"I suppose there's a bit of presumption on my part getting back into the saddle, but over the past three years enough of you have told me you miss my writing to make me believe my name is still worth something. ...
"My old approach to the weekly business column was three-pronged: pay attention to what's going on around town (new construction, signs, etc.); answer people's questions, no matter how trivial or far-out they seemed; and keep the tone personal and conversational. That approach worked, and I see no reason to do anything different. The timing will be different, however. Instead of once a week in print, our plan is to update BizMojo Idaho all the time -- online, on your iPhones and Droids, on Facebook and Twitter."
The counter has told me I have posted 724 times since then, which is almost every day. There have been a few interesting lessons learned along the way. Number one, share everything on Facebook, not just what you think will be interesting to readers because it happens to interest you.
This community remains as restaurant-obsessed as it was in the days when people were asking me "When are we getting an Olive Garden?" Now the focus is on Costco, which would be nice to have, but informed sources tell me that it's still a ways off -- if it's going to happen at all.
The nicest thing about this project has been reconnecting with the community. Two years in, I think I've finally reached the point where I don't have to explain to everyone what I'm doing. People have even approached me about advertising (this I have found gratifying). Regular readers check in every day, and I feel an obligation to have something posted for them.
The effort has rewarded me with constantly improving numbers. July and August were the best months ever, both for visitors and page views.
If you have any questions, call me. Likewise if you see anything interesting. Take a photo with your camera and email it to me. We live in an age of conversation and sharing. I don't mind at all. In fact, I love it.