Hello, My Name Is Steve And I Have Hyperlocalbloggeritus
by Matt on Jan 16, 2009 in Blogging, Guest Posts
This is a guest post by Steve Sherron, a hyperlocal blogger in Monroe, NC. Steve recently launched Monroe Scoop and shares ideas and tips that he’s learned in a little more than a month of hyperlocal blogging.
My name is Steve Sherron and I have a confession: I’m sick. I’ve been struck with Hyperlocalbloggeritus.
According to Google research and other experts, Hyperlocalbloggeritus is a disease that has the possibility of becoming a full-blown national epidemic. It’s an affliction that will only get worse. It starts out innocently enough by infecting your city. From there it spreads through the internet into your local community. Unfortunately, the disease continues and attacks your local neighborhood meetings and restaurants in the form of news reports and reviews. Once Hyperlocalbloggeritus reaches your local community, I understand there is no cure.
The carriers of this disease appear to be local bloggers. For years and years, the only defense against this horrible disease was an antibiotic known as your local newspaper. Ever since paper media started declining, this infectious virus has been rearing it’s ugly head. Some cyberdoctors are directly accusing video cameras and YouTube for the massive spread of this disease. Currently, there is no known cure.
My situation is bleak. I’m a hyperlocal blogger in Monroe, NC. I originally found HyperlocalBlogger.com on a Google Alert I had set up for myself for local niche blogs. I discovered that Matt was already infected. I was newly diagnosed and needed information. I devoured his blog for information. After a few comments that I made on here, he extended an offer for those suffering from the same affliction to write a guest post. I would like to thank Matt for the invitation to share with you a little of my story and what I have learned in the short time that I have been struck with hyperlocal blogging.
Over the last 3 years, I made career decisions that have turned out to be somewhat disastrous.
In 2006, I became a real estate developer in Coastal North Carolina where I owned property along with my best friend and business partner. Long story short … bad move. Who knew what was coming? In 2007, we noticed the sky seemed to be falling on real estate a little, but we persevered. I went out and earned my real estate license and joined a local firm. As a real estate agent, your lifeblood and ability to survive depends on your marketing efforts. I became very interested in learning how to build web sites and shoot video. The sky continued to fall and in 2008 it completely fell on top of this nation’s head. Chicken Little was not lying. The ending is yet to be written on my real estate ventures. I’m praying for a good outcome.
My local real estate market has been announced officially dead. While enduring this slow death, I had managed to learn a few marketing and video skills. I discovered a few things about myself over the last couple of years:
- I do not particularly like being a real estate agent in a bad market. It’s hard, thankless work if there are no buyers.
- I discovered that I am happiest when I am working online or making videos.
As I began trying to determine where I might find my future online, the fog slowly began to lift. The word that kept popping up was local … local … local. In my personal circumstances, I am convinced that my best chance for success is going to be in my local market. I have discovered since I began this journey that local folks are starving for attention and publicity for their business or organization. Most do not understand SEO. Few have web sites. There is a gap and a need just waiting to be filled. I became a perfect candidate for Hyperlocalbloggeritus.
My prescription to anyone considering a hyperlocal blog is to quit thinking about it and just do it.
Seriously people, avoid paralysis by analysis and get off your keester. I started without a detailed plan of action. I still do not have this venture totally mapped out yet. My main concern from day one has been to research and select a few keywords and keyword phrases and start building content. Google found my site immediately and now I’m slowly ranking for my selected keywords. I’ve managed to rank #1 for a few longtail keywords.
My hometown paper does not do such a hot job covering local news and events. This lack of coverage creates an opportunity for a hyperlocal blogger: Who is covering your local Crime Stoppers BBQ? Who is covering your local weather events? Look at what Matt just did during the flood event. He grabbed his video camera and immediately posted flood videos. He experienced a surge in traffic. Exactly as the experts warned. Video cameras and YouTube. Matt is obviously a carrier of Hyperlocalbloggeritus. We can all do the same in our own community.
I published my first local article on December 4, 2008. By January 11, 2009, I had published my 30th article. On January 12th, I find my web site on three locations on page two of Google for my targeted keywords. I’m not an SEO Doctor by any stretch of the imagination. If I can do this, so can you.
In this short amount of time, I have received great support from my community. I’ve had three separate inquiries about advertising on my site. I recently received an e-mail from our mayor thanking me for my National Guard article and video. One of our city councilmen contacted me and is interested in involving me in some work for the city. I’m happy with my progress in such a short time. I must confess though, I still do not have an actual plan mapped out yet. However, my direction is becoming a little more focused. Having Hyperlocalbloggeritus is starting to be cool.
Matt knows the importance of going local. He and his wife started four hyperlocal blogs recently. My advice to you is to go local. Believe me, your community is starving for coverage. Doors will open for you. Just start posting, using your local community keywords and phrases. Tell your friends, family and neighbors that you have been struck with the disease. The word will get out. Print up some business cards and hand them out everywhere you go. Come out of the closet.
Comments
6 Responses to “Hello, My Name Is Steve And I Have Hyperlocalbloggeritus”
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Greetings, Matt –
This article has really encouraged me! I’m not sure how I found your website recently, but I can’t tell you how much of a boost it is to me, as it looks like I’m a hyperlocal blogger, too!
As does Steve Sherron, I too live in North Carolina, but in the small town of Lewisville, which is just outside of Winston-Salem.
In August 2008 I launched a local photo/events blog. My experience has been similar to Steve’s in terms of local response. I was even featured in an article in the Winston-Salem Journal several weeks ago, and that has helped increase exposure and local interest in my blog.
Of course, I’m existing on financial fumes right now, and I do hope to eventually get advertisers/sponsors. When that happens, though, I have no clue, at the moment, as to how to price ads. I guess I’ll deal with that “problem” when it comes!
Thanks so much for your great and supportive blog, Matt. I look forward to future posts.
All the best,
Deb Phillips – The Photo Gal
LewisvillePhotos.com
Thank you Matt for the opportunity to write this guest post on your blog. Your blog helps those of us out here just getting started and you could probably never fully realize the impact of your positive influence. Your knowledge and willingness to share is greatly appreciated. What can I say? I’m a Matt McGee fan.
I think I would say,
“I have about 20,000 jobs to offer you. Just 20,000. One for each city or town in America. But you have to act now. Once the job is taken in each respective city, it’s taken. Which one of you will be the hyperlocal blogger for your town?”
Miriam
Duh…I meant to leave that comment on Matt’s post asking what to say about Hyperlocal Blogging.
On this post I meant to say, “hey, what a fun post! Clearly, Steve has been bitten by the dreaded hyperlocal bug.”
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