It’s taken a while to get here, but I’m pleased to finally introduce myself as the new owner of Wisdump.
My name is Lee, and I run UK-based Maxafi Ltd. We are *not* a blog network, but more of a publishing and web-app network. In fact, this is the first blog we have ever been involved with.
Why did you buy Wisdump? Are you mad?
When Scrivs first put the For Sale sign up, many people thought he had over-valued the site because it was based around him and would fail without him at the helm. This may well prove to be the case, but I prefer to look at it from a different point of view.
Taking over an existing site presents a few challenges – firstly, you want to maintain the existing readership. Secondly, you want it to grow and build on the success the previous owner built. I’ve seen many sites acquired in recent times where the buyer has seen the pagerank and pageviews and simply expected that if you keep posting, visitors will keep coming. I don’t believe this to be the case, as is evident from many previously high-profile sites now virtually defunct as the realization hits the owner.
So, my challenge is to build on the previous success seen here, add my own personal flavor and bring some extra features along with me.
So, why should I keep reading?
I remember the not too distant past, when Whitespace *was* 9rules, long before Scrivs became the wealthy net celeb he is today ;-) Back then, it was about design, speaking your mind and commenting on the goings-on in the industry. A lot has happened since those days, and those that read Whitespace back then have watched as 9rules went from Scrivs and his personal blog, to the massive community it now is.
In many respects, I find myself at the point Scrivs was back then. Whilst my destination is different, the journey will be pretty much the same – and I hope you’ll stick with us for the ride. We’re working on some really exciting stuff right now, and I hope to be able to bring you some insight into the challenges faced by startups, with a bit of light relief (and, probably, some moaning) along the way.
However, I’m not vein enough to think everyone is interested in what I have to say, and I believe some variety is important to any site. That brings me nicely on to my next point…
Do you want to write for Wisdump?
The first thing I want to do here is bring a few more authors on board to bring a variety of content and opinions.  So, if you think you can be an asset to Wisdump, I’d love to hear from you. I’m specifically looking for people that can write in a warm, endearing manner. Subjects include design trends, usability, startup commentary and the web industry in general. However, if you believe you can bring something else to the table, I’m open to ideas. This is a paid gig with exceptional rates and incentives. If you would like to be involved, drop me a mail directly at lee [at] maxafi.com with the subject ‘Wisdump Bloggers’. Tell me a little about yourself, your blogs and what you feel you can offer.
What else is changing here?
The first change to come in the next few weeks will be a re-design. We have a crack team of designers working on a new layout and style, and as we near completion I will begin posting some teasers of the changes to come. What I can promise you is that I’m a firm believer in clean presentation, usability and aesthetics.  You won’t see a barrage of advertisements cropping up everywhere (you’ll notice I’ve already dropped adsense). The content is first and foremost, as it should be.
From there (or possibly around the same time) we’ll be adding a few features to the site. I’m keen to get the readership more involved and become part of Wisdump itself, and I’m hopeful these additions will help make that happen. More details on these to come.
Finally, and most importantly, I want to hear your input along the way – what do you want to see here, do you have suggestions or complaints – they’re all welcome. Wisdump is nothing without it’s readers, so I’m listening.
Originally posted on May 24, 2007 @ 6:46 am