Blog Comments Archives - Page 25 of 44

Bloggy Question 33: You’ve Changed, Man — DON’T Look at Yourself

December 10, 2006 by Liz

Where’s the Guy We Loved?

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 hypothetical question. . . .

You and a friend started blogging 8 months go. You’re in different businesses, but you have similar goals — to establish yourselves, to see what you’ve got, and to watch where it takes you.

The ride has been fun and almost a tale from a famous book — The Tortoise and the Hare. He’s been the hare. He collect links hand over fist during the first 6 months — almost 100 in the first month. You were the tortoise. You collected a respectable link count at a slower, more natural pace.

At your six month blog-anniversary, your friend began to lose links at the same rate he had collected them. At first he tried to act as if it didn’t matter, but he started posting more and more in month seven. In month eight, he began a campaign of self-promtion. He’s been outright asking for links at the end of every post.

His writing has changed. Some people have mentioned that fact to you.

You are still gaining links at a natural pace. He’s beginning to mention that to you.

How do you respond?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Link Leak and Lists — Say that Fast!

December 6, 2006 by Liz

Listening to our Lists

This time of the year, we’re all so innundated with things to do. Many of us make lists and other folks make lists for us. We talked about all kinds of them and what we think about them. Tuesday Open Comments Night was a list of lists.

The Link Leak Virus was with us as well. — The Link Leak Virus is a special strain of the indie virus with blogtipping mutations that occur in threes and keeps Open Comment Night a link free-for-all.

Welcome to every person who came — all of you are on my list of favorite people in the blogosphere.

Cool links were shared. Here’s a list of them.

Twisting the Listing by Rick Cockrum

A list of lists is what you missed
If you werenÃ¢â¬â¢t here for last nightÃ¢â¬â¢s tryst
Bloggers from around the globe
Tipped their hats to those they know
Newfound friends came out to play
As we all had our say

Joe was first as he tries to be
Making lists of what heÃ¢â¬â¢d see
Liz the ever gracious host
Watched neighbors list what they loved most.
Scorpia panned the creation of lists
Stultifying shells to block her bliss
John T Unger sat a spell
But TypelistsÃ¢â¬â¢ called sounded his knell
Carolyn said she loves lists
She may explain to a therapist
Valeria came for the first time
Lists for her, harness the mind
Delphine, too, was also new
Lists for her keep things to do
Trisha stopped just to say hi
To her lists she says goodbye
Chris is in a frigid clime
But with KlondikeÃ¢â¬â¢s heÃ¢â¬â¢s doing fine
Derek came, proud to say
His new blog layout makes him say Yay!
Vaspers returned, with his unique sound
Bearing links and quips, and links round rouÃ¢â¬Â¦.
Char says sheÃ¢â¬â¢s a lover of lists
For holding her thoughs so life she wonÃ¢â¬â¢t miss
Roger surveyed the list on their blog writing time
Was he making a list? I gave him mine
Ben stopped in. We gave him pink slippers
And promised him links if heÃ¢â¬â¢d just send us pictures
Cat is busy, preparing to fly
To England for Christmas – now sheÃ¢â¬â¢s lacking time
Shopping lists are popular at this time of year
Meikah really does hope the list of bills disappears
Christine (sheÃ¢â¬â¢s a P) doesnÃ¢â¬â¢t follow her lists
Resolutions are out, but a yearÃ¢â¬â¢s word can bring bliss
Rodney just joined the BAD blogger club

For Starbucker ice cream supplied the true grist
For a mouth-watering, luscious, flavorful list.
Tony felt bad that he came so late
John R brought books, a list that was great
Troy Worman said hi, Jeff Brown was alone
Douglas winged in and back out on his own
JessicaÃ¢â¬â¢s list gave us food, not just a bone
And 1-800 HART said a last hi from his unique time zone.
David said he’s from Chicago.
Liz said they’d have to meet in town.

As Joe said in his great rendition of Rudolph
And the end of the year comes once more to be
With lists like this
YouÃ¢â¬â¢ll go down in history!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

The Mic Is On: We’re List Crazy!

December 5, 2006 by Liz

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.

Tonight we’re gathering lists!

We might also talk about

Holiday Lists, End of Year Lists — too many to name
Best of Lists, Top Ten Lists, Greatest/Worst Lists
Lists we wish we could give away
Wishlists and Dreams

AND THE EVER POPULAR,
Basil the code-writing donkey, and Milton the Moose.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: We’re List Crazy!

December 5, 2006 by Liz

He’s Making a List and Checking It Twice

YES, the mic will be open again tonight. So start collecting your thoughts. Remember, you get to bring what you want to talk about.

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.

Tonight we’re gathering lists!

We might also talk about

Holiday Lists, End of Year Lists — too many to name
Best of Lists, Top Ten Lists, Greatest/Worst Lists
Lists we wish we could give away
Wishlists and Dreams

AND THE EVER POPULAR,
Basil the code-writing donkey, and Milton the Moose.

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.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Bloggy Question 32: Blogger Alert! Where Is She? What Should You Do?

December 3, 2006 by Liz

She Was Just Here . . .

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 hypothetical question. . . .

You’ve been friends with a blogger for almost a year. You’ve shared a comment or email daily for so long you can’t remember. You met once, when she was in your city. It was a fabulous dinner. You’ve got the pictures. You’ve talked on Skype several times and on your cell phones too.

A few weeks ago, she started a new job and moved to a new city.

Her emails have been erratic. Most have been jubilant, filled with hope for the transition, telling how much she likes her new job, the new city, the people at the new company. Those emails were filled with plans for buying furniture and meeting people. One even mentioned a guy she’s been dating. He sounded a little possessive, but cool.

Then three weeks ago, you got a long email that told a different, darker story. Your friend said that nothing is turning out as she thought it would. She called herself a miserable failure at business, at love, and at life. She mentioned that she’s missed three days of work again this week.

Now, you haven’t heard from your friend since that email. Nothing new has been posted at her blog. She doesn’t answer her cell phone. No one online seems to know where she is.

How do you respond?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Blog Design Types: How Do They Affect Reader Comments?

December 1, 2006 by Liz

Yesterday, I had breakfast with Steve Farber. Our discussion included comments and conversation on blogs. I mentioned what I’ve been noticing as I begin working with a designer on a facelift for Successful Blog.

The key point is that the longer I study designs I might like the more I realize that design affects how and whether I comment.

It makes sense really. We recognize a restaurant we want to try by its decor. We decorate our houses to reflect what is important to us. Why wouldn’t blog design reflect the blog owner and the audience? It seems a natural next step to think that blog design affects whether I comment.

Not all readers respond as I do, but decades working with readers online and off has taught me that many do. So, I’ve collected these thoughts:

Some designs are all rules or all whimsy. They might be mature and thoughtful, but they have no emotion. They might be fun and friendly, but they have no sophistication. It’s hard for me to find a fit in either. If I don’t fit, I worry that my comments will be misinterpreted. Designers should know I comment on these blogs despite design not because of it.

Some designs are highly structured — all things are outlined and in boxes. I know from print, that some folks find high-structure a comfort and others find it limiting. High-structure design makes me feel there is only one right answer. I’m careful when I comment on blogs with high-structure designs. I think that information bloggers and corporate blog designers should know this about me.

Some designs are wide open — the extreme example is the white page with no lines or boxes. The overall feeling could translate to standing on an open prairie where horizon is visible in all directions. I so like reading these blogs that I thought this was an option I might try, but when I went to comment on one my comment seemed so public. It didn’t mind sharing my thoughts in this venue, but I knew I’d never get in deep discussion. Someone who wants me to get to the point and keep moving should be aware of this response.

Some designs have a sense of openness and intimacy about them. They offer a defined space with atmosphere that offers room to breathe and think, and a boundary from the rest of the world. These designs feel fresh and familiar at the same time. I seem to know I’ll like people I’ll find there before I start to read. Designers looking to build a community blog should understand the attraction of these intangibles.

We know Successful-Blog is about relationships and conversation. Our kind of dialogue takes place in comfortable spaces, in places intimate and nonjudgmental. High-trust environments don’t happen when there’s only one right answer, when the whole world is watching, or when we have no sense of where we are or who we’re talking to.

Great design weds emotion and structure. Great designers weave and craft the subtle and intangible values of a brand into a design. Great design underpins and underscores who you and your readers are. It is the visual expression of the story your blog is telling in the words.

My comments might begin with a thought, but the execution, the actual writing involves a personal, emotional investment — a putting myself out there. A blog’s design helps me understand whether I’ll be supported in that effort. I guess it tells whether my comment is welcome.

How does the design of your blog reinforce the story of who you are? What else have you noticed about how design makes you feel while you are reading a blog?