Times are changing–so are we

23. Mar, 2011 0 Comments

3-22-2011

Times change and businesses have to change with it. No longer do you see F W Woolworth, Kresses, even Circuit City. Now Borders and Blockbusters are going.

We are starting to call ourselves the Information Center for Central Texas. We have information flowing into us from many sources, some even from around the world. But its mainly the good folks like yourself that send us your information so we can share with others. Some of this information is official notices paid for by government agencies, cities and others. Some we have to go after.

The way we share this information with you is what is changing. Our basic product is still the printed newspaper, which most people, especially you older guys and gals, like to hold in your hand. Now the way we get that to you is changing and we can do it more efficiently. We can add color and colored photos which we couldn’t before.

We have a web site which is getting better with the help of Hope Gonzales who is learning all the new tricks.

We can update it anytime, at the drop of a hat if necessary. It seems space on the web site can be unlimited. Then you tie into other sites which we feel will be useful to you.

Email has certainly changed the way we do business. We have learned to send whole front pages over email. We could send the whole paper that way, but don’t feel it is practical for us to do that and keep it free. We hope to sell enough ads to keep our site free. We have brought in a national company to help sell the web site ads and our newspaper ads.

We can sell you pictures we run on the web on in the paper. We have a company for that.

And now you’re heard this before. We have an App for that. This means you can pickup our web site on any portable device which allows you to do that.

Facebook and Twitter have entered the picture and this gives you an easy way to give us feed back or comment on our stories and pictures. Craigs list helps us get part time workers.

So send us your information and we’ll help you get it out. Short and to the point and your information is more likely to go out.

Then there’s features that we will offer like ‘what’s best to cook this week’. Maybe a book review like we did last week. Some stories by local writers help us diversify.

Heloise offers Hints for everyday living. She has probably helped more people with everyday problems than we could ever know. Plan to be at the luncheon when she comes to town May 10. This is another way we are changing. Bringing you a live person to help you with your everyday problems.

In the past we have brought you boat and campers show to show you how to enjoy life. Pray we can keep doing this.

by Bill Foster