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February 7, 2007
Bustin' Out: Blogging Full Time
We've been mumbling for some time now about quitting our day job to devote ourselves full-time to blogging. Well, by this time next week, that dream will be a reality. For a variety of reasons, we're going to have to keep a low profile for a few more weeks, but we'll be throwing a coming out party by house tour season for sure.
So what does this mean? In addition to no longer dreading getting out of bed in the morning, we'll have a lot more time to focus on building the content of the site. The first sign of this will come on March 1 when we launch a new Contractor Ratings feature (hey, at least the brokerate.com software was good for something!). We're looking for a few beta testers in the meantime, so if you've had occasion to use a GC, plumber, carpenter, etc. in recent months and wouldn't mind spending a few minutes uploading some info and kicking the tires on the new site, please drop us an email at brownstoner@brownstoner.com. We're also about ready with some new slide show technology that will let us start doing more interiors and renovation features. In addition, we are already working on some off-line events for the Brownstoner community (more on those later).
Until now, there has not been a lot of pressure for the site to generate income, a luxury which goes out the window with this move. Obviously we think the trade-off of a few more ads will be more than worth the benefit to the site of our full-time attention. And although we don't think Brownstoner's going to feel any more commercial going forward, we are going to spend some time trying to increase the number of direct ads on both this site and Brooklyn Record, as Google ads won't exactly pay the mortgage. The one thing we would ask of our readers would be to please participate in the reader survey we're going to put up in the next few days. While it's primarily to help us get a clearer picture of reader demographics for the purpose of selling ads, we bet there are more than a few of you who will be curious to hear the results.
In the meantime, we'd like to thank everyone who has sent us tips, participated in discussions and contributed content over the past two years. The next two should be even more fun!
Cheers,
Mr. B
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Comments
Whoo-hoo! Congrats. I'm happy for all of us.
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 10:07 AM
Congrats
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 10:07 AM
Congratulations!!! It has been a great two years with you - looking forward to many more!!!
Posted by: Amybnyc at February 7, 2007 10:09 AM
Good Luck. I come here several times a day. I read you, Andrew Sullivan, TAPPED, and Huffington Post.
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 10:11 AM
wait a minute, the income from a blog with ads equals a wall st career? are you getting kickbacks from gateway or something? i knew this was a racket!
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at February 7, 2007 10:13 AM
Yay! Congrats!
Posted by: anonymous at February 7, 2007 10:14 AM
Right on Mr. B. Livin' the dream!!!
-pk
Posted by: pk at February 7, 2007 10:16 AM
Good for you! Congrats and Good Luck!
Posted by: SeamusMacD at February 7, 2007 10:18 AM
Good for you! Welcome to the world of the self employed. You don't know when your next paycheck is coming in, but you get to have a life! (sort of)
Suggestion on the ads....I don't really look at them on any site, but if I'm in the market for something, I prefer a listing of links. You can have both, but for a person with little patience (me), it's easier to look under the "plumbing" category than to sift through lovely banner ads.
Posted by: yente at February 7, 2007 10:22 AM
I'm impressed. My husband is jealous. It will now be twice as hard for him to get out of bed in the morning, knowing that someone else is living the dream.
Congrats!
Posted by: Amy at February 7, 2007 10:24 AM
Focus on keeping the comments free of trolls and extreme maniacs who are hurting this website. Standard New York City maniacs are ok though.
Posted by: GrandPa at February 7, 2007 10:24 AM
Please work on moving the forum http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/
from the current format to something like phpBB.
The way it is formatted now, only post made in the last few days get any responses.
Anything in the past just gets overlooked. A phpBB would allow for topics and recent posts
in that topic would "bubble up" to the top. So instead of everyone asking the same dozen question
over and over again, the forum would actually be a useful resource.
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 10:31 AM
you're bonus must be huge!
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 10:33 AM
your bonus must be huge!
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 10:34 AM
Congratulations! Am excited about the future of brownstoner!
Posted by: rfsgreene at February 7, 2007 10:35 AM
you are crazy!!
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 10:38 AM
Congrats Mr. B. I don't mind the trolls. Anyone on any given day can be considered a troll when their opinion doesn't mesh with the masses. I think they usually make for good conversations. Anything that either challenges or bolsters one's property value is usually going to get more hits.
I also agree with Yente. I barely even realized there are adds on this site. But when I want to find something I'd much rather see organized.
Good luck going forward. I think I'm going to hold out for ONE MORE BONUS... then I'm OUTTA HERE!!! :-)
Posted by: NewStoner at February 7, 2007 10:39 AM
Unfortunately the bonus wasn't huge but it was time to give this our full focus. Hopefully we won't be launching a new site next year call Brownboxer...
Posted by: brownstoner at February 7, 2007 10:41 AM
Mazel Tov!!!
I wish you all the best, it's a positive move for you, and of course to all devoted readers of this blog.
All the best.
Posted by: Mentch at February 7, 2007 10:45 AM
Mr. B. Good for you. Congratulations and good luck! Grandpa, thanks for making that distinction between extreme maniacs and standard NY Maniacs, who are definately OK. Good luck!!
Posted by: donatella at February 7, 2007 10:48 AM
I love the contractor ratings idea! I always felt that the Franklin Report is for rich people and could never get a sense of what is affordable when I read their ratings. Thanks Mr. B!
Posted by: Emily at February 7, 2007 10:49 AM
Congratulations! This is great news! Now you'll have time to come over to our place and help us sheetrock!
Posted by: P + G at February 7, 2007 10:52 AM
Congratulations! Looking forward to all the new stuff!
Posted by: babs at February 7, 2007 10:57 AM
Congrats to you both! Best of luck.
I love the idea of a contractor rating system. The Franklin Report stinks.
Posted by: jenirf at February 7, 2007 11:02 AM
Contractor ratings will make this site a serious draw (like it isn't already!)
congrats!
Posted by: anon at February 7, 2007 11:40 AM
God bless. As I've written before, your site has been a godsend. For years I've been looking for a brownstone in brooklyn and felt isolated and alone in my search. Finding your site and the community you've put together has made the ordeal a little less scary-- and (PS) I finally found my brownstone. It was one of your HOTD postings. If all goes well, I'll repay the favor with a renovation blog. Love the idea of a contractor rating system. I'll be happy to participate in anyway i can.
Posted by: mikez at February 7, 2007 11:42 AM
I am excited for you, for your family but most of all for us since now we get to see who is behind the curtain! Congrats!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 11:45 AM
Congratulations on your retirement. How many years until the social security kicks in? I think the idea of "off-line" events is a great idea, whatever they turn out to be. Maybe we could play "Pin The Name On The Reader", where we try to figure out which person is Jimmy Legs, Electricgreek, Mentch, etc.
You could have your readers brainstorm different ideas for things that could be Brownstoner branded to help supplement your income.
Posted by: Shahn Andersen at February 7, 2007 11:48 AM
Free at last! Free at last!
Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Stoner. Brush the haters off your shoulder and keep it moving. I am both jealous and inspired.
Posted by: C-Roy at February 7, 2007 11:48 AM
ooh, we get to see who's behind the curtain? awesome. congrats on the self-employment and the ditching of wall street!
Posted by: sylvia at February 7, 2007 11:49 AM
So are you going to update your own Reno blog http://www.brownstoner.com/renovations/
the last entry was November 16, 2005. Surely you have done "something" to the place since then?
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 11:52 AM
congrats, but let me get this straight. you work on wall st. and have time to post an already high volume of content throughout the day? in addition, you earn enough at this arguably part-time wall st. job to buy a brownstone? are you like milton from office space or something (just a second there, professor. we, uh, we fixed the *glitch*)? my experience on wall st. is that big money only comes with big responsibility. i have no time to run a blog from my desk as fun as that would be. must be nice...
Posted by: gpt at February 7, 2007 12:33 PM
Good for you and good for us. I kind of like the annonymity. Preserve it. The blog is already addictive but can't wait for more Brownstoner with my morining, afternoon and evening cup of joe!
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 12:47 PM
Come on 'Stoner, fess up what you really do on Wall Street..."Wall St" covers a lot of things from M&A stud monkey to backoffice ticket processor...I think some people have the impression that you are a "master of the universe"...me'thinks if you were you would not be quitting to run a contractor rating system...
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 12:49 PM
I am THRILLED for you both! That is just wonderful, this site is amazing, and you paid your dues. HERE HERE to you both!!
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 1:04 PM
Sweet. I'm with yente and NewStoner on the ad thing. Congratulations and kudos to you.
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 1:19 PM
GPT, I'm sure that Brownstoner writes all of his posts in his free time at home in the evenings, and posts on this site during the day only when he has spare time. Aren't you sitting at your desk reading this blog while you are at work? Does that mean that you are committing salary fraud?
Each employer establishes their own rules for web surfing and email use during the day. I'm sure he is allowed to check and respond to emails, and occassionally logs on to his site to make a small update or two. It's my guess that even though what he has been doing is technically permitted by his employer, he didn't want to give any appearance of impropriety, and thus kept his identity a secret.
I used to work a 9-6 job with an hour commute each way while owning and managing a few rental properties. Most of the time, my property management job could be done at night and on weekends, but occassionally I had to use my lunch break to coordinate things with a contractor, etc. When it started to get in the way of my work, I resigned. I'm sure that's what Mr. B is doing.
Posted by: Shahn Andersen at February 7, 2007 1:21 PM
i am very happy for you.
good luck.
Posted by: esj at February 7, 2007 1:23 PM
Hmmmm 12:49, has it ever occurred to you that sometimes money isn't the most important thing in life? I've seen people take a 100% paycut to pursue their passion...
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 1:25 PM
GPT, CLEARLY you are not as clever as Mr and Mrs Brownstoner... or you would be giving your notice today to work from home as well! He manages to do it, ethically I am sure- on lunch, etc, and I am so glad they get to do this full time from now on! Right on!
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 3:58 PM
Welcome to the Pajama Game! Glad you listened to the Voice of Binky (a Roz Chast reference, that) and are getting out of that day job...good luck making ends meet. Note: Store-brand mac&cheese is not quite as good as name-brand Kraft, the 25-cents-a-box savings tends not to be worth the accompanying blow to one's self-esteem; any other self-employment tips you need, just holler.
Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at February 7, 2007 4:02 PM
Hey Mr B
Mr Doran here from the times
the most unreliable blogger in the known universe!
I too am busint out of Murdochrity and have some very exciting news, but alas, the email i send to you are now returned from Brownstone Brothers removals????
Please get in touch my name at gmail.com
Posted by: james doran at February 7, 2007 4:16 PM
Congratulations Mr. B. I'm sure you'll do well.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 7, 2007 5:05 PM
Well done my friend.
I was wondering when you were going to make the official announcement. It must feel great to get all this support and encouragement from your community of readers.
-whitbo
Posted by: Whitbo at February 7, 2007 5:25 PM
Congratulations! Will you now be the new guy with the laptop and the hoodie hanging out in Choice Market?
Posted by: tinarina at February 7, 2007 5:45 PM
We'll be shacking up with folks at Etsy.com for the near future...
Posted by: brownstoner at February 7, 2007 7:32 PM
Congratulations, Mr. B. I have no doubt that you will be an unqualified success.
When you find yourself hating to get up and go to work, it's a sure sign from the universe that it's time for a change. I'm looking forward to seeing the new changes, and hopefully meeting you and the other folks at many events.
Welcome to the world of self employment. It can be very scary, yet so very rewarding. All the best.
Posted by: Crown Heights Proud at February 7, 2007 8:04 PM
What about selling the site to yahoo or google for a cool 200 Million like those myspace people??
Posted by: Anonymous at February 7, 2007 9:02 PM
I just went to etsy.com for the first time. I consider myself a fairly with-it person and I have no idea whether or not the site is a joke. I clicked on "toys" and found the scariest looking sock puppet I have ever seen for 9 dollars.
Posted by: west at February 7, 2007 9:07 PM
Good work and good luck, Mr. B. I can't see why anyone would have any problem with more ads at the site. As long as everything's transparent and you keep church and state separate, who cares? That's how for-profit publications keep themselves afloat... unless all your good readers volunteer to pay a handsome subscription fee.
Posted by: linusvanpelt at February 7, 2007 9:23 PM
Yeah, you deserve to make money doing Brownstoner related stuff. Your online "promotion" of Brooklyn has helped make a lot of people a lot of money in Brooklyn real estate. It's time to claim a slice of the pie.
I have mixed feelings regarding the potential success of a contractor rating site. Most people in the real estate investment business, like myself, will not recommend my contractors because the last thing I need is for them to be more busy then they already are.
There's a reason only a few names are ever recommended on this site and it's not because a lot of us don't know good, affordable contractors.
It's like a chef giving away his secret recipe -- won't happen.
You'll get the guys who are looking for work rating themselves.
Posted by: Jake the Snake at February 7, 2007 10:23 PM
I am so jealous!! And very happy for too. I am addicted, get caught at work looking at your site. You will do so well and I can't wait for the contractor site. Wish I was you!
Posted by: mtp at February 7, 2007 11:01 PM
cool mr b :). g rats to you guys :).
Posted by: armchair_warrior at February 8, 2007 12:48 AM
I spend more time on Brownstoner.com than I do reading the New York Times, which freaks me out and is probably an illness. But I do. And I have subscribed to the Times 7 days for the last 9 years or so, the older four of which were in Chicago. Thanks for your great work.
Posted by: Bob999 at February 8, 2007 1:27 AM
congradulations!!!
i read your site everyday !!!
been reading it for years!!
next thing you know, you'll be putting out a book, with Donald Trump. then i will read it and learn your secrets and emulate your success!!
Whoo-hoo! as Homer S. says
Posted by: Mr. Peabody at February 8, 2007 2:30 AM
Congrats!!! Jealous I am.
Posted by: Bedstuyer at February 8, 2007 11:27 AM
Thanks for the words of encouragement, everyone.
Posted by: brownstoner at February 8, 2007 3:47 PM
How awesome! Congratulations and best wishes to you both!
Posted by: OldMillBasin at February 9, 2007 1:43 PM
absolutely fabulous
congratulations
Posted by: ms.crownheights reno at February 11, 2007 1:10 PM
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