Going Exploring
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.
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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
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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
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.
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
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
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 🙂
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
Hi liz,
nice advice. I am going to try right away. byeeeeeeee 😉
jack
Hi Jack,
I lose track of more readers that way, 🙂
Liz
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 🙂
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
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.
Yeah Martin,
I’m right with you.
Oh I didn’t mean to srape, I just thought you might find some interesting springboards.
Liz
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
Thanks, Martin
Ishould have known you’d planned two years out.:)
Stop by when you get a minute.
Liz
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.
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
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 🙂
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. 🙂