With nothing more than a thought about how the capital city area could benefit from a one-stop information hub, cofounders and entrepreneurial go-getters Marc Francoeur and Mark Warner of Life in Lansing have made their vision a reality.

Their goal: redefining the way local businesses, communities and people are able to get the word out with local talent through a unique broadcast website. Their brainstorming and research resulted in an innovative streaming video and content website called LifeinLansing.com.

LifeinLansing.com is emerging as one of the area’s leading information sites through unique and strategic efforts that are reshaping what area residents are finding to be useful and interesting.

“We visualized a positive and progressive media source that would incorporate business and lifestyles,” Francoeur and Warner share. “We wanted a venue that supported local business owners and the Lansing-area residents because there really is a lot going on here.”

What makes LifeinLansing.com a standout is simple. The content is based on providing an affordable and accessible way for small advertising budgets to be competitive. Through on-demand video, LifeinLansing.com is producing local Web shows that feature area talent, restaurants, sports, music, events and business awareness that appeal to any age. Their criteria for consideration: It has got to be local and beneficial to all.

“One of our biggest followings is the Prep Sports Showcase,” Francoeur explains. “We started filming (in partnership with Citadel) the area games of the week with a play-by-play commentary and have had a tremendously favorable response.  Coaches, players, families and recruiters love it,” he finishes.

Along with the Prep Sports Showcase, the site also features exclusive game coverage and video interviews with local talent Sam Hosey on the “Prep Sports Insider” segment.

Recognizing that area leaders and small business owners are working hard to keep the area economy and revitalization efforts a priority, Francoeur and Warner remain committed to providing a positive spin on what communities and commerce do provide rather than some of the negative impacts that have been painfully obvious to area storefronts.

“Let’s Go Eat with Johnny D is also a top favorite,” Warner says. “Johnny’s restaurant show, which is also on-demand video, showcases local eateries and the people who own them, sharing their story and the great food they offer through a more personal and in-depth talk or tour of the establishment.”

In all, LifeinLansing.com features seven specific shows with its own local personalities that highlight local events and happenings. The Mark & Anne Show provides personal interviews, on-site coverage of charity events, music and festival spotlights and coverage of just about any social venue that represents community involvement with a behind-the-scenes approach. What lends itself to credibility and sincerity is that its hosts, Mark Stiles and Anne Craft, are rooted in the Lansing-area communities, offering a combined 60 years’ experience of what life is actually like in the capital city region.

Francoeur and Warner acknowledge that this type of broadcasting is successful today due to the immense growth of technology and accessibility that dominates the information highway.  They also agree that streaming video plays a very important role in media coverage for several reasons.

“Five years ago the technology wasn’t available to make streaming video a reliable and consistent source for information,” Warner says. “Today, nearly every home in America has high-quality video on demand”

To further their belief is the fact that today’s consumer lives in what Francoeur coins as a “microwave society,” a trendy way of saying that people demand immediate access to information and results.

“Technology and growth are directly linked to our ever-changing and more demanding need for information at our fingertips,” Francoeur points out. “Consumers want to know what’s going on with a click of a button whether it is to find live, local music or a great place to eat.”

This also brings to mind the widely popular Live, Loud & Local music showcase which features exclusive interviews and coverage of not only local bands, but also nationally touring bands hitting the Lansing music scene. In partnership with 97.5 Now FM, LifeinLansing.com streams exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews, providing uncut performances and candid banter with its DJs.

“The WITL Country Music Source segment, which is in partnership with 100.7 WITL, is fast becoming an area favorite as well,” Warner states. “Rob Stone has been doing a great job as its host, bringing the country music connection in the area to a new level.”

LifeinLansing.com is growing.  Just a year ago when they started, the site was averaging 500 hits per month. Today, LifeinLansing.com is reporting just over 20,000 hits per month.

“We are still in the growth stage,” the two entrepreneurs acknowledge. “This means we are always looking for new shows and talent, and we encourage the public to contact us with ideas or feedback. Our goal is to bring together a sense of community and showcase what Lansing and its communities have to offer to the people that reside here.”