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September 9, 2007

Conversational dots

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 11:22 am

Connecting dots with The Idea Dude

Connecting Dots logo

The conversations within the dots…

Blogs started as personal logs. Today they are catalysts for engagement.

The Cluetrain Manifesto said it best…

When you think of the Internet… think of a table for two

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Ron was the catalyst for my thinking this week. His 7 tips to not be invisible was a strong reminder that whether in the virtual or real world, too often we forget to participate, preferring to be Lurkers are those people that read blog posts, message boards and other online community sites but do not participate. His call to action was

If you are investing time to read, why don’t you invest a few moments more to add to the discussion and create some visibility for yourself? It gets easier the more you do it and people appreciate the participation.

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Does it make a difference?

Sure it does. You’re invited to visit Citimama’s Project Life Change. I’m sure she felt wonderful to know her readers support her in her decision. Comments like You have me totally inspired! and I know how difficult that decision can be shows me this. She connected with her readers with her words, they reciprocated with their hearts.

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Mingle, or stay single

Amanda’s post about the lost art of mingling? equally applies in the virtual world as it does in the real world. Successful bloggers have a secret and it’s not Digg. They mingle… usually through blog comments. That is the biggest travesty about RSS feeds, the convenience it affords us means we consume content rapidly, never stopping at blogs and letting them know something we read moved or inspired us.

Without participation, there is no conversation

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If you want to change the world today…

Haydn asked that question on his blog wondering whether he should write a book. I selfishly implored him to blog instead so rather than wait a year or more for his wonderful insight, I could engage him in his thinking everyday perhaps taking him on different paths as he would me.

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Winning with dots

Every week, I’m thrilled to post here. Liz gave me a bigger soapbox and best way to describe what I do is a quote by Zig Ziglar I found thanks to the winning attitude.

The greatest good we can do for others is not just to share our riches with them, but to reveal theirs.

All of a sudden, I’m feeling kinda warm all over. Secretly, I think Liz figured this out long before I did.

May the dots be with you!


Vern, The Idea Dude

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13 Comments to “Conversational dots”

  1. September 9th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
    Joanna Young said

    Vern, do you know when I read posts that I totally and utterly agree with… well that’s the time when words fail me! I’m sorry, I can’t think of anything to say except: spot on.

    What can we all do to encourage others to jump off their feeds and join the conversation?

    Well - joining the dots is a pretty good way to start :-)

    What else can we do? Where else can we take this conversation?

    Joanna

  2. September 9th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
    Vernon Lun said

    Hi Joanna,
    Thanks for joining this conversation. I think it’s a couple of things.

    Liz is a wiz at creating blog posts and leaving it somewhat open ended to encourage people to think and comment.

    I also think a lot of it has to do with visiting each other’s blogs and being liberal with our comments.

    Too often we think that both the blog post and the comments have to be clever or witty and yet sometimes just saying, “thanks” would suffice.

    I’m sure Liz will have more to add here :)

    Vern

  3. September 9th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Vern,
    You are so great at making everyone look good. :)

    All we have to do is talk to each other. You’re so right about that. After all we don’t worry in every conversation we have with friend that every word we say is the most witty or clever, we worry that we are there.

    Showing up is what counts. :)

  4. September 9th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
    Valeria Maltoni said

    Liz is a genius and Vern is inspiring. The conversations taking place on other blogs are as valuable as the ones occurring on ours. And it’s good from time to time to let go of control and join in the flow ;-)

  5. September 9th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
    gp said

    all you guys are spot on! sometimes i neglect the “mingling”… chardonnay anyone? :):)

    gp in montana

  6. September 9th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey GP!
    A glass of chardonnay in the B&B front room (?) kitchen (?) would be nice. :)

  7. September 9th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
    Vernon Lun said

    Hi Valeria, GP,

    Wow, what an awesome concept on a late Sunday night, letting go and joining the flow with my favorite kind of wine, a chardonnay. How did you know? :)

    Vernon

  8. September 10th, 2007 at 9:15 am
    Table For Two, Please: Blogging As An Intimate Conversation | The Inspired Solo said

    […] the cluetrain manifesto - but as Liz Strauss’s guest blogger “Vern The Idea Dude” points out at her Successful Blog, blogs are “catalysts for engagement.” And that engagement […]

  9. September 11th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
    Anet said

    Dots are new to me. I will follow them, but am I missing something? Mostly i “read” music blogs.

    Thanks
    Anet

  10. September 11th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Anet!
    Each blog that Vern names is a “dot” that we connect to. We’re all like dots in the blogosphere. :)

  11. September 11th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
    Anet said

    Then I guess I do see. That’s how I found you. Great idea

  12. September 11th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Yeah. Hi Anet!
    We’re just all dots, like stars, in the sky. :)

  13. September 29th, 2007 at 10:28 am
    » Table For Two, Please: Blogging As An Intimate Conversation Blawg In A Box: Blogs For Lawyers From The Blawg Coach said

    […] the cluetrain manifesto - but as Liz Strauss’s guest blogger “Vern The Idea Dude” points out at her Successful Blog, blogs are “catalysts for engagement.” And that engagement […]

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