As we approach
our 10 year anniversary of
promoting the Great Sacandaga Lake I am looking
back at what we have built together. Our very
first month in 2003 began with only 62 unique
visitors to the web site, now our busy months
have over 15,000 unique visitors and 700,000
hits. We continue to grow an average of 1,000
unique visitors per month over last year. Unlike
some publications where they see your ads by
chance, visitors are actually looking for you
and take the time to read your advertisements
and follow through with contacting you or visiting
your web site.
With the invention of social networking and the changes
to the search engine algorithms, the world has changed
again. Now, visitors are using their smart phones to
access the internet more frequently than they are using
their laptops. This is great for us, because when they
are looking for a place to eat or stay or something
to do on the Great Sacandaga Lake we come up first
almost every time.
This year I am going to focus on adding your Facebook
badges to your ads. Although social networking is controversial
it seems to be here to stay and is a valuable tool
for us to get information out to potential customers.
It also reminds people we exist and that they should
stop by. I encourage you to claim your Facebook place
and post a message at least once a week.
Visit Sacandaga again has many new sections and articles,
including sections on our native trees, animals, butterflies,
and dragonflies. The nature pages have been a big hit!
We now have Lou's Lake report a very popular blog!
We have also started monthly blogs on history and gardening.
The history blog is being reproduced at the Adirondack
Almanac and is currently featuring our historical markers
which are also being submitted to the National Data
Base.
In addition to the fishing and fish/game cookbooks,
I have added many new interactive maps such as Boat
Launches, Canoeing Routes, and the Great Sacandaga
Day Ride for our Bikers and Leaf Peepers. The menu guide has an entirely
new format with reviews and menu links. Real Estate now has direct links
to everyone’s listings as well as links to their web sites.
The history pages are chock full
of new articles from LL Decker. We are still working
on our kids pages – All
about fun things to do with your children including
coloring pages and games!
Our mission is to keep this affordable for everyone.
We now take credit card payments online at http://www.visitsacandaga.com/add
me.htm Or click the Add me button at the bottom of
every page. Emery Designs is running a boost the economy
special for those of you without web sites. We will
get you designed and set up for $500.00 (plus the cost
of hosting and your domain name). At this point having
a website is as necessary as having a business card
- and we want you to be able to have one!
Thank-you for supporting www.VisitSacandaga.com for the last 8 years and
Celebrate with us by making sure we have your business updated on the site!
Thanks!
Elizabeth L. Emery (Betsy)
