Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

July 3, 2009

How to Blog Like a Beginner …

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:24 am

A few words I’ve said before that I want to share on my birthday …

Something blogging has taught me a lot about — not just the beauty of paying attention to one thing at a time — but the fulfillment of offering other people a chance to talk.

Half the show is in the comments. Thank you HART for saying that!

That was one of the first things we discovered here.

When I first started blogging, I often tried to do too much. I’d write a post that carried the load of too many thoughts at one time. Those blogging posts went both deep and wide. They were so complete, I left no room for readers to add their thoughts.

It’s not a conversation when all a reader can say is I agree with you, Great post. or You covered that subject really well. There’s just nowhere for a conversation to go, if I don’t leave room for a reader’s thoughts to squeeze in between my own. Now I know to think about the conversation when I write.

Here are a few things that I do differently now. What they add up to is staying in the mind of a beginner.

The result? This social media beginner is having so much more fun than any teacher … and feeling so much more authentic.

What do you do to stay a social media beginner?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Buy my ebook. It’s my birthday!! heh heh





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20 Comments to “How to Blog Like a Beginner …”

  1. July 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 am
    AJ in nashville said

    That’s great advice! It is often the simpler the post, the greater the provocation of thought that follows.

    And HAPPY FREAKIN’ BIRTHDAY, LIZ!

    Have a great double-holiday weekend! :)

  2. July 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 am
    Andrew Lightheart @alightheart said

    I struggle with this one.

    Balancing the writing-for-posterity with the I’m-not-the-whole-deal (in fact, I’m-not-the-full-deck…).

    Trying to see if posting more will (paradoxically) allow for more space.

    Happy birthday, Conversation Queen.

    *stops self from making a queen joke*

  3. July 3rd, 2009 at 9:01 am
    Christa M. Miller said

    Liz, I think you might be the only person I know who gives something to other people on YOUR birthday. :)

    You have said this before, and it’s what broke the dam open for me. Still I find ways to think I have to get it “just right.” I commented on Danny Brown’s blog the other day that I try not to retract my opinions or say anything egregiously stupid that would make me lose credibility to my readers. But I forgot I’m learning just as much as they are. You reminded me. Thank you!

  4. July 3rd, 2009 at 9:21 am
    Ujjwal Trivedi said

    Happy Birthday Liz!

    Thanks for sharing your valuable thoughts over and again on your blogs.

  5. July 3rd, 2009 at 9:22 am
    Ujjwal Trivedi said

    Forgot to mention - You rock!!! Have a happening weekend ahead!

  6. July 3rd, 2009 at 10:07 am
    Karin H said

    Hi Liz, happy birthday!

    What I would say to a social media beginner is: be patient and focussed. Don’t try every social media stream at once, find your feet first otherwise it could get very overwhelming trying to keep up with all media at once.
    Focus perhaps on how your own skills/knowledge can answer ‘questions’ out there and become a giver of ‘aid’ and advice first and foremost. The rest will follow ;-)

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  7. July 3rd, 2009 at 10:23 am
    Phil Gerbyshak said

    I’d tell beginners to listen FIRST and talk SECOND. Heck, I tell EVERYONE that. And listening to the simple truths you put out there Liz is good advice, on your birthday and any other day too. You make it easy to be a beginner. Thanks for that!

    And happy birthday dear!

  8. July 3rd, 2009 at 10:54 am
    Web Media Daily – Friday July 3, 2009 | Reinventing Yourself... said

    [...] How to Blog Like a Beginner … Liz Strauss [...]

  9. July 3rd, 2009 at 2:07 pm
    Alex Beattie said

    Hi Liz - Happy Birthday!

    … as far as what I would say, I would say ‘listen to Liz!’

    have a wonderful day.

    most sincerely,
    alex

  10. July 3rd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
    Cynthia Trevino said

    Happy BD, Liz!

    For beginners, after following @Alex Beattie’s advice (above), then:

    1. Listen. Find out what your customers, prospects are having difficulty doing/solving at this moment.

    2. Start small. Ask 12 customers what web sites they use to find help. You may find they do not (exactly) use social media sites.

    3. Decide how much time/resource you have to devote to your social media presence/marketing.

    4. Build your content based on your customers’ issues.

    5. Share your expertise and content on the sites your customers frequent.

    6. Listen again. Join the ‘global conversation’ and never stop.

    Wishing all social media-ers great conversations!

    Cynthia Trevino

  11. July 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
    Mark McGuinness said

    Well first of all, I say Happy Birthday Liz! :-)

    And to beginners I often say you don’t have to be perfect, all-wise or all-knowing. I tried all three and it didn’t work out. :-) But it didn’t matter…

    Better to know (or show) part of the picture, put it out there and ask what others think.

  12. July 3rd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
    Kneale Mann said

    Hey Liz,

    I’m not sure if anyone can begin forever, you are only a beginner once.

    But you can keep your childlike wonderment of a space that is a child itself. We often have to remind ourselves that less than 10% (and that’s a high estimate) of the world’s population has even stepped into the social media space with a profile.

    The space may be in its infancy, but networking socially has been a human journey since the ‘Year One’.

    Stay curious and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

    @knealemann

  13. July 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    I am so lucky to have world that includes people who think as you do. We’re all learning together.

  14. July 4th, 2009 at 12:22 am
    Danny Brown said

    Hey there Liz,

    I’m definitely with you on this one. I think blog posts that leave more questions than answers can offer two fantastic results:

    1. You get a great discussion opening up in the comments that can then take the original post to a whole new level.

    2. Your readers can (hopefully) go away asking themselves the questions you’ve asked, and then come up with some truly great stuff in their own blogs or conversations.

    Thanks for keeping everything alive, and hope you had a wonderful birthday!

    Danny.

  15. July 4th, 2009 at 8:54 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Danny (and everyone)
    You all made such great points.

    The things we write have the potential to inspire new thoughts. What more could we want than that?

    Thanks everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes. I’m feeling pretty lucky to have all of you here. :)

  16. July 5th, 2009 at 5:14 am
    Amanda said

    It’s a bit late, Liz, but Happy Birthday from remote Outback Australia!

    I’m at Watarrka at the moment, using a satellite internet connection. We have a house here, cos my husband is a park ranger. Look Watarrka up on Google Earth. It’s spectacular and very, very remote :)

  17. July 5th, 2009 at 10:50 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Amanda!
    Hey thanks. I love all of Australia. I even own a boomerang pendant I wear to remind me that I’ll I’ll return to see my friends again someday soon.

    Now, I’ll want to see where you are in person. :)

  18. July 5th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
    Amanda said

    Love to show you round, Liz. If you ever come to Alice Springs, let me know.

  19. July 5th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
    Kirk M said

    A belated happy birthday Liz! You look younger every time this happens. Not sure how you do that but I’d keep it a secret if I were you. :)

    Normally I’d love to state how I manage to keep myself in the mind of a beginner unfortunately, it’s been a struggle (health reasons) just to post now and then. I think what I’ve missed the most besides the actual research and writing thereof was the camaraderie amongst the comments both on my blog and on others–like here for example. When I finally get back on my feet it will be like beginning all over again?

    Of course I don’t recommend using me as an example of how to keep in the mind of a beginner. It’s rather a bother. ;)

  20. July 6th, 2009 at 4:26 am
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