Comments

  1. Hey Keith, dig that quote you found about the hyperlinked author. I’m not sure I buy that guy’s take on giving iPads to three year olds (so they can hyperlink with each other???) – but the quote is well applied to your point: adults blogging.
    I haven’t started blogging yet, and you nailed just a few of my fears around that. I feel the need to be consistently good, and not just good, but unassailable. I guess, when it comes down to it, I just don’t look forward to that first commenter that disagrees with me. Hmmm. Lot to think about…
    Craig.

    • Hi Craig,
      You’ve had some good success with sales pages online, now it’s time to take it to the “conversational” level.
      I get the fears about blogging – if you understand the value of building relationships over time, there’s nothing to do but get out there and write, the sooner the better.
      Nothing is more freeing than getting your first disagreeable comment, trust me on that one. A few years ago, a post I wrote drew lots of comments, and a few real zingers. At first I was worried: Worried that they had misunderstood me, that I was upsetting someone, the whole thing. But something interesting happened: the other commenters took up the case and responded to the zinger-writers – and it turned into a conversation much more interesting than my post could have ever been standing alone. After an experience like that, I was happy to see all comments, no matter what side of the fence they fell on.
      Here’s one way you could start blogging a little “slower” if you like: Have you heard of “Tumbler” type blogs? Looser format, one posts links to audios, videos, other people’s posts and articles, etc. On my new site, I’m using this format, I’ll only be publishing a long piece once a week, and sharing other stuff I find… check it out when it launches. I think its a format you might like…
      Keith

  2. Thanks for another great article, Keith.

    Sometimes I’m inspired and the whole concept presents itself to me.

    Othertimes, I discover one sweet morsel of an idea and I need to find the other ingredients to mix with it so it can become a delicious post.

    This is where I rely on my husband and editor, Steven along with you and Jon! By sharing the small bit of inspiration with the three of you, the idea grows to its full potential.

    Everyone benefits from sharing with others as their sounding boards.

    • Thanks Connie!
      We’re really fortunate, aren’t we? You and I both have the most supportive “editors” around – it makes a huge difference.
      And, I always try to keep in mind those writers out there truly writing “in the dark.” I’ve been there, it isn’t fun. But I can imagine how different that experience would have been with the Internet and especially social media as “sounding boards.” While I appreciate my in-house editor-in-chief, I love getting input from readers — you guys keep me honest!
      Keith

  3. Keith, I disagree! 🙂
    I am confused about your statement that “bloggers aren’t teachers.” But when I think about the blogs I read and enjoy, most if not all of them are “teaching” blogs — I learn the nuts and bolts of the online business world, for example, as well as the hobby blogs I enjoy. Clarification?
    Mark

    • Hi Mark,
      I was waiting for someone to take on that statement.
      I just remembered where I first heard that statement. It was from Jon Morrow chatting with Johnny B. Truant in a call they did together. Jon maintained that our first job as writers is to attract and keep eyeballs.
      What I really mean is this: In the “blogging” world (which is becoming indistinguishable from online content in general) our first task is to entertain.
      Take a look at those blogs you visit often: Other than topic interest, how do they hold your attention? They have to be entertaining, or thought-provoking, or inspiring. If they “teach” you something, that’s a happy bonus, I would think.
      To me, the “teaching” happens with the products we sell. That kind of content requires someone to raise their hand asking for an invite into the classroom (i.e. they have a pressing need they want solved.)
      For me, anyway, on this blog, I *try* really hard to stay focused on encouragement, support, nudging, maybe a bit of mentoring. But that said, I’m building a new blog where I’ll include some straight-ahead instruction (maybe – we’ll see how you guys like it . . .)
      So in the end, I guess we’re really talking semantics?
      Thanks for asking, Mark – always appreciate your input.
      Keith

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