Here’s a cool way to get some possibly original content for a local community-based website.

Watch the local newspapers for articles written by freelance writers.  These local newspapers often don’t have a website, but are usually pretty stable in their small market area.

Hence the writers are getting published in the paper, but possibly not online.  So why not contact them and ask them if they’d like to be featured on your website as a writer for that local niche?  They’d probably be happy to get more attention, and you’ll get free local content.

I used to write an IT column for the Missouri Jaycees newspaper.  They were thrilled to have content for their newspaper, and I was excited to get the byline (and mention my website).  Had they put that online, I’d have more links and more exposure.  Win win.