January 29, 2006
Lotusphere - calling all guest bloggers!
Posted by Jess in
Lotusphere2006
During Lotusphere, at the Blogging BOF (Birds-of-a-Feather), it was brought up that the Notes blogging community might be a bit closed-circuit, and it's hard for any new bloggers to get started.
Here's a few things, and here's what I can do to help this situation.
1. During a panel session on blogging with Libby, Ed, Chris Byrne, Jack Dausman and Volker, they were discussing what made a Notes blogger. Did you have to run on Domino/Notes software?
Did you have to talk about Notes/Domino?
The end verdict seemed to be that it was someone who talked about Notes.
Okay, so by THAT definition, I'm not a Notes/Domino blogger. Not that I MIND doing things differently, in fact, I'm seeming to embrace that style more and more lately.
So onto the other issue - how do we get more bloggers into the mix? I propose a "test drive". Libby let users all week long blog live on the LotusUserGroup.org site. Now that Lotusphere is over, I'm going to offer it on my site.
Tell everyone what you thought of Lotusphere. Tell everyone what you thought of your third grade teacher. Tell us anything you like. Just get a taste for writing online, and then watch some comments come in and know that you are being read. Make up your mind whether you want to keep lurking, or if this will make you change your mind and start your own blog.
If this sounds like something you'd like to do, drop me an email (you'll find it on the right side of the page) and I'll get you all set up for an entry.
EDITED/ADDED 1/30/06: Something else I wanted to offer... I did graduate with a degree in Communication Studies, so also please email or IM me with questions anytime. I have a lot of advice and information I can share. What makes a good blog? How do I get readers? More importantly, how do I *keep* readers? What are some fun things to talk about? How can I establish my credibility?
Things like that. Please, ask away!
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Comments
Well, if my opinion counts for anything at all, I do read your blog. It's listed under my Bloglines heading of "Domino General." So, I think you are a Domino-ish blogger.
As for getting more bloggers into the mix, it just takes a while. I recommend reading and posting in other blogs (which Ed Brill suggested at Lotusphere '05). A blogger builds on credibility, and that takes time, and on community.
Excellent points... actually, one I was trying to make was one doesn't have to write about *Domino* to get into the mix. It's all about offering readers value to go along with your credibility.
But I agree, it most certainly takes some credibility. One simply cannot start a blog and expect results. Your readers have to trust you.
For example,
A reader has not patience (nor time) to read a blog entry that does not give them something back. It can be informational, but if it's something that everyone else has said, it's up to you to give them a different perspective on it. The ol' 3 blind people approaching an elephant from all angles. :-)
This is one reason why I shy away from writing about Domino/Notes. There's really nothing I can say that someone else can't say much better. And I may not have a different perspective on it. So I don't write.
In fact, if I'm not inspired, I won't write at all. I'll never write for the sake up updating. It has to be quality.
If you are writing a journal, again, give the readers a reason to read. As I said in the BOF, you can list on your blog what you had for breakfast. That's all well and good, it's not for anyone else to tell you what you can and can't write on your blog.
BUT - if you want to keep readers coming back, you have to tell them a funny or inspirational story of what shapes your Cheerios made, or why it reminded you of the first day of school when you were seven. If it's not giving the reader something back, they will not come back to read.
Basically, offer the reader *value*. Know who's reading.
Yah. And, know when you're done. I'll shut up now. ;-)
Good comments, Jess.
I remember you mentioned during the BOF on Blogging that you did not blog about Notes. I find that liberating to know that I don't have to always blog about Notes.
Thanks for the tip.
