February 20, 2007
The Mic Is On: We’re Talking about SOBcon and Conferences!
Sandy wrote this at 7:00 pm
It’s Like Open Mic Only Different
Here’s how it works.
It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.
We’ve Go Conferences on the Brain
We might also talk about
- conference pals and roommates
- planning a conference
- weird things and cool things about going to conferences
- our dream conference be and who would be there
And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?
Filed under Comments, Community, Links, Marketing, Outside the Box, SOB Business, Successful Blog |
C'mon. Let's talk!
352 Comments to “The Mic Is On: We’re Talking about SOBcon and Conferences!”
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michael and derrick said
Hi all- Newbies here!
Joe said
Hey Liz,
I gotta get used to the new colors.
ME Strauss said
Hi Michael and Derrick!
Meet Joe — He’e the pro at Open Mic Night!
Joe said
Hey michael and derrick,
Welcome.
ME Strauss said
Michael and Derrick,
It’s great to see. Your blog looks fabulous!
michael and derrick said
The conference sounds exciting! Should all start promoting yet?
ME Strauss said
Joe,
I’m getting used to the colors too.
ME Strauss said
We just started promoting the conference on Saturday! have you been to the site?
Joe said
Still looks good, but my eyes have to adjust a little.
michael and derrick said
yes - just saw it - it looks great! And today we “met” Easton online, from KNOW YOUR MEDIA, and we saw his post about the event.
ME Strauss said
Isn’t Easton wonderful!
You buys are fitting right in!
Chris Cree said
Hey Guys! Michael and Derrick, Joe, & Liz How’s things?
Y’all up for a Klondike Bar? Tonights flavor is Reeses Peanut Butter Cup!
Brooke said
Hello all!
ME Strauss said
Reese’s! YEA! Chris! You owe me one after that Wiki- comment last night.
Joe, Chris said that Wiki. . . that linkbait book was favorite word.
ME Strauss said
Hi Brooke!
Welcome!
Where do you hail from?
ME Strauss said
You guy are going to have such fun at Brooke’s blog. I’m never going to see you again. We’re going to have to make Brooke’s blog a theme of Open Comment Night.
Brooke said
From coooooollld MN. (thanks for sending me the link.)
ME Strauss said
So Mike and Derrick and Joe,
Do you go to conferences?
Brooke said
ME Stauss - which one?
Joe said
Wikiiii….
Oh, NOOOOooooo….
ME Strauss said
Brooke, Call me Liz — everyone does.
Any conference at all . . . Are you coming to SOBcon? Do you know what an SOB is around here?
michael and derrick said
I have never been to a blogging conference - Brooke - what is your blog?
Brooke said
yup - I have read all about it. I am interested in the conf - but I have to see if I can get to Chitown.
ME Strauss said
Brooke did I get your question right?
Chris Cree said
OK. I’m getting out my crayons to write about a gillion times…
I will not make
muchfun of Liz and WikipediaME Strauss said
Michael,
Click on Brooke’s name and check it out!
Brooke said
Michael and Derrick. I have never been to a blogging conference either. My blog huh? Well - I have several sad ones started but they are awful. I have another idea and trying to learn more before I start.
ME Strauss said
Brooke,
You should see the Hotel Sofitel it has feather beds . . . Joe’s afraid they’re gonna attack him.
Joe said
Brooke, there is only ONR ME Strauss.
The one and only “Liz” Strauss from SB, and a few other places on the internet.
Brooke said
HA!
ME Strauss said
Chris,
I see the mood you’re in Chris. Did you bring those crayons in your back pocket? Huh?
ME Strauss said
Brooke,
What are some things you want to learn?
Joe said
Liz, I ain’t afraid of the BEDS, it’s the Feathers that attack.
ME Strauss said
No I think I’m the same one . . . ME Strauss from Letting me be, Is that who you’re talking about? that’s me too.
Brooke said
wow - should I list them? I guess I want to have it right first - but there is no right orr perfect. I just have to go for it.
ME Strauss said
Chris will give you some crayons Joe. Then you’ll be protected from the feathers.
Chris Cree said
Liz, you better watch out for my mood!
Apparently my Super Villain alter ego is Dr. Doom!
[whispers] What a cool test, Brooke!
Brooke said
Fun huh?
Try the super hero test too!
Joe said
I think a Strawberry Klondike bar would protect me better…
ME Strauss said
Chris,
You know I enjoy [whispers Brooke can you distract him again?] your playful moods, especially when you get encyclpedia and superheroic all at once.
ME Strauss said
Micheal and Derrick.
How’s the business going. Did you find the new blogger page. Has it helped any?
Brooke said
okay Liz…
Chris - you are FAST at doing those quizzes!
Chris Cree said
Brooke, I did that one a while back. Who’da thunk it? Me as Spiderman?
I guess that makes me quite a strange fellow!
Brooke said
I am supergirl!!
Brooke said
M&D - what’s the new blogger page that you are trying to find?
michael and derrick said
the new blogger page? on your site? - business is brewing! and we’re trying to utilize the tips you gave us.
ME Strauss said
Brooke it’s up in the sidebar under the pages about me — where the Rose-colored tag says LIBRARY. It’s about 1/2 down.
Chris Cree said
Joe, sorry about the flavor. Store was out of the strawberry cheesecake flavored Klondike Bars. Don’t usually go for peanut butter myself. But I figured that two great tastes that taste great together would go even better with the great taste of ICE CREAM!!!!
Joe said
Ok,
Dr Doom 73%
Mr Freeze 72%
So I guess Chris and I hav some traits in common, huh?
Chris Cree said
[whispers to Joe] Do you have any idea who Dr. Doom is?
Joe said
US…
michael and derrick said
OH YES - found it! I will start sifting thru it. THANKS! - We have to run - dinner plans - but hopefully be back soon! xoxox
ME Strauss said
M&D you seem to be putting all the tips to great use. Last I look your blogs were cooking. Tell me about business.
bj said
Hey, Everybody!
Liz, sorry to drop our conversation in email earlier. I’m now on my laptop and just dropped a chunk of change at http://crucial.com to get my main box back online. Neil is going to write the article, btw.
Me, I haven’t been to a conference in decades. Oops, gave away my age a bit.
ME Strauss said
Yeah, BJ,
You are SO old. I could be your grandmother.
michael and derrick said
hopefully we’ll have good news next week! Have to run. Thanks for sharing.
Chris Cree said
Never mind. I found the answer over at
Wikipedia. *ahem*. (Sorry, Liz.)I meant over at the Marvel Directory.
Brooke said
Mr. Freeze huh? I’ll have to read up on him so I’ll understand you better.
bj said
LOL! Somehow I doubt that, Liz!
I just dropped in to say hi. I haven’t had dinner yet, I’ll be back in a bit, I promise.
ME Strauss said
Aw Chris. Man there go scribbbling with crayons all over my flat screen. My new design doesn’t look nearly so pretty now.
ME Strauss said
By Michael and Derrick,
Thanks for coming — let us know how the business turns out!
Chris Cree said
Is there someone old in the room? Awesome! I like being the young one!
Joe said
Question, not really related to Ice Cream, Dr Doom or any of that.
I just got an email from the wife of a person I had some business dealings with and wrote a post about (not all bad) a year ago.
Now, she wants me to REMOVE the post. I was honest, upfront and not disparraging.
Everything I wrote was my opinion of the situation and I included quotes from email I had received from others who had a different type of business relationship.
I also included HER Email to me from way back then explaining their side of the story.
(all this was a year ago).
I sent her a return email tonight refusing politely to remove the post.
Did I handle the situation right?
Brooke said
Liz - the new blogger page looks great. I’ll have to read up.
Chris Cree said
OOhhh. Joe, that sounds like a good one for one of Liz’s ethics posts. No easy answer.
Brooke said
Joe, interesting. The sit is odd - but I would say either take it down (don’t burn bridges) or handle it the way that you did.
ME Strauss said
Joe,
Are you saying that before she wanted it left up and NOW she want it taken down?
I think you’re okay with what you did — no matter what your to that question — I’m just curious.
Brooke said
Are all of you attending the SOBconf?
Chris Cree said
I think I might want to dialog a bit with the person making the request. Sometimes people ask for stuff but it isn’t really what they want. They just might not know how to ask for what they want.
I mean why does she want the post taken down. Is there another method that might achieve the same objective for her.
Personally I would be resistant to taking a post down. But then I try to write things I wouldn’t mind my mom or some future employer reading. (Klondike Bar comments notwithstanding.)
Joe said
I’m not sure how Dr Doom or Mr Freeze would handle it, but I have to stick to my guns.
I wrote what I wrote and try to stand by it. It’s not that anything was said out of hand, but from my own experience.
I tried to be fair in follow up posts showing others opinions.
I hope my principals are worth the fight (I think they are).
Chris Cree said
Brooke, I know I’ll be there! My wife will be there so there’s an extra big incentive for me!
Chris Cree said
Joe, we can’t please everyone. The irony is the harder we try, the more feathers we end up ruffling.
I figure there are going to be a few folks that won’t get along with me no matter how hard I try. So I try not to let it bug me too much and go about my business.
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
Wowie, new colors and everything, looks great!!
ME Strauss said
Chris,
Don’t be talking about feathers around Joe.
ME Strauss said
Hi MamaDuck!
So You like? YEA!!!
Joe said
Liz, are you saying I’m Chicken???
Chris Cree said
Don’t sweat the feathers, Joe. Here. [hands Joe a crayon]
Purple!
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
I do like it, now I need time to work on mine some more ;).
Not going to a conference though, the little one and the business needs me here at home this year ;). In the future tho….
Chris Cree said
Imagine the nerve! Putting your family first!
Oh, wait. That’s the way it’s supposed to be…
ME Strauss said
It’s okay Mama, we’re broadcasting this one on BlogTalk Radio for folks who can’t come . . . it won’t be the same experience, but it will be an experience just the same.
bj said
Liz, you have a spruce green in that box?
Or Periwinkle. I like periwinkle.
Joe said
Yeah Purple.
Do you think Liz will bet mad if I fill in all the Dots in the Header?
Brooke said
I have to go read about Lightning McQueen for my little one!
Lisa said
Hey all,
Been trying to get here for weeeeks. So, I’m old hat at circle gatherings, womens groups, couples groups, writing groups, and now I guess cyberlicious groups.
Hey liz!
lisa
Lisa said
So, since vaspers and you talked alll day, what did you get done?
heee
ME Strauss said
I think the next conference I give will have to be one for crayons and fingerpaints. Maybe I’ll bring some to this conference.
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Liz, bj, Brooke, Joe, Mamaduck, Chris (mmmm…Reese’s Cup - peanut butter is one of the foods of the gods :-), thank you ).
Joe, I’m not sure what I would do. I’ve had two trademark issues on software names. One I looked into, and changed the name I was using. The other I looked into, and told the person I wouldn’t comply with their request, and why. I never heard from them again. It depends on the situation. If you don’t feel like you’re in the wrong and can back it up, send her a polite refusal.
ME Strauss said
Hi Lisa,
I got an email done that was referring work your way.
Lisa said
No way. I’m on my last carrot stick.
Chris Cree said
bj, here’s what Spiderman had to say about Periwinkle in his crayon review:
Joe said
Hey Rick,
I am sure about my stand, and I did send a polite email refusing to take down the post.
Now, I just wait to see what happens next.
Lisa said
Liz, is there a real time dynamic way to read the posts? or do I have to close and come back??
Wanna be geek.:)
ME Strauss said
Spiderman does crayon reviews??
What are we at the Crayola conference? This is so cool!
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Lisa. How are you tonight/today?
Chris Cree said
Hey Rick. Glad you like the flavor. Here. [tosses another one over] Take two. Better for you to enjoy it than for it to go to (my) waist.
Lisa said
Rick! Geez, you see all the best folks around here. Thanks for all the grey matter work you do. Head and heart. Great combo.
ME Strauss said
I bet this is not exactly what you expected Brooke. Please ask questions if you want answers. I’m here. If you want fun join right in. More folks will probably be joining soon. ;0
Chris Cree said
Lisa, The Refresh buttons on our browsers get a huge workout on Tuesday Nights. So far I don’t know of anyone whose had one wear out. Browsers are well made!
Rick Cockrum said
Joe - I’ll bet that if you connect the dots you’ll find a sidebar, a small barbeque grill for SeanRox, and a refrigerator full of Klondikes.
ME Strauss said
The thing I don’t like is it’s too hard for me to read who’s here.
[SHOUTS] HEY RICK!!! SORRY I DIDN’T HEAR YOU COME IN!!!
Lisa said
Duh. Oh, very big duh.
Thank you.
Chris Cree said
Hey. We’re here to help! (And pass out Klondike Bars. Here. Have another!)
Brooke said
Lisa - I like your sig! I’m a…wanna b? Maybe…but I just love the internet thing and the blog thing and the web site thing.
Rick Cockrum said
I was just hiding here in the corner where you wouldn’t see me drip ice cream on my shirt. Now I’ve got TWO Klondikes. Sweet!
bj said
Yeah, it’s the name. Periwinkle. I’m partial to Fuscia for a similar reason. I love the spelling.
I always thought a dream job to have for a year would be to work for a paint company and name paint colors . . .
Lisa said
What? No Dove Bars?
Joe said
I think my refresh button is getting an extra taxing workout since the comment thing changed.
I used to wear out my mouse by clicking “page” on the old setup, now I don’t know how to handle it.
98 comments and still on page 1.
Brooke said
Dude. You guys are making me wanna run to the store and buy a klondike. But not stawberry - canilla with choc crispies!
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
Hi back to everyone! In and out, trying to work and finish up taxes, other boring stuff like that, the little one is helping me type and stealing my mouse, always fun.
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
Liz, I’ll have to be sure to tune in to the conference then.
Char said
Good evening everyone! Toss me a Klondike, Chris. I could use one.
ME Strauss said
Rick has two Klondike Bars. Brooke likes Lisa and everything about the web except for me.
I’m just a lonely teenager. . . .
bj said
DOVE BARS!!!! YES!!! Chocolate/chocolate.
Brooke said
when you all fiirst set up your blogs - diid people come and comment?
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
I want a Klondike Bar now!! I think I have some strawberry ice cream in the freezer, it might have to do.
Chris Cree said
Char! Hereya go! (Reeses! Mmmmm….)
Lisa said
Ya no [she said in her best fargo], I’m wondering about something, and I have a confession…
bj said
Brooke, it takes awhile. And then the first commenters are usually the spammers.
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
Brooke,
Not at very first, no, but I got in on some memes and blog carnivals right away so I had comments fairly quickly. Plus I went and talked to everyone else so they always came back to visit me ;).
Lisa said
Oh, Liz, you can come over too. Geez it’s your party. I have dove bars. But hey, wait, I hear a theme emerging. Brooke darling, we’re in the same camp. Can we elaborate?
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
Stupid spammers.
Chris Cree said
Lisa, bj. Y’all want Dove bars (and I’ll be the first to admit their chocolate is better (mmm…. chocolate…) you gotta bring ‘em.
But please. Help me eat up these Klondikes first. I still got a truck load here…
Brooke said
so I should just write as long as I still like to? Right?
Chris - I have pb cups!
Lisa - love the fargo acccent.
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
I like those Vanilla Crunch bars on the sticks, but the child fights me for them ;).
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
Now I can’t keep up with the comments. Hate it when work gets in the way of blogging ;). Even worse when it’s on the same website, ha ha ha.
bj said
Sorry Chris, I’m a Dove Bar Snob. I’m sure you’ll have other takers though!
Brooke said
mama duck, what are memes?
Jessica said
Hi everyone. Hi Liz
I haven’t been around in a little bit. Glad to be here this evening.
I am attending my first ever blogging conference this coming weekend in Vancouver. It’s sold out. 300 bloggers will be attending.
http://2007.northernvoice.ca/
PS - Liz, I love your new site design
Robyn McMaster said
Hi, just stopped by to see what’s up. Sure could use one of those Vanilla Crunch bars!
Lisa said
Chris: [Wanting to be polite] Okay, just 12 for now.
Brooke: Right. And I think we should make an agreement to seriously contribute to our friends’ blogs. Seriously.
Brooke said
BJ - I am sorry - I don’t like dove bars.
Chris Cree said
Me? I really can’t handle sticks in my ICE CREAM!
[takes a deep breath]
Seriously. When my cold teeth scrape against cheap wood… I just hate it.
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
http://thedailymeme.com/what-is-a-meme/
bj said
If you want to learn what a meme is go to google and put in “National Pork Board” or “The Other White Meat”.
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
Well, you can eat around the stick, then scoop it off with a spoon ;).
Lisa said
Lisa [the first one] please don’t tell me there’s a DAILY meme…
I will never work again.
Robyn McMaster said
I could use a crunch bar right now, too, Chris!
Char said
Jessica - I’m envious. I love Vancouver - it’s been 13 years since I was there last.
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
*snorts at bj*
Chris Cree said
Jessica, can we start a pool for how many times we hear “eh” from the podium for that one?
Then we could do another one for how many times I say “um” in Chicago!
Brooke said
Lisa - what ‘camp’ are you in?
Char said
Oh, before I forget -
http://essentialkeystrokes.com/sobcon-07-announced/
Here is my link for my SOBcon announcement post.
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
Ha ha ha, other Lisa (that’s why I go by Mama Duck, btw), there is indeed. I try to only do ones that really add to the content of my blog, like a helpful post I was already going to write usually fits the Works-for-me-Wednesday one, Wordless Wednesday always works, and Thursday Thirteen is easily adaptable to suit my content. Plus, search engines love those lists!
Lisa said
err, ummm, ehh, what?
Camp? Profession? Side of the fence?
Robyn McMaster said
Hi, I’m here, but my comments aren’t posting. Just stopping by to see what’s up.
ME Strauss said
HI Jessica! So glad to see you! This was the first chance I had to get into the fray here! I was busy reading and all of these folks got comments in ahead of me!
Cool conference that you’re going to. Wish you would consider Chicago. I would love to meet you!
Chris Cree said
MDLisa, Now we’ve gotta have spoons? Way too many tools involved. That’s why I like Klondikes. The wrapper contains the stickiness (it wouldn’t do to get any on you. Well, unless you’re Rick, that is.) and no tools are required!
Jessica said
Char - Van is nice. Pretty freaking rainy right now. I have started planting lettuce and onions in my garden cause the flowers are already popping up.
Chris - LOL. We Canadians eh! Um in pretty popular here too.
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
I hope she was asking other Lisa, I have no idea what that means.
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
Ha, well, if it’s on a stick, it can go up high and run around with me to get away from the climbing toddler who will scale me like a tree to get at the CHOCOLATE. Oh yes.
Robyn McMaster said
Hi everyone. Great to see so many folks here.
Chris Cree said
Hey Robyn!
[whispers] Who did you upset over at Askimet?
bj said
Liz, I’ve gotta wonder why your blog is picking up adsense ads about the Trucking Authorities. has anyone else ever gotten some weirdies?
Chris Cree said
ROTFL!!! Climb the CHOCOLATE Tree!!
Brooke said
Ha! You said this: Brooke darling, we’re in the same camp. Can we elaborate?
Lisa said
Mama Duck, I just LOL’d my head off. I got quite distracted today by a wike-meme, that resulted in not many talkers.
Upshot is, unless I’m asking my readers to participate, it’s too full of posturing, for me. That was my epiphany for the day.
ME Strauss said
Robyn,
Heck with who you upset . . . Who did you finally pay off?
Jessica said
bj - I had a google ad once that said on the first line “You are Ugly” then after on the second line it when on to say how awful it is to be ugly and how ugly people need more support than pretty people.
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
I had one for a while about Devil Ducks - rubber duckies made with devil horns. I did block that one tho ;). I also get the occasional one about duck recipes…. mmmmm.
Lisa said
Brooke, so sorry. The camp I suppose is participants, partygoers, commenters. I believe, in my case, it’s finding my authentic formula.
Chris Cree said
She hasn’t payed up yet, I’m afraid. (The spam fairy is helping again.)
Brooke said
I agree!
JohnC said
::walks to the mic::
It’s getting STRANGER IN THE NIGGGHHHHT…
…with every en-try, wonder-ing who might…
…be Bobbie Gen-try..”
bj said
I got a good screenshot of one–
http://kickasswebdesign.com/wordpress/2006/06/contextual-blooper/
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
LOL I was going to ask where on earth Liz had ads, as I didn’t see any - this ad blocker plug-in takes some getting used to, I guess ;). D’oh!
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
BJ, that one is great!
Chris Cree said
Everyone, Meet Karaoke John. Heya John! (I just drove back from your fair city a couple hours ago.)
Rick Cockrum said
When my blog was new I would get quite a few ads for grass seed and plumbing repair parts. It was a bit odd, considering the nature of my material, buy hey, you never know what people are looking for. It did show the something about Adsense’s algorithms, though.
Is SOBCon full yet?
JohnC said
It’s warmed up since it got later today, Chris.
bj said
Yeah, I laughed my a$$ off when I saw that ad!
Joe said
Everyone going to SOBCon 07 Raise Your Hands !!!!!
Rick Cockrum said
That one’s a classic, bj!
Chris Cree said
Yeah, John. I left Savannah with a jacket on a little after noon. Didn’t need the jacket when I got out of the car at Talleyrand a couple hours later!
Char said
Love it BJ!
bj said
Geez, Savannah? No jacket? Gardening already? Y’all are making this yankee jealous.
JohnC said
Business or pleasure around Jaxport or the Stadium, Chris?
Oh, didn’t mean to be rude to everyone. Hi all! :wave:
JohnC said
lol bj…I was raised in the Adirondacks myself.
Rick Cockrum said
Hey JohnC! Hi Char!
bj said
ooh, love the Adirondacks . . .
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
Hi JohnC & Char!
Chris Cree said
Work. Ships. Port. (Well today more time was spend driving back and forth.)
But I was stationed at Cecil Field, did the last two cruises on the Sara, and worked at Blount Island for a while. So I know my way around down there.
We miss Jax.
JohnC said
Hi Rick. Good color and layout. Clean and soft, but visible.
Chris Cree said
And you’re a fellow Displaced (upstate) New Yorker too! John, we’ve gotta talk sometime!
bj said
I gotta run. Bye all! And Liz, I hope you fill up the conference roster soon!
ME Strauss said
Hi John!
I had to answer the phone! It’s good to see you. Welcome! I did catch your song! What was that I saw bout the Phreaking email?
JohnC said
lol. My grandfather did engineering/designing on Sara and Forest Fire in 60s…so like a Salmon…I returned to spawn on my own.
JohnC said
Hi ME. I tagged my City Hall and Sheriff’s office’s IP address the other day, after I made comments about politics. Got a number of hits by police, when they should have been working.
Char said
Hey Rick & MDLisa! I’m pretending to work in between comments tonight. Has anyone ever dealt with Kintera before? Just miserable CMS!
JohnC said
lol. You got my page, Chris. Anytime. I miss snowmobiling the most. “Sand’s rough…not smooth like there”
JohnC said
Mamaduck, I was checking your page when you posted at me…your pics of the kids are precious.
Chris Cree said
John, Just sent you an email. My next door neighbor here’s in the Army. His dad was a Sara plank owner. We were talking over dinner and realized between the two of us we covered both ends of her career. What a small world.
Rick Cockrum said
Thank you, John. I’m horrible at design and want easy to read, so I keep it as simple as I can.
JohnC said
Snagged it, Chris, and back at ya.
JohnC said
Actually Rick, I’m color blind…it’s a combo that both normal sighted people and ‘us’ probably find equally sweet. Seriously. Good job on font contrast as well with it.
JohnC said
Sorry about hitting and running. Got a late start to the party. I’ll stop in next time. Nighters, and nice ‘meeting’ everyone!
MamaDuck (Lisa) said
Thanks, John, have a great night!
Chris Cree said
Chow! Glad to make the connection, John.
Jessica said
It works for me John. Your blog is easily navigable and legible. Vancouver has a large and growing larger by the day homeless population at real estate prices rocket here. I’m glad you have a home now both online and offline.
ME Strauss said
Good night, John!
Gosh it was fun having you stop by!
Char said
Does anyone know of any blog conferences on the east coast this year? I am thinking about coming to Chicago, but it will take some serious planet alignment.
ME Strauss said
Okay, let’s get this convention rolling. Who’s the first speaker and what’re you speaking on?
Lisa said
Err, isn’t that you Liz?
Char said
I’ll chair a panel on how to best work with your designer.
Chris Cree said
Char, you keep trying to talk yourself out of coming to Chicago. I suspect somehow your planet alignment needs will be met quite nicely. Resistance is FUTILE!
Rick Cockrum said
(As everyone stands in the back looking at each other or their feet…)
Chris Cree said
Can I offer suggest your first bullet point, Char? Pay your designer promptly and cheerfully!
ME Strauss said
I add to that pay your designer 50% in advance!
Brooke said
That would be nice Chris!
Lisa said
How about this as a panel discussion:
Can you survive as a committed blogger without monetizing?
Jessica said
I can’t make it to Chicago.
Maybe the gods will be kind to me this year and my finances will improve by then. 
Char said
Yes, Chris. The clients who pay me the fastest each month tend to get their work done first. Same goes for the clients who pay the highest rate.
ME Strauss said
Jessica, I believe in the law of intentionality. I want you to intent to go and breathe life into that inteontion.
:)
Jessica said
Breathing. Ah. I breath in great. I tend to hold my breath though not letting it out. I will breath life into that intention and exhale it out. *doing right now*
ME Strauss said
Char,
Whare do the clients who are easiest to work with and most fun to work with fit it?
Brooke said
I find that they actully pay the highest. So it all works…
Chris Cree said
Jessica, I’m pulling for this year to be your most profitable ever. Regardless of whether you make it to Chicago or not.
Char said
Oh, those clients get stellar service too! I am lucky - over the years I have managed to get pretty good clients and they are all getting better about paying quickly, too.
The clients that are not fun to work with are those who don’t know what they want, want it yesterday, and don’t want to pay what its worth. Oh, I don’t work with them anymore.
Char said
Breathe Jessica Breathe. In and out. You can do it.
Brooke said
Char - I don’t want to work with them. How do you turn them down nicely when they don’t know what they want?
darrenh said
Lisa: Depends on your level of commitment, I’d say.
ME Strauss said
Gosh, Char, that question sounds familiar.
Jessica said
Chris - I just came from doing my income tax today for last year and the woman at the counter kept asking “is this all you made? - where are your other work forms? You can’t live on that in Vancouver” I felt ashamed.
thank you Chris. This year is looking better and a much more stable.
Char said
Use the technique Liz and I discussed a while back - let them know it will cost them more that you think they are willing to pay. If they are willing to pay $$, it should be worth the hassle.
Rick Cockrum said
Jessica, While you breathe, see an image of you in a cafe with Liz and the others you want to meet, and a feeling of all the fun you have talking together. With each breath you feel them coming closer.
Brooke said
Thanks Char!
darrenh said
does moentizing bother you from a ethical standpoint or just from the hassle Lisa?
Chris Cree said
Well, Jessica. On the bright side you probably didn’t have to pay so much in taxes…
I hope you got a little back from your government.
ME Strauss said
You could come in early and we could go to the art institute.
Ben Yoskovitz said
Evening everyone - hope I’m not too late to the party!
Jessica said
I’m breathing Chris
Brooke -
I would have them write down at home their favorite color. What is the statement you want to make and the accompanying text? What or who inspires them and why they need a new design to begin with if they are not sure of what they wanted. I would ask them to come back in one week with some more ideas. Sometimes they came back with a better footing and other times they would disappear.
The color questions I asked were the most important to my trade. Color is more expensive in the print industry to black and white. Once I had their favorite colors and some text they wrote out for me to work with the process went smooth.
(my background is graphic design and art direction - used to freelance in New Brunswick.)
Char said
Evening Ben! Never too late.
Jessica said
Rick, Liz and Chris - this is why I came here this evening. I have always felt welcome here and have a smile on my face right now. I hope someday to meet you all. For now I’ll just be attending Northern Voice Blogging conference in Vancouver this weekend.
I did get some money back from my taxes.
Brooke said
Thanks Jessica. With this kind of work you will have a very successful year!
Ben Yoskovitz said
Hope everyone’s doing well…
Thought I’d stop by for some entertaining diversion.
Chris Cree said
Lisa, I don’t see monetization as having anything to do with commitment. The cash resources required to blog are remarkably small, perhaps even free.
Time is a different issue. There is where the commitment comes in. But that doesn’t cost direct dollars.
I don’t have any adds on my main blog. Generating direct income is not the purpose of that one.
My personal blog carries AdSence. But I’ve completely neglected it since October due to other commitments. And the $25 it has brought in over the last year or so is really meaningless since Google won’t pay out until it is over $100 anyway.
Joe said
No poem tonight, I’m not in the mood
with questionable email, I think I’ll just brood
Sorry for being such a downer to all
Tomorrow, I hope that I can walk tall
Hope everything goes your way tonight
and the day breaks tomorrow, oh, so bright.
Berma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite All
Brooke said
Hey - how do you guys put a quote in the comment box?
Char said
Jessica - I like your technique - I will try that too. A lot of times if a client isn’t sure what they want I ask them to send me links to 5 sites they like and 5 they don’t like.
Chris Cree said
Heya Ben!
Ben Yoskovitz said
I’m up to $67 on Instigator Blog in Adsense revenue! Woohoo! I go for the digg love more than the AdSense love anyway…*chuckle*
Rick Cockrum said
Hi Ben! Life is just spiffy.
Jessica said
Your welcome Brooke. I am semi-retiring from the applied art (design) world to pursue fine art, blogging and social work (cooking for people who cannot cook for themselves due to disability or mental health issues). This year things are promising for me.
HART (1-800-HART) said
~waves to everybody
Greetings and Salutations! How’s it going, eh?
Brooke said
Very cool. Good luck!
Jessica said
Night Joe.
Take care.
Chris Cree said
Brooke, You can use the <blockquote> tag. Is that what you mean or are you asking about how to do links?
HART (1-800-HART) said
I was catching up on the 242 posts before me .. and Liz .. I think that green comment date and name et al is making me see spots! But, I guess that’s better than seeing Dead People .. OooooooOooOOoOO Scaaaaary.
Rick Cockrum said
G’night Joe. Try not to agitate. It’ll happen as it comes.
I finally took the digg icon off my posts. It didn’t get used much, and we weren’t appropriate for each other (digg and I).
Char said
Ben - blogging does pay the ego and the wallet! My Adsense income is getting to the point where I am consistently getting a check each month, but I have 3 traditional sites and 3 blogs feeding into that.
darrenh said
well, how about how to do links, chris?
Brooke said
Chris Cree said
HART, if you want to talk about scary and green, let’s talk about that wig you put on in your header…
HART (1-800-HART) said
PS: I posted Funny Exam Frustrations pictures on my blog today .. I swear - I almost popped a vein laughing so hard! Good thing I finished my coffee a few minutes earlier than that.
ME Strauss said
HART,
You aren’t seeing spots. Those are just holes in your vision. The dead people are out the window!
HART (1-800-HART) said
Chris .. Wig? that’s my natural hair colour
lol
Ben Yoskovitz said
Char - that’s great! Secretly I’d love to live off AdSense revenue, but it won’t happen with a blog on entrepreneurship and business.
Digg is like a drug though, I’ll admit it.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Liz .. speaking of comments about this new look too .. These comments are sure loading fast, and it’s actually not bad - popping up close to the last number that was posted prior .. instead of reloading from #1 .. (that’s a good thing!)
Jessica said
Char -
I would limit it to three good and three bad. Ask them to point out what kind of navigation they like and explain what navigation is to them. What sites/blogs writing they enjoy reading and also whether they prefer a corporate or a more creative site/blog.
Rick Cockrum said
Dead people have better things to do than hang around us, HART.
Chris Cree said
darrenh, for a link put in something like…
<a href=”url“>Text for Link Anchor</a>
Just change out the url with the actual http://bla-blah-blah and the text with whatever you want it to say.
And then you’re good to go!
Brooke said
Char - 3 blogs and 3 sites! That’s amazing. Do you work 24/7?
Char said
Ben - my two best earners are on dolls and printables for kids.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Don’t know what the heck Ben is talking about, but I always DIGG him, so I DUGG that last post without even reading.. I’m A Digg Abuser! WooHoo!! haha .. just kidding .. I’m sure I’ll read it in my Bloglines later
darrenh said
I agree with hart. It loads much better now and I like it going right to last comment. excellent
Chris Cree said
On my comment 260 above WordPress automatically changed the part in green to the link format. Too bad I didn’t type out a real url, eh?
ME Strauss said
Thanks for the comment HART!
The new blog is streamlined with all hand-code Sean didn’t put in any extra bracket or dash. You’re sitting in Successful-Blog Lite now!
darrenh said
bye now. ’til next time
Ben Yoskovitz said
Thanks HART.
Char - that’s what I want to do - hobby sites. Now I need a hobby…hhhhmm…
HART (1-800-HART) said
Hey Rick! & Jessica! How’s it going?
Brooke .. have we met? I like riddles
Actually, that reminds me .. in a casual “Open Mic” type of way of just shifting conversation and jumping into different topics ..
Are we seeing too much of Stan Lee Lately?
I’ve been enjoying that Superheroes reality show .. but, his voice practically puts me to sleep. Then - on Heroes .. the bus driver ..I remember saying .. WHAT .. Again?
Char said
Brooke - I work a lot, but I get to work from home, for myself, and get to take on the clients I want. Plus, its easy when you like the subject matter.
Jessica said
Are any of you using Text Link Ads? I just began with them and thus far it seems to be ok.
Chris Cree said
So Ben are you saying that you’d rather see traffic than cash?
Brooke said
That is so cool. I work at home too - but with 2 little one’s - time and sleep are hard to come by.
Jessica said
Hi Hart
I am doing good. Better now that I am here with all of you. Long time no chat. Good to see you too.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Liz .. with Blog-Lite .. what is the world coming too! Pretty soon, it will be LITE pringles and Fat-Free dipping sauces in the sidebar .. tsk tsk tsk
GP said
While the snows are again starting (think stop mode for tomorrow’s extravaganza) i’m ready for a nigh nigh treat of … haagen daasz.
Woohoo ben.. . way 2 go.
Normally conferences seem to drag on, but this one sounds like a hoot in the making.
I’ll sign off with my salute to the waltons,
G’night, Liz, G’night, Ben, g’night all
GP in Montana
Brooke said
Good nite all. Thanks for letting me participate!
Ben Yoskovitz said
Jessica - I’m using Text Link Ads (TLA). Have 3 on my site sold. If you have a PR ranking it’s worth doing it for a few bucks.
Chris - I definitely prefer traffic over monetizing Instigator Blog cause it’s not the type of blog that monetizes well with ads like AdSense. I’ve had some success with sponsorships, but it’s all about traffic - because traffic leads to opportunities (which lead to money.)
HART (1-800-HART) said
Jessica .. I’m using TLA’s .. it’s tough when your blog isn’t High PR or traffic rated, and at the bottom of the value-barrel .. but nice when it’s more than $200 per month now. There’s also Linkworth .. have you tried them?
Rick Cockrum said
Good night, Darren. Take care.
Ben - if you found a hobby, would you turn it into a venture?
Char said
Brooke - I have three kids (10, 8 & 5) - I started working from home when the first one was born. Keep juggling - it is worth it.
Chris - you can have both traffic and income depending on the hobby you pick.
Rick Cockrum said
Good night GP, Brooke.
HART - Where’s Linkworth, and what do they do?
Ben Yoskovitz said
Rick - yes, I would. It’s my natural inclination to turn everything into a venture. And an “ad”venture too…
HART (1-800-HART) said
** waves to people heading off to sleep or other places!
I wish my hobby of buying Lottery Tickets would change into a hobby of buying Winning Lottery Tickets.
Jessica said
Never heard of linkworth Hart. My stats have been dropping over the past couple of months as I’m preparing things offline and will be back to blogging regularly next month. I will look into link worth.
Bye brooke
Rick Cockrum said
It’s time for a date with my pillow, too. Goodnight all. Goodnight Liz. Happy SOBCon!
HART (1-800-HART) said
Rick/Jessica .. http://LinkWorth.com // basically, you set your price .. but in addition to text-link, there is usually 3-lines of ads.. // check out on my site e.g. http://www.battling-cancer.com/ (skin cream)
ME Strauss said
Good Night, Rick!
Thank you for coming!
Jessica said
Bye Rick
HART (1-800-HART) said
G’nite Rick ..
Ben Yoskovitz said
A pillow date sounds like a good idea. I have to crash too.
Night all!
HART (1-800-HART) said
ah1 .. the moderation still works .. catching my two-linked comment *coughing*
ME Strauss said
Good night, Ben!
Sleep well!
HART (1-800-HART) said
G’nite Ben .. have a good one ~
Char said
Goodnight all!! See you all next week - hopefully from time to time in between.
Jessica said
Good night Ben and Char
ME Strauss said
Good Night, Char!
Sleep Well!
Terry Starbucker said
Howdy! Starbucker here from Montana. Is the light still on?
ME Strauss said
Hi Starbucker!!
Yeah, here have a cold one!
Sandy said
Hi Starbucker,
Sandy here. Anybody else around?
HART (1-800-HART) said
~waves to Starbucker ..
Lights are on low on the dimmer switch, but not off!
reaches over Rocking Chair and spins it to full ON mode
Sandy said
Hi Liz,
Yea - you’re still open.
HART (1-800-HART) said
~waves to Sandy .. Howdy!
Phil Gerbyshak said
Hey friends. I’ve got 10 minutes and wanted to say hello
Terry Starbucker said
Hey HART, Liz and Sandy! Don’t mind if I do have a cold one - it’s been a long day. 500 road miles today.
Phil Gerbyshak said
Liz, Starbucker, Sandy and Mr. HART. What’s up folks?
Jessica said
I am still here for about 5 more minutes.
Phil Gerbyshak said
Hey Jessica. Happy Tuesday!
Jessica said
Terry - 500 miles. Wow! I walked maybe 500 footsteps.
Sandy said
Hi HART
Hi Phil
Hi Jessica
ME Strauss said
We’ve had a fine night– played with crayons, had a design seminar, improved our blogging, and waited for you guys to show up.
HART (1-800-HART) said
~waves to Phil ..
Nothing too exciting happening here, except Starbucker drinking the last cold one .. Can you refill the fridge pleeeze?
j/k
BTW - I installed a Forum on my blog this morning … it’s still in the infancy stages .. (like I need to get rss going) but its working in my wordpress blog.
Jessica said
Happy tuesday Phil to you too. Good luck with SOBcon with Liz.
Jessica said
Hi Sandy
Phil Gerbyshak said
No more to drink? Whassup with that Mr. Starbucker?
Thanks for the luck Jessica. Are you coming to Chicago?
Chris Cree said
Step out for a quick Skype and the cast completely changes in here. Hey everybody new!
And it is way past the pumpkin hour down here at the Cree house. Gotta turn in. Night all! Hope to see you at SOBCon ‘07!
Enjoy!
Terry Starbucker said
Hi Jessica and Phil! Yep, a lot of driving; lot’s of great scenery though - I’m going to post a pic of the Big Horn mountains on my blog tonight.
Phil Gerbyshak said
Played with crayons Liz? I’ve been running with scissors. Does that count for anything?
Phil Gerbyshak said
500 miles Terry - whoa dude. That’s a LONG ways. I’m driving 250 tomorrow (off to Madison for a speaking gig).
Jessica said
Phil - I won’t be able to make it to Chicago. There is always hope though. I am breathing in hope. This weekend I am attending northern voice blogging conference in Vancouver where i live
Phil Gerbyshak said
Night Chris Cree
Phil Gerbyshak said
Sorry you won’t be in Chicago Jessica. Hopefully you can come visit us sometime in Milwaukee. It’s a beautiful place on a GREAT lake!
Chris Cree said
[Whispers to Starbucker on his way out the door] Sounds like your view was a whole lot better than I-95 between Savannah and Jacksonville today.
Chris Cree said
[over his shoulder as the door closes]
‘Night Phil!
Phil Gerbyshak said
fun crowd. I’ve got to be up at 5. G’night everyone. See many in Chicago
Jessica said
Night Chris. And I must bid you all adieu.
thanks for the breathing lessons and inspiration. As always every time i come here I leave with a smile and full of hope. Tonight is perhaps the first night in weeks I have partaken in an online conversation. Thank you Liz for being a gracious host.
Good night all!
ME Strauss said
Phil,
Running with scissors AND a speaking gig to boot!
That counts!
HART (1-800-HART) said
G’nite Chris..
Starbucker … I’ve just discovered (1) Mini Marshmallows (2) Instant Hot Chocolate and (3) Cinnamon .. in all my coffees every morning.
Your 500 daily miles will only seem like 480 miles while you enjoy your thermos of coffee!
ME Strauss said
Good Night, Jessica!
Keep thinking good thoughts!
Sandy said
Kind of a revolving door here. Just stopped in to say howdy before heading off to sleep. Any hot tea?
Terry Starbucker said
Nite Chris - oh boy HART, you know I LOVE cinnamon - I need to get some of that in my coffee (and in my thermos) for tomorrow’s drive- another 400 miles, this time through Colorado. Then I go home.
HART (1-800-HART) said
G’nite Jessica~ Have fun at your conference!
HART (1-800-HART) said
Starbucker ..just stop in 7-Eleven .. they’ve got mini marshmallows there too
hehe .. or, you can just buy some ..
ME Strauss said
Starbucker,
Did you play the song with the presentation? How did it go over?
Terry Starbucker said
I got pressed for time so I couldn’t do it - I still have two more chances though.
Terry Starbucker said
I’ve posted my picture from Wyoming - here it is: http://tshalffull.blogspot.com/2007/02/great-scenery-and-three-billion-years.html
Really liked that rock formation
Terry Starbucker said
Time for bed - 4AM wake up call. Bye all!
ME Strauss said
That is one gorgeous picture. You are a photographer, Starbucker man.
HART (1-800-HART) said
Well .. that was a nice picture. Everybody seems to be heading off, and I’m into multi-tasking - so, I will say my G’nites to all in one last comment!
Catch you around the ‘net .. most likely!
ME Strauss said
Good night HART!
Good night Everyone!
Mike said
What?! I missed it all?
That’s what I get for walking the dog (literally!).
Sorry I missed all the fun. I’m sure someone already noted that this is the ULTIMATE weekly blogger convention!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mike
Mike said
And when someone organized a blogger convention at the summit of Camelback Mountain - I’M THERE!!
Mike said
sorry. “organizeS”
ME Strauss said
Mike,
Your attendance has been marked and recorded.
Mike said
Thanks, Miss Liz! Apple’s in the mail!!
I’m very grateful for our conversations this week
ME Strauss said
You’re welcome very much, Mr. Mike!
I enjoyed our conversation just as much as you did!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Hi everyone, am I too late for the party? Just taking a break from my virtual book tour interviews to pop in and say hi.
Jonathan-C. Phillips said
Ah i missed it!
Gotta say that’s a lot of comments! Impressive!
ME Strauss said
Hi Glenda,
Hi Johnathan
Sorry we missed you both usually someone’s around after, lurking to talk to anyone who comes by . . . looks like this time we were all pretty tired. A conferrence will that to you.
Easton Ellsworth said
I hate missing Open Mic night. I really hope I can make it to the REAL one coming up in May!
ME Strauss said
Hi Easton,
We’re hoping right along with you! It would be a great, big blogging special feeling to see you in person!
The sickness and the voice at Jessicadoyle.ca said
[...] On Tuesday morning I awoke with the same very sore throat accompanied by swollen glands. Feeling no shivers or aches and pains I proceeded to go about my day. I sat down for the first time in weeks and joined in the conversation at Open Mic night on Successful Blog. They were talking about conferences. This was a great conversation for me. It had been weeks since I last participated and was feeling a little scared to jump back in. I did. I met some new folks. [...]