Revamp of dropoutdiaries.com

Posted on October 29, 2007
Filed Under - projects |

I’ve been spending all my spare time recently working on this site. I’ve moved it to its own domain (dropoutdiaries.com), changed the design so that the site is easier to navigate and I am sharpening the focus of the site to make it clear that it is primarily about ways of leaving the rat race, changing your life and generating new streams of income.

Dropout hoodie

I enjoy writing the blog but - as is the nature of personal blogs - it does ramble from topic to topic, so I want the main focus to be on the articles, with the blog backing them up.

Something else I did just for a laugh was to get a hoodie printed with my own design as a (subtle) advert for dropoutdiaries.com. After all, why advertise someone else’s brand when I could be advertising my own? You can see the front view and the back view in the photos. Geddit?

It’s a tough world out there for new blogs and it takes time to build up a siginifcant readership. I can’t believe how much I have learnt, even in the last 24 hours! Building a site on your own is a real adventure.

Dropout hoodie back viewI have implemented a number of tools and tactics to try to generate some income. I don’t know at this stage which will be successful and which won’t, but it’s fun to try them out!

Above all, though, I want to create content that people really enjoy reading. I don’t get much feedback on the quality of the content, particularly of the articles. So if anyone reading this is moved to provide some literary criticism on the articles or the blog posts, do feel free!

Stumble it!

Comments

7 Responses to “Revamp of dropoutdiaries.com”

  1. JR on October 30th, 2007 12:44 pm

    Hi,

    Great site. It always makes me feel good when I hear of people doing what you’re doing. I’m trying too. Nice hoodie. Roll a barrel or hang ten or whatever the surfer lingo is. ;)

  2. sally on October 30th, 2007 11:36 pm

    Cheers and the best of luck with your own adventure! A friend wrote the other day that he feels like giving up the rat race too after reading my blog. Maybe we can start a revolution…!

  3. JR on October 31st, 2007 10:26 am

    Thanks for the wish of luck. Right back at you.

    You asked for criticism. All I have is postive things to say. You want people to enjoy reading what you write. Well, I enjoyed everthing I read. People LOVE reading about people who have already done things that they themselves want to do, but can’t, because they don’t yet have the courage.

    I like to think that there are a lot of these people out there. If there isn’t, there should be!

    Later

  4. sally on October 31st, 2007 11:07 am

    Thank you, it’s so encouraging to read comments like that. We all need a boost sometimes!

  5. Wolfie Wolfgang on October 31st, 2007 3:21 pm

    Cool site and cool idea. So this is what you’ve been up to. I really like you ideas and will spend some time brousing soon. I feel reallhy guilthy that I haven’t been here before.

    I’m too old to dop out now (!) but I guess I have already done it in my own way….Good luck with it.

    The ten dropout musicians is a good idea…..I shall exploe the ones I’ve never heard of….you’ve got me thinking too about who I would include. Sad though it is, I immediately thought of my son and his partner and their band Foxes! (myspace.com/foxesfoxesfoxes) but then I would say that wouldn’t I! I shall think of some others and post them.

    Good luck with it and you new life.

    W.

  6. sally on November 2nd, 2007 1:21 pm

    Hi Wolfie,

    I think you have dropped out, haven’t you? Maybe you don’t see it that way. But you’ve left the urban rat race and you’ve got a balanced and creative life - or so it seems. You’ve got the comparative freedom of a freelancer and occasionally hermit-like tendencies. Or am I misrepresenting you?

    Thanks for dropping by. I knew you would eventually!

  7. Wolfie Wolfgang on November 2nd, 2007 5:46 pm

    I guess I have dopped out in a sense. I definitely decided I wanted to change my life, stop working for big corporations and to live a simpler life doing my own thing.

    I’m not as brave as you though….my wife still works for the BBC and I get an early retirement pension as well as anything I ean from writing.
    So I’m eally lucky…..luckier than my much richer media friends who are all going up the wall with pressure and anxiety!

    You’re the real thing though - so good luck once more.

    W.

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