How'm I doin'?
After a month of writing this near-daily newsletter, I'd like to hear your thoughts.
Good morning, happy stampers! As many of you descend on Sacramento this week for the Great American Stamp Show (sadly I will not be joining you), I was hoping you’d take a moment, perhaps while waiting for your baggage to arrive on Carousel 9¾, to answer a couple questions for me.
I’ve been writing this newsletter for a month now, and while I thoroughly enjoy both the writing process and the positive feedback I’ve been getting, I have realized a few things.
Writing this newsletter daily or almost-daily is not sustainable, so I will be trimming back a little. Even in the relatively narrow scope of the stamp auction business, there is no shortage of fresh subject material to explore on a daily basis. The challenge is not to find things to write about, but rather to stop myself trying to write even more. Spending several hours a day on this is taking too much time and energy away from other endeavors. So from now on, expect to see me in your inbox no more than 3-4 times a week.
I mostly focus on upcoming auctions as a “peg” for telling cool stamp stories, or taking somewhat familiar stamps and exploring aspects of them that may be unfamiliar to many. One of my goals is to demystify auctions and encourage more collectors to use them (did you know that 70% of collectors don’t do auctions?) But I really have no idea whether readers agree with that mission—and I would love to hear some feedback. Maybe I need to do more nuts-and-bolts explanation of how auctions work?
Another of my goals is to pique the interest of newcomers to philately and encourage more potential collectors to explore this fine hobby. To that end, as I dig into what I find fascinating about stamps and postal history, I have to strike a balance between breaking things down into newbie lay-person’s terms and respecting my readers’ intelligence. I can’t always tell if I’m getting it right. Do you feel I’m talking down to you? Or over your heads? Or getting it about right?
So here’s a quick reader poll, just two questions. I’d be so grateful if you’d take a minute to fill them in (or fill them out, depending on where you learned English) and let me have your feedback. Thanks!
That’s it! I really appreciate you all reading and subscribing. My posts have already begun racking up hundreds of views apiece—I am so humbled by the number of people taking the time to read my stuff. Many of you have also spontaneously reached out to offer words of encouragement, which I love. What I’d love even more is questions, challenges and constructive criticism. If you have any comments, please leave them below. Thank you again! Til tomorrow,
I am enjoying what you’ve done so far, i find your articles informative, educational and entertaining. Don’t burn yourself out, I’d be happy with even a couple of articles per week in my inbox. Perhaps adding HipStamp Signature auctions in your notifications of upcoming auctions. They do a Signature auction once a month of better quality and valuable material.
Thanks for doing what you do to attract more people to this fascinating hobby!
Great job, Matthew. I agree with Peachland - you can slow down to avoid burnout. We'll still be happy with whatever great work you send along! I only entered into auction world for the first time in my life just before you started this project so it aligns perfectly with my current interests. And, absolutely take your auction knowledge and curiosity down different paths when it makes sense.