Dollars and Sense

Posted by admin

Here is an interesting story unfolding…..

Recently the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce has embarked on a campaign to take away a website I own lakeisabellafishingderby.com as well as prohibit me from printing unique souvenir t shirts (with my domain and the business owners’ name) that are sold wholesale to local merchants for the merchants to profit.

The website I use to promote the derby itself and sell simple fishing guides for the lake with tips on catching tagged fish.

Since my development of the website and sales of the shirt, the chamber has spent money and time to restrain and/or intimidate me, Sierra Signs and the merchants that are carrying my t shirts.

While historically the nature of the derby has been to promote prosperity for all local business and the community, I would suggest actions that the chamber is currently in the practice of competing with local business by stifling free enterprise and the practice of crony capitalism.

Let’s paint a picture….

Last year, the Chamber had the largest turnout ever for the fishing derby, collecting the most money they ever had from the event.

Since that derby, the chamber had gotten itself in some trouble with some grant money they received and almost had to pay it back. I don’t have all the details as the story was suppressed by the media AKA Marsha Smith. Apparently they did not do some promotion of the valley properly to satisfy the grant. Whatever ended up happening, I guess they finally figured out a way to keep the money. The important thing is they had to backtrack as they weren’t doing part of their job, which is promoting tourism, and the news never said “boo” about it.

Next, every year the chamber has found someone willing to invest their own time and money to attend the Long Beach Outdoor Trade Show. The largest in the state. This year, nobody went, and the SHAME of the situation is that the chamber was not “willing” to pay for somebody’s fuel, food and lodging expenses to go to the show and promote the Kern River Valley.

NOW, the Chamber is taking every effort and most likely will spend money to battle me over the use of my website and production of souvenir t shirts. When the website I use I link to it in publications I write for OUTSIDE the valley. My t shirts in no way imply they are “official” shirts and the ones they say are “official” don’t say they are “official”.  Maybe they are just jealous as mine are much more attractive than the ghetto red ones they produced?

So folks… keep in mind, the chamber is very interested in SAVING money when it comes to promoting tourism for our valley but they are interested in SPENDING money to suppress any innovative business person or idea they feel is a threat to their perceived control over who gets to earn money in this valley. Especially when it makes them look lazy, cheap and stupid.

They are interested in ZERO growth for the community, only in holding on tightly to the “nickel” they think they will lose if anyone opens a new business or competes against them. They don’t like an upset in the delicate balance of poverty, yet they won’t allow individuals to innovate and  improve their financial status so there will be more money to spend at the local businesses.

Shame on our Chamber’s of Commerce!

March 2010


Who Owns The Internet?

Posted by admin

We all know Al Gore invented the internet, but there seems to be a lot of confusion locally over who is allowed to create websites related to our beloved Kern River Valley.

Keep in mind that WWW stands for World Wide Web, and just about anyone with an internet connection from anywhere in the world can legally register a domain and create a website whether it is a site about popcorn, pets or the Kern River Valley.

This troubles some people. They seem to believe that since they existed locally before me (and surely others to come) and created a few regional sites that somehow nobody else is allowed to design, promote or profit from the promotion of tourism in the Kern River Valley!  As a matter of fact they have even convinced many business owners and some of our local organizations of this. Just because we live in a somewhat isolated community people, doesn’t mean we need to think that way.

Let me ask you a question. If those who have been historically promoting tourism and business here are doing such a wonderful job, how come so many businesses are hurting or closing down, and how come each year it seems we have less and less visitors on holiday weekends where the campgrounds have been historically jam packed?

I know the Forest Service keeps adding and changing fees for use of the campgrounds, but they do that all over the state, and country for that matter, not just here so it isn’t the introduction of fees necessarily causing the problem. With the economy in a depression (that’s right, a depression not a recession) the news reports that vacationers are opting for more local resources of recreation rather than exotic locations and long distance airplane trips. How come then, we don’t have historically high numbers of visitors?

March 2010


Cheap Cheap Cheap

Posted by admin

Most of us have shopped a price on a new car. Hopefully you realize that not all cars are created equally thus the prices vary. A car is a car yes, but a Mercedes is much different than a Kia for instance, thus the difference in sticker price.

Shopping for a web designer or website is no different.

There are plenty of “so called” professionals that will offer you bargain basement pricing and others that want your first born child.

Webmaster’s always have a portfolio, but I would always recommend that you not only look at the work they have done, but also contact the clients to see what kind of results they are receiving or support offered since the site has been launched.

There are other factors with websites such as sometimes hidden features for search engines to rank a site highly based on terms pertinent to your business.

For instance, you own a Bob’s Shoe Store and you have a web site built for it, just because you can go to Google and type in “Bob’s Shoe Store” and get your site to show up on the first page DOES NOT mean you have great search engine recognition.

Excellent site design and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) helps Google and other search engines to discover your web site when people are searching for “relevant” terms to your products and services.

So in the shoe store example above you would want your site to appear on first page results when someone searched for “sneakers”, “loafers”, “hiking boots” and other similar terms.

A professional knows how to do that. So don’t be snowed when someone tricks you into thinking  your website shows up well on Google when the exact name is typed into the search.

There are designers that will try just that, and offer their services on the cheap. Godaddy might even get you to believe with their site builder you can get high ranking with a site builder they offer, but don’t be fooled, I guarantee that if your business is selling shoes, Godaddy’s site builder will not turn you into a professional webmaster.

I always tell people that I may not be the cheapest solution in town, but for every $1 spent I give $5 worth of service!

My #1 product, KV411.com is a very reasonably priced promotional tool for your business, and get’s high ranking on many business related terms in the Kern River Valley. I understand that there are others on the horizon that are offering similar services for free. Please don’t confuse what I have to offer with what they have to offer!

Always remember “You get what you pay for” , especially with web services. Now while that might be true, I say with me, “You get more than what you paid for!”

Now I am not telling you to not go ahead and use the free service. In today’s tough economy, why not take advantage of such a free tool?

What I am saying is don’t use the free tool, and feel confident that it is everything you need to succeed.

If your considering creating a site, or revising your existing one, please feel  free to contact me for a free, HONEST consultation on what I can do for you!

March 2010