New site the place to be for locals to surf online

We’re a hit!

Like a nervous movie producer, the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman staff and management anxiously awaited Tuesday’s premier of the newspaper’s new Web site. We’re pleased that many of you find our new online presence attractive and useful as well.

Over the previous Tuesday, we drew about 7 percent more unique visitors to the new Frontiersman site, and boy have you been busy.

During the first two days, some 270 more visitors logged onto www.frontiersman.com than the previous week with the old site design. The real difference has been in where those visitors go on our new site.

The quick answer is everywhere. Tuesday and Wednesday, you recorded more than 31,000 page views, a spike of more than 61 percent over the previous Tuesday and Wednesday. We hope in addition to being more attractive, you’re finding www.frontiersman.com easier to navigate, has more on it and encourages more reader participation.

Our online poll, another new feature, asks if you like the look of our new Web site. By a margin of 9-1, you do.

One of the most exciting new features is our photo galleries. Not only can you see more of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman’s award-winning photography, you can share your own snapshots with the community. There’s a line on the front page right under the photo galleries to upload your own photos — birthday parties, that catch of a lifetime, the piano recital, the newest family arrival or even show off a new litter of puppies.

You’ll also like enhanced commenting on stories posted on the site. You can comment on a story, read the comments of others and easily see what others are commenting on under the “Talked About Stories” section, which lists those items receiving the most comments.

Visit often, comment when provoked and share your photos.

Another impressive upgrade

Three years removed from breaking ground in its new $2 million-plus press production facility, the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman and its parent company, Wick Communications, is making another significant investment into your hometown newspaper.

Work began this week to upgrade and expand the nine-unit Goss Community press installed in early 2005. Another three Goss Community units are being added to the press along with an upgrade to the folder (a machine that pulls paper through the press, folds and cuts it). Overall, it’s about another $250,000 investment.

Once complete in mid- to late September, you will see some welcome improvements to your thrice-weekly print edition of the Frontiersman. The new units allow us to produce more full-color throughout the newspaper while printing larger sections if needed.

What this means for advertisers is more opportunity to place full-color ads in more places through all the sections of the newspaper. For readers, it means you’ll see more color photos and design elements.

This month marks the 60th year for the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, and we’re as dedicated as ever to being the Valley’s community voice.