Digital Marketing Strategy, PR and Messaging
Yet another zany, stupid human trick. It’s all an example of laughing at yourself, putting it all out there, and showing that there’s so much to learn, do, be (do be do be do). I’ll master this video, and these initial attempts will become part of the comedic archives.
So, I invite you to laugh at me, with me, because of me, in spite of me (not spite); sigh…’cuz, I’m tryin’ I really am!
What is a power blogger anyway? We can call “them” professional bloggers, A-listers, or just darn simply popular. I’m not a power blogger, but being the competitive spirit that I am, I’ve often wondered how I could get on that Ad Age Power 150 list –yikes; it’s a lofty goal.
For sure these peeps who are powerful bloggers in my circle devote skads of time to their blog; kinda like one person I know who admitted spending 40 hours a week on hers. They have an IT team standing in the wings to re-design this and tweak that. They have a team of writers helping on an off day when the main squeeze is traveling, and the researchers are combing industry rags for all the breaking news so they can make hay about it before anyone else.
I’m a power walker; does that count? Heh, not really, but it serves as a great analogy. My speed is quicker than most; I have an end goal, usually to move the heart rate up and the time down. I am (trying) to keep a consistent schedule (shall we say daily for all intents and purposes), and I’m competing with (myself) to do it better earn something (loss of calories, great legs, a break from Twitter?).
Alas, power blogging has its pitfalls which makes these blog owners just like we stragglers, followers, newbies, and awe-inspired wow-ers:
I leave you to ponder the treasure or empty bucket of power blogging with these final thoughts I’m seeing from just about everyone who’s been alongside me in the last several years:
1. We’re humans who require sleep, a beverage, hugs from our children, and an unplug during holiday.
2. We have real jobs that pay the bills, unless your real job is as a professional blogger and thus you should not be reading this, so skitter away, mein Freund.
3. Passion and inspiration are fleeting when we’re tuckered. Understand that shift, and your readers will be ever more thankful.
4. No one is telling you to post every day; see bullet three.
5. Numbers are metrics, but remember, the quality of comments mean more than the number of tweets from the blog (in fact, I get more RTs on Twitter for posts than I do from the tweet button app or Share This).
What might you offer about power blogging? Is that your goal, or are you standing in the wings watching and whispering, “thank goodness that’s not me.” ? (P.S. I’m trying to heed my own counsel; it’s tough!)
(image: indexofwallpapers.com)
I was along for the ride on one of the most contentious (according to comments) blog posts ever, and based on “Popular Posts” tallies in his sidebar the highest-number-of-comments (250) as of this moment (and no signs of stopping).
I’m speaking of Marcus Sheridan who writes The Sales Lion. He owns a swimming pool company and said he turned to social media in the downtick to save his business. Everyone talks about him, and his brand is authentic and popular. I read my first blog post of his via my reader one late night and was so blown away by his writing and content I kept it as “unread.”
So, in earnest, I read his post early Friday morning about Blog World because I had really wanted to go and meet some great folks. Marcus’s post was the first recap I would read; however, it’s turned more into a critique free for all with the show’s organizers, other speakers, other attendees, and even people who “most offended” those in audience during the final keynote. You can read it all here; it’s amazing.
But, that’s not what this blog post was intended to be about, although it’s a really nice segue.
I was duly impressed with the comfortable feeling I got when I first arrived at Marcus’s blog on Friday and felt compelled to comment and then began to hijack the comments in usual banter with Gini Dietrich. Gini and Marcus assured me it was OK to do so when I said, “oops, apologies if this isn’t cool.”
What that means is a huge welcome mat is open at The Sales Lion. I just went back to check, he has no “Ad Age Power Blogger” badge or other award-winning badges in his sidebar (although, I know if he tried, he’d win something hands down). By welcoming comments from the small and large, unknown and well known, The Sales Lion allows all of us to commune within his community, and that’s what he’s done tremendously well – create a vast community.
The comments rolled in all day long on Friday and were still going strong through the night, on Saturday and today (Sunday). I was overwhelmed and wondered how on earth someone receiving that measure of comments could get any work done? (Marcus, how do you do that? Manage comments without them controlling your time?) Curious, I decided to check in Friday during dinner and see how the comments were tracking.
Lo, the one I opened was TO Gini Dietrich and it was ABOUT how comfortable the woman felt leaving a comment because others were not just “trolling.” (I assume that means bantering?) She felt her thoughts would be sincerely welcome.
And, so, the topic for this post was being written on a napkin in a restaurant and the one comment I decided to open confirmed it was a viable topic. Oh, yeah, and Gini just had to pop in to also confirm we are the same person.
Think about your welcome mat on your blog. What would commenters say about your house? If you need a lesson, head on over to Marcus’s and see the warmth and sincerity with which he invites you in. He doesn’t need any badges in his margin; he’s already an exponential power.
I’ve written about this before, but this level of engagement is so hugely quality that I need to share. It’s Marcus’s grace, sincerity, authenticity, and balance with which he responds to each and every commenter and not just with a brush-off. He engages people and invites them back without asking.
We can all learn just by observing; my take-aways are still in gel form, but the first lesson is right here.
I knew as a blogger I had to get into vlogging, and it irritated me that I was behind the eight ball watching the perfectly gorgeous presentations by Erica Allison at Allison Development Group and Gini Dietrich who has the style of a regular TV broadcaster on her effervescent productions with bicycle in hand over at Spin Sucks.
When I get an idea or set my mind, I will not rest until it happens. That’s how that scary first video occurred yesterday – spur of the moment, no planning, just run with the tech and fix it later. Now, mind you, I have to admit, it had been brewing a few days that I would do a skit with no audio. Funny; I listened in real time to someone watching and she said, “What’s wrong with my sound?” (Nothing! Intentional!)
Then, the embarrassment, chuckles, relief that everyone thought I was a total clown and really wanted to hear me talk (wait for the next one), flowed in. There’s good thing launching scary video about noon; not too many peeps are tracking on Twitter then.
I think I’ve done a good job, along with everyone else, of letting the world know my scary video is the start of something pretty scary. Watch out world; here I come!
Without further ado…introducing me…
WARNING…only for those who can appreciate someone who has no flippin’ clue what she’s doing.
Drum roll, please! Ta Da!
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