2014 WordCount Blogathon

My blogging journey started a year or so ago at the nudging of a few trusted friends. I was finishing up a three-year term as president of the Cape May Chamber of Commerce and social media was extremely important to me in my vision to promote the city as a destination, along with my “dayjob,” running the Victorian Motel.

To date, my blog posts have been upbeat, positive news about Cape May, her activities, and her natural beauty. Some posts have been centered on the Coast Guard and the training center located here in Cape May. To some extent, focus has been on the recruits attending boot camp and their eventual graduation. Other topics have been about Joy, my five-year old Golden Retriever.

A geek about data, I’ve paid close attention to my popular posts and the search terms leading up to their ultimate reading. Scantily clad women has been the subject of my most popular post to date. That is, writing about Sports Illustrated choosing Cape May as a focus for the swimsuit edition. The second most popular subject is usually the Coast Guard, specifically the recent Change of Watch ceremony held here at the training center.

For the blogger living in or visiting Cape May, there is no shortage of topics or content. The question for me, lately, is blending in the promotional/positive blog posts with issues that are dear to my heart, but somewhat controversial; things like occupancy tax charged to visitors of motels, hotels and bed and breakfasts but not whole house rentals. Conditions of housing for J-1 Visa students visiting as seasonal workers in Cape May is another untold story.

These topics are all part of the slice of life that is Cape May, along with the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. If their story is not told, who will hear it?

Today at an event in Cape May, three different people asked me when I would start to seek sponsorship or advertising on the blog.  So as part of 2014 Blogathon I hope to learn when to become free-standing as a blogger and yes earn passive income in the endeavor. Some people say I’m ready. I just want to do it the right way. My readers deserve that.