Colchester.City Project
We're seeking co-founders to join this project. While we have the technical side covered for now, we're looking for talent in other key areas. If you're interested in learning more, please get in touch.
A Better Way for Colchester Businesses to Reach Local Customers
A few years ago we purchased the Colchester.City domain when it became available, right as Colchester was gaining city status. We wanted to create something useful for our community, and now we've figured out exactly what Colchester needs - a solution that dramatically reduces ad-spend for local businesses and organisations.
The Problem
Let's talk numbers. Within Colchester and a 5-mile radius, there are approximately 10,000 local businesses. Research shows that many small businesses spend between £200 and £1,500 per month on digital advertising, with most at the lower end of that range.
If we conservatively estimate that 40% of these businesses are actively paying for digital advertising (a reasonable figure given that 70% of businesses report Facebook and Instagram as their most profitable paid channels and 93% of social media marketers use paid Facebook ads), that's 4,000 local businesses spending anywhere from £200 to £1,500 per month on digital advertising.
That's well over £1.5 million per month flowing out of Colchester into Google, Facebook, and other platforms where local businesses compete against national chains and global companies for the same keywords.
The problem isn't just the cost—it's the waste. Small businesses are paying inflated prices because they're bidding against companies with much deeper pockets. And SEO? Unless you're on page one, you're invisible. Even then, you're still competing with national chains and directory sites that dilute your relevance.
Many local businesses tell us the money they spend on advertising isn't working as hard for them as it should. There are very few places where they can reach their target customers affordably and effectively.
Our Solution
We are working on the first version of Colchester.City as a local search engine connecting businesses with customers right here in Colchester, for both B2B and B2C.
For example, search for 'wedding photographer' and find only Colchester-based photographers, not national directories. Search for 'accountant' and connect directly with local firms who understand our community.
But here's what makes us different: businesses and organisations can add their latest news and updates directly to their profiles, and this information appears in search results. This means when you find a business, you immediately see what's current and relevant.
For example:
- A wedding photographer might showcase their latest portfolio work from recent weddings, giving potential clients an instant view of their current style and quality
- An accountant might post useful information about the latest tax regulation changes or upcoming deadlines that affect local businesses
- A restaurant could share this week's special menu or announce a new chef
- A fitness studio might highlight new class schedules or limited-time membership offers
This keeps search results dynamic and valuable; not just static business listings, but living profiles that demonstrate a business's expertise, current work, and active engagement with the community.
It's highly cost-effective, cuts through the noise of global competition, and puts local businesses in front of the people who matter most; their neighbours, with information that's always current and demonstrates real value.
We're aiming to help businesses dramatically reduce their advertising spend while getting better results through targeted local search.
What's Next
This is just the start. Once we help local businesses succeed and generate a small revenue stream to sustain the service, we'll be adding features that benefit our wider community too.
We're building a small team to make this project a success. We have filled the tech/development role but this project requires so much more than that! If you want to get involved, use the enquiry form below and tell us about yourself and how you want to help.
Project News
The Vision Gets Bigger
We're in the early stages of building Colchester.City, but we're already thinking beyond our initial launch. As we develop the platform, we're designing it with a bigger vision in mind: what we're building for Colchester can work for any town, city, or specialised industry.
The problem of businesses losing money to expensive, ineffective advertising against national competitors isn't unique to Colchester. It's happening in Ipswich, Norwich, Cambridge, and hundreds of other communities across the UK. And it's not just geographical—certain industries and sectors desperately need their own dedicated discovery platforms too.
Why We're Building with Scale in Mind
Even though we're focused on getting Colchester.City right first, we're making architectural decisions now that will make expansion possible later. We're not trying to build a one-off solution—we're building a template that can be replicated and adapted.
This matters because:
- The technology we develop for Colchester can power other locations
- The lessons we learn here will make future platforms better
- Early contributors will understand the model from the ground up
- We're proving the concept that will unlock everything else
The Geographic Potential
Once Colchester.City is established and working well for our local businesses, the same approach could serve:
Other Cities and Towns
- Ipswich
- Norwich
- Cambridge
- Chelmsford
- Any community that wants to help their local businesses thrive
Each location would operate with the same core principle: local businesses connecting with local customers, without competing against national chains for inflated advertising costs.
The Vertical Potential
But we're also thinking about industry-specific platforms. Many sectors need dedicated discovery spaces where specialists can connect with their specific audiences:
Healthcare & Wellness A platform for alternative therapies, mental health services, nutrition specialists, and wellness practitioners. Where people can find qualified professionals without wading through irrelevant general results.
Creative Industries Photographers, videographers, designers, illustrators—professionals who need their work to be discoverable by people looking for specific styles and expertise.
Professional Services Accountants, solicitors, consultants operating in specialised niches. A platform where a corporate tax specialist isn't competing with high-street accountants.
Trade & Construction Platforms organised by specialisation: heritage restoration, eco-friendly building, smart home installation, commercial electrical services.
Education & Training Where specialist tutors, coaches, and training providers can be found by people looking for their specific expertise.
First Things First: Proving the Model
We're being realistic about our timeline. Right now, our focus is entirely on:
- Building Colchester.City properly - Getting the core platform working brilliantly for local businesses
- Learning what works - Understanding what businesses need and what customers respond to
- Creating a sustainable model - Proving this can support itself financially
- Building our team - Bringing in the right people who understand the vision
Once we've proven the concept works in Colchester, we'll have:
- A tested platform ready to replicate
- Real data on what businesses and customers need
- A working model for how to launch in new locations or verticals
- A team with experience in making this successful
Why Join Now?
You might wonder: "If you're just starting with Colchester, why talk about expansion?"
Because the people who join now will shape everything that comes next. Early contributors to Colchester.City aren't just helping build one platform—they're helping create the blueprint for something much larger.
If you:
- See potential in your own local community or a specific industry
- Want to learn how to build and launch these platforms
- Believe businesses deserve better than the current advertising model
- Want to be involved from the beginning of something that could scale
Then now is exactly the right time to get involved.
Building a Foundation for Growth
We're not rushing into multiple platforms. We're being methodical:
Phase 1 (Now): Build and launch Colchester.City Phase 2: Refine based on real user feedback and business results Phase 3: Document what works and create replicable processes Phase 4: Identify the next location or vertical to expand into Phase 5: Scale with proven methods and experienced team
Every decision we make now considers what comes next, but we're committed to getting Colchester right first.
The Bigger Picture
Yes, we're currently focused on serving local Colchester businesses. But we're building something with the potential to:
- Help businesses in towns and cities across the UK reduce wasted ad spend
- Create specialised platforms where industries can thrive
- Keep more money circulating in local economies
- Prove there's a better way than paying Google and Facebook for overpriced, under-targeted ads
This isn't just about Colchester—it's about demonstrating a model that works, then sharing that success with other communities and industries.
Join the Journey
We're at the exciting, challenging beginning. The platform is in development, the team is forming, and the possibilities are vast.
Whether you're passionate about Colchester, excited about the broader vision, or see how this could work in your industry or hometown, we want to hear from you.
Use the enquiry form to tell us:
- What interests you about this project (local focus, expansion potential, or both)
- What skills and experience you bring
- How you'd like to contribute as we build Colchester.City and plan for what comes next
The best platforms are built by people who see the potential early and help shape the foundation. That's where we are right now—building something that starts local but could change how businesses connect with customers far beyond Colchester.
This is the beginning. Be part of it.
Introduction
Have you ever searched for something online and wondered why you got such great results—or frustratingly poor ones? At Colchester City App, we've built a search system that understands what you're really looking for, not just the words you type. Let's break down how our search works and why it gives you better results than a basic keyword search.
🧠 Semantic Search: Understanding What You Mean, Not Just What You Type
What Is It?
Traditional search engines match your exact words. If you search for "plumber," you'll only find pages with the word "plumber" on them. But what if a business describes themselves as a "drainage specialist" or "pipe repair expert"? You'd miss them entirely!
Semantic search is different—it understands the meaning behind your words, not just the words themselves.
How Does It Work?
Think of it like this: when you were at school, you learnt that "happy," "joyful," and "delighted" all mean similar things. Our search system has learnt the same thing, but for thousands of words and concepts.
When you search for "plumber," our system knows you might also be interested in:
- Leak repair services
- Pipe fitting specialists
- Emergency drainage companies
- Bathroom installation experts
The Magic Behind It
We use artificial intelligence (the same technology that powers ChatGPT) to convert your search into a "concept fingerprint"—a unique pattern that represents the meaning of what you're looking for. Then we compare that fingerprint against all the businesses and articles in our database to find the best matches.
Real-World Example
You search for: "I need someone to fix my leaky tap urgently"
Traditional search would look for pages with all those exact words and probably miss great local plumbers who don't use the word "tap" or "urgently."
Our semantic search understands:
- You need a plumber
- It's an emergency (urgency implied)
- It's a minor repair (tap, not major installation)
- You need someone available now
So you'll get emergency plumbers who handle tap repairs, even if they use different words on their business page.
🎯 Query Intelligence: Your Search Assistant Working Behind the Scenes
What Is It?
Query intelligence is like having a helpful librarian who understands what you're trying to find and helps you search more effectively. When you type a search, our system automatically analyses it and adjusts how it searches to give you better results.
What Does It Do?
1. Identifies Your Search Type
Our system automatically recognises what kind of search you're doing:
-
Looking for a specific business? ("Acme Bakery")
- We'll prioritise exact business name matches
-
Asking a question? ("How do I register my business?")
- We'll show you helpful articles and guides
-
Searching for a service? ("wedding photographer")
- We'll focus on businesses offering that service
-
Looking for something nearby? ("restaurants near me")
- We'll prioritise location and show closest options first
2. Cleans Up Your Search
You know how sometimes you type "the best place to find a good plumber near me"? Most of those words don't help the search—they're just how we naturally speak.
Our system automatically:
- Removes "filler words" like "the," "a," "near," "me"
- Keeps the important words like "best," "plumber"
- Understands that "near me" means you want local results
3. Extracts Key Information
If you search for "Italian restaurants in Colchester," our query intelligence:
- Recognises "Italian" as a category filter
- Identifies "Colchester" as a location
- Understands you want restaurant listings
- Automatically applies these filters to improve results
Real-World Example
You search for: "Where can I find someone who knows about starting a small business in Colchester?"
What our system does automatically:
- Type detection: Recognises this as a question/advice query
- Key terms: "starting," "small business," "Colchester"
- Content priority: Boosts articles and guides over business listings
- Location awareness: Focuses on Colchester-specific information
- Cleans the query: Removes "where," "can I," "who knows about"
Result: You get relevant business startup guides and advisory services, not random business listings.
⭐ Relevance Ranking: Sorting the Good from the Great
What Is It?
Imagine searching for "coffee shop" and getting 50 results. They're all coffee shops, but which ones should you see first? That's where relevance ranking comes in—it's the art of showing you the best matches at the top.
How We Decide What's "Best"
Our system looks at multiple factors to determine which results are most relevant to you:
1. Match Quality (The Foundation)
First, we check how well the result matches your search:
- Exact name match: If you search "The Red Lion" and there's a pub with that exact name—bingo! That's likely what you want.
- Description match: Does the business description contain your search terms?
- Category match: If you search "accountant," businesses in the accounting category rank higher.
2. Content-Specific Boosts (Smart Prioritisation)
Different types of searches deserve different types of results:
For Business Name Searches:
- Exact name matches get a 3× boost
- Verified businesses get extra priority
- Popular businesses (more views) rank higher
For Question/Advice Searches:
- Articles and guides get a 1.5× boost
- Content marked as "takeaways" or "guides" gets even more priority
- Recent articles rank higher than old ones
For Service Searches:
- Businesses explicitly listing that service get a 2× boost
- Businesses with service areas covering your location rank higher
3. Trust Signals (Quality Indicators)
We boost results that show signs of quality:
- ✓ Verified businesses: We've confirmed they're real and legitimate
- 👁️ Popular listings: More views suggest others found them helpful
- 📅 Fresh content: Recent articles often have more up-to-date information
4. Location Relevance
If your search includes a location or you're looking for local services:
- Businesses in that specific city rank higher
- Service areas that overlap with your location get priority
- Exact city matches beat broader regional matches
Why This Matters: A Real Example
You search for: "emergency electrician"
Here's how our ranking system works:
-
Match Quality Check:
- Finds all businesses with "electrician" or "electrical services"
- Finds articles about electrical emergencies
-
Content-Specific Boosts:
- Business listings get prioritised (you need a service, not an article)
- Businesses with "emergency" services highlighted get a 2× boost
-
Trust Signals:
- ✓ Verified electrician near the top
- Popular, highly-viewed electricians rank higher
- Newer businesses with fewer reviews rank lower
-
Location Priority:
- Electricians in Colchester appear before those in nearby towns
- Those covering your specific area rank highest
Result: You see trusted, local emergency electricians at the very top—the ones most likely to help you right now.
🎯 Putting It All Together: Why Our Search Gives Better Results
The Traditional Search Problem
Most basic search engines:
- Only match exact words you type
- Don't understand what you're really looking for
- Show results in random or arbitrary order
- Miss great matches that use different terminology
- Waste your time scrolling through irrelevant results
Our Smart Search Solution
By combining all three features:
-
Semantic Search finds results that match your meaning, catching relevant businesses even when they use different words
-
Query Intelligence automatically understands your search type and optimises behind the scenes—no need to learn special search syntax
-
Relevance Ranking ensures the best matches appear first, considering match quality, trust signals, and what type of answer you need
The Result?
✅ Faster: You find what you need in the first few results, not page 5
✅ Smarter: The search understands your intent, even if you phrase things casually
✅ More Accurate: Businesses that truly match what you need rise to the top
✅ Local-Focused: You see Colchester businesses first, not national chains or irrelevant listings
Real-World Success Stories
Example 1: The Misspelt Search
Search: "resterant with vegan options"
Traditional search: Might fail because of the misspelling
Our search:
- Semantic search understands "resterant" ≈ "restaurant"
- Query intelligence identifies this as a service search with dietary requirements
- Relevance ranking shows verified restaurants with vegan menus first
Example 2: The Vague Question
Search: "who can help me with my taxes"
Traditional search: Might return random tax articles
Our search:
- Query intelligence recognises this as a service-seeking question
- Semantic search understands "help with taxes" = accountants, tax advisers, bookkeepers
- Relevance ranking prioritises verified accountants, then helpful tax guides
Example 3: The Specific Need
Search: "garden landscaping for small gardens"
Traditional search: Might show large commercial landscaping companies
Our search:
- Semantic search matches "garden landscaping" with gardeners, landscape designers
- Query intelligence notes "small gardens" as a specific requirement
- Relevance ranking boosts businesses that mention small gardens or residential work
The Bottom Line
Our search system is designed to work the way you think—naturally and intuitively. You don't need to be a search expert or know special tricks. Just type what you're looking for in plain English, and our combination of semantic understanding, query intelligence, and smart ranking will find exactly what you need.
It's like having a knowledgeable local guide who knows every business in Colchester, understands exactly what you're asking for, and recommends the best options first.
That's the power of modern AI-assisted search—and it's why Colchester City App helps you discover local businesses and information faster and more accurately than ever before.
Questions?
If you have questions about how our search works or suggestions for how we can improve it, we'd love to hear from you! Our search system continuously learns and improves based on real user needs.
Remember: The better you describe what you're looking for, the better results you'll get—but even casual, conversational searches work great!
Funding
Private Funding
Funding not required.
Last Updated
Oct 8, 2025
Activity Score
Get in Touch
Interested in this project? Send a message to the project owner.