The Tokyo Traveler
Today I have a very special announcement to make that is the culmination of some work that has been going on behind the scenes for a couple of months now. It is with great pride that I am announcing my debut as a paid blogger! I have joined b5media and will be writing The Tokyo Traveler which has now been added to their Travel and Culture Chanel. b5 Media has network of over 330 blogs covering a variety of topics and I am looking forward to being a part of the b5 team. My b5medi bio and the launch announcement are out there as our my first few blog entries. Here’s a look at the logo that I created to head the new blog .
As most of you who read this blog know I jumped into the blogging world with both feet in November of last year and it’s been a really interesting learning experience.
I have met some new online friends like Nick from Longcountdown, and founder of Japansoc, who was kind enough to review my blog in the early days and Neil Duckett who put me on his featured feeds page (you really should check out his series on the Yamanote Line in Tokyo as it’s turning out to be something special).
I even had a few exciting moments like when my post on how to Map an Address in Japan got picked up by Japan Probe and News on Japan and got a whopping 176 hits in one day (it’s up to 329 hits now). I shouldn’t admit it but I was kind of glued to my stats page as I couldn’t believe my eyes. I know it’s a small number to most but to me it is awesome.
I’ve also had some disappointments too, like when I realized that the folks over at Japansoc don’t love baseball as much as I do and continue to let my posts on the subject languish on the upcoming page. I still like them though and look forward to my daily visit to see what’s new in the Japan blogoshpere.
With the launch of The Tokyo Traveler the focus of this blog will be changing slightly. If you want to see what I’ve been up to in terms of sightseeing in Tokyo you should head on over to The Tokyo Traveler (I have added a link to the blogroll on the left to make it easy for you). However, I’ll still be here with my personal ramblings about life in general and specifically my life in Japan so stay tuned!
on 28 March, 2008 on 8:24 pm
The Tokyo Traveler – My New Blog
There’s a new blog in the Japan blogoshere and I wanted you guys (& gals) to be the first to know. It’s called The Tokyo Traveler and is part of the b5media blog network.
Take a moment to check it out and give me our thoughts and suggestions – I wo…
on 28 March, 2008 on 8:51 pm
That’s great news Shane, congratulations ! I wish you all the best with it.
I guess i can move the “we’ll get back to you regarding a writing job for Tokyo” email from b5 back in October out of my reminders now seeing as the position has been filled and filled very well by your good self i might add. ;>)
on 28 March, 2008 on 9:13 pm
Thanks Neil! Sorry about the scoop
I had no idea you were looking at that opportunity too. I’m really looking forward to learning more about the business of blogging and we’ll see where it goes from there….
on 28 March, 2008 on 9:25 pm
It was just a lazy inquiry after i noticed no-one covering Japan on my behalf Shane, truth be known i shouldn’t have time for it with my current employment so i’m certainly taking it as a positive!
The lack of commnunication despite several emails, including having Darren Rowse rattle the cage for me, is my only gripe.
on 28 March, 2008 on 11:04 pm
Congratulations Shane! Now you’ve got something to keep you busy, earn you some money, and motivate you to explore the best of Japan, all the while providing us with a good read!
on 29 March, 2008 on 6:26 am
Thanks Nick – it’s definitely keeping me busy and forcing me to take a ton of photos which is great! The editing time on the photos is a bit crazy though so I’m going to have to work out a system.
Neil – When I got the “we’ll get back to you email” I sent a longish reply where I quoted visitor arrival data etc. That may have put me over the top but it still took until the new year to get a firm go ahead on the blog and until now to get it launched.