End of the Road for this Hyperlocal Blogger
If any group of readers understands the hard work and time commitment involved in blogging, it’s you. So I’m optimistic that you’ll understand completely when I say this: After a little more than two years of calling HyperlocalBlogger.com home, the sun has set and I’ll be shutting the blog down.
The reasons are simple, and some are probably obvious:
I’m simply too busy to keep the blog going. You may have noticed that there were only two posts in all of October, and those were simple link roundups. My work at Search Engine Land and Sphinn is taking more time than ever, and likely to expand more in the not-too-distant future. My blogging at Small Business Search Marketing helps put food on the table and has to be a higher priority than Hyperlocal Blogger, which has always been a hobby. Just last week, I signed an agreement with Omnibus Press to publish an update of my book, U2 – A Diary, which was originally published in 2008. That work will take up most of my free time over the next several months.
I’ve basically spread myself too thin and am now making tough decisions on where my time is best focused. There’s a chance the four hyperlocal blogs my wife and I started to help her real estate career may also be shuttered soon; haven’t decided on that just yet.
What Will Happen to HyperlocalBlogger.com?
I told a close friend about this decision a week or two ago, and he suggested I sell the blog. Hmmmm. I’ve never monetized this site and never made a real hard push to promote it far and wide. I don’t know who would be interested in it or what it’s worth but, after thinking about it, if someone wants to buy the entire blog with all my previous content, or wants to buy just the domain, speak up now.
To be frank, I don’t expect anything to come of that. So, in all likelihood, the blog will sit in its current state for some time. You’ll be able to read and reference old articles. And, someday, when I have time (ha!), I’ll probably grab the best content and move it over to my SmallBusinessSEM.com site. And then I’ll do a 301 redirect on this entire domain and point it there. But that won’t happen soon; too busy.
Closing Words to Readers
Thank you.
Since day one, this blog has been a learning experience for me — a place to post about my own successes and failures as a local blogger. Some of you have been so kind as to tell me this blog has become a learning source for you, too. That’s pretty much the best thing you could tell me.
Despite my overall lack of promotion, we built a fun, active, and generous community here. You helped each other time and time again in the comments. I loved watching that happen. And it was only possible because you all joined in, and then told your friends in the hyperlocal blogging space to join in, too.
Again, thank you.
I’m sorry that I can’t keep serving this community of readers, but I hope that you all keep kicking a** and serving yours. Best of luck in all you do.
- Matt
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