Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the titles to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

Ensight.org writes about what it takes to make things work in a changing world.
So, in light of the industry difficulties we’ve seen in the last month, and particularly this week, I thought it’d be good to add some perspective (at least from my experience) to a few disparate conversations happening around the blogoworld.

Social Media Explorer writes about the value of time.
While some of the best communications ideas in the world were created in that hyperventilation chamber of death that is client deadlines, the one thing lacking in most approaches to market is the appropriate amount of time to ensure the program, campaign or effort is done right, or at least well.

Technosailor writes about how habits of social media can get in the way.
Unemployment hit an all time high last quarter as more and as more and more people hit the streets looking for meaningful employment, bad habits are accompanying them.

Jeff Pulver writes about the business and social value of sharing what’s on your mind.
Do you ever find yourself having a conversation with someone and all you end up saying are words which in effect say you are agreeing with them? Even if inside you really don’t? This used to happen to me often and I didn’t know why.

Build a Solo Practice, LLC writes about the psychology of work and happiness.
This very interesting article from the Psychology Today blog confirms that the quality of our work, more than our interpersonal relationships, determines our happiness . . .

Pistachio Consulting Inc. writes about the social in the software.
This simple, ordinary sharing of joys and concerns is one of the tremendous human strengths of Twitter and microsharing in general. Both can inspire, especially when the concerns are outside ourselves . . .

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Adversity University writes about social energy surges.
So there I was, at home, with absolutely nothing to do (by choice) and feeling no energy whatsoever. I was thinking to myself, “GASP, a motivational speaker and life coach whose normally vibrant energy flatlined this weekend?!?! MY GOD HOW COULD THIS BE??”

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like. No tips required. Comments appreciated.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the titles to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

Global Neighbourhoods is discussing how and why Twitter outstrips the rest as a search tool.
But I am coming to trust Twitter as my personal search tool more than any of these others, and here’s why: I can consider the recommender.

specially relevant is discussing perceptions and realtities.
The problem with friends, they have no shame in calling you out, but it made me think more abstractly about the fluff in general around social media. Social media is a little fluffy – everything is fluffy clouds, rainbows and unicorns – just a little right?

Cath Lawson is discussing the emotional ROI of blogging.
So just exactly what is a blog? Could it make you rich and famous? Would it propel your business to unimaginable heights? Or would putting a blog in your grubby little mitts be The Internet equivalent of tossing a firework into a liquor factory?

WinExtra is discussing trouble around the campfire..
It is as if the moment you become involved that any hint of evil or people doing bad things has evaporated into the ever sunny sky while we all sing John Lennon and Paul McCartney songs.

View from the Isle is discussing the BS factor that’s not really new.
I’ve reached a point recently where I’ve been forced to reflect on just what it is I do. What is my value to society and the world? What is it about me that makes me a “contributing member of society”?

Ari Herzog is discussing our role as diplomats.
Despite several friends of mine who have not joined the cellular bandwagon, I’m willing to hazard a guess that if you have a cell phone it’s because you used to be accessible via a traditional “land line” phone but wanted to reach out and call someone when you were out of your house.

Related ala carte selections include

Traffick is discussing disagreements.
Read on. . . .

Thanks to everyone who’s bought and blogged about the eBook!

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like. No tips required. Comments appreciated.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the titles to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

gregverdino shares a logical look at the importance of community.
You can understand a lot about the importance of social connections by looking at the punishments we bestow upon individuals who do wrong.

Copyblogger shares a technique that builds performance.
In fact, being a master at writing killer bullet points is one of the most important copywriting skills around, second only to headline-writing.

chrisg shares advice on putting your blog to work for you.
Rob has done a good job of putting his photography front and center, and his photographic ability shines out of his work. That said, there are a number of ways he can make his site work harder for him.

chrisbrogan shares friends of his who are our friends too!
Using AllTop’s new Frienderati page might help you find Becky McCray, a small town business professional who focuses on how the web can help out small business owners, especially those in rural areas.

Social Media Explorer shares a view of social media marketing management.
Can social media as a toolset deliver sustainable ROI for a wide variety of goals? Abso-freaking-lutely. But on your first formal attempt to enter the space, if your ROI consists of “we learned an awful lot” then I say “Well done, Skippy.”

A Deaf Mom Shares Her World shares wisdom on social skills that apply to everyone.
What she said next, blew me away. The mom revealed that it was the first time since they moved three years ago that her sons had friends over to their house.

Related ala carte selections include

Sillyness, werd. shares the fun of a well-timed surprise.

Thanks to everyone who’s bought and blogged about the eBook!

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like. No tips required. Comments appreciated.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the titles to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

Productivity in Context makes a point about working together and does it via an interview.
When I got to meet Ryan face-to-face at SOBCon in Chicago this past May, I asked him about those discussions and how they led to a new product being offered by the company that he worked for.

Diva Marketing Blog makes a point about what happens when we know people.
I wondered if it would have made a difference to any of them if they knew the clerk behind the counter. I wondered if they would have bought more stamps, shipped more packages or been more patient if they had read a Postal employee’s blog.

Chris Webb makes a point that applies to more than book reviews.
We always hope for positive reviews of our books, but there is a rare and magical event that only occurs every once in a while. It is the ability of a single review or recommendation to propel a book to bestseller status.

the brandbox makes a point about when more is too much — unless you’re good with cream cheese.
Here’s why I’m adamant that a focused brand beats an “everything” brand any day (unless you’re a bagel).

Viral Garden makes a point about learning the culture in a new country.
But I saw an interesting example yesterday of how companies need to know the unwritten ‘rules’ of interacting with people via these sites/tools.

The Broad Brush makes a point about what prepares us to be successful.
You can’t go home until the paint is dry – folks want to come on the soc net scene and splash around and think they’ve done it.

Related ala carte selections include

Director Tom points out the big question.

Thanks to everyone who’s bought and blogged about the eBook!

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like. No tips required. Comments appreciated.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Welcome to the SOB Cafe

We offer the best in thinking–articles on the business of blogging written by the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog. Click on the titles to enjoy each selection.

The Specials this Week are

Pick the Brain is celebrating our ability to make our own success.
The brain has great difficulty in distinguishing between what’s true and what’s imagined.

Just Creative Design is celebrating the wonders of paper.
Paper has a feel, a smell, a look and a vibe that cannot be reproduced, no matter how many pixels you cram into a display. It has attributes that cannot be bestowed upon any other medium. It is something that enriches our lives and minds in ways most of us don’t even realise or notice. Paper is beautiful.

Debbie Millman is celebrating the joy of logos!
Click on the image, and then click on “all sizes” to see it in its full regalia.

The Marketing Fresh Peel is celebrating simplicity.
SIMPLE IDEA.

Zoomstart is celebrating the differences of the sexes.
Most products and services have a very specific demographic that’s either male or female. And your marketing has to appeal to the gender you’re selling to.

chrisjdavis isn’t celebrating a reunion with Alf.
But wait, there is salvation on the internets I am told, some wonderful person with stylish hair and perfect teeth I am sure, has released a stand alone app that interfaces with Hulu. Its a new day, everyone lives and they get a pony in every pot and a chicken to ride all their very own!

Conversation Agent is celebrating online as reputation managment experience.
Why online? Everyone is online. Online is easy to spot, track and measure. It boggles my mind why more companies are not listening and acting.

Related ala carte selections include

Middle Zone Musings is lighting some fireworks of his own doings.
OK, folks; this may come as a shock to you (bolt of lightning, crash of thunder), but there have been some exciting recent developments I just had to share with ya…

Sit back. Enjoy your read. Nachos and drinks will be right over. Stay as long as you like. No tips required. Comments appreciated.

–ME “Liz” Strauss