What These People Know that You Don't

That got you reading, didn't it? Earlier this week I had an interesting email exchange with Lewis Green at bizsolutionsplus about blog comments and links. In response to one of my posts, Lewis stated that in everything we do of importance, asking why should be a regular agenda item. This prompted me to ask him a why of my own: "why do I have so many links to my posts, yet so few comments?"

We both blog about broader business issues and often use a marketing lens to weave our personal take into our posts. We agreed that my posts are generally longer and less chatty than other bloggers'; hence the title of this post. Let's take a journey through the posts of some of the bloggers who tell their stories in a way that pulls you right into the conversation and stimulates comments.

From our correspondent in Berlin, California-based Creative Think Roger von Oech writes about Berlin's Holocaust Memorial and Berlin Film Festival. Although he tells two very different stories, the commentary and images are vividly portrayed -- I was walking those rows and feeling walled in with Roger at the memorial and mixing it up with the stars at the festival. These posts will give you a sense of the style and person; all the others you will read at his blog will prompt a new way of thinking about something using creativity. Roger tells his stories with the readers and what you experience is your ideas on creativity.

Canada is fertile ground for interesting thinking and conversations. Two of my favorite bloggers produce their work there.

Mark Goren at Transmission Content + Creative talks about how Being Nice is Cheaper and gets into how it's done. Mark himself is clearly nice and shared his thoughts on why he liked some of the things others had said in I Wish I Wrote that a few days ago breathing life into a series. Look at how Mark organized his side menus to share his favorite links: clean, clear, and concise. Here's a good visual storyteller to experience.

I read Tony Hung first when he guest-starred at ProBlogger -- Darren Rowse is an expert on blogging and a real talent scout. So it was Canada via Australia, do you see how blogging and social media are changing the game?

A medical doctor interested in blogging, wordpress, web 2.0, and web design, Tony is the new editor of The Blog Herald. Want to know about one of those topics? Say Digg's Uncopiable DNA -- And It's Got Nothing to do With Voting; go to Deep Jive Interests. What makes Digg unique is its community. What makes Deep Jive, The Blog Herald and the ProBlogger articles interesting and unique are the communities that the writers rally around them. If you've been reading those blogs, you are familiar with the stories and the experiences you take away.

What do these people know that you don't? I'm part of that you, by the way. The core of your idea and value offering must be clear so it comes through in the stories you tell and in the experience that others have of your blog. So what is core to Conversation Agent? To me what is important is the connecting of ideas and people -- whether that happens here or elsewhere, online or offline, is just a technicality. Do I keep my brand promise?

Comments

[Mark Goren]

Valeria,

I couldn't agree more with your final point:

"To me what is important is the connecting of ideas and people -- whether that happens here or elsewhere, online or offline, is just a technicality."

The same is important to me too. While, admittedly, it took a little bit of time for me to find my legs in the blogosphere, I think things started to change when I started putting "related stuff" at the end of most posts. I did this for a few reasons:

1. I want people to see other points of view and gain different insights that are not just my own.

2. I enjoy helping others learn – and the more I point to, the more I learn too.

3. I can point people to articles, posts and stories that are "related", which I do to:

– Open the conversation a little wider
– Use to show my personality a little bit more
– And generally have more fun with the blog; it helps me loosen up a little

Now, to answer your question: You are absolutely keeping your brand promise – 100%.

Keep it up!

[Roger von Oech]

Hi Valeria,

Thanks for the kind words. It's nice to be in such good company! Best wishes to you and your readers.

Roger von Oech

[Cam Beck]

I think that you do, Valeria... Since I started reading your blog, I've been very pleased with the amount of thought you put in your posts. I've found that sometimes it gives me something to think about on the way home, and sometimes it inspires me to bring something new into the conversation.

You've been doing a great job. I hope you continue. :)

[Valeria Maltoni]

Mark -- CK was right, you know. The "I Wish I Wrote that" has all the makings of a successful series... and you just confirmed that by putting so much thought and work into your comment. Thank you.

Roger -- I've really enjoyed your reports from Egypt and Germany... and the stand you make in David's post on "Product Outreach among 'Influentials'". Your brand feels very strong and aligned to me.

Cam -- thank you. The best way to find out is to ask, so I followed my own advice. I see people using my information and sharing it and was curious.

[Dawud Miracle]

The core of your idea and value offering must be clear so it comes through in the stories you tell and in the experience that others have of your blog.

Ooh, that's really good. I couldn't agree more. I've thought about this, but haven't yet put it in such concise terms. Thanks.

[Lewis Green]

Valeria,

Great post and the comments add greatly to your thoughts. With readership such as yours, perhaps less is more when it comes to comments.

[Valeria Maltoni]

Dawud -- thank you so much for stopping by and for taking the time to leave a comment. As I said in my post, what interests me most is to provide value to people wherever they are and however they need it.

Lewis -- and sometimes less is just less. There is a part in the conversation that needs more than just me so every so often I will reach out to my readers with important questions to keep myself honest and let others be part of the "connecting".