Small town hopes web brings big business

LAKE WALES - It may be true that you get nothin', for nothin'. But businesses in downtown Lake Wales expect to get a lot for almost no investment. Some say they already are.

Lake Wales Main Street just posted more than 30 videos on its website and on You Tube. Each one is a virtual tour, mostly of shops, restaurants, and stores.

Free advertising, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, essentially for free.

"Could you ever buy advertising like that?" asked Jan Privett. Privett is the new manager of Mainstreet, who came up the idea for videos, and now produces them.

"Advertising is generally pretty expensive, and in these economic times, this is the best way to go because you really have to watch your budget as a business owner," said Dee Hinshaw.

Hinshaw's world-renowned country inn and restaurant, Chalet Suzanne, is featured on one of the videos.

Even though the videos have only been posted for a few months, some businesses say they already see more people coming in.

>> Click here to visit Lake Wales Main Street.