For Business Owners

Get Spotlighted

Get more customers by being recognized as a trusted business in the local community.

What's Included

Everything you get when your business is listed — at no cost.

  • Dedicated Business Profile A custom page on 505 Spotlight featuring your story, photos, contact info, hours, and a direct link to your website. Written for you and optimized for Google.
  • Local SEO Visibility Your profile is built to rank in Google for Greater Albuquerque-specific searches. When someone searches for your type of business in this area, you show up!
  • Featured in the Community Your business is showcased alongside other trusted 505 Spotlight businesses on the homepage, category pages, and local guides.

What to Expect

  1. 1 Submit Your Application Fill out the form below with your business details. Takes less than 2 minutes.
  2. 2 I Review Within 3 Business Days I review your application to make sure your business is a great fit for the 505 Spotlight community and I'll let you know either way.
  3. 3 Quick 15-Minute Call If approved, I schedule a short call to hear your story. No prep needed, just tell me about your business and why you love serving your area.
  4. 4 Your Profile Goes Live I write your profile, optimize it for local search, and publish it on the site. You start getting discovered by greater Albuquerque local residents instantly.

Got Questions?

I've Got Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Who runs 505 Spotlight?

My name is Aubrey Portwood. I grew up in Roswell, New Mexico, went to New Mexico State University, and moved to Albuquerque in 2020. I spent over a decade working for agencies like WebDevStudios and AwesomeMotive as a web developer working with big companies like Microsoft, Starbucks, and Uber. Last year I decided to create this website and began focusing on helping local businesses succeed, because I think they deserve to succeed more.

Is there a fee to be listed?

No. Listing your business is completely free. I believe great local businesses deserve exposure based on merit, not marketing budgets.

How do you decide which businesses get spotlighted?

I review every application to ensure the business is locally owned or locally operated, serves the greater Albuquerque area, and has a strong reputation. I look for businesses that locals would genuinely recommend.

Does my business need to be physically located in Albuquerque?

Not necessarily. If you actively serve people in the greater Albuquerque area, including Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales, Los Ranchos, Bernalillo, or nearby communities, you are welcome to apply.

What happens after I submit the form?

I review applications within 3 business days. If approved, I will schedule a quick 15-minute call to learn about your business. No prep is needed. Just tell me your story. After the call, I write your profile and publish it on the site.

Can I update my listing after it goes live?

Absolutely. Just contact me with any changes to your profile and I will update it for you.

Tell Me About Your Business

Application

Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance, we only spotlight the best local businesses.

You do not need a website to apply.

About 505 Spotlight

Join the Cause

I believe more local businesses should be able to do what they love for the community they serve. Businesses that care about Albuquerque don't need to spend thousands on ads just to get noticed. People choose local businesses for the people behind them and the quality of what they do. Reviews are usually how they learn about those things, but reviews only tell half the story. Businesses have more to say about who they are and what makes them unique. 505 Spotlight exists to help tell those stories.

After a decade working for agencies and large brands, I started 505 Spotlight to help the best local businesses get their story told. I want people to know who is behind each business, not just a name, a rating, or another directory listing. I'm on a quest to interview as many of the best local businesses as I can across Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales, Los Ranchos, and Bernalillo.

Spotlights here are free, but invitation-only. I interview and vet every business I feature, then tell their story when they have something really special to share. They're not here because they paid to be seen. They take pride in what they do and are the kind of local businesses people would recommend to friends, family, and neighbors.

We spotlight great businesses and help locals find the right fit. If you want to know who's behind a business, what makes it special, and whether it's a good fit for you, you're in the right place.

Aubrey Portwood

I'm Aubrey Portwood, the Content Director for 505 Spotlight