Getting Back To Local

So, a little over a year ago now… Almost a year and a half ago, actually, I started up a little project I called the Limestone New Media Group. When I got it started, I was about the only guy in town on Twitter but I’d heard a few other people were listening to podcasts. I figured that 3 or 4 people had to only be the tip of the iceburg, and that we should probably all get together for a beer, coffee or lunch. While it did take a few months more before anything other than a 1-on-1 meetup happened, they did eventually happen. And they happened regularly… For a while.

The past few months, though, have seen a real steep decline in the “real-world” gatherings of local people… And that saddens me. The local meetups were something that brought together three things I enjoy: Kingston, the web and meeting people. The meetups, from day one, were always planned to be social, for-fun gatherings and I think most people who attended had a good time. So a few friends of mine, and I, are going to start to get them going again.

I regularly say that one of the things I find most rewarding in this new digital web media space is building connections between two people. Watching partnerships, ideas, friendships and even relationships bloom as a result of a simple introduction tweet, email or phone call is a lot of fun. It’s even more fun when you can do that on a larger scale. So a few weeks ago I created the @limestonetweets account. It’s serving, right now, as a directory of local Twitterers, but will likely be used for announcements and such as time goes on. It’s my hope that it will help unite more people and build some connections between folks with similar interests.

But back to the meetups. I mentioned we’re getting them going again, and we are: The firs local meetup/tweetup/gathering will be helpd tomorrow, February 9th, at 7:00pm, at The Merchant Taphouse. This keeps it on it’s original schedule of the second monday of the month, and at our regular location. Come out for dinner, come out for drinks, or come out just to say hello! We’ll be there. I’ll be in a bright shirt, and the sig with the LNMG logo will be on the table. (We’re usually in and around to the left). If you can, give me an RSVP (here, twitter, email, wherever) so that I can hold a big enough table.

See you tomorrow!

[wpcf]

New Project – Could use your help!

So… this blog’s been quiet for a while, eh? I’ll work on that – I promise. Actually… I have been working on that… But more on that next week. Right now, late on a Friday night, I wanted to take a quick second to introduce you to a new little project of mine.

As someone who has played with the idea of being a freelance web developer for some time now, I’ve always gotten bothered by a simple little part: The hourly rate. Now, the status quo is that a better developer charges more then a crappy developer. A developer with a better reputation, and a more experienced history gets to charge more that a new developer entering the field. I’m fine with that – it makes sense to me. What has always bothered me is that so many people charge a 1-hour minimum. I know a lot of folks who will bill a full hour for a 30, 15 or even 5 minut job. And I’ve always thought that was a little silly.

So this past Monday I launched Wordpress Development project I’m calling Wordpress By The Minute which, as you might expect, breaks that minumum 1-hour charge mold.

The idea is simple and the pricing model is simple… But getting the ball rolling has been rough. So – I’d like to ask for your help. If you could post this idea (with a trackback) or tweet it a few times, I’d be highly appreciative. And of course, if you know anyone looking for work done, hand them my name? I have some testimonials on the site now, and will be building that list as time goes on. It’s an idea that I think has legs – if it could only find some ground to grab hold of.

Thanks for your help.