You are invited to The Icon party 6-7 p.m. today
Guess who's throwing a first anniversary party... and it is today.
The Bluffton Icon, Bluffton's free on-line news source, celebrates its first anniversary with a party at Common Grounds.The event, open to the public, is from 6 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 22, the actually anniversary date that the website went live in 2009.
Guests will be treated to free Bluffton Icon coffee, a birthday cake, cupcakes and the unveiling of a special Bluffton Icon-flavored Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn. The event will also include a ribbon cutting.The Bluffton Icon, LLC, is owned by Fred and Mary Pannabecker Steiner. Ryan Lowry is the technical director.
"We are very pleased to hold this event," said Fred Steiner. "We never dreamed that after launching The Icon that it would have over 125,000 views in its first year."He added that the advertising support from the community has been tremendous.
"From the very beginning we wanted to create an affordable news and advertising opportunity for Bluffton. Our goal was to create an internet site that would allow Bluffton businesses to advertise at a fair rate and reach as many potential local customers as we could provide them," said Steiner.Among those special advertising features include free classified advertising.
At the moment The Icon has 22 long-term advertisers. Several more will be joining soon. Viewership continues to increase as the word about The Icon gets around. Over the past 30 days, according to Google Analytics,
The Icon has averaged between 450 and 500 individual viewers each day.While not ever viewer checks The Icon daily, Steiners estimate that over a 30-day period The Icon has between 1,000 and 1,700 individual viewers. Nearly 85 percent of the viewers live in the Bluffton school district or within a 20-mile radius of Bluffton.
"With our first 365 days behind us, we have many new plans for 2010-11," said Steiner. "We plan to launch several new features on The Icon, which will increase viewership even greater than it is now."
"We appreciate the encouragement from countless persons we've talked with over the past year. Without this support and encouragement we could never be where we are today," said Steiner. "We hope as many viewers as possible visit with us on our anniversary party on Sept. 22."
Stories Posted This Week
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Pirate baseball win vs. Tigers
- Bluffton softball edged in battle of Pirates
- Committee meetings scheduled for Bluffton Council
- #1 recommended attraction in NW Ohio is in Ada
- Mental Health Awareness event with Seth Gehle
- Ohio highway patrol promoting motorcycle safety
- Recap of Bluffton Board of Education meeting for April 2025
- Weekend Doctor: Antidepressants in the long term
Friday, May 2, 2025
- BHS seniors exhibit art at Gallery 323 through May 7
- What's in your weekend?
- Pirate softball blanked by Lancers
- Pirate baseball blanked by Lincolnview
- Laman Promoted to VP Retail Credit Manager by CNB
- Local land conservancy hires first Executive Director
- Steiner to present Swiss Family Migration program on May 21
- 850 Days of Caring volunteers will pitch in for Hancock County
Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Angel M. Langhals owned LFE/API Meters
- Allen Co. task force targets target sex and human traffickers
- Blessing of the Bikes, May 4
- Metzger honored at 2025 Black Swamp Council meeting
- Volunteer invitation for Bluffton Pathway Count in May
- Pirate tennis edges Ottawa-Glandorf
- Bluffton EMS station staffing goes 24/7 on May 1
- You are what you eat: Link to immune system
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
- Observation deck added to Motter Park cascading pools project
- Bluffton Women in Business meet May 15
- Four sportsmen stock 200 trout at Buckeye Lake
- Pirate girls, boys 2nd at Minster track quad
- Pirate baseball win vs. Riverdale
- Pirate softball loss vs. Riverdale
- Field reports from NW Ohio wildlife officers