogs, and area wildlife. It’s already a great resource, but we’ll be adding to it continuously, making it increasingly comprehensive over time.

GO Lake Country also offers basic information, such as how to contact local law enforcement, hours at the area post offices or canister sites, or check the weather forecast.

The app also allows users to snap a picture and submit it automatically to us, for posting on the app as well as in the newspaper. You can also use the app to send a digital postcard to friends and family, with your own photo on a choice of background scenery that we provide.

For area businesses, the app provides an easy way to reach the ever-expanding number of smart phone users. The app offers one-click access to area restaurants, resorts, motels, and campgrounds, along with shopping by category or by an alphabetical listing. Real estate is another category, which will provide area realtors the opportunity to list information about their businesses, and even highlight top listings.

If you’re planning a big event, the app not only has an events listing, it offers the opportunity to send push notifications to all app users who register. These notifications will send an alert and text message to the phones of app users, reminding them of this weekend’s big festival or your live music event. It can also alert users to changes in road conditions, severe weather, when fall colors are at their peak, or when a big snowfall leaves area snowmobile trails in excellent condition.

All of these advertising opportunities are extremely affordable. Our goal is to make it possible for just about any business in the area to be a part of GO Lake Country. The more businesses that participate, the more valuable the app is for users, and the more people will use the app. It’s a positive feedback loop that works for everyone.

We’re kicking off our marketing push for the app this week. You’ll find a full-page ad in this week’s Timberjay and we’ll be advertising it in the paper for the next several weeks. It will also be prominently advertised in our visitor’s guide magazine, which will be out this year in time for the Governor’s Fishing Opener.

We’re sponsors of the Governor’s event this year and that event will help us further spread the word. We’re also partnering with the Lake Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, which will be alerting its massive email list of the app’s availability. As part of that, we’re running a contest through April 30, during which everyone who downloads the app and registers (so we have your email) will automatically be entered in our drawing for a $100 cash prize.

And we’ve made it easy to find the app. Our full-page ad in this week’s paper has a QR code that will take you straight to our app web page. From there, select the button for either the Apple or the Android version. It’s takes less than a minute.

If you can’t find a QR code, just go to www.timberjay.com/golakecountry to access the web page.

Finally, help us spread the word. If you download the app, take a minute or two to write a review. We’ll be looking for input to help us continuously improve GO Lake Country. So check it out… and let us know what you think!