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Normal Computer Users — Do You Know Any?

April 27, 2006 by Liz

Exploring the SOB Directory

Every week at about this time, I go exploring the SOB Directory. It’s my Thursday night reward to me. I get to read instead of write for a bit. I need to do that on Thursday nights, because Thursdays have this way of getting me down. Working at home I get aware that folks are getting things done and don’t need me bothering them. So I head off to go exploring to get me back on an upward swing.

I put my headphones on and head to the SOB Directory to read what you have been doing all week.

Sometimes I find that takes me to something that makes me laugh. Then I have to come back home again and tell you about where I’ve been, carrying with me links and all. [Read more…]

Don’t Pay Attention — Are You Curious?

April 27, 2006 by Liz

Pay Attention!

Pay attention.

How many times have you heard those two words?

What did they really mean?

To me they meant sit up straight; fold your hands; and be quiet. Look and listen?

I used to think life was all about paying attention. I don’t think that anymore.

Paying attention is passive. I don’t wait for things to come to me.

Are You Curious?

The world moves faster than waiting allows. If you want to know things, you have to do more than pay attention. Observing only provides half of the story. You have to get out there and find out things. That means you have to be active–get curious. Ask questions. Get interested in everything. Don’t leave an idea uncovered.

Pick a block of time today. Question everything you do. Use curious questions like these to build your business.

Do I always do this task this way?
Is this a habit or do I have a reason?
Is there another way to do it?
Do other people do it the same way? Get curious. Don’t just take your own word for it. Check it out.

We have this way of fooling ourselves into believing that everyone thinks as we do.

After you’ve gotten curious about how you do things, check out whether other people do things the same way as you. That’s the whole point, you see.

Curiosity As Influence

I need curiosity to know my customers, my readers. I’m lucky. I’m weird enough that people have made it clear that I’m not focus group material in any way — but my curiosity is influence. It changes how I think and how people see my business. Curiosity connects. It forges links. My curious questions establish my interests and seal my one-of-a-kind value.

Still, you’re one of a kind too. Things you do in your own way or in a way that’s different from many of your customers, deep curious questions you ask establish that. Sharing your curiosity adds value to a business.

As a customer, I value a brand that’s curious about what I like. It makes me curious about the people behind the brand. I want to get to know them and once that happens, I want to do business with them too.

How might you use curiosity to promote your brand?

Be irresistible.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!

Buy the Insider’s Guide to Online Conversation.

Net Neutrality 4-27-2006

April 27, 2006 by Liz

Net Neutrality Links

I’ve added these links to the Net Neutrality Page today.

Alyssa Milano Chimes In On Net Neutrality [via Jeff Pulver]

The Markey Amendment says that telecommunication and cable giants like AT&T and Verizon that provide broadband access have the obligation “not to block, impair, degrade, discriminate against, or interfere with the ability of any person to use a broadband connection to access, use, send, receive, or offer lawful content, applications, or services over the Internet.” The House Committee votes on the amendment today.

As it stands, the bill introduces the Federal Communications Commission to the issue requiring the FCC to address Net Neutrality complaints and levy fines of $500,000 against those found in violation.

Save the Internet.com, House Committee Vote Results: The Momentum Shifts in Our Favor

Ok, so the vote on the Markey amendment to protect the internet has happened, and it was voted down, 34-22. That is a big deal. ItÃ¢â¬â¢s too bad we lost the vote, but we expected that loss. What we did not expected was the narrow margin. By way of comparison, the subcommittee vote was 23-8, which means we should have gotten blown out of the water.

And this Net Neutrality You-Tube link [via AskaNinja.com]

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Cow- . . . Er . . . Blogtipping

April 26, 2006 by Liz

I Know Cowtipping

Where I grew up, some kids would go out cowtipping in the summer. They would drive out to 1-Mile Road or 2-Mile Road to find a farm where cows were sleeping, sneak up on a cow, and push it over. Then they’d run back to their cars laughing.

I didn’t do it. I’d like to say that was because I am a humane soul. I am a humane soul. That’s true, but that’s not the reason I didn’t do it. I didn’t do it, because I make a habit of not disturbing sleeping beings, especially those that are larger than I am. The risk is more than I care to take on.

But Blogtipping?

This morning when I went to check my links at Technorati, I saw one from Easton Ellsworth at KnowMoreMedia called It’s A Great Day For Blogtipping. Needless to say I was a bit concerned.

I stood up to look at my computer to make certain it was upright. Then I viewed my homepage to be sure that it wasn’t sideways. Whew! What a relief to see it looked fine. Those two things out of the way, I could then click the link without fear to find out what Easton had in store for me.

Blogtipping Easton Ellsworth Style is a great example of showing readers that you value them.

He’s right. It is a great for blogtipping. Will you tip a blog today?

–ME Strauss

Great Find: Campfire Group Chat

April 26, 2006 by Liz

Well, it looks like a Great Find . . . I haven’t tried it. I don’t have that many friends who want to talk to me for extended periods of time. It sports and testimonial from Dick Costolo, however. I betcha he has more friends than I do.

Ã¢â¬ÅOne chat with Campfire and you won’t remember how you got by without it.Ã¢â¬?
-Dick Costolo, President, FeedBurner

Great Find: Campfire Group Chat
Type of Tool: Simple Web-based group chat system
Permalink: http://www.campfirenow.com/
Target Audience: Small businesses and groups who want to meet online with password protected privacy and little hassle
Content: Campfire is a pasword-protected, multiroom chat system offers folks a place to meet online. It requires only an online connection and a browser–no download, no installation, no IT person to set up anything. Campfire allows folks to get together in real time to have online conversations, complete with transcripts, and to share files and preview images. It includes an outer room — the Lobby — the chat room, which holds up to 60 people, and a private room, which can be locked for an off-the-record chat — no transcripts are taken. To see more about Campfire, click the screenshot below.

Sounds like an functional program that small businesses could find real use for. Can’t possibly be Web 2.0.

Who’s going to be the first to try it and write a review for Successful Blog?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

New Internet & MSM Page

April 25, 2006 by Liz

Internet & Mainstream Media

Every little while a story will appear in the Mainstream Media about the Internet or Blogging that calls out to me. It calls either because it’s being touted as one thing when it’s another, or because it tells a story that invites analysis of a kind that I enjoy. They stories have tended to build on each other over time.