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Friday, May 21, 2010

How To Start Blogging

I’m having a rush of wannabe bloggers launch this month. Here’s the process we’ve developed to get people cruising quickly.

First we get past, “No you can’t hire someone to blog for you!”

Next, start reading blogs. I recommend using a blog aggregator so the blogs you read don’t clutter your email inbox. I recommend Google Reader, which comes as a free part of also free Gmail.

Then subscribe to some blogs. I use RSS (clicking on that orange and white square in the address box at the top of your web browser.

Here are five blogs where I see great stuff:
Through The Browser
Sales Lab Posts
XKCD
Seth’s Blog
Drew’s Marketing Minute

After you have mastered Reader and read ten blog posts, start looking for an opportunity to comment. Nasty and pointing out errors is boring and backfires regularly. Improve and encourage the discussion. Don’t send private notes, let everyone read your contribution. Think “contribution.”

After you can comment without typos and have collected a couple of thank you messages for your comments, you are ready to blog.

I recommend Blogger, another free Google product. It is almost maintenance free and it seems like Google Search has set up a branch office at the foot of my driveway.

Pick a good name. There are a lot of them out there. I like “Through The Browser” too much. What do you care about?

Start writing and posting. Try posting twice a week. It’s less than two hours of your time.

My biggest hurdle is getting a title/subject. When I think of one, I write it down on paper. Otherwise it gets away.

Figure ten sentences/five paragraphs. More or less is good. I compose in LibreOffice to get rid of rude formatting.

Six posts is a mature blog. Start asking people to read your blog. Use your blog address in your email signature and when you comment.

Congratulations! You are now an experienced blogger!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Whatchamacallit?

Jack said, “I really liked your criticism model in the sales meeting. Say the name of the person and then say what they did that you liked. It sounded kinda woowoo, but it really worked.

“The people who had something to say and the people mentioned knew something important was going on, and the people who missed it, knew they had missed it without anyone making fun of them”

That wasn’t woowoo. That was organizational transformation at its finest.

And (I thought) there is no reason to tell anyone that, as knowing the words “organizational transformation” won’t change a thing that they do.

I'll take my victories where I find them.

Comments?

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Social Media Revolution 2 (Refresh)

Eric Qualman of Socialnomics has updated his four minute video about the impact of Social Media here

When I blogged about the first video, my friend Jason came barreling up the next day and said, "That's the greatest thing I've ever seen on the Internet! Can I steal it?"

Steal it from YouTube? But why? That phrase instantly went into my all time greatest remarks.

I think this new version is much better, so Jason, this one's for you!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The Most Treasured Gift

In the Information Age the most treasured gift is information.

Blogging, information is often a unique definition, your point of view.

Post!

Comment!

Do It Now!