Aurora small businesses offered free ads on new kiosks

With the official "flipping of the switch" on Oct. 14, the City of Aurora entered into the next stage of smart city technology with the implementation of new CityPost smart digital kiosks in downtown Aurora and at the Route 59 Commuter Station.

"Our new smart digital kiosks will help promote our city to residents and visitors alike," said Mayor Richard C. Irvin. "The kiosks will also provide an opportunity for small businesses to promote their services to hundreds of thousands of people."

Operated by Smart City Media, the CityPost kiosks are touch-screen devices complete with accessible information in multiple languages ranging from community events and local attractions to wayfinding directions and promotional ads for local small businesses.

"The Aurora small business community will be able to post ads to our kiosks located throughout high traffic areas for free," said Mike Mainthow, vice president of Smart City Media, the company that operates CityPost kiosks across the country.

Free business posts are interactive and include a "landing page" that allows viewers to learn about the business, including product and service information, discounts, coupons and more.

Businesses can also purchase paid ad slots that will rotate in a broadcast loop for a specific length of time.

To begin placing ads, business owners can visit citypost.us and select "Aurora" to open an account.

Posts will be viewable at all of the eight kiosks and via the CityPost app that is available in the App Store and on Google Play.

Kiosks are located at Aurora City Hall, the Paramount Theatre, the Paramount School of the Arts, RiverEdge Park, the Aurora Transportation Center on Route 25 and the Route 59 Commuter Station. Another will be installed at SciTech Museum.

To learn more and to download a small business kit in English and Spanish, visit www.aurora-il.org/SmartKiosks.