What to do? What to do? Every half-year or so I wonder what the heck it is I am doing writing on this thing every day in one way or another. Greg Clow got me thinking this morning as he posts about going to a whisk(e)y session at what he describes as "a cocktail consulting firm here in Toronto." That just sounds fancy. I don't get access to fancy all that much. Living in Easlakia, I have to make things up to get along in life. No cocktail consulting firms here to feed me information and free Manhattans. Note: find way to include more free Manhattans in life.
It is sponsorship hitting up time. This year I am being more intelligent about it and seeking some purpose. I am hoping to tie revenue into doing more work on Ontario and central New York brewing pre-lager history, not only to determine what the beer was like but to establish, even if only in my own mind, that the legacy of 1700s Albany strong ale continued into Ontario via the Tory Loyalists who resettled at the end of the War of Independence in 1783. It seems a reasonable assumption that self-sufficient farmers who no doubt made their own beer in village "X" in 1770 in a certain way would make their own beer in village "Y" in that same certain way in 1790. A hypothesis. One I can get my teeth into if I could get to the archives that sit hundreds of kilometres to the east west and south. Hence my quest for patrons. Any other hypotheses sitting around that I can poke a stick at? I am going to follow up with Ohio Beer Week. It would be fun to wave at crowds from a float in the shape of a beer barrel.
What else could I work away at? I could try to understand who the heck you are. There seems to be now over 10,000 of you following on Google Reader but only 450 direct visits a day. I wonder if modes of reading are changing that rapidly that quips on Twitter or Facebook with links to here are enough for some of you, that you don't even go read the posts. What does that mean for the future? How do you read this blog now?
What else? Any thoughts? I like to keep it lively.
Comments
Robert - January 18, 2011 9:26 AM
You should try and get sites that sell beer merch to send you free stuff and review it. It's a win-win for you and us. I've been (and I'm sure others have too) the unfortunate recipient of knock-off crap on ebay. I found a couple on google: http://www.boozingear.com and http://www.beertees.com.
Stephen Beaumont - January 18, 2011 10:09 AM
What To Do With This Here Beer Blog In 2011?
When you've got that sussed, please let me know, okay?
M. Noix - January 18, 2011 11:41 AM
Sir! Sir! I have a suggestion, sir!
Can we have some kind of notification system so that when we post a comment we don't forget to check back and see if there's been any follow up?
All the other blogs have one, sir.
Maureen Ogle - January 18, 2011 12:03 PM
Well, I read on Google reader and so often don't come to the site. BUT: I also don't read because I'm interested in beer. I'm interested in your brain and what comes out of it, so I'm definitely not a representative reader if you're looking for "sponsors" since I don't fit the demographic your sponsors would be wanting.
But, hey, if I have any bright ideas, I'll pass 'em along.
Lisa - January 18, 2011 12:43 PM
I read on a RSS reader- I've come to your site due to your plea. I guess I represent the reader who's interested in beer news/info- I think I may have even found your site as a recommendation off another site (re: beer) on my reader.
Good luck!
Pok - January 18, 2011 1:12 PM
How about some investigative reportage? There's an election coming both federally and provincially - what is in the beer fridges of those potential leaders? Imbibing minds want to know.
Chris - January 18, 2011 2:03 PM
I subscribe to your site and others via Google Reader that all show up in a folder I've cleverly named "Beer". Each day I scan the headlines and click through on the ones whose headline peaks my interest.
Chris
Edmond, Oklahoma
Knut - January 19, 2011 7:15 AM
I use google reader, mostly. But today I went in via facebook.