As we approach the end of 2024, I have made the decision to shut down WelcomeStLouis.com. This project, born from a deep love for St. Louis and a desire to connect its vibrant small business community, has been a labor of love and a significant learning experience. Today, I want to share with you the reasons behind this decision and what it means for the future.
The Birth of WelcomeStLouis.com
WelcomeStLouis.com has a history that spans over a decade. I originally purchased the domain back in 2008 or 2009, shortly after moving to St. Louis. At the time, I was freshly enamored with the city, exploring a new restaurant every week and falling in love with all that St. Louis had to offer. The website was initially conceived as a food blog, a way to share my discoveries with others.
Over the years, the site evolved. It briefly served as a platform for my real estate endeavors in 2017-2018, before lying dormant for a few years. Then, at the end of 2023, inspired by a lifetime deal for Brilliant Directories and with some mandatory vacation time on my hands, I decided to breathe new life into WelcomeStLouis.com.
The Vision and the Challenge
The revamped WelcomeStLouis.com was envisioned as a comprehensive directory for St. Louis’s small businesses, artists, and solo entrepreneurs. It was to be a platform that would unite the community, especially in the wake of the pandemic, and provide much-needed exposure to local businesses.
However, as I got deeper into the project, several challenges became apparent:
- Resource Intensity: Maintaining and growing such a directory single-handedly, while working a full-time job, proved to be an enormous undertaking.
- Market saturation made me realize that there were already established organizations doing similar work with more resources and better connections.
- Financial Viability: The business model was challenging. Small businesses, already stretched thin, were hesitant to pay for listings.
- Technical Barriers: Many small business owners lack the technical savvy to keep their listings updated regularly.
- Personal Circumstances: My personal life has evolved, making it difficult to maintain the local focus the site required.
Lessons Learned
While the decision to shut down WelcomeStLouis.com is not an easy one, the journey has been invaluable. I’ve gained significant insights into data scraping, importing Google listings, honing my local SEO skills, and practicing AI writing and prompt engineering. These experiences have not only enriched my professional toolkit but have also sparked new ideas and projects.
Looking Forward
As one chapter closes, another opens. I’m excited to channel the energy and lessons from WelcomeStLouis.com into new ventures. The articles written for the site have found a new home on my professional blog at JessicaKMurray.com, preserving the valuable content for future readers. I am particularly proud of my last article, St. Louis AgTech Innovation: A New Era in Agriculture, in which I got my processes and prompts for writing long-form with AI in a consistent brand voice (not to mention, I secretly love writing research articles).
A Heartfelt Thank You
To everyone who supported WelcomeStLouis.com – whether you were a listed business, a regular visitor, or someone who shared in the vision – thank you. Your enthusiasm and support made this journey worthwhile.
While WelcomeStLouis.com may be ending, my love for St. Louis and its vibrant community remains stronger than ever (as evidenced thru my volunteer work this year with TechSTL and STL Startup Week). I look forward to continuing to contribute to and celebrate this amazing city in new and exciting ways.
Stay tuned for future updates and new projects. The adventure continues!
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