Running a local business in Victoria comes with a familiar challenge.
It’s not just about being good at what you do. It’s about being remembered.
Most people don’t act the first time they hear about a business. They act after they’ve seen the name a few times, maybe in passing, maybe while scrolling, until it starts to feel familiar.
That moment of recognition is often what turns into a click, a visit, or a recommendation to a friend. That idea is what led to the creation of Buzz-Worthy Businesses.
Rather than focusing on traditional advertising or hard-to-miss banner placements, the program was built around visibility inside content people are already choosing to read.
Every day, thousands of Victorians scroll through Victoria Buzz articles to catch up on what’s happening around the city. Within those stories, readers see a small group of local businesses featured naturally as part of the page.
Here is what the ad looks like (keep refreshing to see it change up):
Each business appears with a simple emoji selected by the business, along with a clickable name that takes readers directly to their website or social channels.
It’s a small detail, but one that tends to stand out as readers move through an article. The goal isn’t to interrupt the experience, but to quietly keep local businesses top of mind.
Over time, that consistency adds up.
Businesses in the program typically see around 10,000 views per day, with higher numbers on days when major stories are drawing larger audiences.
Some clients have seen close to two million views over their first year, along with hundreds of visits each month to their websites and social platforms coming directly from Victoria Buzz readers.
There’s also a directory component, which many locals visit when they’re actively looking for a service or business in the area. But the directory was never meant to be the centrepiece. The bigger impact comes from repeated exposure inside stories that people trust and return to daily. Our readers can locate the directory by clicking YYJ Local in our main menu of the website.
A growing mix of well-known and independent local businesses have taken part, including Westshore Town Centre, Oak Bay Beach Hotel, Notaries on Douglas, Domino’s Pizza, Searle’s Auto Repair, Malahat SkyWalk, Toro Japanese, and Galaxy Motors, among many others.
What they share isn’t a specific industry or size, but a recognition that staying visible matters just as much as running a good operation.
The pricing structure reflects that idea as well. A full year in the program costs $575 plus tax, which works out to just over $1.50 per day. For many businesses, that level of ongoing exposure inside a local publication reaches more people than short bursts of traditional advertising ever could.
At its core, Buzz-Worthy Businesses is built on something simple. Victoria supports businesses it recognizes. And recognition comes from being seen consistently, in the places people already spend their time.
Sometimes all it takes is a familiar name, a small emoji, and the right moment for a business to come to mind.
Get your business added today by submitting it here.
