The site has a new look, with individual stories listed on the opening page of each editorial section, and direct links to each story. The Kitsap County Links section has also been upgraded to include links to the web sites of advertisers in the printed edition of the paper, as well as those advertising on the site itself. Existing links to the EDC, ECRC, Chambers, Kitsap County, WSF, Port Districts and others remain online as well.

A search engine has been added to find stories archived in previous editions as well as the current one, and subscriptions, media kits and advertising information can all be ordered online as well as sending Letters to the Editor and other feedback.

But the biggest news is that readers will no longer have to wait four weeks for a new edition of the Business Journal. Stories will be updated on the site on a weekly basis, and appear every Monday.

“As the paper has grown, we’ve looked at publishing more frequently and weighed the costs of printing and mailing against the alternatives, said Coppola. “However, besides the increased costs, the big drawbacks were the time between when news actually happens and getting it to our readers. Also, being governed by the mechanics of the printing process, we often have more news than we have room to print. Using the Web is a win-win situation. It gives us the ability to be more immediate with the news and provide more of it to our readers, as well as save money. It’s a win for our readers and a win for us.”

“Our ISP, Telebyte N.W., did a detailed analysis of our Web traffic, and frankly, I was stunned at the sheer amount of traffic we get, and the time readers spend online with us. remarked Coppola. “This move seems like the perfect compliment to our printed paper.”

The Business Journal is also beta testing a system of e-mailing those updates to readers. If the system proves feasible, it will be offered as a premium service to readers willing to pay a small subscription fee to receive them in advance of their Web posting.

Unobtrusive advertising will also be available. Only one banner ad will appear at the bottom of each story, and it can be tailored to clients desiring their advertising to be coordinated with specific subject matter as well as have links embedded that directs traffic to their own Web site. There will be no other advertising on the site.

For more information on advertising on the Web site, contact the Business Journal at (360) 876-7900, (800) 733-7990 or dee@wetapple.com.