NEWPORT- NewportPlainTalk.com has launched CockeCountyMarketplace.com, a comprehensive directory of 1,052 businesses in Newport and Cocke County. Tim Crews, a long-time radio personality in Morristown, will serve as the online directory's regional account executive.

CockeCountyMarketplace.com delivers local information often unavailable through standard directories and online search engines, said David Popiel, co-publisher of The Newport Plain Talk, parent of NewportPlainTalk.com and CockeCountyMarketplace.com.

"Tim is working with Newport area businesses," Popiel said, "to make sure their online directory listings are complete and easy to use."

Free listings on CockeCountyMarketplace.com, which are available to all local businesses, display business names, addresses, locator maps, phone numbers, email and web addresses, business pictures, hours of operation, payments accepted, and added details.

Enhanced listings, which are in boldface type on the website, carry more information that may include business profiles, brands carried, product photos, menus, newspaper ads, video commercials, coupons, and business calendars of events.

 "Just A Few Mouse Clicks"

"With a few mouse clicks, visitors to CockeCountyMarketplace.com can easily find a list of restaurants open at a given hour, locate maps to mechanic shops, see photos of doctors' offices and search for other useful information," said Popiel.

Visitors may search by business name, business category, product or keyword, such as pizza, shoes, real estate or chiropractor.

"With each basic Marketplace listing, Cocke County businesses receive their own free, personal 'mini-websites,' which they may update or expand," he said. "All the owners or managers have to do is find their listings on CockeCountyMarketplace.com and click 'claim business.' The rest is easy."

The Newport Plain Talk and NewportPlainTalk.com developed CockeCountyMarketplace.com in response to difficulties local residents and visitors to the community faced in finding services, addresses, correct phone numbers, and other information on businesses in Newport-Cocke County.

"We took basic business information, verified and expanded that information and added cool features," he said.

In many cases, CockeCountyMarketplace.com displays photos of businesses, churches, schools and government entities that had not previously been available online.

Individuals may access Marketplace by visiting www.CockeCountyMarketplace.com or by clicking in the Marketplace section near the top right corner of www.NewportPlainTalk.com. The Marketplace site is compatible with mobile smart phones, such as the iPhone.

Popiel said that business listings would be expanded and updated regularly, so he advised individuals to visit CockeCountyMarketplace.com frequently to view more information.

Crews Leads Marketplace

For more than a year, Crews has worked with GreenevilleMarketplace.com, a service of The Greeneville Sun, which is the Plain Talk's sister publication in adjacent Greene County.

"Tim's successes in Greeneville will help us bring excitement and success to CockeCountyMarketplace.com," Popiel said. "Newport is a wonderful market, and I expect that CockeCountyMarketplace.com will be a tremendous boost to local businesses and residents alike."

Crews is a 25-year veteran of Morristown radio, having held numerous management, sales and on-air positions with WAZI, WCRK, WMTN and WMXK radio stations.

Crews has been an active member of the March of Dimes regional board of directors in Johnson City, Hamblen County United Way's Loaned Executives program, Morristown Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Morristown Association and Greene County Partnership.

He is a graduate of Morristown West High School, the Professional Academy of Broadcasting in Knoxville and Dale Carnegie Training. Crews, his wife Melissa and their daughter Heather, 16, live in Whitesburg and attend Robertson Creek Baptist Church in Hawkins County.

For More Information

Business owners wishing to learn more about claiming their free listings or obtaining enhanced listings on CockeCountyMarketplace.com should contact Crews by calling 423-278-6734 or emailing Tim.Crews@CockeCountyMarketplace.com.