Successful Blog

The Mic is On: Nick Schmidt, Video Blogging, and Barroom Conversation

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It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

The Mic Is On

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.

That’s Right the Famous Vlogger, Nick Schmidt, Is Bartending. C’mon In

Talk about what we always do:

  • pick Nick’s brain about video
  • favorite barroom pasttimes, games, and conversations
  • what we’ve been doing
  • what flavor of Klondike Bars we’ll be having
  • start a pool about what time Liz actually might show up . . .
Dad’s Bar

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 links to share!

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Open Mic 7pm Chgo Time: Nick Schmidt is Bartending! YEA!!

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Join Us Tonight

That’s Right, the Famous Vlogger, Nick Schmidt, Is Bartending. C’mon In

You might talk about favorite barroom pasttimes, games, and conversations; pick Nick’s brain about video; talk about what we’ve been doing; discuss which flavor of Klondike Bars we’ll be having, and start a pool about what time Liz might actually will show up . . .

Oh, and bring links to share!

The rules are simple — be nice.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?

Blog World Expo: Internet People 1

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How Cool Is All of This?!!

relationships button

If I said it once in Las Vegas, I must have said it a million times — no I don’t exaggerate . . . much — still the point is the same, blogging is NOT about writing, it’s about the people. The people are who bring the ideas, who give an event life. The halls are quiet and desolate without the people walking in them.

Will you visit a few with me? I thought I’d check what they’re doing today.

Friends I Know and Friends I Met for the First Time

My blogging friends were there. . . . those that I’ve met before.

Thank you for the opening hello from Aaron Brazell and his tech guys — Mark and Lee. A fine hello from Mr. Jeremy Wright started Tuesday evening off beautifully. It wasn’t until Wednesday that I met Brian Layman in person.

Christina Jones was as tall as I am for that that entire night. Mary Jo Manzanares can attest to that! The conversation that followed with Mary Jo, the lovely Leora Zellman –who has so many blogs no one knows which to link to — and the famous Deb Ng set the tone for the event.

Christina’s hospitality was generous and ever so fun!

Chris Brogan’s smile lit up Wednesday morning and was still going strong through to Friday evening. I got to sit by him at the networking lunch, then on Thursday night, we had an impromtu take down in the casino. Barbara Rozgonyi was witness to the event, though she had her back turned as a PR professional might in such delicate circumstance.

In the first b5 media session on Wednesday, I met the notorious Glenda Hyatt Watson and her dear man, Darrell. They are a pair of talking troublemakers. Don’t let them fool you. Mike DeWitt and Susan Reynolds you have that red-haired Glenda pegged.

Also early on Wednesday, I met up with my dear cohort, Wendy Piersall, . . . she wowed them all with her presentation. Who was surprised by that? She was a driving force in getting me to find my way to speak. Thank you, Wendy.

Easton, Tim, Hal, Dan, and Kimberly were there from KnowMoreMedia. Hal got me to play my first game of Wii. How cool is that?!!

Robyn Tippins, community manager for MyBlogLog, and Sleepy Blogger herself, was my boon companion again. So much so that people had trouble telling us apart — except for the part where she’s about 7 inches shorter, with long dark hair, and much younger . . . people were sure that we’re twins.

Wow! And this is only Internet People, Part 1 . . .

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Outstanding Question From An Outstanding Mentor

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Guest Post by Alex Shalman

Liz and I go back to about mid-march of 2007. I had just launched a donation contest, and asked Liz to participate. Her initial reaction to the contest was that it was transparent link bait, and she was a bit annoyed. I immediately apologized for offending her, she saw past it, and the rest is history. I now consider Liz one of my best friends, and feel like I’ve known her forever.

As far as mentoring goes, we’ve had quite a few phone conversations, where Liz has been a great listener, as well as given me powerful injections of wisdom. I remember the exact moment when I first heard Liz use this question. It was during live open mic night of SOBCon. Yes, she’s even more amazing in person!

It’s simple:

“What do you do when you’re not doing this?”

I’ve used this very question to start countless conversations, and have been nothing but amazed each time at how people opened up. Whether talking to a new classmate, or even a random person I decided to talk to during my day. It never ceases to amaze me at how much people appreciate when you take an interest.

It also helps to practice the arts of proactive and empathetic listening to dig deeper into the conversation. It’s funny, but most people ask a question, listen to the response, and then go on about themselves.

Experience the outstanding response I’ve been getting with Liz’s magic question. Ask it of a stranger, really listen to what they say, and follow up at least 5 questions deep. You might be amazed just as I have been.

Btw, I would like to hear some other questions that you use to open up conversations with strangers. Let’s all share in the comment box below!

Alex Shalman

Thanks, Alex. The question seems to have served us both well. I’m smiling to think that we have met at the core of the matter where we both agree. . . . I consider you a friend, as well.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Open Comments Tomorrow! Want to Be the Host?

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Do I have a volunteer to act as host?

I’ve been called out for a spectacular meeting.

I know that you folks can hold a conversation without me here.

So, I can invite you to be the host until I get home around 9pm or so Chicago time.

Or I can move it or call it off . . . seems a bit drastic.

What would you do? I leave at dawn in the morning.

Update: Nick Schmidt, Video Blogger, has agreed to take the reins and be bartender for the evening. I should be checking in to see how things are going in some time near 9pm

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Internal Links: What Have You Done for Yourself Lately?

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Stronger Foundations

I was over at Dosh, Dosh last night, reading his post about building a popular blog. A point he made got me thinkng of a post of my own about successful and outstanding blogs. Linking the two together is a service to Maki, me, and our readers because it connects like information for like-minded folks. It’s also a way to show spiders how related we are.

When we add a link as a trusted author, it’s like saying to a reader, “If you like this, you’re bound to like this too.”

It’s the same when we’re writing a post, and we realize what we’re saying ties neatly with something we’ve written before. Readers deserve a link that will take them to the previous work. Those internal links are of value in almost every direction we look.

The Value of Intra-Links

Internal links have three key values.

  • They offer readers more content on a subject they’re interested in.
  • They increase your page views when readers follow them.
  • When you use well-thought descriptive anchor text, they help search engines interpret the content of our blogs.

Internal links are like ladders through the scaffolding structure. They can draw readers further into a blog the same way they draw in search engine spiders through the content. Readers become more involved and more a part with each link they follow. That involvement leads to a comfort-zone, a sense of belonging. Readers become intimate with the content on our blogs.

Use internal links to make the structure of your blog stronger and to invite readers to get to know you better too.

Do you use internal links to say to reader, “If you like this, you have to see this too?”

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!