Blogs are a Conversation

Or as Mike Sansone says, ConverStations. One of the most interesting aspects of blogging, besides indulging one's creative juices, is creating a new conversation. The connective nature of the blogosphere can provide clear visuals. You may see a post on a blog make its way through many in the span of a few hours.

The other aspect of connectivity that fascinates me is the conversation that develops among peers. I found many interesting blogs that way.

From Ann Michael's Manage to Change -- Making sense out of change. Ideas need to add up before they can multiply -- I found:

• Carpe Factum by Timothy Johnson on accomplishment integration management.
• Successful Blog by Liz Strauss about successful and outstanding bloggers.
• The Marketing Minute by Drew McLellan where strategy and passion collide.

From Timonthy Johnson's Carpe Factum I found:

• Ramblings from a Glass Half Full by Terry Starbucker - The optimistic side of the daily grind from the perspective of a middle aged executive raised in the heartland, educated in the south, and matured on the left and right coasts (along with miscellaneous musings on my favorite people, places and things).
• Make it Great by Phil Gerbyshak -- take your life from good... to great.
• Creative Think by Roger von Oech -- fun ideas to stimulate your creativity.

From Drew McLellan's The Marketing Minute I found:

• CK's Blog by Christina Kerley. CK is a fellow marketer who blogs also at The Daily Fix. There are many extraordinary things about CK, including the fact that she just celebrated 100 posts. The most compelling I found is her collage of marketers' single point of value from blogging.
• Greg Verdino's Marketing by the VP of Emerging Channels at Digitas LLC.
• Logic+Emotion by David Armano, Creative VP at Digitas LLC -- on creativity, innovation, design.

You get the idea. These links should get you started on exploring some solid business thinking. Do you design your conversations so they can expand your knowledge? Many of these bloggers have built on each other's concepts and doing so have shared information and connections. When you're in a conversation, do you think in terms of what you can share?

Comments

[Mike Sansone]

Valeria, You are so right about the conversation being the connective tissue of the blogosphere (and thanks for the connections).

And while the wildfire life of some posts is fantastic - it might not ever really die out. The timelessness is also fantastic.

A post that someone writes in 2005 still gets linked to today. Maybe a different tempo of discussion, but relevancy is found by someone - maybe a new blogger.

As I write this, I think of Eric Clapton singing "Leyla" - you decide which version - which decade. It's a timeless classic either way.

[Terry Starbucker]

Thanks for the link Valeria! The things that has been the most fulfilling for me on my blogging journey are the seemingly limitless and borderless "conversations" I've had with so many people, and what I've learned from those conversations. Long may they live! All the best.

[DA]

And not just conversations—real conversations complete with accessibility, and authenticity. Basic criteria that we all crave in relationships.

Blogs, whether personal or coporate are helping fill this void. Some better than others—but the dynamic is certainly dramatically different compared to five years ago.

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Thanks for the link love Valeria. It is always fun to find new folks to connect with, either on their blogs, via e-mail, on the phone or in person. If you ever get near Milwaukee, I'd love to buy you a cup of coffee. And that goes for just about anyone who blogs and travels near Cheeseville.

[Timothy Johnson]

Valeria... I've found your blog to be a high quality collection of thoughts, and I enjoy the visits here. Keep up the great posts, and keep making those connections.

[Ann Handley]

Valeria -- That's the blessing and the curse of the blogosphere...you can read and comment and connect all day and still find MORE to read and comment on and connect with. The conversation never ends.

[Marco]

And sometimes blogs are a substitute for conversation. I've known people who trim down their "one on one" dialogues in favor of "one to many" broadcasts. It reminds me of the business cards that Steve Martin hands out in lieu of autographs: "This is to certify that I have met Steve Martin and found him witty and charming."

[Drew McLellan]

Valeria,

Your post is right on the money. The connections and conversations that happen as one dives deeper into the blogging community are remarkable.

But the ingredient that I think actually adds the magic is the intimacy that is woven through it all. People connect and share, as though they've been friends or colleagues for years. And in many cases, they've just encountered each other's writings/thoughts for the first time.

That's what I love about this medium. There is a world of incredibly smart, witty, passionate people. And best of all -- they'll let me play in their sandbox and share all the best toys.

How cool is that?

Best,

Drew

[gianandrea facchini]

valeria, what i love in blogosphere is that conversation is sharing knowledge, is contribution, is a growth for all the participants and the readers and makes us cross the borders.
an on going process of learning.
there are several blogs that may complete a neverending list. personally i would add to the list lewis green, tim jackson and gavin heaton.

[Liz Strauss]

You'll just keep following and talking and folliwng and talking on and on and on . . . as everyone above me said, until you reach the end of the Internet. But boyhowdy, will you know things!!