Successful Blog

  • Home
  • About GeniusShared
  • Author Guidelines
  • Meet the GeniusShared Team
  • Liz’s Book
  • Newsletter

Exploring for Ideas at Technorati

April 22, 2006 by Liz Leave a Comment

Going Exploring

Finding Ideas Outside of the Box logo 2

I can’t help it. David Sifry hooked me. He did it when he let them name that feature at Technorati Explore. Had he only said, “Okay call it Browse.” Browsing is a nice thing. I’ve even been known to do it. I’ve browsed through books and browsed while waiting. Yes, I know how to Browse.

My life would be so much easier, if only David Sifry had chosen Browse instead of choosing Explore.

But no. My friend, Dave probably was a kid a bit like me. He probably knows the exact appeal of exploring. Maybe he even remembers hearing someone saying, “Where you going?” and answering back “We’re going exploring. Wanna come along?”

Slam dunk marketing that name. Explore. Even better, it lives up to its promise.

Since I was a little kid, going exploring has been a passion. Now at Technorati, I have to keep my eyes down not to click that button on the nav bar. Exploring means adventure, and adventures are fine and magical things.

Have you tried it yet? I warn you it’s addictive. It’s like following a secret trail. You know that after every click you’re going to find something unexpected, and rarely will it let you down. Exploring isthe closest thing to being Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes, and Hunter S. Thompson all at once.

Try It

I go exploring when I want fresh ideas that are rich with lots of details. Here’s all you have to do.

    1. Go to the Technorati home page.
    2. Hit the word Explore in the large green nav bar at the top.
    3. Five random topic lists will appear. If you like one start there. If not, click a topic from the list to your right.
    4. Then just read titles and click through to the articles that interest you.
    5. Keep going. You’re an explorer now.

Explorer’s Advice

Keep a notebook to capture ideas that come while you’re exploring. A thought might not seem much at the moment, but some of mine have grown up to be whole articles in a day or two.

If you have an inkling that something might be worth writing about, bookmark sites that have relevant information. You can always delete the bookmark, if you decide the idea won’t fly. On the other hand, if the idea turns out to be a winner, I can guarantee you won’t remember how to get back to that site.

Need ideas for promotion? Go exploring. Want to discover new gadgets? Explore them too. Feel like listing weird things? Yep, there’s a category with that name there. Explore is a Big, Little Kid’s Dream come true.

If you haven’t gone exploring you’re missing the coolest tool for writers. Go explore how much fun you can have doing what it is you do.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles
Don’t Hunt IDEAS — Be an Idea Magnet
Why Dave Barry and Liz Don’t Get Writer’s Block
Writing–Ugh! 10 Reasons to Get Jazzed about Writing
Creative Wonder 101 as Promotion and Problem Solving

Filed Under: Content, Outside the Box, Successful Blog, Tools, Writing Tagged With: David_Sifry, Explore, exploring_ideas, finding_ideas, Technorati, thinking_outside_of_the_box, writing_tools

Comments

  1. David Sifry says

    April 23, 2006 at 12:25 AM

    Liz,

    Wow, thanks for the incredibly kind review. I’m so glad you like Explore – I do too. That and the popular YouTube videos at http://www.technorati.com/pop/youtube/ means I get so much less done nowadays… 🙂

    Dave

    Reply
  2. Martin says

    April 23, 2006 at 4:50 AM

    Hmmm, thanks Liz, your rave review of Explore means I’m going to give it a try tonight.

    If it’s as good as you say then I’m in for a good rollicking ride.

    One of my many joys of blogging these days is coming across totally new blogs that capture my attention/emotion – I never tire of that adventure.

    Reply
  3. ME Strauss says

    April 23, 2006 at 5:00 AM

    Hi Dave,
    You’re welcome. I meant every word. I find it addictive and fun. It’s more organized and interesting way of surfing somewhere between searching and something like Googlle’s next blog. I like the way it keeps you in a channel of ideas–the same country so to speak.

    Bet you went exploring when you were a kid.

    Liz

    Reply
  4. ME Strauss says

    April 23, 2006 at 5:02 AM

    Hi Martin
    Yeah, I’m with you finding new and inteligent blogs is some of the excitement of being out here in cyberspace–It’s also and great to break out of our little neighborhood and see how many people are talking about the same things and what they’re saying.

    Great to see you.
    Liz

    Reply
  5. Martin says

    April 23, 2006 at 5:15 AM

    Liz … what are you doing up at 5.02am ??? 🙂

    Yep, love discovering new blogs – btw, any s/business blogs you come across that you deem up our alley give me a heads-up – as I’m always on the lookout.

    You see, I’m a small business news junkie – gimme, gimmie, gimme 🙂

    Reply
  6. ME Strauss says

    April 23, 2006 at 5:18 AM

    Hey Martin,
    My blog’s clock didn’t reset when the clocks here changed I was thinking it would when the UK changed theirs–we’re often a week different. Then I just didn’t think about it at all. 🙂

    It’s really 6:00 + here.

    Then do indeed start exploring business. I’ve been through there a couple of times and had some great fun doing so.
    liz

    Reply
  7. Jack says

    April 23, 2006 at 6:11 AM

    Hi liz,
    nice advice. I am going to try right away. byeeeeeeee 😉

    jack

    Reply
  8. ME Strauss says

    April 23, 2006 at 6:13 AM

    Hi Jack,
    I lose track of more readers that way, 🙂
    Liz

    Reply
  9. Martin says

    April 23, 2006 at 6:38 AM

    HeHe,

    just went “exploring” and typed in “small office” and 5 of the 7 1st page results were mine – don’t feel like exploring myself, though 😉 so I’ll think I’ll go more lateral 🙂

    Reply
  10. ME Strauss says

    April 23, 2006 at 6:41 AM

    Martin,
    I want you to notice that I left that opportunity on the table. Never go for the easy ones. That’s my motto.

    I would think Explore would be fun way for you to find topics for your SmallOfficeLists blog.

    Liz

    Reply
  11. Martin says

    April 23, 2006 at 6:51 AM

    You gotta start somewhwere, so I start with the easy/obvious ones and then let the creative side do the rest – after 10 minutes already have a handful of blogs bookmarked to check out later. Cool. Tks for steering me in that direction.

    SOLists – have decided not to scrape them from other sites but to be a little original – I’ll be doing my own lists, once or twice a week. eg: ’51 Goodies to Kickstart your Online Business” … and so forth.

    Reply
  12. ME Strauss says

    April 23, 2006 at 7:13 AM

    Yeah Martin,
    I’m right with you.

    Oh I didn’t mean to srape, I just thought you might find some interesting springboards.

    Liz

    Reply
  13. Martin says

    April 23, 2006 at 7:22 AM

    I hear ya, Liz.

    I’ve been springboarding all over the place for a while gathering up ideas – you should see my To Do lists for SOLists – I think I have enough ideas to last for quite a few months – now I just got to sit down and do them.

    Have a good (bloggin’) week,
    Martin

    Reply
  14. ME Strauss says

    April 23, 2006 at 7:24 AM

    Thanks, Martin

    Ishould have known you’d planned two years out.:)

    Stop by when you get a minute.

    Liz

    Reply
  15. Martin says

    April 23, 2006 at 7:45 AM

    Two years!!! yeah I wish!

    Here’s the secret: drop everything you are doing (everything!). clear the mind. grab a A3 sized bunch of blank sheets. turn off all the gadgets. sack the editor/critic inside off you. and just write, write and write. stop. take a long break (it’s exhausting going full-on creative). then go over your ramblings chucking out 90% of it and you end up with lots of cool stuff to work on.

    ’tis how I work … and usually burn myself out every other month 🙂

    And you know I always drop by – usually via my rss reader (eg: I read every one of your posts even if I don’t comment) – I could comment all day here but then I’d get nothing done.

    A bit lilke I’m doing right now … see ya.

    Reply
  16. ME Strauss says

    April 23, 2006 at 7:48 AM

    Hey, I do that too!
    Then I take a really Loooooong nap.

    I don’t have an internal editor any more. Can’t you tell that by my typing. 😉

    Good luck on getting lots of work done.
    Liz

    Reply
  17. Martin says

    April 23, 2006 at 8:15 AM

    Ain’t that the way: go hard at being creative and you feel sooo drained afterwards. I’ve read that about many famous authors, so we’re in good company.

    Actually … I’ve noticed your spelling/grammar has become much better over recent times – not that it was bad before, just that you’re probably like me: your thinking is too fast for your typing skills.

    … or has the blogging medium made us all just a little lazy. I’m putting my hand up on that one 🙂

    Reply
  18. ME Strauss says

    April 23, 2006 at 8:17 AM

    The spelling thing, I think is the result of the flat screen and a concerted effort to stop multitaking. As you say, to slow my thinking to match my typing speed. I now talk as I type.

    It’s a lot like when little kids speak every word that they read. 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

New from Liz Strauss & GeniusShared Press



Having a hard time finding focus?

Having a hard time finding focus?

It can be hard to find focus sometimes. A few months ago, I was talking with a colleague who was having a hard time finding focus in their work. They spoke of feeling pulled in multiple directions and of many obligations — both at work and with their family. As I listened, I could hear […]

Sometimes We Outgrow Our Stories

Sometimes We Outgrow Our Stories

The other day I was having a conversation with a friend. We were sharing stories from days gone by about each of our lives. We hopped from one story to the next — based on what each of us were sharing. It was really an incredible discussion as we were each learning from the other […]

It’s Not Your Passion, But Your Purpose

It’s Not Your Passion, But Your Purpose

Everyone feels lost sometimes. I don’t think I know anyone who hasn’t been lost in their head at one time or another — even those folks overachieving all over the Internet. We all find those moments that we wonder about who we are and what we want. But the question is not whether everyone gets […]

Getting Past Fear

Getting Past Fear

I felt the more embarrassing fear of people’s judgment. When I decided it was time to write again, I avoided the computer for the longest time. On the rare occasion that I managed to sit myself down to write, I’d get caught up answering email or reading articles around the web, not doing writing I […]

  • What IS an SOB?!
  • SOB A-Z Directory
  • Letting Liz Be

© 2019 ME Strauss & GeniusShared 2005 - 2016