This week Megan, Joni and I discuss different opportunities that can arise from blogging (speaking, writing, etc) and social media in general. What doors have been opened to you?
And, by random selection, the winner of Susanna Salk's book "Room for Children" is Kristi Ripley of T's Tutu's and Designs. Kristi - please email Linda your address and Rizzoli will send you out your book!
Comments
And on another related topic, do you think the blog world, and social media in general, will begin to self regulate? What I mean by this is will blogs and tweets and Facebook become more for those who are actually good at it and less about just everyone giving it a try?
Besos,
Jaime
I also Twitter and FB. I swore I would never have a FB fan page... and just launched on a few weeks ago.
Now, just need to find time to manage it all in a balanced way.
Love you guys!
xo,
cristin
By the way, how about now you have another discussion about "How to get followers for your blog"?
See you next time!
Jennifer
I started my blog as a sister to my website, which I found more static, but discovered an audience of alike minded people that I just can't give up!
You are so right, the work that goes into promoting your business is exhausting, but feel the longer I do it, the more business comes my way...I've actually received work through (and from) other bloggers, and have made connections which I feel I have yet to benefit.
I know that my blog address sits beside my website address on my business cards, and that I get more visitors to my blog. The world is a different place, that's for sure. It's allot to have to manage.
Thanks again for a great cup of jo,
Best,
Michelle
I agree that those who haven't had a positive experience blogging probably do drop out: that positive feedback is so critical...
Also, I have found that the longer I'm in the blog world, I see such a HUGE difference in blog quality. I've been doing some of the blog "parties" lately, mostly to boost my readership, but am almost invariably disappointed by them. It's not so much that someone has just one "agenda", but, like the design public in general, the taste level varies SO tremendously.
I try to boost the number of followers... and yet, I am finding that it is the quality, not the quantity, that is important!
Anyway, great podcast! I just Tweeted about it!
On the flip side, I've just deleted my twitter account because it seems like constant noise to me. Mostly there is very little value there. Frankly, I could give two flips if you stop to get the cupcake or not. In addition, I've quit accepting invitations to fan pages on FB and have been "hiding" madly as my wall is starting to look like a constant commercial. I think the marketing and pr folks have gone into social media hyperdrive and, for me, it is a huge turn off.
I do think blogging can be a great marketing tool, clearly, but it is a good bit of work and I think if you are starting now you have to be aware that the pay-off may not be obvious.
And I still miss Leah's More Ways to Waste Time. She found the best darn stuff on ebay.
She is, for sure, in a very different position than I am...but I have to say, I think Twitter has done SO much for me!. First, it keeps me in tune with what is going on. Second, Twitter readers are interested in what I have to post! I do keep that sort of 30-30-30 balance. I have subscribed also to several, very well chosen "Google Alerts"; it continues to amaze me that, as I quickly scroll through them each day, there is almost always something to look into further and then post on Twitter.
Twitter provides a platform for quick finds: things that I don't want to blog about but that keep me, and others, in the mainstream!
Sorry, didn't mean to go on like this!
Thanks for the interesting discussion once again and glad to hear your thoughts on the recent closure of some blogs. My take on the social media phenomenon is that there has been an explosion - but then people will pare back to meaningful relationships.
I know I drop off people who endlessly self promote but aren't interested in having a conversation with their audience - much the same as the discussion you were all having one time about blog ettiquette. There is nothing ruder than someone who poses a question to followers; whether on a blog, facebook or twitter but never acknowledge responses or mentions them further - not even in a generic way via a retweet or a follow up post or comment.
As in most social circles, you get the boors who drone on and on, only ever talking about themselves, the quiet ones who listen, don't say much but occasionally come out with an absolute pearl of wisdom and the connectors who introduce interesting people to each other, knowing that they will get along wonderfully well and create a community that is more than the sum of its parts. I think the Skirted Roundtable falls into that category.
Love you!
*A killer full-time job
*Friends (IRL)
*Friends (online)
*Money (through advertising and events)
*Attention (ok, had no idea that I actually wanted it, but once I started getting it, I must confess it is *kinda* fun.
*Improved writing skills
*Other business opps
Now much of this came about due to my last blog, so its been interesting trying to repeat the whole process in a different category. But also LOTS of fun.
Great podcast. I can appreciate how much work it takes to get a podcast posted! Thanks, ladies.
It is a challenge, keeping the posts lively, personal, but not too personal, with a bit of business sprinkled in, and answering all the emails etc. I FB. I twitter. The challenge is that now my business is doing so well,it's hard to do it all and stay sane.
I am lucky in that I have the sweetest people who read my posts, and so far they have been wonderfully supportive. I've had opportunities I would never have gotten because of the blog, because EVERYONE reads blogs. Editors. Designers. Customers. everyone. Same is true for FB, and Twitter. {I must get one of those phones, so I can be like Megan.}
xo
sorry for the dissertation. Love you three. Joni, it does get better with the hot flashes. really. but it's a pain in the neck in the meantime. sorry.
Great discussion! And a topic that personally hits home for me - my business developed out of my blog!
My desire was to a write a book on antique shopping in Europe - the recession hit, publishers weren't interested - but potential clients were! Suddenly the blog I was writing to help promote my efforts at publishing my book created a new career when blog readers started asking me to take them on antique shopping tours. I'd unofficially been doing this for a decade of living abroad... but suddenly because of the blog it became my career and we now have a team of 9 Diva's here in Europe!!!! All because of blogging!
I FEEL SOOO Passionate about social media... without it none of what currently is happening in my life would be! One of my main side businesses is public speaking - Ladies start charging... you dont have to charge much - but you deserve to make money! You're incredible... and the fact is - people will pay!
On a personal front I want to share how excited I am - because this month my biz appears in the June Delta magazine - and next month in Victoria Bliss and none of this would be happening without SOCIAL MEDIA!
Your frank discussion on the topic gave me ideas, helped encourage me and moreover have given me some great quotes to credit next time I take to stage talking on this subject,
Yours,
Toma