20 years ago I started Heinsville with a specific vision. Matt and I reasoned that one of the main things keeping people from taking up Freestyle Frisbee is that it is difficult to learn. We set out to make it easier by writing and gathering How-To articles. Many of the best players at the time wrote for Heinsville.com; people like Arthur Coddington, Larry Imperiale, and Dave Lewis.
Since then the vision has grown. This site is now the home for Freestyle Frisbee Live streaming, Shooting the Frizbreeze Podcast, interviews, event results, polls, and more. Though we have expanded to be a hub for Freestyle Frisbee content, teaching is still at the core. It’s as much about growing the player base as it is about growing the fan base.
I have also learned that using an inside joke as a name is not good for attracting new players. When I say “heinsville.com” people don’t know how to spell it. When people read it, they pronounce it incorrectly. It resonates with jammers, but not with the rest of the world.
Making this change has been a difficult decision. Here’s what tipped the scales for me. I was jamming by myself on the beach. Someone approached me to ask what I was doing. During the conversation I said “go to frisbeeguru.com.” Not only did they remember it but they later contacted me through the “about us” page.
So, it’s time to grow. FrisbeeGuru.com is now the parent brand for this site. It encompasses the Live Stream project, Shootin’ the Frizbreeze, Heinsville (learn to jam), and serves as the entry point for all content created by this team. I am confident that this new brand will serve us well going forward.
Don’t worry, though, Heinsville lives on. It represents the “learn to jam” content and will continue to be used in future projects. All links to heinsville.com will continue to function. One of the things I enjoyed as new player was learning all the special Freestyle Frisbee language. Understanding the term Heinsville is a sign that you are part of the jamily.
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From a rookie perspective (mine), I think this is great. It’s a win/win. “Frisbeeguru” is easy for new folks to remember and relate to, and also makes a great “umbrella/parent” under which to put all things freestyle. But keeping “Heinsville” alive and well is (to me) very very important too. I care about the history of this sport and I want to be able to research, learn, and understand how things evolved to where they are today. Well done!
Yes, thanks for telling us about your new branding. I, too, have found myself having to explain the word Heinsville to more than a few people over the years. It’s much easier for folks to reference frisbee Guru, and it also fits with the continued progression of your website. I’ve become a great fan of the podcast, and really enjoy listening to them while I make myself dinner. Thanks for that as well.