2 Days In, and Why I’m Leaving the BDN Blogger Network

Part Time Vagabond Is Going Solo Again!

Last week, I was pleasantly surprised at how many of you identified with me and my need for change. It was heartening to know that you share some of the same struggles I do, and the knowledge that a calculated change can make life feel that much better. Over the last few weeks, I’ve come to the realization that a change is in order for Part Time Vagabond.

On Saturday, February 1, 2014, Part Time Vagabond will be leaving the Bangor Daily News Blogger family and heading back out on its own. Our little boy is growing up! When I was approached by Tony Ronzio after speaking at the BDN What’s Next Conference back in August about aligning PTV with Bangor Daily News, I was excited about the possibilities, and interested in seeing what would happen. By October, I was switching my archives over to BDN and staring at a new audience. It was an interesting experiment, one whose results I was anxious to see.

After a few months, I realized that while BDN readers make up a fantastic swath of Maine readers, the wider audience I wanted for PTV and the audience I was seeing with BDN weren’t quite meshing. I wasn’t serving my readers, and they weren’t responding to my writing. I adjusted and shifted to see what would click, but few things did. So now it’s time to go back to the self-sufficient PartTimeVagabond.com. On February 1, I’ll switch servers and you’ll see a different look to the blog.

This switch also gives me an opportunity to try new things in 2014. First on the plate is 2 Days In, a new long-form storytelling series where I (and future PTV contributors) will spend two days in a new and unfamiliar place, trying to hit some of the highlights of the area. I’ll describe the project in more detail later this week. I also have a brand new podcast in the works that I know many of you will be excited about.

For now, you don’t have to do much, other than adjust your bookmarks on February 1 to http://www.parttimevagabond.com (leave out the bangordailynews part of the address). Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll remind you when the change is happening so you can make sure that you transition smoothly, if you’re so inclined. Then enjoy the improved experience on Part Time Vagabond. Thanks for being a friend!

*Photo by Cheryl VanStane on Flickr

Chris Cavallari

About Chris Cavallari

Chris is a longtime digital content producer based in Maine. Since 1999, he has been an early adopter and active participant in blogging, podcasting, and social media, and has been guiding small and mid-sized businesses in leveraging video, social media, and digital publishing to the fullest. With an avid love of travel and the outdoors, Chris started PartTimeVagabond.com in 2009 to give him a platform to showcase his outdoors and travel adventures, and to help educate others in doing the same.