Successful Blog

Thanks to Week 125 SOBs

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Successful and Outstanding Bloggers

Let me introduce the bloggers
who have earned this official badge of achievement,

and the right to call themselves
Successful Blog SOBs.

I invite them to take a badge home to display on their blogs.

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They take the conversation to their readers,
contribute great ideas, challenge us, make us better, and make our businesses stronger.

I thank all of our SOBs for thinking what we say is worth passing on.
Good conversation shared can only improve the blogging community.

Should anyone question this SOB button’s validity, send him or her to me. Thie award carries a “Liz said so” guarantee, is endorsed by Kings of the Hemispheres, Martin and Michael, and is backed by my brothers, Angelo and Pasquale.

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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 Hall of Fame– A-Z Directory . Click the link or visit the What IS an SOB?! page in the sidebar.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Shine as the Star You Are

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Even the Humblest Star Still Shines

Shine!

Just a few words, a reminder, that we’re all meant to be brilliant.

All I know is that once I figured out who I am, everyone else’s ideas on who I should be became simply information and opinions. I still listen. I still think about what they offer, but their thoughts don’t dim my light.

Liz's Signature

Where To Stay While You Attend SOBCon08 at the Summit

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Hi everyone – now that we’ve picked the most excellent place to hold SOBCon08 (and its fabulous program) this year, the Summit Executive Center, it’s time to talk about hotels.

Yes, the Summit Executive Center is JUST a meeting center – it doesn’t have a companion hotel to put overnight guests.

BUT…(and here’s the really good news), there are nearly 4,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the Summit (yep, it’s THAT good of a location!).

You have a lot of choices. On the other hand, sometimes too many choices is not such a good thing. It’s like the menu at the Cheesecake Factory – so many things to pick from, that it takes forever to decide (so THAT’s why there’s always such a long wait there).

So, we’re pleased to declare a couple of “preferred” hotels that are offering special prices for SOBCon08 attendees – Club Quarters and Hotel 71.

The Hotel 71 price is $225 per night – you can reach them at 312-346-7100. It’s best to call them during normal business hours, 9AM to 6PM CST M-F, and 9AM to 5PM on Saturday. Ask for the group rate for “SOBCon08”.

The Club Quarters rate is $139. You can call them at 312-357-6400, and it’s also best to call them during the day. Say that you are booking the room in association with an event at the Summit .

If neither of these hotels suit your fancy, there are many more – check out the Summit site for just a sample of the other options.

If you have any questions, just let me know at terrystarbucker(at)gmail(dot com).

Go ahead and register – NOW!!

SOB Business Cafe 03-14-08

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SB Cafe

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

Copyblogger has the story on how we outhink ourselves.
I know what you’re thinking. “Wait a minute, here. We’re talking about people with seriously insightful thoughts! I’m just an average person. I can’t think up great ideas like that!”

PR 2.0 has the story on what was the most talked about public event at SxSW.
I’m sure you heard about the infamous Mark Zuckerberg SXSW keynote hosted by well known author, Business Week columnist and Yahoo TechTicker host Sarah Lacy. Just in case you haven’t, let’s just say that some of the audience wasn’t supportive of the casual, conversational format or her style of engaging Zuckerberg in public.

45 Things has the story — a whole series starting — on making sure your voice represents you well. And she’s right I do care about it deeply.
Many bloggers have never had these discussions, and that makes sense. The medium has clearly outpaced the ability to discuss all the ramifications of what is written, but it’s time we took a deep breath and did just that.

Small Biz Survival has the story on networks, going viral, and exponentiality.
The reason people say a product or site or blog has gone viral is because when one of these goods/services “takes off” and begins to grow it’s network of users takes on the same growth pattern as the spread of viral diseases, like the flu.

David Dalka has the story on SixApart’s quest to win over WordPress users.
Anil Dash has put up quite an intriguing post arguing the case. Matt Mullenweg are you listening?
I’m gonna add a few more reasons to his list of reasons why it would be wise to do so, but before I do that I thought I’d tell Anil why I’m not doing that…YET…

The Broad Brush has the story on information everywhere, including on pirate sites.
It’s then you find it; there’s a site aggregating your content. A site that is taking your feed and posting it right back onto the front of their homepage. Not just an aggregator clearly showing that you’re a contributor but not related to their company, but an aggregator selling ads on the side.

Related ala carte selections include

Social Media Explorer has the story on SOBCon08.
I caught up with Liz at South by Southwest (SXSW) to talk about SOBCon2008 in Chicago, May 2-4. Be sure to pay close attention to her description of the format, which is a unique and engaging offering for those in attendance. And the speakers aren’t the only attraction. SOBCon attracts many of the top bloggers in the world as attendees. You can’t come to this thing and not learn a lot about blogging, business and more.

For more on SOBCON2008, check out sobevent.com. To register, click here.

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

Does Anyone Take Technorati Seriously Anymore?

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I Held Out

On January 29, 2006, I wrote a post to Technorati about a problem I was having. I documented communication since August of 2005. I’ll quote from it because the words I’m quoting are to this day still true.

The original issue has never been resolved. It involved the fact that Technorati wasn’t accurately tracking links to my account and that the count kept getting stuck and links kept getting missed.

At the time I wrote, isn’t 5 Months Patience Enough? Now it’s been 30 months and my blog is still wonky in the Technorati index.

Anyone who has followed the list of posts I’ve written about Technorati knows that I give a lot of space to a group that works hard with an overwhelming task. But what’s the point when the basic service — 180 day index of “blog reactions” — has in my case been, at the most, only 75 days. I sure would the other 105 days in my count.

On May 19, 2006, I recorded a comment to benchmark the problem.

Recently, I was told the problem would be fixed immediately.

It’s been more than immediately and still nothing.

Do you even pay any attention to Technorati anymore?

UPDATE: Here are some responses I got to this question on Twitter.
Does Anyone Take Technorati Seriously Anymore?

  • I haven’t taken Technorati seriously for close to a year now. Sad, really. Was a great idea for bloggers. No more… ;(
  • Personally speaking, no. I used to check it out regularly, but haven’t in months.
  • I haven’t looked at Technorati in months.
  • no the technorati rank seems to be more akin to a random number generator at the moment.
  • I never took them seriously, but that’s just me.
  • I haven’t visited Technorati in months, to be honest.
  • I only use it to look at who links to me… that’s it.
  • I had been using Technorati quite a bit. But somehow, 200+ links to me disappeared in the last two weeks. I don’t believe it.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

What I Missed at SxSW

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Friends

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It’s a joy to be able to spend time meeting with folks I know down Austin — Sheila was a gracious and generous host. Becky made sure I toed the line and helped me sort the world. That Chris Brogan is a rock star and personally delivered on of my favorite dinners. Aruni is even more beautiful inside and out. Christina, Shama, and Shashi made a group lunch just by being there.

Still I have to say that I missed talking to everyone I meet here in the morning.

At a meeting on Wednesday, Leah Jones was speaking to a group about the people she knows online and said this, “I’m not going to use quotes. [My friends online] are real friends.

It’s a right choice for me to be “gone” when I’m gone on conference. Otherwise, I find myself torn in too many directions — trying to do too many things. I lose track of where my focus should be.

Conferences come and go. Hopefully, I found some new thoughts to share with you.

What I missed at SxSW was talking to you everyday.

I also missed sleeping with my own pillow.

Thanks for being here to come home to.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Work with Liz!!
SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!