Hey everyone, quick break from the product reviews to talk shop. Green Gear has been all about product reviews for nearly a year and a half (first on wordpress.com, now on greengear.info) and we just hit our 70th review and are closing in on the 100 review goal I set a few months back. The site has been consistently gaining traffic and I find myself wanting to do more with the site in terms of being more useful to green shoppers and making it a successful business.
But, I would be breaking a cardinal rule of successful blogging: Picking a niche and staying in it. So before I go off all willy nilly and make changes I thought I’d throw a few ideas out to you guys and would allow you to comment.
- Expanded Environmental Commentary: I like to bitch and moan as much as the next person, plus, a requirement of having a blog is having a vain desire to tell others your opinions. But, the green movement, especially with respect to consumerism is growing into a confusing mess. In light of that, would you guys like to see more business, retail, advertising related commentary? Or maybe even give a voice to the Mike Rowe-Style Brown before Green Eco-Philosophy.
- Product Sales: Either normal everyday products or green gear branded items like water bottles and t-shirts (organic of course). Would you like to buy green products here? Does this site have sufficient trust with you to earn your business?
- Product Consulting: This wouldn’t deal so much with the site, but, in your opinion, do I bring sufficient critical insight into products that you think manufacturers might find useful when developing products? Do some of the products you already buy need the Green Gear treatment.
- More DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Features: Sometimes you don’t need products and it’s a better environmental decision to make / build / grow something yourself… This could be stuff like hunting your meat, planting a home garden to building your own rain collector.
- Forums: Would you participate in a web forum and dish about all things green?
- Advertising / More Ads: Simply, would your “green gear” experience be ruined by more advertisements? Would you pay a small fee to show ads on Green Gear?
- Just MORE REVIEWS: Would you want simply MORE of what we’re already doing? Is there a class of products you haven’t seen yet that you want to?
Also, please give me any additional ideas you might have. I’m open to anything most things. You can either leave a comment here, or email me at ask@greengear.info.
One more thing, I’m not quite sure who my readers are. So, if you guys are comfortable, maybe post up saying how you found us, what if anything you like best, would want to see, and how long you’ve been visiting us.
Thanks, I look forward to hearing from our readers…. all 7 of them! WOOHOO!
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Most of the ideas seem to be great. Im not well entirely eco-freindly. At the same time though i love saving money. So alot of your products not only save money but also are good for the environment.
Easiest and shortest way to do this is just to number your bullets but quick suggestions. Might email you later if i think of any thing that cant be summed up with one sentence.
1 is an ok idea probably best if you made another Youtube channel or kept in worded format.
2 It would be nice to either have products on your site as an easy one stop shop. Or to have your reviews on other sites. In a format sortof like newegg.com is for computers. Having it so consumers and you could submit reviews on products. Though at the same time seems like you wouldn’t review any product in a negative light at that point.(ok that one was more then one sentence
. 3 It seems like it might work but i also have doubts. Alot of marketing is now done with word of mouth or more of word of vlogs. Right now its just easier to have you get a free version and hope that it looks good instead of sending you a free product and pay to give them feedback. Or even consultation. (not good at this one sentence thing)
4 This is a great idea. You could also do subjects along the line of overlooked house maintenance ex”weather stripping on doors and drafts from outlets and how to lower your thermostat on your hot water heater” Stuff that would appeal to more then just the people that want to go off the “grid”(well the first one was shorter anyway) 5 as long as it isnt overboard ex” every 30 seconds in a video” its ok. maybe a member like pay 3.00 and get ads free or something. (woo that was shorter)
5 This would be great. Possibly branching out to other stuff around the home. Though dont know if there is a greener version ex”the peat potting plants love that idea” Doesnt mean take a shorter time with the product. Also if you take a gear off for well product breaking 2 weeks after having it when you tried it for a week. A note added to the page with the review would be great. Maybe im just not seeing that*shrug*
Found this site through youtube while looking for low-flow shower heads and faucets. Trying to find ways to cut back on the energy bills. So for me going green isnt just for saving the earth. Sorry earth but my wallet comes first. Though i have a feeling that is most peoples problems. Now that i have rambled enough i do have to say it is nice to see the giveaways though always good word of mouth that way.
Thank you very much for the feedback David!
Well, I have purchased the Evolve and the Hi Sierra showerheads based on your rating/videos. The Hi Sierra is fine for summer, I noticed it conveys less heat than the Evolve. Will be buying the Niagara as well, in search for one that has a bit more oompf for my really thick long hair. Wondering which head Mrs. Greengear prefers? Anyway, long and short of it is your site does inspire ‘trust’. I would probably not ‘trust’ you as much if you sold the product (conflict of interest?), but it is an interesting conundrum…one does need to make a living. Selling products you trust would be a natural evolution. Whatever you do, if you keep the same level headed common sense ‘green’ values that you portray now, I think it will morph well. BTW, this company provides more of the Neoperl aerator inserts that Home Depraved does, but with more options for lower flow. I have installed the 1.5 juniors, offsetting my home garden water usage, but am looking for even more reduction.
Oh, my husband and I like the Evolve too. The pull string takes a bit of getting use to, but the water stream is good.