BY: RACHEL WUMKES
In 1997, Jorn Barger, blogger for Robot Wisdom, coined the term “weblog.” The term described his process for “logging the web” as he surfed the internet. Programmer Peter Merholz shortened it to “blog” in 1999..
Blogging became popular during the late 1990s with the boom of technological advancements in the computer industry. Bloggers have capitalized on being experts in their industries, writing about everything from politics to food tips and tricks.
And all the topics in between.
The Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce website, clearlakeiowa.com is one of the top-ranked sites in the region. It is the top ranked site for keyword “Clear Lake” – with a reach beyond Iowa!. Our web users viewed 589,154 pages of content last year. We welcomed 260,705 unique website visitors to our site. This was more than double the unique visitors from the previous year. And our events page was clicked over 160,000 times.
Embedded within the website lives the ever-popular Clear Lake Blog. A favorite with both residents and seasonal guests, the blog keeps people informed on our many events and happenings around town. It also serves as a place to highlight special interests and showcase our Chamber Members within the community. We published 125 blog posts in 2022 – with 116 of them coming fresh from the fingertips of our blogger, Rachel Wumkes.
Here is our roundup of the Top Ten blogs (by page views) for 2022!
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End of Summer Celebration in Clear Lake (August 30, 2022)
*1014 page views*
We typically hate to see the summer come to a close at the Lake, but this epic parking lot party put on by four powerhouse companies made it a little bit easier!
“Does anyone know what happens when four powerhouse companies in Clear Lake come together to plan the ultimate end of summer party? I’d like to think it was something like an explosive eruption in the universe, causing a great big plume of awesomeness to rise into the sky. That their brainstorm sessions conjured up such a plethora of fun it couldn’t be contained inside a building for fear it would blow the roof off.” Read More
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Ice Fishing Tournaments on Clear Lake (January 12, 2022)
*1212 page views*
It’s no secret the hard-water anglers are in heaven during the winter months at the Lake. These tournaments brought fisherman to town in droves, hoping to claim success on the ice.
“Turns out, ice fishing is a multi-million-dollar activity enjoyed by thousands and thousands of people each winter and soon, Clear Lake will be swarming with ice fishermen who came to town to try their hand at winning a tournament. They’ll bring their gadgets and gizmos and all the ice fishing things in search of catching the big one. Or, in some cases, a lot of little ones.” Read More
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Christmas by the Lake 2022 (November 30, 2022)
*1713 page views*
My fingers were a flurry of activity as I typed up all the fun activities planned. This blog highlighted the schedule of events as we kicked off the holidays at the Lake.
“I’m not sure “flurry of activity” is the right phrase to use in this title. It might be more of a full-on blizzard of activity. All the fun will be swirling around Main Avenue in Clear Lake this weekend. The Christmas cheer will be so thick, you won’t be able to see straight from being simply delirious with joy.” Read More
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It’s For the Birds (April 27th, 2022)
*1719 page views*
This piece was a fun one to write! The Basic Birder in Clear Lake has since closed its doors, but you can still stop and see them for all things bird at their Mason City location!
“Now, you may be thinking we are still a way off from the migration patterns of birds given the cooler than normal temperatures and blustery winds we’ve been graced with this season. It turns out, however, that birds don’t have an internal weather meter and will come in the spring even if Mother Nature isn’t being very friendly!” Read More
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Clear Lake’s 4th of July Extravaganza (June 24, 2022)
*2335 page views*
Obviously this one made the list. It’s only the biggest and best Independence Day Celebration around!
“I can’t decide if my favorite part is riding all the carnival rides. Or the endless array of food. Ooohh, but I can’t forget about the fresh-squeezed lemonade. Maybe it’s the live bands scheduled for EVERY single night in the bandshell. Oh, and then there’s the Lakeside Vendor Market.
And who doesn’t love to play BINGO?!??!” Read More
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Color the Wind Clear Lake, Iowa (February 9, 2022)
*2675 page views*
Color the Wind is just one of those incredibly cool experiences you have to see for yourself. This blog was a hit with the masses, as people came from far and wide to see the brightly colored kits above our frozen lake.
“After a one-year hiatus due to the change of hands in event planning, the Color the Wind Kite Festival is back in 2022 to harness the wind for beauty and fun. In a twist of fate, this year we also recognize the wind for its power and productivity within the world. If there was ever a collaboration written in the stars – it was the day Apex Clean Energy became the presenting sponsor of this spectacular event.” Read More
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National Bourbon Day (June 14, 2022)
*2940 page views*
While the majority of our blog posts feature Clear Lake events and activities, sometimes these little fun ones sneak in there out of nowhere! Celebrating National Days throughout the year is a great way to promote our Chamber Members.
“People across the United States will be lifting a glass of bourbon today. A toast on National Bourbon Day as we celebrate the anniversary of the very first time this famous drink was distilled. It may only be legend dated all the way back to the 1700s, but it still constitutes a celebration.” Read More
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The Lady of the Lake: Celebrating 35 Years in Clear Lake (March 18, 2022)
*3492 page views*
This blog was featured in our visitor guide, Destination Clear Lake. It was the perfect tribute to our favorite lady in town.
“Looking across the water on a sunny, summer day in Clear Lake, there’s a chance you will see one of the most iconic sights in the area – The Lady of the Lake.
The beautiful paddlewheel ferry was built in 1960. Its original use was to transport passengers across the Missouri River, a service offered back before full-scale bridges had been built.
Today, the Lady of the Lake makes her home in Clear Lake at the sea wall during the peak season of use. Her story, however, of how she became a premier tourist attraction in North Iowa is rather interesting.” Read More
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Winter Dance Party 2022 at the Surf Ballroom (February 1, 2022)
*3909 page views*
Rock and Roll is here to stay, it will never die! Winter Dance Party weekend at the Surf Ballroom and Museum is always a favorite in Clear Lake.
“Rock ‘n’ Roll fans from across the globe will definitely be happy this weekend as the Winter Dance Party kicks off a three-day celebration at the historic Surf Ballroom.
The event, which was on hiatus last year due to COVID-19, is back and better than ever. Donning their poodle skirts and saddle shoes, concert goers are excited to hit the newly refurbished dance floor to kick up their heels and have some good old-fashioned fun!” Read More
1 Vacation in Clear Lake, Iowa (February 15, 2022)
*4703 page views*
This piece was written in the dead of winter. As the bitter cold swept through the Midwest, we began dreaming of sunny days at the beach and summer sunsets over the water.
Apparently, everyone else did, too!
“Winter blues? What winter blues! Plan your vacation at Clear Lake today and watch those winter blues fade away.” Read More