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What Makes a Great SOB?!

February 24, 2006 by Liz

Recently a new reader asked me about SOBs, what they stood for, and how the whole thing worked. So I’ve made a new page, much like this post, so that all new readers will know in the future. And so that you would know about SOBs where they came from and why people actually want to be one.

No, No, It’s not THAT!

Mischievious Liz

When the SOB program started, I was looking for a way to encourage the sense of community that Successful-Blog stood for. The conversations were fun, fast, and sometimes irreverent. Discussions on the blog often brought up good ideas, and I wanted to make sure those ideas continued and become more out in the blogosphere–everyone making everyone a little bit better. It’s the only way that we can make ourselves strong here in what they call “The Magic Middle.” We talk to each other.

What the SOB Program Is and Is Not

The idea was that anyone who took the discussion back to their blog would let me know. Then I would give that blog recognition on Successful-Blog for extending the conversation into the blogosphere–making the community larger, the dialogue bigger, all of us smarter, better and our businesses stronger. Most folks forgot the part about letting me know. So I kept watch and found out on my own.

Every week I make copies of their logos and add them to the list of Successful and Outstanding bloggers who understand that the strength of the blogosphere comes from relationships, interconnectedness, and community. Not all of these folks have all of the links you might expect, but they will, because they show the key traits of a succesful blogger.

Soon enough it became apparent that having a blog didn’t need to be a criteria either. Some of the best ideas came from blog readers who added value to the dialogue, but had no blog to bring the conversation back to. I felt strongly they should be included as SOBs too. Which tells you what the progam is not, i.e. a link exchange. That’s also why, though they’re appreciated, blogrolls do not make SOBs.

The Badges

If you’ve been through a few pages on Successful-Blog you’ve seen these badges.


Purple SOB Button
Original SOB Button Red SOB Button Purple and Blue SOB Button

and wondered about them. Those are the official badges awarded each week to those who are named Successful and Outstanding Bloggers of Successful Blog.

It was Mike Sigers who thought of the blog badges, and Mike Rundle of 9rules who designed them. The SOB for Successful and Outstanding Blogger was my own– a bit of mischief to underscore our sense of irreverence and openness in discussions. It’s become quite a symbol of what the blog stands for. Every now and then a fun post goes up titled “Liz called me an SOB,” those are my favorite.

People don’t have to put the badges on their blogs. They don’t need to link back. Most of them do and I’m grateful for the sense of community that shows. More that than, I’m glad that they extend the community further out.

If You Want to Be an SOB

Find a way to start a dialogue about how blogging helps business, or carry the dialogue here back to your blog. Offer a great feature, post, idea, or an article that will shed new light for the blogosphere. Contribute something that demonstrates you think like a Successful and Outstanding Blogger. Then just tell me about it. I’m pretty easy to persuade, if you’re truly committed to being one.

Every SOB is automatically included in the SOB directory. Stop in there when you’re looking for a great read.

Can’t wait until I can call you an SOB too.

ME “Liz” Strauss

Filed Under: Business Life, Community, SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blog_promotion, dialogue, relationships, SOB, Successful_and_Outstanding_Bloggers

The SOB Directory Update 02-07-06

February 7, 2006 by Liz

SOB Button

Have you visited the SOB Directory lately? It’s got its own page–right there in the sidebar. Check it out! It’s constantly changing, updating, adding the links of the latest Successful and Outstanding Bloggers. You can browse there to find the bloggers who take the conversation at Successful-Blog back to their readers,
contribute great ideas, challenge us, and make us better. It’s a great place to discover a favorite blog to read–a blog writer you have something in common with.

Want to become an SOB?

If you’re an SO-Wanna-B, you can see the whole list of SOBs and learn how to be one by visiting the SOB Directory. Click the link or visit from the sidebar.
Everything you need to know is on that page. Everyweek we add new SOBs to the list, no reason you can’t be one–you’re outstanding aren’t you?

Send Bios for the SOB Directory

If you already are an SOB, the Directory is my thank you to the Successful-Blog Community. It’s a way that we can keep connected, an annotated blogroll with logos, so to speak.

Why not send me 1-2 sentences about your blog? You must have a short description from some directory listing on your computer. Dust it off and send it along. Think of it as free advertising to a substantial readership.

By the way, if you’d have a better version of your logo feel free to send that too. Only one restriction–60 pixels high and not more than 200 pixels wide. That’s what fits.

In case you don’t know where to send them . . .e-mail them to me at lizsun2@gmail.com.

We’re making Success a habit.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Filed Under: Business Life, Community, SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blog_promotion, SOB, Successful_and_Outstanding_Bloggers

SOB Buttons and Directory Update 2

January 20, 2006 by Liz

No Worries The SOB Directory Page

The Directory is coming along and looking fine. Go on it. Check it out! But it would be looking grand, if I got more of your bios in. So start sending them . . . . hint, hint, grin, grin. 🙂

Surely you must have 1-2 sentences description of your blog from some directory listing on your computer. Dust it off and send it along. It will get featured as others did last week. Think of it as free advertising to a substantial future readership. grin grin, hint, hint,.

By the way, if you’d have a better version of your logo feel free to send that too. Only one restriction–60 pixels high and not more than 200 pixels wide is what fits.

In case you don’t know where to send them . . .e-mail them to me at lizsun2@gmail.com.

The SOB Button Still Exists

If you are an official SOB and need a new one. Here you go.

SOB Button

By the way, please feel free to slightly adjust the size to fit your blog design. We want SOBs to have Successful and Outstanding Blog Designs too. (And Rob at Jamdo, it would look great in your sidebar below your ad space–hint, hint, grin, grin)

Want to become an SOB?

If you’re an SO-Wanna-B, you can see the whole list of SOBs and learn how to be one by visiting the SOB Directory. Click the link or visit from the sidebar.

More New Features Are Coming–Even Today!

So hang in there. The fun is just starting. Some really strong articles are coming too.
We’re making Success the new Style around here.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Filed Under: Business Life, Community, SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blog_promotion, SOB, Successful_and_Outstanding_Bloggers

Successful Duncan Riley

January 18, 2006 by Liz

By now you must have heard about the secret auction held to sell the

Blog Herald Logo

to an as yet to be named new owner for what is being reported at over $70,000 USD.

Congratulations Duncan Riley on building an enterprise and a brand valued so highly. I think that officially qualifies you as an SOB–a Successful and Outstanding Blogger. I hereby award you with the badge of honor and your name on this blog forever.

SOB Button

Duncan’s Blog Herald has been on my reading list almost since the day I started blogging. It’s a one-of-a kind read that holds the niche of understanding the blogosphere and reporting on blogs around the world. I’ll miss reading Duncan’s take on things. I’ll miss having Duncan around.

On the other hand, it couldn’t happen to a better guy.

Duncan shares some of his reasons and reflections on the sale at these links, which I’ve tried to place in chronological order.

Twas The Blog Herald that’s been on the market

David Krug spends time with Duncan Riley

Duncan answers questions on The Blog Herald sale

Duncan talks to Site Sales about what he would look for in a blog

Duncan and Darren discuss the sale and using a broker

Seriously, Duncan all badges aside. I’ll miss reading you at 2:30 a.m. up here by Lake Michigan. So once you guys get b5 going strong, I’ll be looking for your new blog.

Best of Luck Always.
Liz

Filed Under: Business Life, Community, SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, Blog_Herald, brand, business_relationships, Darren_Rowse, Duncan_Riley, SOB, Successful_and_Outstanding_Bloggers

SOB Buttons and Directory Update

January 13, 2006 by Liz

The SOB Directory and other pages are under construction. New Pictures. New Presentations. I thought it best to keep the Directory undercover until I got more of your bios in. So start sending them . . . . hint, hint, grin. 🙂

The SOB Button Still Exists

If you are an official SOB and need a new one. Here you go.

SOB Button

By the way, please feel free to adjust the size to fit your blog design. We want SOBs to have Successful and Outstanding Blog Designs too.

If you’re anxious to become an SOB, just link a post to share it with your readers. Write about it to add value to the conversation, and email me at lizsun2@gmail.com with a link to your post.
That’s all there is to it.

More New Features Are Coming

So hang in there. The fun is just starting. Some really strong articles are coming too.
We’re becoming a Magazine AND a Community for Outstanding and Successful Bloggers

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Filed Under: Blog Comments, Business Life, SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: bc, blog_promotion, SOB, Successful_and_Outstanding_Bloggers

Announcing the SOB Directory

January 9, 2006 by Liz

To All SOBs and All SO-Wanna-Bs

Successful Blog is not just getting a new design. It’s changing to become even more focused on success, community, and our readers. That means you’ll be seeing content changes and new content features as well as spiffy new design and production values.

I’m prepared to announce the first change right this minute.

Though the old Successful and Outstanding Blogger page is still under cover. It’s now also undergoing a change of it’s own. No longer will it just carry a simple list of links as an honor roll.

Announcing the SOB Directory

As a service to our readers and our community, we’re turning this page into a directory. Each Successful and Outstanding Blogger’s link will expand to carry both the blog logo and a description of the content readers will find when they visit your blog. So the SOB directory entry for my business blog would look like this.

LMB logo

ME Strauss skews the world wondering about crayons, conformity,heroes, yo-yos, idiosyncrasies, and that person reading the paper at Starbucks. Enjoy storytelling that brings back memories.

What to Do

If you’re already an SOB, send me your blog description. I’m happy to do the rest. You surely have one that you’ve used for some directory listing hiding on your computer somewhere. Take it out and dust it off. No worries about your logo. Unless you want to switch the one I have. (The logo restriction is 60 pixels high.) Then e-mail me at lizsun2@gmail.com.

If you’re an SO-Wanna-B, take a post home with you to share Successful-Blog ideas with your readers.
Just link to that post on this blog and write your own insights to “add value” to the conversation.
Then e-mail me at lizsun2@gmail.com with a link to your post.

That’s all there is to it. I’ll feature your logo with a link and you’ll get your SOB badge for your blog. Then your logo will be part of our new directory.

OR contribute an outstanding idea about how we might add value for readers to Successful- Blog.

Even more exciting changes that serve your needs are sitting right there on the horizon. Can you see them yet?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles:
What Makes a Great SOB?!

Filed Under: SOB Business, Successful Blog Tagged With: adding_value, bc, blog_promotion, relationships, SOB, SOB_Directory, Successful_and_Outstanding_Bloggers

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