It’s Like Open Mic Only Different
Here’s how it works.
It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.
Has Twitter Ruined Blog Conversation?
Just a few years back, it was so simple. We met on each other’s blogs like meeting for coffee or wine at the back fence. Now we meet on so many public platforms that we’re talking more, faster, and in shorter bursts.
Are we losing the long conversations we used to have?
And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)
Oh, and bring example links to share —
–ME “Liz” Strauss
image: sxc.hu
Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?
Heya!
It’s good to be back to Open Mic again! heh heh
(Waving) Hi, Liz!! It’s been ages. Thanks for sending out the invitations!
(also waving) Hi Liz. Hi Katiebird
Katiebird!!
How the heck are you? I’m thrilled to see you again!!
Hi Linda,
How’s the weather out where you are?
Katie,
I’ve been collecting a few friends down in KC are you still doing great things at the library there or have you gone full time with your online gig?
Is anyone else using Posterous? I have a WordPress.org blog – http://itsdifferent4girls.com – which has been on hiatus do to recovering from being hacked – hopefully, soon to recover.
In the meantime started using Posterous for “twitter extensions” http://asklindasherman.com
I think it works well for sharing content – some downsides…
Hi Linda,
I haven’t played with posterous, but I sure like what some folks are doing with it. Just wish that fewer people where using the platform for just curating … I think that’s teaching other folks not to comment on the great stuff that the rest of the posterous folks are writing. 🙂
@Liz The weather in Kauai is absolutely wonderful.
Haven’t gotten too hot yet this summer.
@Liz Ah that is a really good point about Posterous.
The other downsides I’ve found:
It doesn’t ping link love. (I’ve checked with some friends).
Not easy to add description or title tags.
Possibly could monetize now that they have added static pages. Haven’t explored yet. Possibly could set up email collection on a static page.
Yeah, Linda,
Sometimes I think that people who weren’t here before Twitter never got to see what blogging was about … the connectedness, the linking the community-wide conversations that went on for days.
@Katie Looked at http://eat4today.com/
I have been very successful with getting in shape. Happy to share my tips.
Linda, Katiebird’s site has changed many a life in the last 4 years!
Hi Liz, Thanks for the invite. I can’t stay long. Catching up on some work and packing for a trip and want to get supper soon! How are you?
Sandy,
Great to see you too! Hope all is well in Des Moines and hope you’re going somewhere cool!
Liz-did you call me a little bird? 🙂
Actually, Delaney,
As in the movies, I think this might have been a composite of a little bird. I was catching it from several directions. heh heh
Hi everybody! Hi Delaney
@Liz Oh wow that would probably include me. I jumped into both Twitter and blogging at the same time at the end of 2007.
I had been been reading blogs since 2004 while playing with some social networking sites. Buried in Japan – and we weren’t online – up to 2004.
I get to see a bit of conversational reactions on big sites like ChrisBrogan.
Community-wide conversation among bloggers …. interesting! Ideally Twitter could pull together something like that. Maybe with a #hash chat? But full out blogs couldn’t pop up instantly. Twitter is so instant… hmmm.
Yes, heading to San Fran – where it’s in the 60s. Looking forward to a respite from the heat and then returning in time for the Iowa State Fair and HOT temps.
Hi Sandy! How’s Des Moines? I’ll be visiting for a few days next month-maybe we could meet for coffee?
Delaney – that would be super. Just let me know when and we’ll make it a priority.
Hi everybody!
Hey Marti!
Glad you could pop in! I’ve been missing you!
Sandy-have you been active with the Des Moines Social Media group? I’m amazed at how many members there are.
I have tried posterous. Still can’t get used to the twitter life. I don’t like to be that plugged in maybe.
Hi Marti. I enjoyed the funny story! http://enterthelaughter.com/blog/?p=553
Hi Sandy,
Ironically you have an article about experimenting with Posterous on the top of your website.
http://www.purplewren.com/2010/04/posterous-works-to-update-all-my-sites-at-the-same-time.html
The linking part is powerful. But sometimes repetitive. I’m getting these new auto sets on Flickr from Posterous. Haven’t decided if I like them yet.
Liz-great minds thinking alike and all that…
I’ve missed you too! {{HUGS}}
Hope this finds you well. We’re hanging in here. No better no worse 🙂
Oh thank you, Delaney! Wonderful to see you! I have missed Open Mic Night SO MUCH!
Hi Delaney. Hi Marti.
Sandy – I can understand what you are saying about being Twitter being a very plugged in experience. @MayhemStudios spends 8 hours/day on it. But apparently it gets him design business.
Twitter works well for getting business, if you already have the reputation for good work. 🙂
I’m off to Boston for the first time next week (teaching a workshop). I will have 1 and 1/2 days free time-any suggestions on what to see/where to eat?
I have not tried posterous. I can’t keep up with blogs, Twitter and Facebook. I recently took on new work doing publicity for a fellow humorist which has kept me hoppin’
Marti,
I can bet you’re really great at publicity! That could be your calling!
Delaney – thanks for the tip – that IS a funny story on Marti’s blog
http://enterthelaughter.com/blog/?p=553
Hey, is it just us girls tonight?
I agree with you, Liz, that “Twitter works well for getting business, if you already have the reputation for good work.” Important to have a website or blog to link to from Twitter.
@Liz speaking of getting business/making money – those Amazon affiliate links on your blog look nice. Are you happy with what they produce?
I haven’t tried posterous. What does it do?
Delaney,
Posterous is like tumblr. A super simple blogging site.
I agree that Twitter can really suck up the time. I got kind of burned out for a while because I was getting so darned much spam – followers who were only interested in selling me something then started sending dozens of “Buy this” DM’s. Plus an awful lot of porn people. If they wanna talk to each other that’s OK (not for censorship) but I have zero interest in porn 🙂
Marti,
I’ve culled out plenty of the spammer and bots and Twitter seems to have settled down lots. Now I only get on Twitter when I have a block of time for some real conversation. 🙂
Thank you, Liz. I’m doing a lot of the same things I did to promote my own work, only for someone else. Getting her interviews, book reviews, etc.
Sandy-your website looks nice! When did you redo it?
Delaney, are you going o see Chris Brogan while in Boston? (I think he’s an official tourist attraction now *grin*)
@Delaney
Posterous: I would say that it could work as a casual blog or a second topic blog.
It is incredibly easy to use.
There is a built in community from which subscribers emerge.
It is very compatible with Twitter – I began to use it as what I call “twitter extensions”. You want to say something but don’t have room in a tweet so you write a bit more.
It tends to be photo centric.
Works very well and easily for that. You can even throw a tiff at it and it knows what to do.
Just saw Glenda W on Twitter. She says “hi” She has a deadline but will try to pop in for a bit if she can.
It’s wonderful to see that Basil is still remembered so fondly.
Hi Ben!
Basil is a true member of the mythology. Open Mic wouldn’t be the same without his story included in it.
Hi Ben!
Marti-Sort of like Disney World huh? Chris Brogan, the adventure theme park…
@Liz @Delaney Yes Posterous is apparently like Tumblr – though it may have surpassed it.
@Marti – On Twitter you need to unfollow spammers and create twitter lists of people that you want to make sure to pay attention to.
I have Liz on my very special: Geeky Girls to Love Twitter List.
You absolutely need to use a platform other than native Twitter, such as Hootsuite, so that you can put the lists in columns.
Oops that was “Women of Note” list Liz. Still very special but not as all out geeky.
So…who has the klondike bars?
Liz – when was the last time you had Open Comment night? I was searching for invites in my email.
LOL @ Delaney #53 “The Chris Brogan Experience”
Thanks for the tip, Linda. I like the design of your blog – very simple and elegant.
Jim’s calling me to come watch a movie with him. Would say no, but he’s opened a bottle of my favorite wine. Smart man! Bye all!
Hi Ben. I just followed @byosko from @LindaSherman
Bye Delaney.
Bey Delaney – Wonderful to get to chat with you again!
I’ve got the Klondike Bars!
Take one with you Delaney as you go!
Oops, that was “Bye”. Not sure what “Bey Delaney” means 🙂
Bye Linda, Marti, Sandy!
Bye Liz. Let’s do this again (as in YOU do this again 🙂
Bye Liz. Let’s do this again (as in YOU do this again 🙂
Linda,
I stopped Open Mic when I had a hospital “vacation” last fall. It laid me up for a few weeks. Then I had to focus on rebuilding my business again. heh heh
OMG – can’t keep up! My focus is elsewhere, alas. I better say hi and bye to you all. Hope you have another get-together Liz. Miss this!
Today I had dinner/drinks with my first roommate in university. Turns out he’s involved in Montreal-based startups too.
And now I’m back at Open Mic night.
Nostalgia, anyone? 🙂
#65
Marti,
I think “Bey Delaney” is a sign that you can now speak in tongues. heh heh
Liz, are your comment subscriptions working? I signed up for these comments to be sent to my e-mail, but I’m not getting any 🙁
Uh-oh, looks like I’m late to the party. What’s happening, Miz Liz?
Cool reconnections, Ben!
Boo…from a SOB ghost
Hi Connie and Mike!
Miz Connie!
We were just thinking about what summer is going to bring … whether we need to ditch our blogs and go swimming. What do you think?
Hello and goodbye Sandy. Maybe next time….
Hey, Marti!
Liz, afraid I ditched my main blog months ago. Ran completely out of steam when I got sick. Now I’m using Tumblr a lot. Mostly curating content for clients/newbies to social media, writing some shorter pieces.
Most of my brainwidth goes to client work. 🙂
Blogging remains one of the best ways of building recognition and brand for yourself. Too few people realize it’s effectiveness still – with the likes of Twitter and other options. I’d say that’s an opportunity for those that still see and can take hold of the value.
Connie, I so hope you are doing better now {{hugs to you}}
Mike!!
How are you? I think about you all of the time!!
Marti, doing much better. And ((hugs)) back to you. It’s been ages, girl!
#80
Ben, I so agree with you. I call my blog “My 4000 page resume.” You can’t fake it for 4000 blog posts. heh heh
Re: Posterous v. Tumblr (earlier in comment thread)
Tumblr has five times the traffic of Posterous, although Posterous is the latest shiny toy for the geekerati.
I’ve been on Tumblr since 2007 and think the features are better than Posterous. Drop dead easy to use. And a very Twitter-like Dashboard for following other Tumblr users.
About 20 major news outlets are now on Tumblr — from New York Times to Mashable. It’s also great for photo blogs.
I’ll hush now. Just know that I’m a fan.
Indeed, Connie! Grandma’s health has declined so her care is more consuming, plus the needs of husband following his stroke. I’m a bad blogger and poor corespondent on Twitter and Facebook. My apologies for not staying in touch.
Connie,
I’m with you … on Tumblr … I think that Posterous just has a better name and came when the crowd did. I need to do more with my Tumblr site.
No apologies necessary, Marti. Communication goes both ways. Sorry to hear that you are even more consumed than ever with caregiving. One of the toughest jobs in the world!
Hi Liz,
Thanks! Sorry to hear about your illness; hope you’re doing great. I’m sitting on the bus in 110 degree heat…but it beats -25 in the winter…but not by much LOL
Mike
@Connie – bless you for your understanding, dear.
Would love to reconnect with you, Mike!
I’m off to NYC this week, but I’m back next week and the week after. 🙂
Liz, I started out using Tumblr in 2007 as more of a lifestream. A few months into it I decided that was a complete waste of cyberspace. Who on earth — maybe not even me — would ever care about every single tweet or Delicious bookmark? Ugh. Lifestreaming is an exercise in ego. Not pretty.
I went back and deleted all that (manually!) and started over with Tumblr last year. Now I love it.
Connie,
I’ll have to check out what you’re doing there again. 🙂
@Connie @Liz
Thanks for the info about Tumblr!
I developed a prejudice about it when I would try to comment and none of the Tumblr blogs I ran into had comment function.
Posterous has been adding functionality almost daily.
An important question for something bugging me on Posterous.
Have you found that your link love pings the recipient?
Sure was good to reconnect w/ you in Austin, although it was way too short for my liking. 🙂
Mike, I will take the cold over the heat. If you’re cold you can add more clothes (or even blankets). When you’re hot, you can only get so naked (and not even that if you’;re on a bus!) 🙂
@Linda – Tumblr itself does not enable commenting, but there’s a Disqus app you can use that will add the comment function.
Tumblr has opened their API, so I expect more third-party features to be available.
#96 @Marti @Mike
I totally disagree. There’s a point where not enough blankets are not enough ever.
Liz,
I’ll reach out week after next. Hope you have a great trip. The last time I was in NYC in July it was 95 I temp and humidity!
Mike
Yeah, it’s about time, Liz! Unfortunately, your timing sucks. 🙁 I am knee deep in Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 for one project and am hacking another presentation by half. I can’t stay tonight.
But, yes, Twitter has maimed lengthy conversations on blogs, only because we have allowed it. The good news is we have the power to solve that. (hope I read the topic right, otherwise this won’t make sense. But, hey, that’s the fun of open mic night!)
Hugs!
Liz,
I’ll reach out week after next. Hope you have a great trip. The last time I was in NYC in July it was 95 – temp and humidity!
Mike
This has been so wonderful! (tender sigh)
I need to take husband out for his evening walk. I always go with him as the ground is a bit uneven so sometimes he needs to hold my hand.
It has been an absolute delight to chat with everyone again! Liz, I hope this is the Return of the Chat 🙂
Big hugs and love to all. Good wishes for peace and joy.
Yeah, Mike, at least July in NYC is better than August. heh heh
{{Waves hello to Glenda coming in as I am leaving}}
Bye, Marti! So good to “see” you.
And Glenda!!!! Great to see that left thumb tapping away on the Open Mic. Very proud of what you’re accomplishing with accessibility training.
What Glenda said. Here! Here!
Hey Glenda!
you win! And my timing sucks!
We made it happen again!
…Or is it hear, hear? D’oh!!
#108!
How about “You heard it here first!”
Yeah, that’s the ticket. Bus ride about over; back out into the blast furnace. Have a great night all!
Mike
Good to see you Glenda! if briefly.
Connie it’s great to hear that Tumblr supports Disqus now – that is a big deal.
Good night, Mike!
Seems like a good time to wander back to getting ready for a 6a.m. flight.
Shall we try this again soon?
Linda, I agree. I wasn’t using Tumblr much until I found the Disqus connection. I don’t get that many comments, but it’s important to have that capability.
There has always been a way a Tumblr user could respond to a blog post, but not until Disqus could non-users comment.
Wow. I haven’t been here in what seems like years, but I see the same faces are still here. Sandy, Ben, Katie, Mike, and the rest.
Ditto on Twitter taking up time. But out here, Twitter is the only way to get reliable news as it’s happening.
And when there are snipers in your neighbourhood, that is something you want to know about first, not read in a paper after.
Damn! I’m always too late for everything!
Darn, I missed it! That’s what I get for staying downstairs to watch White Collar with Mom tonight…
I do feel like I came late to the party, missing out on some of the early blogging conversations around the world.
For me twitter is mostly local. It is most effective when I can move almost seamlessly from online to offline conversations and back again. Harder to do with blog conversations which span the globe.
But even twitter is changing, and for those of us who have built it into our routine, we will have to adjust when it is replaced by something new, different, or faster.
Yes please Liz .. sorry to have missed tonight .. looking forward!
Just had to pop back in. Mike, is that really you? The other Left Coaster? Where have you been???! I’ve missed ya!
I think one major thing that gets lost in the Twitter vs. blog conversation is that people use RTs instead of coming to someone’s blog and saying nice post or something similar.
Most people would expand on the “nice post” comment and that in itself would spark conversation. With the RT, you don’t really need to do that (although some do it well).
Late to the party again, seems everyone had a ball of a time – as usual.
Oh well, that leaves me to make the first coffee for all those up early now 😉 (while I almost start my lunch.
Karin H
I started my blog after the advent of Twitter, thus have no means of comparison. I do think it’s a great tool to connect and build up your audience at a much quicker rate. I view as a powerful tool that when used correctly can help you connect with like minded folks. No complaints from me. Glad to read the other comments. Good stuff. TW