We’re talking about Elvis – his movies, his songs, whether he is alive, has he left the building, whether you were born before he died, Graceland, who is the new Elvis, and whatever else comes up. And we could talk about other rock stars, too.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?
Content is king. It is the product and the service we offer to our readers. Content is what they come for. So when we look on our front page, our job is to make sure that readers will find what they came for. Our posts are our way of extending ourselves, our thoughts, our business savvy, and our expertise. They are the flag that carries our branding message to the world in every sentence.
Sometimes we can look in the wrong direction. Instead of choosing for our readers we unconsciously choose for ourselves.
I use this 5 Point Pop Quiz to check today’s post.
Now and then we all forget and find we chose ourselves over our readers. Other times we write for each other, rather than for the folks we want as customers. I’ve been writing for years and I know I still get caught there.
I hope your post passed this 5 Point Pop Quiz with flying colors — the flying colors of a brand well focused on your readers. If not, I bet you know just what to do. . . .
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Don’t forget to sign up to meet me in Chicago. Seats are, oh so, limited.
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On Monday, February 26 I started looking for 200 Unique Blogs. . . . I said that the blogs I am looking for are
are one-of-a kind, stand-out, nothing-like-it, wow-will-you-look-at-that. only-one, wish-I-had-that-idea blogs. Every blog in the bunch will be outstanding in its own way.
Many people came to offer suggestions. Many people came for many reasons.
John, a wise, money man and bartender at the sidebar, predicted that it would be interesting to watch. John only said that because he knows me.
Part of the fun and intrigue of a project like this is the opportunity to see blogger behavior. I found three kinds of people seemed to show up.
It’s also interesting how all who left links seemed to undervalue the impact of design on readers.
Comments have been closed at the old post and this one is open.
I redefine the quest here:
A unique and outstanding blog is one so compelling and remarkable that it sticks with you — days later you still want to tell folks to experience it. A unique and outstaninding blog has an amazing impact on a reader. It is unforgettable to both the adult and the kid in you.
I’m still looking for 200 one-of-a kind, stand-out, nothing-like-it, wow-will-you-look-at-that. only-one, wish-I-had-that-idea blogs. Every blog in the bunch will be outstanding in its own way.
Each of these blogs is exceptional for one reason and executes well in other facets. That’s why they stand out in a crowd. [The numbers do not represent an order. They only represent a count. Nor does this listing ensure that any blog will remain all the way through to the final 200. Also note: I’m looking for 200 outstanding and unique blogs, NOT a top 200.]
http://virtualworlds.nmc.org/
http://ilkeryoldas.blogspot.com/
http://davidbdale.wordpress.com/
http://www.knifegunpen.com/
http://ha.ckers.org/
http://www.michaelhyatt.com/fromwhereisit/
http://www.cangooglehearme.com/index.php?
http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/
http: //thedisquiet.com/index.php?
http://hungryforhunger.blogspot.com/
http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/
http://bla.st/site/blog/61/
http://curtrosengren.typepad.com/occupationaladventure/
http://www.wibsite.com/wiblog/dull/
http://bentobox.bzzagent.com/
–ME “Liz” Strauss
In a chain of events last week, an idea and a new relationship were born. That idea will continue to form new relationships as it grows. Throughout the story is what Phil Gerbyshak calls “The Power of WE.” Here is what happened.
Chris Owen from Pink Apple Connections wrote about how, if Australia were closer she could be part of SOBcon 07. Leah MacLean wrote about Chris’ post with a suggestion and a questionn about how SOBcon started. Leah’s post generated a pile of comments and a possible Australian conference in the making. It also led to a message from me.
Leah and I met Skype — a brand new relationship. I told her how the relationships at Succeesful-Blog were the seed for the SOBcon event. By the time that call was over, Leah and I were planning a new, virtual event across the dateline.
Working Solo and Successful Blog present the Virtual SOBcon preconference event on March 12.
Chris’ post and her wish to be at a conference with her “mate Phil” put so many things into motion. It started my relationship with Leah and an entirely new event. All of that happened because some folks wanted to have a conference in Chicago. It’s incredible what happens when we engage the Power of WE.
We can change the world — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
______________
If you’re ready to change the world, send me your thoughts in a guest post. Feel free to take the gorgeous Change the World image up there that Sandy designed back to your blog. Or help yourself to this one.
. Email me about what you’re doing or what we might do. Let’s change the world one bit at a time together. Together it can’t take forever.
For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week. I offer this bloggy life not-so-hypothetical question. . . .
We do it when we go to concerts. We’re hoping they’ll play that one song. . . .
With SOBCon07 just 9 weeks away, I have my presentation coming together in a uniquely Liz-like fashion. Based on a true a story, the saga will reveal through photos and bloggy observations how a bashful, clumsy, toddler grew through her gawky, invisible teenage existence into adulthood gathering knowledge as a writer to finally find that everything she learned about blogging, she learned in two places — her father’s saloon and dancing school.
It will be a comedy and an interactive relationship experience. However, as with any production I know, folks will come with preconceived notions of what they hope I will include. And to be frank — I know I’m Liz, but you know what I mean.– I want folks to get that one thing they’re hoping for.
So I’m asking, if you were going to SOBcon 07 — even if you can’t, suppose you were — what one thing just has to be part of my presentation “playlist” for folks to got what they came for? “What one thing would you hope that I would talk about?
Write your one thing in the comment box and I’ll fit your ideas in my time to talk.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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Thomas R. Clifford is a award-winning documentary filmmaker. His Director Tom blog focuses on igniting conversations by helping people tell their story authentically and dynamically. His passion for the past 23 years has been filmming remarkable stories from remarkable organizations. Tom uses that passion that has produced films for a variety of organizations — including The NFL Hall of Fame, Deloitte, and more — to give readers a look into the “what and how” of corporate filmmaking.
Tom also co-produced a one hour worldwide documentary entitled, “The Men Who Brought the Dawn.” It featured the surviving airmen who flew both atomic missions to Japan. A shorter version was produced for the NASM at the Smithsonian Institution to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the atomic missions.That experience and expertise shines throughout his remarkable blog.
Notes from Liz: When I spoke with Tom on the phone, his enthusiasm for the blogosphere and for sharing what he does was wildly contagious. When he talks about making corporate films, he talks about diamonds . . . “the job is not done until they are cut perfectly.” It’s easy to see why he calls the folks he films at each organization heroes — he makes sure that he tells the story in a way that they truly are. Tom’s blog is energy, information, and techniques, made readable.
Thanks, Tom, for wanting to share what you’ve learned in your award-winning career.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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