No one likes news these days.  I think even people in the news don’t like it.  It isn’t that there aren’t good things to report.  There are.  However, “news” and all its reporting agencies have become more than competitive, they have become combative.  Any organization, regardless of its ability (or desire) to be accurate or even pertinent, have entered the fray.  Liars accusing liars of lying about lying, as of my more cynical friends put it.

So why would we at RightSizeLife.com write “news”.  Well, because we have some new things happening and they are happening now and we want you to know about them.  In other words, “news” …old school, the way it was intended starting about the 14^th century when the term first appeared.  New information that the community, our community, might be interested in.

Site Changes

Right after the first of the year we started making some changes to the site to give it a crisp and inviting visual appeal.  Those changes continue.  We will be switching to a more magazine format where feature articles will appear at the very front of the page.  Beneath those 5 current features will be a host of other sections, just like a magazine, that will contain current and pertinent info that you can quickly navigate to.  This will include our S.O.S. {Shoppers on Site}, GCGC {Glass City Generated Content}, Right Size Markets and Retailers, Sponsors, and our exclusive T.A.F.I. {Toledo Area Festival Info} which will relaunch for the festival season in May.

Besides these obvious changes, we have added a shopping cart.  In that cart we have added a preliminary membership category.  This $15 membership, if bought in 2017, will be valid through 2018.  Although we are in the trial stages of membership now by the fall of 2017 our membership rules will be in place.  Members, as a minimum, will be able to full post and search on the site.  Site visitors will be able to search the most recent posts but not go back to find recipes, S.O.S. recommendations, or other useful information.  We are also building relationships with local sponsors for other membership discounts and benefits.

What is the value of membership now?  Frankly, we are working to be the go to site in our area for local shopping, event, and lifestyle information for our size households.  Besides the usual hosting and technical costs, at RightSizeLife.com we are committed to paying our freelance talent a fair and reasonable wage for contributing to our community.  Membership is a direct link from pertinent and thoughtful content and those who produce it.  Finally, although we are excited to begin partnering with local businesses as sponsors, we don’t want to load the site down with unnecessarily and noisy advertising.  Membership helps us keep our advertising as a service, rather than a cash cow.

Writers, Sponsors, Organizers, Oh My…

As we change the format of the site we are now looking to capitalize on our new space and new sections.  Are you a freelance writer?  Do you have ideas that you would like to see realized by our current writing team?  This is a great time to get in on the ground floor of our publication.  We have several people already contributing to our site.  If you have ideas or would like to become one of our writers, check out our submission guidelines and editorial policy.

T.A.F.I. {Toledo Area Festival Information} is now accepting sponsors and listings.  A basic listing will continue to be free.  This will include the name of your festival, fair, show, or outdoor event and the date.  Any listing information beyond has costs associated with the listing.  There is a basic enhanced listing plus a menu of additional “add-on’s” for increasing the visibility of your event.  You can find a rate sheet here or contact us for additional information.

Finally, we are excited about beginning our relationships with local businesses and service providers.  A recent interview with Dr. Pat Buchanan was the model for bringing service provider content to our community.  Glass City Generated Content is a growing section of our site.  Do you know of a service or business that might want to bring their message to our community like Dr. Pat did?  Let us know and we can contact them directly.  If you find value in the local goods and services you use, so will the rest of us!

Networking

RightSizeLife.com is excited to have joined with fellow businesses across the area to form meaningful and useful relationships.  We are now a part of the Maumee Chamber of Commerce.  Likewise, publisher Chris Watson has joined Partners for Success Chapter of BNI, an intense working group of businesses and entrepreneurs who form the core of our marketing and strategic planning advisors.  Many of the changes you are seeing to the site and our content is a direct result of these excellent minds helping us focus on the future.

We have also joined the WEN (Women’s Entrepreneurial Network) as part of our networking tapestry.  Because of our association with these great businesses and services RightSizeLife.com is proud to be a primary sponsor of Toledo Businesses Have Talent, a fun evening showcasing local talent and entertainers.  Prizes are available for the top three acts and the evening is family

friendly.  Sign up to perform or simply join us at the historic Maumee Indoor Theatre on May 11.  Detailed ticket and sign up information can be found here.

All these changes show two things.  First, we are in this for the long haul.  All of us at RightSizeLife.com are committed to becoming Toledo’s go to information site.  Second, these changes represent a deep desire to be better…better at our craft, better at our art, and better at providing you, our community, with the information, links, directions, and content that you desire and seek.  Our motto is and will remain:  Locally Focused, Locally Supported.  With your membership help and the sponsorship of our business partners, we expect to be in the orbit of our local culture for many years to come.