“Blogging is just writing — writing using a particularly efficient type of publishing technology.” Simon Dumenco
The Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce website, clearlakeiowa.com is one of the top-ranked sites in the region (the top ranked site for keyword “Clear Lake” – which reaches beyond Iowa!). We welcomed 120,000+ unique website visitors to our refreshed website in 2021. Our web users viewed 471,000+ pages of content, searched our Chamber member business directory over 220,000 times, and the events calendar reigned supreme as our top viewed page with over 390,000 views.
Our blog continues to be a fan favorite. It is a reputable source for accurate information. It is the place where we can effectively tell our community’s story. We keep locals and visitors up to date with event information, and highlight area businesses. In 2021, we published 115 blog posts, which were enjoyed by thousands of readers! Over 100 of these were written by Rachel Wumkes, who also keeps us upbeat and motivated every week with her signature Feel Good Friday posts.
We decided to give Rachel a much-deserved day off, and to celebrate, here is a roundup of our Top 10 Blogs in 2021 (by page views).
10. Top 10 Tips for the Ultimate Beach Day in Clear Lake (May 27, 2021)
Coming in at #10 is a Top 10 list!
“Beach days are the best days of summer. Your toes in the water, the sun shining down from a cloudless sky. It’s easy to cast your cares away and get lost in the simplicity of the moment, enjoying every ounce the beauty of Clear Lake has to offer.
To ensure the utmost perfection for your day of frolicking along our beaches, we’ve compiled a list of tips for the ultimate beach day in Clear Lake!” Read More
9. Counting Down the Days (June 22, 2021) & The Answer to All Your Questions (June 29, 2022)
After missing out on July 4th festivities in 2020, the excitement for the 2021 July 4th Celebration was palpable!
“I’d like to make it known for the record that I, Rachel Wumkes, a forty-year-old woman of sound mind, has made a paper chain.
Yes, you read that correctly. A paper chain. Just like the one my Kindergartener made last winter to countdown the days until Christmas. It hangs proudly from the side of my desk and each day I discard one circle into the trash can.” Read More
The anticipation continued the following week when we updated our July 4th event schedule on the blog:
“As we are on the official Eve of our 4th of July Extravaganza, downtown Clear Lake is a buzz of activity. Set up is well underway as crews prepare for the carnival to open on Wednesday at 5PM. As you can imagine, the Chamber team is a flurry of running errands, completing last minute preparations, and answering the constantly-ringing phone.
And we are loving every minute of it!
We are SO EXCITED for the fun to begin. I hope each of you makes the BEST memories this week. We do, however, need to have twice the fun to make up for missing out last year, right?” Read More
8. A Scenic Resort Oasis (May 18, 2021)
We love featuring our Chamber member businesses on our blog! This was a fun one spotlighting PM Park & the Tiki Bar.
“I remember when I moved to this quaint little town eight years ago. We made many ‘lake laps’ checking out all the hot spots. One place, in particular, piqued my curiosity. A rustic-looking building, tucked into the shoreline on the south side of town. It reminded me a little bit of Kellerman’s.
Now, anyone who lived in the 80s and early 90s knows what I’m referencing, right? Not only did this movie produce the best one-liner of all time “Nobody puts Baby in the corner” – but the entire scenario of the movie was literally every girl’s dream. Head off to vacation with your parents, only to fall in love with the resorts dreamy dance instructor.
Sign me up!” Read More
7. We’re Hiring an Administrative Assistant (January 29, 2021)
This post was read over 1200 times, and in March 2021 Ashley Weiss joined our team! Stay tuned to the blog, as Ashley is going to flex her journalism skills on here soon!
6. The Famous Foxes of Clear Lake (June 23, 2021)
Now a best-selling children’s book, the Clear Lake foxes helped Rachel overcome a case of writer’s block!
“And, as I was walking, my mind floated to the Clear Lakers Facebook Page and the barrage of fox sightings that had been noted of late. Those furry little creatures seemed to be the one bright spot in an otherwise dark time of our lives. Every day was a new sighting, a new photo or video. The foxes were gaining notoriety around town, and it appeared they were here to stay.
Like a lightning bolt descending from the sky, it hit me. I should write a book about the Famous Foxes of Clear Lake!” Read More
5. Are You Ready to Rock (March 23, 2021)
Live, in-person events were returning in summer 2021, and this outdoor music festival on the shores at PM Park was a hit!
“After a year of postponements and cancellations, I think we are all ready for a bit of fun this summer, right? That cloud of disappointment lingering above us all has started to dissipate. The gentle winds of change blowing it off into the horizon and, hopefully, away from our lives for good.
So, I must ask you… are you ready to rock?” Read More
4. How to Visit the Buddy Holly Crash Site (June 2, 2021)
One of our goals for the 2021 blog was to answer some of our frequently asked questions. This one continues to be highly ranked as visitors wish to honor the three stars, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, JP “The Big Bopper” Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson at their memorial north of Clear Lake.
“It is a serene feeling to be standing in the midst of greatness, at the spot where they took their last breaths, wondering what could have been of these three musicians, had they not lost their lives so young. Alas, it was their fate, it seems, etching their place in the history books for all time. A fate we remember and hold dear to our hearts in Clear Lake, especially at the Surf Ballroom.
Because there, the music lives forever.” Read More
3. High Five Clear Lake (April 16, 2021)
This blog is a perfect example of Rachel’s positivity and outlook as we continued to navigate the ongoing pandemic last spring.
“Imagine my surprise when, in a desperate attempt to find something cool to write about this week, I stumbled upon the National Day Calendar. It always seems to come through for me, supplying some sort of prompt I can turn into an awesome blog post. And today was a true winner.
Because today, my friends, is National High Five Day!
Thanks for being awesome. Please continue your awesomeness on and hopefully soon we can greet you all with an actual germ-free high five! Your positivity and willingness to support our local economy makes us proud to live in this community.” Read More
2. Surf and Turf Fun at the Lake (April 13, 2021)
Another fun Featured Chamber Business post highlighting Movement Solutions and the addition of bicycles to their fleet!
“When you’re planning to spend a week at the Lake, the first thing you do is look into renting water equipment, right? Boat – check! Float Pad – check! Water toys – check, check! But did you know one of the most frequently asked questions by tourists who stop into the Chamber is where they can rent bicycles? It seems the age-old pastime of going for a bike ride is alive and well these days.
We all know our friends over at Movement Solutions have the hook-up when it comes to water rentals, but it turns out, they provide options for land lovers as well. Thankfully, they cover both the surf and turf for rentals at the lake, because they have bikes, bikes and more bikes available to rent.” Read More
1. The Glory Days of Woodford Island (April 6, 2021)
A popular feature in our visitor guide, Destination Clear Lake, this piece was also the top blog post of 2021!
“People often use the phrase “if walls could talk” when describing interesting events happening at a certain place. Regarding Woodford Island, it wouldn’t so much be the walls doing the talking, but the vegetation and the land itself.
Resting near the Bayside region on the south side of Clear Lake, the 3-acre island is a natural sanctuary of lush trees and thick brush, making it the perfect home for wildlife. A massive rock reef lies just under the surface of the water, every fisherman’s dream as they strive to catch the big one.
The Island was not always such a serene place of natural beauty. Back in its early days, it was just the opposite, actually. A hub of hustle and bustle, the island was ‘the place to be.’” Read More