Future Link Network

Basic Information

Stock Code
9241
Industry
Services
Category Detail
Internet Site Operations
Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
Establishment Year
March 2000
Listing Year
August 2021
Official Website
https://www.futurelink.co.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance
Other Companies
LIFULL, ITmedia, Cookpad, Kakaku.com, M3, Ateam Holdings, MarkLines, Sharing Technology, Creema, Bengoshi.com, Kamakura Shinsho, TORICO, DigiTalift

Overview

Future Link Network is an internet site operation company founded in 2000 centered on regional information platforms, with strengths in community-based information dissemination and growing in the market.

Current Situation

Future Link Network is expanding its business centered on the regional information platform 'Maipure' in fiscal 2023, building a stable revenue base. It collaborates with local shops, organizations, and others in 183 areas nationwide to contribute to regional community revitalization. It focuses on marketing support utilizing IT technology and public solutions. In recent years, it has strengthened local advertising services and promoted efficiency in site operations. Public-private partnership projects with local governments are expanding, achieving differentiation from competitors. Moving forward, it aims to accelerate growth through investments in technological innovation and digital marketing. It features management that maintains a stable financial base while pursuing sustainable growth.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • The regional information site 'Maipure' operates in 183 areas.
  • The name 'Maipure' derives from the English 'My Place'.
  • Head office located in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture.
  • Operates public-private collaborative portal site business in partnership with municipalities.
  • Has a long track record since its founding in 2000.
  • Expands regionally by absorbing and merging multiple local information sites.
  • Provides diverse information content aimed at regional revitalization.
  • SEO and SNS marketing support are also major business areas.
  • Also engages in ad agency operations and CM production collaborations.
  • Partially handles corporate indirect business outsourcing services.
  • Operates aggregation sites for regional festivals and event information.
  • Multi-faceted deployment handling regional lifestyle and community information.
  • Numerous achievements as official partners of local governments.
  • Implements region-limited campaigns in collaboration with local stores.
  • Continuously upgrades IT infrastructure to keep pace with digitalization.

Hidden Connections

  • Achieves improved reliability through data linkage with official municipal sites in each region.
  • Maintains deep cooperative relationships with regional shopping street promotion associations.
  • Contributes to information provision for local hospitals and public facilities.
  • Forms strong partnerships with regional ad agencies.
  • Begins information dissemination for inbound foreign visitors through multi-language support.
  • Numerous collaborative projects with local senior clubs and NPO organizations.
  • Built strong relationships through absorption and merger with Kakogawa City municipality in Hyogo Prefecture.
  • Recognized as a community-focused company through participation in regional event planning.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Expansion of demand for digital regional information
  • Advancement of digital shift by local governments
  • Demand for strengthened online marketing by regional shops
  • Deepening of regional community revitalization initiatives
  • Expansion of marketing support utilizing latest technologies such as AI
  • Nationwide expansion of public-private partnership portal site business
  • Active participation in municipal regional revitalization policies
  • Improved customizability of services for customers
  • Platform rollout to new areas
  • Rising social interest in sustainability

Strategic Goals

  • Rollout of regional information sites to 300 major areas nationwide
  • Doubling regional ad revenue and capturing new markets
  • Service sophistication through AI and big data utilization
  • Establishment of nationwide authority in public-private collaborative projects
  • Multi-language regional information support and promotion of international exchange
  • Strengthened contribution to realizing sustainable regional societies
  • Enhanced social trust and evaluation as a regional media company
  • Expanded revenue from digital marketing business
  • Creation of new services contributing to regional revitalization
  • Establishment of position as a company acquiring sustainability certifications

Business Segments

Regional Information Listing Service

Overview
Provides information listing support for local stores and organizations to promote regional revitalization.
Competitiveness
Extensive regional network and operational expertise
Customers
  • Local Shops
  • Small and Medium Enterprises
  • Municipalities
  • Administrative Organizations
  • Regional Groups
Products
  • Maipure Platform Usage
  • Regional Information Editing and Dissemination

Digital Marketing Support

Overview
Provides comprehensive digital marketing support tailored to local businesses.
Competitiveness
Flexible marketing strategies adapted to regional characteristics
Customers
  • Small and Medium Enterprises
  • Retailers
  • Restaurants
  • Local Service Businesses
Products
  • SEO Measures
  • SNS Utilization Support
  • Advertising Management Agency

Public-Private Partnership Business

Overview
Builds and operates portal sites in collaboration with municipalities to solve regional issues.
Competitiveness
Abundant track record and trusted relationships in public-private collaboration
Customers
  • Local Governments
  • Public Organizations
Products
  • Public-Private Collaborative Portal Site Development
  • Public Solution Provision

Content Planning and Production

Overview
Undertakes planning and production of community-focused content and advertising.
Competitiveness
Creative capabilities leveraging regional characteristics
Customers
  • Advertising Agencies
  • Local Governments
  • Corporations
Products
  • Web Content Planning
  • Advertising Production
  • Regional Event Planning

Indirect Business Outsourcing and Support

Overview
Provides outsourcing for corporate indirect departments to support efficiency improvements.
Competitiveness
High-quality BPO service provision system
Customers
  • Small and Medium Enterprises
  • Service Businesses
Products
  • Data Entry
  • Translation Services
  • Indirect Welfare Facility Operations

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Strong community-focused network
  • Platform deployment across multiple areas
  • Track record in public-private partnership projects
  • Regional specialized marketing support capabilities
  • High content planning and production skills
  • Robust regional community support foundation
  • Expertise in digital ad operations
  • Flexible customer response capabilities
  • Stable financial base
  • Continuous improvement in site operation technology
  • Abundant municipal partnerships
  • High information accuracy specialized for local markets
  • High retention rate of repeat users
  • Long-term relationship building with local shops
  • Diverse digital marketing services

Competitive Advantages

  • Market superiority from operating regional information sites in 183 areas
  • Gains trust from municipalities through public-private collaborative portal site development
  • High-precision ad targeting specialized for regional markets
  • Service design emphasizing regional community revitalization
  • Comprehensive business deployment including diverse outsourcing services
  • Differentiation from competitors by specializing in specialized information site operations
  • High customizability closely aligned with regional needs
  • Sales channel deployment utilizing both online and offline
  • Multiple brands with optimized services for each region
  • Integration of public solutions and marketing support
  • Efficient information editing and delivery power through digital technology
  • Business know-how directly supporting local shop revitalization
  • Differentiated value proposition through content production capabilities
  • Track record in building sustainable regional information dissemination platforms
  • Rapid response to competitors and flexible service improvements

Threats

  • Intensifying digital competition in regional media market
  • Decline in access due to diversification of information acquisition methods among younger generations
  • Market pressure from competition with major platforms
  • Risk of contraction in public-private projects due to municipal budget cuts
  • Decrease in ad demand due to regional economic stagnation
  • Service degradation from lagging behind technological evolution
  • Operational constraints from strengthened data privacy laws
  • Customer base dispersion due to increase in new entrants

Innovations

2023: Introduction of AI-Powered Corporate PR Copy Proposal System

Overview
Introduced AI technology to begin support for corporate PR copy creation.
Impact
Achieved improvements in sales support efficiency and customer satisfaction

2022: Development of Regional Specialized Digital Ad Management Platform

Overview
Strengthened effect measurement and optimization for community-focused advertising.
Impact
Contributed to maximizing ad effectiveness and revenue improvement

2021: Enhanced Multi-Regional Expansion of Public-Private Collaborative Portals

Overview
Accelerated nationwide rollout of portal sites for local governments.
Impact
Successfully strengthened municipal collaborations and increased new projects

2024: Expansion of SNS Marketing Support Services

Overview
Expanded provision of SNS utilization analysis and strategy proposals for regional companies.
Impact
Contributed to improved customer reach and engagement

Sustainability

  • Sustainable regional economic support through regional community revitalization
  • Promotion of energy-efficient data center usage
  • Building social trust through improved accuracy of regional information
  • Reduction of paper media through online platform utilization
  • Promotion of open communities encouraging diverse regional participation
  • Support for environmental conservation activities through collaboration with local governments
  • Participation in community-focused education and cultural business support
  • Establishment of fair and neutral information provision system
  • Promotion of social inclusion such as support for people with disabilities
  • Strengthened environmental and social awareness education for employees