Who Are We?  What’s It All About?

About 7Bends

“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”
– Thomas Jefferson

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
– The U.S. Declaration of Independence

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
– Margaret Mead – From a Journalism Point of View

Background and Opportunity

Nationwide, traditional newspapers are struggling; some are folding. At the same time, consumers are looking to the Internet and TV more than ever for their news. In the Shenandoah Valley, and beyond, many media outlets are cutting back on personnel and coverage, and are letting employees go or reducing their hours. In addition, many of the Valley-based publications have not made the transition to Internet-based information and advertising, so their subscription base and ad sales are floundering.

With the economy in rough shape, consumers need local, specific news that can help them and encourage them. And, small business owners and entrepreneurs need a smart, integrated way to market their products/services, especially via the web. The time – and the area – is ripe for a new approach that takes advantage of these market realities, and harnesses new technology.

Our Approach

7Bends.com will not be silent. Launched in May 2009, 7Bends.com is now the premiere uncensored, independent news website and marketing channel, serving the MidAtlantic states.

Our primary focus of operations is the Shenandoah Valley – along the Old Valley Pike (VA Route 11). This area extends roughly from the West Virginia/Pennsylvania border, down through Martinsburg, WV and Winchester, VA, and then on South through Strasburg, Woodstock, Mount Jackson, New Market, and Harrisonburg. We now cover surrounding areas, as well, and are extending our coverage to issues affecting the region, for example, the Marcellus shale natural oil drilling boom.

What You Can Count On From 7Bends.com

We are a small business ourselves; we are not owned by any corporation or government agency. We cover a wide variety of subjects and emerging issues. We tell stories of people of the Valley – stories that beg to be told.

We cover the stories that traditional, corporate-owned media do not cover because they exist to make money and thus their content (the news they report on) is affected by what furthers their particular business and political interests. Our interests lie with the people of the Valley, of the U.S., and with the U.S. Constitution.

We believe that corporations have gotten too greedy and government has gotten too big. And often, they are in collaboration with each other to use the people for their own means. Populism and activism – each person taking back his/her power – is the answer.

We also cover world events, especially as to how it affect those living in the MidAtlantic. The Marcellus shale natural gas drilling threat is one such story, for example, that affects our whole area. We will stand against developers and corporations and the government taking our land and our rights.

The way we figure it: anything that affects the world, affects the people of the Valley, and vice versa. We are all connected – literally, and when we all realize this and begin acting that way, peace will follow.

You can count on 7Bends.com standing up for the people. We will publish the reality of what’s going on in the world, in Virginia, and in the Valley, without censoring it. People can handle it and deserve to know the details of issues so they can decide and stand up for what they know and believe.

How to send us ideas for articles, issues, or people to cover:

- Email to: Editor ~at~ 7Bends.com.

- Add us to your media list.

- Get involved on the site: Add a Comment at the bottom of any article on 7Bends.com, and start a dialogue. Tell others about what’s close to your heart.

From a Marketing Point of View

7Bends.com is a fully “optimized” web site – with social networking capabilities. That means that we have built the back-end of the 7Bends.com web site to be a powerful outreach and marketing channel. Custom articles written and placed on 7Bends.com are generally out on Google (and other major search engines within a few minutes of being posted. And, all of our articles have stand-alone permalinks, so people can go back and see any article that’s appeared on 7Bends – a definite advantage for marketing purposes.

7Bends,com was developed to include hard-to-find local information – which appeals to local residents and businesses, and is positive in nature. Examples include: a comprehensive business calendar, entertainment calendar, job search leads, economic development news, and features on local children, adults, and seniors.

All press releases that appear on 7Bends.com are included verbatim, including election, candidate and political press releases. We feel it’s important that our readers know that we do not change the words of any press release we print. Exactly what a candidate provides to 7Bends is what you will see on 7Bends. (Candidate and residents can also post Comments on the end of any article).

For the visually impaired and multi-taskers - For those who cannot see or read well, each story on 7Bends.com is powered by Odiogo – a software that reads an article aloud on the web. Odiogo is also a great feature if you’re multitasking and you just want to hear the news on 7Bends, rather than scan it.

All articles are written by 7Bends.com staff, or are authorized by 7Bends.com to appear on the site.

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A Bit About Our History

In May 2009, we launched 7Bends.com – to be the premiere uncensored, independent online news source for the Shenandoah Valley. Since, we have grown the web site, marketing it nationally and internationally, and getting picked up by regional and national news aggregators and blog feeds. Our traffic and readership has grown accordingly, and we have expanded our coverage to the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

[This past Spring, we also launched a blog on the 7Bends.com web site - dedicated to a broader galactic audience.]

Though most people now get their news on the web, at that same time, we also made plans to launch a print companion piece to the web site – in order to give advertisers in the Valley a multi-channel way to promoting their businesses and their web sites. We offered combined web and print advertising packages.

Thus, in June and in September 2009, 7 Bends published a full-color, print publication called, 7 Bends of the Shenandoah Valley – named after the seven twists and turns of the Shenandoah River that run through the Valley near Route 11 (where most of the small businesses of the Valley and the downtown commerce areas are located).

Approx. 10,000 – 12,000 copies of the magazine (Summer and Fall 2009) were distributed not just in the Valley, but also in portions of Northern Virginia – in order to create synergy between Valley businesses and Northern Virginia consumers. Residents of Northern Virginia need a relaxing place to visit, and in this economy – and anytime – Valley businesses sure can use the extra income from tourists from all areas, including those living close by – in the Greater D.C. area.

At the end of 2009, the cost of printing the magazine just became too expensive as compared to the number of small businesses that could afford to advertise. Our operations were hit by the economy much like many other struggling small businesses. But, as Americans, we pick up and move forward in the best manner possible.

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As always, here at 7Bends.com, our personal mission is to be real with the news. And, our strategic objective is to bridge business opportunities between the Valley and outlying areas, expanding the range – and success – for small businesses and consumers on both ends.

Through our parent organization, Shenandoah Marketing Services (CS-Shen.com), we also offer web site optimization, web copy writing, public relations assistance, web marketing seminars/training, and business plan development – along with an understanding, experienced and insightful eye and ear when it comes to refining an idea into a business.

We’re excited about the new Summer Website Promotion Package that we just launched – which takes many of the web marketing and PR principles we use to promote the 7Bends.com web site, and offers an affordable way for small business owners to drive targeted traffic to their own web sites.

We look forward to interacting with you. Give us a shout, share your news tips, and ideas. We welcome the collaboration.

Onward!