My thanks to KIO Contributors, Readers, Advertisers...
Sept 5, 2014 1:24:38 GMT -4
bchevy, bluecrabber, and 1 more like this
Post by Rich Fisher on Sept 5, 2014 1:24:38 GMT -4
This has been something that I have wanted to get off my chest for some time now...
I just wanted to personally thank everyone that continue to use Kent Island Online. You may know that we have a competitor imitating what we have worked so hard to create here, especially these Forums. I can't thank you enough for the continued support. I've received a bunch of Emails asking me what I think of this particular media resource copying KIO and I really don't have too many harsh words for them at this point, just a heartfelt thanks to you.
My $0.02... As everyone knows, print is fizzling and online is growing. The problem that many papers face is that they are just too late to the online game and can't compete with the already established online businesses. The fact that Amazon.com bought the Washington Post speaks volumes, as does the recent layoffs at USA Today, the Examiner folding, etc. Locally, that is what KIO is up against right now - a local paper trying to use our model to gain an online presence to counter the inevitable decline in their readership. Every paper has a website as they should, but what concerned me was the straight-up imitation of KIO, right down to using the same service provider and forum design, "experts" section, etc., that we have. I considered going on the offensive, pointing out who they are and what they did...since I am a bit of a hothead (for better or worse, usually worse) when people do things like that to me - but friends convinced me to just let it go. I'm glad that I listened because they never came close to us. I'm relieved and humbled that our contributors, readers, and advertisers stuck with KIO and actually helped us grow bigger in the last six months than we did over the last 15 years!
If you don't know who I'm talking about - they are really not all that important or even relevant right now. I should actually thank them for forcing me to step up my game! I just wanted to let you all know that it means the world to me that you all have stuck with KIO. We'll continue to grow this thing and my promise to you is that I will do my best to offer new features and relevant information as soon as it comes in. Look for another KIO Appreciation Party soon too. Any area pubs that want in - please let me know. I really want to have this be a big, fun party! We'll make it worth your while
Kent Island Online started out as a simple one page forum in 1998 for people to communicate and has grown into a community guide, news resource, events site, coupon money saver, and a huge Forum section with a big social media presence of Facebook, Twitter, and Linked-in. Thanks for helping this once little sleepy website grow to the most read resource in the area. I couldn't have imagined that KIO would get this big when I started it as a way to simply learn HTML. Your support absolutely means the world to me personally.
I just wanted to personally thank everyone that continue to use Kent Island Online. You may know that we have a competitor imitating what we have worked so hard to create here, especially these Forums. I can't thank you enough for the continued support. I've received a bunch of Emails asking me what I think of this particular media resource copying KIO and I really don't have too many harsh words for them at this point, just a heartfelt thanks to you.
My $0.02... As everyone knows, print is fizzling and online is growing. The problem that many papers face is that they are just too late to the online game and can't compete with the already established online businesses. The fact that Amazon.com bought the Washington Post speaks volumes, as does the recent layoffs at USA Today, the Examiner folding, etc. Locally, that is what KIO is up against right now - a local paper trying to use our model to gain an online presence to counter the inevitable decline in their readership. Every paper has a website as they should, but what concerned me was the straight-up imitation of KIO, right down to using the same service provider and forum design, "experts" section, etc., that we have. I considered going on the offensive, pointing out who they are and what they did...since I am a bit of a hothead (for better or worse, usually worse) when people do things like that to me - but friends convinced me to just let it go. I'm glad that I listened because they never came close to us. I'm relieved and humbled that our contributors, readers, and advertisers stuck with KIO and actually helped us grow bigger in the last six months than we did over the last 15 years!
If you don't know who I'm talking about - they are really not all that important or even relevant right now. I should actually thank them for forcing me to step up my game! I just wanted to let you all know that it means the world to me that you all have stuck with KIO. We'll continue to grow this thing and my promise to you is that I will do my best to offer new features and relevant information as soon as it comes in. Look for another KIO Appreciation Party soon too. Any area pubs that want in - please let me know. I really want to have this be a big, fun party! We'll make it worth your while
Kent Island Online started out as a simple one page forum in 1998 for people to communicate and has grown into a community guide, news resource, events site, coupon money saver, and a huge Forum section with a big social media presence of Facebook, Twitter, and Linked-in. Thanks for helping this once little sleepy website grow to the most read resource in the area. I couldn't have imagined that KIO would get this big when I started it as a way to simply learn HTML. Your support absolutely means the world to me personally.