So, Readers, What do You Want?

It's been a hectic few weeks for me.  I can definitely understand how difficult it can be for bloggers who work full-time jobs (where they can't write) and/or have children.  Just by adding 20 more hours to my work week, I am amazed by how hard it is to keep up with what I want to write about.

This time has provided me with some extra time to think about where I am headed with this site.  The comment about being arrogant, crass, and full of myself has also got me thinking.

This site is, of course, primarily about food.  However, I am constantly receiving emails from people who want to know where to work/shop/have cheap dates/take visitors/impress their friends, etc.  I get a lot of email from people who are relocating to Columbus and would like advice on where to live.  I always get lots of emails thanking me for my event listings, and whenever I neglect them, folks get irritated.

This just contributes to my already enlarged head.

Just kidding, but it does sometimes cause me to stray away from the topic at hand, because I feel there is a need for a "lifestyle" niche here in Columbus.  One reader even suggested I have a (non food) shopping guide to look out for cute clothes & furniture and let my readers know about it.

I don't want to stretch myself too thin, but the truth is, sometimes I see that there is no end to the things I could write about if I only had the time.  Every time I try to start a sidebar blog, I find that I just don't have enough time to keep it updated.  But, my thought now is, perhaps I could start a sidebar which is a combination of lifestyle/events, and also perhaps feeds from other pertinent sites. 

I guess the bottom line is, what do you want, as readers? 

My second question is, how much would you hate me if I began accepting advertising?  My ads would be primarily local, locally-owned business which may or may not have to do with food.  I do not think I would accept general restaurant advertising, however I would accept adverts regarding specific events and from restaurant associations, such as Columbus Independents.  I hate flash ads and popups, so there would be none of that nonsense.  Adds would be small and on the sidebar; they might look something like the links I have on the bottom left (such as the North Market badge), only nice people would pay a small fee to have their badge there.  The primary goal here is not to generate tons of revenue (although if blogging were my job, you would have new things to read 3 times a day and I would be even plumper than I already am), the goal is to make enough extra income that I could do 2-4 solid restaurant reviews a month; perhaps 2 small, maybe ethnic spots and also 1-2 nicer restaurants.

As a writer, I have been gifted with lots of ideas, and I rarely suffer from writer's block.  It is usually time and finances (and a general embarassment that I sometimes eat boiled spaghetti with butter and salt when I'm feeling extra lazy or tired) that keep me from writing as much as I would like.  Also, with Husband studying hard for his sommelier test, and generally being stressed in general, we are more likely to go to comfortable spots where we are regulars and close to home than going far away. 

I'm just taking some time to think and regroup and get a feel for why you read this website and what you would like to see in the future. 

You comments, even the mean ones, are welcomed and encouraged.