Blah Blah Bleric

Why Did You Start That Blog Anyway?

Tommy Lee via last.fm

I'm thinking about tattoos. Tattoos are like blogs. Tattoos and blogs got their start with a limited population like pirates and geeks. Then, tattoos and blogs grew in popularity.

Tattoos found more people ready to get some ink: prisoners, military, basketball players, rock stars, hippies, and drunks. Then tattoos went viral. Now even my mom has one. Still, they're cool.

Blogs found more people too: journalists, businesses, teachers, comedians, moms, dads, tattoo artists, and many, many more geeks. It is difficult to get the exact number, but I think there are 8 gazillion blogs today.

My favorite similarity between tattoos and blogs is that they are changeable. Tattoos can change in appearance. My favorite alteration is bombshell Pamela Anderson's edit on her ring finger after a break from Tommy Lee: Tommy was changed to Mommy after the divorce.

Blogs change too. Blogs often change when the blogger's interests change. A blog that used to be about HTML might now be about CSS; a blog about partying in college might now be a mommy blog. Blogs also change when the purpose of the blog turns a corner.

I think purpose plays a big role in where a blog goes. So why do people start blogs? Here is a short list of reasons why people start blogs:

1. To Make Money
2. Because It's So Easy to Start One
3. Friends Were Doing It
4. Friends Said, "You Should Start a Blog."
5. They Like Writing
6. Boredom
7. To Connect
8. Professional Development
9. To Promote Books, Other Blogs or Business
10. Because They Have Something to Say

A big gap exists between #2 and #10. Starting a blog because, like Posterous, is it so easy leads to random posts and questions like, "So what do I want this blog to be about?" A blog started by someone with something to say is, obviously, going to be focused on that thing they have to say. Even so, all of these reasons can result in blogs that eventually change when the blogger's purpose changes.

If you are a blogger, especially a newer one or one on the brink of a change, I hope you find a way to represent your best self. That is, I hope your blog gets to be everything you really want and not some compromised version, altered from what you want to conform to the successful blogs out there.

I, for one, am hungry for some good reading. As a writing teacher, I see how anybody can become a good writer. Most often, students become good writers when they find themselves. In particular, I am thinking about a quotation from Marianne Williamson:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

What I am saying is go for it. I think everyone is reason #10--we all have something to say. So, let loose the powerful blogger in you. Make a blog that, like a good tattoo, you can be proud of forever.

And when you do, let me know where to find it!

Technorati Steps It Up

via technorati.com

In the third of our comprehensive five-day series detailing the the blogosphere, we share facts on tools and devices bloggers use to create their blogs, how they bring in traffic, and which types of blogs are updated the most frequently.

via technorati.com

Technorati has been busy lately. You'll see the work on their homepage. The new look celebrates their brand. Check out the "Top Blogs" section with the top 5 risers and fallers--a daily tally of which blogs hold the most authority. That tally puts a little excitement into the day to day battle to be the top blog.

Technorati is also in the middle of a five day explosion of blog information, sharing, and tips. I'm talking about their 2009 State of the Blogoshpere. SOTB is a who's who of blogging in 2009. Whether you are a fan of Michael Arrington, Arianna Huffington, Seth Godin or the many other writers Technorati features in articles and interviews this week, you can still learn a lot from what they write and say.

Image by pellesten via Flickr

Personally, I've become a fan of Steve Rubel. In his interview, Rubel answers questions about moving his blog to Posterous and talks about our "attention crash" due to the brevity and pace of Twitter. Rubel also talks about a balance between his job and his blog--a topic important to me and many of the bloggers I talk to, tweet with, or read.

As for reading this week. Get to Technorati. In addition to the State of the Blogosphere, be sure to read about their recent changes--especially to how they calculate authority...for your blog!

The How To Blog of How To Blogs

Lately, many bloggers with questions about making their blogs better have come to me. And I like it. But I'm not exactly the guru of all things blog. Yet.

I am a teacher, trainer, speaker and elearning designer--maybe that's why people think I know what is going on and how to make a blog blogtastic. Here is what I can do for now: get the best of the best of the "how-to" blogs and aggregate them here, in one easy to find location.

The advice in these blogs can help your blog top to bottom. Be ready to publish:

• Titles that get clicks
• Content that gets read
• Posts that get comments

Click the pictures of excellent how-to blog posts to find quick advice on key topics:

• Creating Great Blog Headers and Titles
• Blog Content Readers Love
• Improving Engagement on Your Blog
• Learning Blog Tips for Stephen King
• Blogging Like Mashable

From copyblogger.com

From ClickNewz

From Blog for Profit

From HowToMakeMyBlog

From HowToMakeMyBlog

These last two come from Marko Saric's HowToMakeMyBlog, which is dedicated to blog advice. The best advice, though, is to write well. Saric has an excellent article on style that every blogger needs to read:

• "10 Elements of Style of Blog Post Writing"

One last thing -- besides "how-to" blogs, I'm looking for some up-and-coming blogs from newer bloggers to read. Who knows one or two I can check out? Please type the URLs in a comment!

Related articles by Zemanta

• How To Comment on Blogs The Right Way! (ronmedlin.com)

Marketing Is Not Evil

It's true: Marketing Isn't Evil

 

Something about marketing always bugged me. It wasn’t anything tangible at first. I just recognized an alarm on my radar whenever certain marketers targeted me.

 

It is certainly not the infomercials or the endless-scrolling-but-never-tell-you-exactly-what-or-how-much website ads. I get a kick out of the actual material, the catch phrases and the tiny disclaimers that results are not typical.

 

But the notion that someone can analyze me and determine by my age, gender or zip code what I might buy, makes me cringe. I imagine that my address or phone number gets sold in secret back alleys, and the buyer strokes his cat in a big chair and prepares the pitch—perhaps aware of one of my weaknesses. *zoinks*

 

Marketers get access to data, and that knowledge gives them power. Power, by the way, corrupts. Unchecked, marketers can use their data and power to manipulate, even coerce. The evidence is all of those ads and infomercials that prey on weakness—oh and the ones that tell outright lies.

 

It happens. Hence my radar alarms. *doom & gloom organ chords*

 

And, it also doesn't happen. *birds twittering*

 

Marketing is not evil. Responsible, honest people who market conscientiously are out there. And bad marketers can be swayed to the good side. In fact, in today's global market, powered by social media, marketers can be in constant check. In other words, score one for the market, who control marketing with conversation.

 

Sure, internet carpetbaggers are rampant. For now. But the more connected people become and the stronger their tribes, the more dishonest, preying marketers will be exposed. When the dishonest web pirates are exposed, fewer and fewer people will buy their garbage.

 

The dishonest will have to clean up their act and learn integrity. A little honest business never hurt anyone. Ethical business practices build trust, ultimately building a more solid business and brand.

 

Through Twitter, blogs, blog comments and other social media, the internet community—you and I—can communicate with never before seen efficiency. For example, MyTweeple allows Tweeters to “ding” spammers (among the most evil of marketers). MyTweeple was developed by @swhitley, Shannon Whitley, who you can follow on Twitter today.

 

I think internet scalawags will all be exposed, forced to play it straight or leave. You probably know some good marketers out there, or you are one of them, or maybe you see other ways that the global community is ferreting out the rascals.

Eric Matas Minneapolis, MN	Mobile: 612-385-7510 ericmatas@hotmail.com
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Posted via email from Eric's Preposterous

The Only Prescription is More Twitter

If there was a field of wild flowers atop a grassy hill on which Twitter could run, in slow motion, with open arms toward a similarly open-armed, slow-motion running passionate lover, that lover would be me.

I've tried to do the middle school guy thing and play it cool. But this is officially my love note to Twitter (that I will have my best friend deliver for me). *Blush*

I sort of admitted in a recent tweet that steals a hysterical phrase from a Saturday Night Live skit--th one in which Christopher Walken wants more cow bell.

 

For all you new and emerging Twitter fans, here are three great tools to help you get the most of your Twitter experience.

TwiTip - a blog on all things Twitter, helping you know what to do and what NOT to do. TwiTip comes from Darren Rowse (@ProBlogger) from ProBlogger Blog Tips.

Tweet Adder - a "set it and forget it" tool that can do techy work for you, so you just have to write fun micro messages.

Featured Users - an easy way to get yourself out there in the Twitter community. Great idea for bloggers and website owners. Very ideal for anyone who is branding themselves (and who isn't?) or a business.

Even though there is advice out there, have fun with the trial-and-error nature of new tools like Twitter. Just call the first year your beta version. And remember to follow me @tweric!

Oh, and I've written about it here and here, but once again, the best book out about Twitter is Twitterville by Shel Israel. If you read one book about social media, global communities and Twitter, read Twitterville.