Chris Mahlmann was raised to view the proverbial glass as half full. That lifelong attitude inspired him to create ValpoLife.com, a comprehensive web site unveiled this spring covering positive news and events occurring in and around Valparaiso.
Connecting all aspects of the city, it provides information in five categories: business, sports, health, community and entertainment. Media include articles, blogs, photos, videos and podcasts. In addition, the site promotes local businesses with free listings and coupons. Every Friday, a companion electronic newsletter shares the week's top stories.
"We wanted to make sure there is no company or organization in Valpo that can't get exposed to everyone even if they don't have a marketing budget," explains Mahlmann (also publisher of the site).
Organizations seeking more visibility pay a fee in exchange for an expanded business profile feature. At the time of this interview, ValpoLife.com's audience was growing an average of 15% weekly. "The photo and video parts of the site ... have really exploded," Mahlmann reveals. Strongly appealing to residents, he notes, is the site's optimistic tone.
"That's probably the piece that has resonated the loudest," he reflects. "It's been extremely satisfying to get the kind of reaction we've gotten from the community. There are so many positive stories to be told. We're never going to run out." Ultimately, he hopes to bring the ValpoLife.com concept to more Hoosier communities.