Marchex is working on a new network of neighborhood blogs called MyZip. If I read the description correctly, they posit that the $50/month paid to a blogger in their network will provide sufficient incentive to keep up a five-post/week pace indefinitely… that’s about $2.30/posting. Hmm… could be interesting.
I would neither blog about or read regularly someone’s daily blog about my neighborhood… and the $2.30/post payment somehow makes it even less likely. What I want… to hear from and interact constructively with lots of my neighbors. That’s our aim with Front Porch Forum.
Time will tell. Lots of room for new ideas. Marchex doesn’t have the MyZip site up yet.
Posted in: Front Porch Forum, Local Online, Neighborhood, Social Media
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
Hey Michael —
First, thanks for talking about the MyZip trial. We’re at a very early stage of planning and soaking up feedback. Just want to clarify a couple things: The $50 per month payment is only for the duration of the trial over the next few months — moving forward, we are looking at a number of different options for rewarding contributors who do the best job informing their area’s residents.
But I don’t want to focus only on the financial incentive — I think you’d agree that there are lots of ways to approach the building of local community online. Marchex is investigating many ways to deliver relevant local content and this is one of them. I’ve been an active placeblogger for three years now and have found it to be a great way to learn more about the communities where I’ve lived and help spread news and information. What you’re building with Front Page Forum is fascinating and another way to approach the challenge. In the end, both ideas require citizens to step up, get involved and, most difficult to achieve, stay involved. Thanks again — looking forward to continuing the conversation.
Thanks for broadening my understanding of your efforts, Justin. Seems like Marchex is building a big head of steam on several local fronts. I’m eager to hear more as your work develops. Cheers. -Michael