Trying Something New

You may have noticed I’m trying something new this year — publishing a new article every. single. day.

I’m not new to blogging.

I started publicly posting my thoughts and ideas around 20 years ago when a “blog” was more commonly referred to as a “web log”.

The first couple years of those posts have been lost to the ages and the march of technology. The original journaling platforms I used aren’t even around anymore, and I never thought to save those original posts — who’d be interested at this point?

This incarnation of my website boasts posts from as early as 2002, but current wisdom and SEO practices say most of those older posts should be removed. I don’t disagree — I’m sure no one cares about me sharing a link to some interview on website that no longer exists or my old Amazon affiliate link (which I’m certain is woefully outdated) to whatever book or CD I was enjoying at the time.

When I started blogging, I would average a single post per week.
Sometimes more (sometimes less) depending on whether or not inspiration struck.
Then my posting habit dropped to once a month, and then even that trickle of text dried up, and I ended 2019 with a paltry three posts for the entire year.

I do writing for client projects and I own other websites where I post content as well — but this website is my home base and I was letting my home deteriorate.

At the start of the new year I was determined to renewed my focus on consistently publishing new articles on dontheideaguy.com

On January 1st I began a habit of publishing a new blog post every day. As you can see, 10 days later and I’m still going.

This attempt to start something new hasn’t gone unnoticed — especially by those of you received email notification of new posts on the website. You went from getting just a handful of email notifications in the last couple years to seeing a new email from me in your inbox every morning.

My hope is that since you signed-up to receive messages from me that you’re enjoying (finally!) getting some long overdue communications. But at least a few of you weren’t fans of the daily alert and chose to Unsubscribe. That’s totally fine with me — a daily message might be a bit much for some and way more than you were originally told to expect.

I do want to make certain that you’re aware of the “Subscriber Settings” link at the bottom of every email I send out. If you click the link you will be able to check (or uncheck) boxes of the email messages you prefer to receive from me. There are currently three lists that will display on your settings page:

• Don the Idea Guy | Insiders
• New Article Alerts from the Idea Guy Blog
• Big Yellow Sticky

You can subscribe (or unsubscribe or re-subscribe) from one or more of the list options anytime you wish — just check/uncheck the appropriate box on your Subscriber Settings page.

If you’re a member of the Insiders list you’ll received infrequent messages from me that you won’t usually see me share anywhere else. Ideas, links, resources, offers, etc. These are personal email messages from me to you.

The New Article Alerts is the one that went from just three notifications last year, to what will be daily alerts in 2020. I completely understand if you don’t need to know I published an article every single day (though some part of you might want to stay on the list just in case I falter and miss a day — it could happen!).

And the Big Yellow Sticky list sends you a daily message (I told you I was writing on other websites!) that includes an inspirational or thought-provoking message written on a 3×3 yellow Post-it note.

I think my self-challenge to share a new article every day this year is going to be an interesting experiment (and proof positive that anyone can do it). I hope you’ll stick around for the journey, whether you’re on the email list or just choose to visit the page directly.

If you are not on the list and you’d like to be added, just visit the “Free Ideas” page and sign-up (and please share the link with any of your friends you think would enjoy the content and ideas shared on my website).

Thanks!