Belmont County is going global

January 12, 2012

By ROBERT A. DEFRANK , Times Leader

ST. CLAIRSVILLE Belmont County's businesses have a new tool at their disposal to connect with the oil and gas interests in their endeavors in Ohio.
 
During the Wednesday commissioners' meeting, Joe Barone, president of ShaleDirectories.com gave a presentation of what the site can offer in terms of communication.
 
Commissioner Ginny Favede noted the area is on the cusp of an economic boom based on the oil and gas interests. She said the county entered into a contract to lay groundwork for businesses to take advantage of the upswing.
 
Barone said ShaleDirectories.com is an outgrowth of a business started in Pennsylvania two years ago to provide gas companies with information about local businesses when they consider setting up operations in an area.
 
The site operates on a county basis and allows companies to access a database of 156,000 businesses in Ohio counties. The information includes background on real estate, health care providers, legal advice, restaurants, laundries and cleaners, car dealerships and car repairs, land surveying, excavating, fence builders and other related fields.
 
He said the site offers a basic membership, which is free and includes the member's contact information. Platinum membership and Platinum Plus membership is $200 and $400 respectively and allows businesses to present themselves and what they offer in greater detail, including pictures of products and services, videos and Google maps.
 
He added that it is vital for businesses to maintain their own Web sites to link onto ShaleDirectories.com. He said establishing a Web site allows oil and gas companies from across the country to quickly and easily access a business' background information. He added that businesses with a Web site are advised to include a section specifically addressed to the needs of the oil and gas industry. He said ShaleDirectories can also put together a site using the information, pictures and videos a business provides them.
 
Barone noted that companies from Texas and farther are taking an interest in operations in Ohio.
 
"This is really a global play here in Ohio," Barone said, noting the high level of traffic to their Web site from Texas. "The buzz about Ohio is tremendous."
 
He added that the directory is currently receiving traffic of about 5,000 per month with a projected 10,000 by the end of the year, a high number considering the small amount of companies.
 
He added that oil and gas companies must also deal with issues such as the local geography and other specific local concerns while drilling, Ohio's mining legacy has left a rich pool of experience to draw on when operating here.
 
"It easily directs the management to the businesses that they're looking for," Barone said. "It's very collaborative."
 
He noted the convenience of an online directory.
 
"This is a 24/7, 365 business," Barone said.
 
In addition, he noted that search engines place their site at a high priority. Businesses are advised to include the term "Utica Shale" on their Web sites to aid search engines.
 
"More people will come to your Web site when they do those searches," he said.
 
He also mentioned the directory's connection with many gas companies.
 
"We're well-linked with the industry," he said.
 
In addition, their Pennsylvania operations have also worked with the veteran group, Tip of the Arrow, which works with veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and looking for work in the oil and gas industry. This past October the directory held a veterans' hiring event, placing these individuals in contact with numerous oil and gas industries. Another such event is set for Feb. 23 in Youngstown and one could be scheduled locally.

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