Why the blog, why the name?

So, what's with this blog?  Actually, I've been meaning to start a blog for some time now, as I really enjoy communicating with Homestead's awesome customers.  I'm always looking for ways to generate more conversations with them, and a blog seemed like a perfect way to conduct an informal conversation among many of us at the same time.  I also have lots of observations about the world of entrepreneurship and technology that I would like to bat back and forth with other like-minded (or unlike-minded) entrepreneurs, business owners and thoughtful people.  What better group for that than Homestead's extended family of customers, employees, investors and the millions of people who visit our site each month? 

So, here it is, my official blog.  I can't say that I'm a fanatic about blogs in general, but I think they do a great job of bringing people together to discuss specific ideas.  However, without the feedback loop, you might as well send out one of those cheesy newsletters, so I'm counting on all of you to help me out by joining in.  This is a place for your voice to be heard, so please post a comment if what you read here makes you want to say something!  I welcome any and all comments, as long as they are respectful and sincere.

As for the name of this blog, I'm an amateur (and fairly poor) singer/guitar-player and have been known to write parodies about the Internet, or Homestead products or employees, and perform them at various venues (including the amazing Homestead Talent show we put on every year).  For the launch of our QuickSite product line in 2005, David Wu (Homestead COO) and I performed one such song instead of giving the more traditional demo, at the DEMO Conference in Phoenix where 60 companies get six minutes each to show their stuff.  It went over quite well (we won the DEMOGod award) and created a temporary buzz in the blogosphere.  You can see the slightly embarrassing video here.  A more savvy entrepreneur would have capitalized on the buzz but I didn't, and over a year later the only benefit is that I occassionally am recognized at a conference or industry event as "that crazy dude who sang his demo at DEMO."

Anyway, I like unplugged music, and I like unplugged conversations, so there you are.  I'll try to always give you the truth, unfiltered and without amplification or distortion.  If you think I'm spinning, call me on it.  As for the guitar playing, I'll keep practicing.

Comments

[eric butler (moonglum01)]

Hi Justin,

I've been a member for many, many years (not since day one but pretty darn close). I just wanted to let you know how much I've enjoyed being part of Homestead. Somewhere in the blog you wrote that the idea of Homestead was to make web design accessible to the average person. The way I see it - through all the changes sitebuilder has gone through over the years the one constant is that I can intuitively figure out all the major features. Gold star to the Homestead team for keeping focused on your goal.

Anyways here are a few reasons I've been part of Homestead for so long ~ not that it really matters to anyone but me, but perhaps this kudos will lift you spirits if you are ever having a crappy work day:

Reason 1
I really don't have a clue as to how big Homestead is - I know there's you and at least one woman I've talked to. Might be it's a really big company, or perhaps you are in your garage with a couple of computers - beats me. I've always felt like I could drop you an email and get a personal response (done that once or twice). If it's just you - nice job - if there are actually a handful of employees, nice job to all. Companies spend millions on image ads to try to get you to think they give a crap about the customer. Over the years you've demonstrated to me that I am valuable, my opinion matters, and you actually care that I'm part of the homestead family. A few simple acts - like the heartfelt emails sent during the conversion from free to fee really meant a lot to me. With companies like Yahoo you know one thing – you are dirt – barley worth the trouble of an auto responder message. With Homestead you are somebody.

Reason 2
Kept your word – When we moved from free to fee you made some promises to those of us who stayed (yearly rates and some other stuff) I remember thinking at the time that those promises would probably last about as long as the ‘peace dividend’, but so far Homestead has done exactly what you promised us.

Reason 3
Sitebuilder is fun. Building sites – that’s fun. Thinking about what goes where – moving things around, being creative – all fun. I wonder if people that spend all day typing code think, ‘gee, this is a lot of fun!’.

Reason 4
Homestead allows me to dream. I dreamed about having my own Anime store – so I built one on Homestead – it makes enough for me to pay my yearly homestead fee and invest some money in my hobby. Way cool! Lately I’ve been daydreaming about another online business, so for the last few weeks I’ve thrown myself into my latest homestead project and now that it’s done I’m feeling restless and I’m daydreaming about my next big idea. My list of websites would appear to many as a random collection of half finished dreams but to me it’s about creation and possibilities. Homestead doesn’t limit me. I can start something then years later come back to it. I can go wherever my creative impulses take me. I can be working a professional organization site, flip to my online stores if I have an idea, make some changes to one of my hobby sites - then start an all new website devoted to the idea that just popped into my head.

So, there you go – next time someone is busting on you, jump on the nearest couch, do your best Tom Cruise ‘fist pump’ and yell, ‘well at least some guy in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania thinks I’m doing a great job!’

EB

[Justin]

Eric,
Thanks for the thoughtful and wonderful comment. Congratulations, by the way, on being the first person to comment on my newly-launched blog! I've been writing posts for a while but nobody but a handful of Homestead employees has seen them so far. As for how big Homestead is, it used to be just me in my bedroom, but now we have over 100 employees. The fact that it still feels small to you is music to my ears. We try to run the company with the same energy and personal touch that we (er, I) had on day one in my room. Thanks for helping make Homestead awesome!
--jsk

[Ricardo Calva]

Hello Justin,

Well, so this will be the first international comment to your blog!

I am writing from Mexico City, and member of Homestead since May this year.

It's not easy to explain how deeply Homestead has helped me to initiate my own online business. Maybe the easiest way is saying that (literally) Homestead is the PLATAFORM of my entire business. So, now, more than a supplier your company is a strategic partner for me.

A lot of times I've thought that I made the right decision choosing Homestead among a lot of other options. I want to thank you and your team about your support and excelent service and products (Site Bulider and the StoreFront are amazing!), and I am prooud of being part of the Homestead community.

Maybe you want to know that your once entrepeneurial idea is now supporting businesses outside your country. Thanks for that!

Recibe muchos saludos. Cuenta con un nuevo amigo en México.

RC

[Ron]

Hi Justin,
As was mentioned earlier, I too am an early pioneer of Homestead. I'm trying to figure out exactly when I signed up with you and your company. Seems to me I had 1 or 2 years of the free service before the fee based portion arrived, so it was either 98 or 99.

I'll tell you, I looked around right after I got that first e-mail about the subscription rate coming into effect. But what I found was, not only was your price better, the service was better than anything else around.

I could never have built the type of site I currently have without the help of Homestead. The Site Builder is fantastic. Even I can point and click. As your technology improved, so has my site. I love the navigation tool. It gives my site a very professional look of one costing thousands of dollars.

I'm thrilled to be a part of the Homestead family and I thank you and your staff for making this a very pleasureable experience. I hope to be around for many years to come.

Keep up the great work.
Ron

[SamIam]

Hi Justin,
I live in Sunny California Just less than an hour from Your Company. .Loved Your performance as just watched it and being in to karaoke my self ,really enjoyed the originality and might perform this song as I am into websites and domains.I own about 450 great domain names as well as several websites and hosting companies.I believe in having a website is going to be as important for an average American as having a cell phone,everytime I am going to work and I have to turn back to get my cell phone,I think wowwww how important cell phone has become in our life.Well we will talk again as I have some great thoughts to share with great achievers like Yourself.I wish You all the best in Your success .Also I am happy to communicate with You through this blog "online diary" as per my teen son, and yes this is my first posting as well .
Regards
Sam

[SamIam]

Hi Justin ,
Just wanted to ask You with Your experience what do You think a name like ASAPWEBSITE.com is worth ? I own this name for past few months and I think it is a great name for a partner site with a reputable company like Yours.
Regards
Sam

[Justin]

Sam,
That sounds like a good name. You can sign up to become a Homestead affiliate at http://affiliates.homestead.com/ if you want to resell the Homestead platform and get a commission.
--jsk

[Justin]

Ron,
Thanks for the kudos on the "Bye, Bye, Ugly Websites" performance. What it lacked in musicality it made up in shock value at the conference. You should have seen the audience of 600 people looking stunned at first, and then leaping to their feet and dancing during our demo!

You're correct that websites are becoming like cell phones, at least for small businesses. Probably will be more important than a cell phone over the long haul I would guess.
--jsk

[Adonna Sims]

Dear Justin,
Thank you for having such a great group of people on board at homestead. You all are that beautiful oasis in the desert of website development companies. I have been away for a short time; WELL... at last the nightmare is over and we are back together :) There is a difference of night and day working with your staff. Feel like that movie waiting to exhale -after several months away - you allow me to once again exhale. Your service, service, service is heads and tails above everyone else. Blessings to you and your homestead family.
Adonna Sims