Check Out DFW proudly states on the site that it is: “The first-of-its-kind real estate and local recommendations product that helps locals live more enjoyable lives.” Launched in the fall of 2021 in a very media crowded Dallas/ Ft. Worth metroplex market, Jed Williams, who spent one year as Chief Revenue Officer at Ken Doctor's experimental start-up Lookout Local and close to four years managing strategy and innovation for the Local Media Association, teamed up with well-known industry veteran David Arkin (who led content initiatives for Gatehouse, Local Media Association, Community Impact Newspapers and others) to go all-in with sponsored content in this new venture. Arkin is Check Out DFW’s chief content officer, and Williams is chief revenue officer.
Right now, the platform focuses on the area’s most affluent and growing communities offering content "verticals" for each area defined as Schools, Subdivisions, Resources, Guides, Things to do, Profiles, New to town, New to Texas and more. Plus, there is a growing newsletter database as well. However, all content is sponsored by a local business crafted as a marketing partnership between Check Out DFW and the Advertiser.
In this 125th episode of “E&P Reports,” Publisher Mike Blinder interviews industry veterans Jed Williams and David Arkin about why they decided to move entirely into the sponsored content space with Check Out DFW. And what they see as the opportunity for initially growing audience and revenue in Dallas, Ft. Worth with this new model, and then moving into other markets as well.
