Comments on: John Burk’s Mushy Love Ode To His Online PLC

By: Dan Meyer

Dan Meyer — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 05:29:33 +0000

Yeah, great link from Sarah there. Otherwise, I’d ask you “what do you enjoy about reading blogs?”

Personally, I enjoy blogs that mix brief content with longer pieces, that use visuals for description not auto-generated filler, that engage an audience with follow-up conversations, prompts, and activities, that are a little sarcastic and a lot self-deprecating, that come from a position of some knowledge but not knowing-it-all. So I try to write the kind of blog I’d enjoy reading.

I guess what I’m recommending is: write for yourself.

By: Shari

Shari — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:11:14 +0000

Thanks, Sarah, for the great links! They look very helpful.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:19:04 +0000

Hi Shari, Kate Nowak had a good post last year about starting a blog. And then it became a meme of sorts. Denise did a good job of curating the advice. Hope this helps you.

By: Shari

Shari — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:43:33 +0000

I have tried blogging on several occasions. I’m not putting a lot of effort into it at the moment, but I have in the past. I’ve found benefit in the writing, but it’s not enough. I want to be part of a conversation. The only time I’ve come close to having a conversation is when I created a blog in connection with an organization.

So…how do you go about promoting your blog?

I realize promoting is not enough. You have something worth people’s time to read and return to. It could be that I haven’t had what it takes, but I feel it’s more likely that I’m not so great in the promotion department.

By: gasstationwithoutpumps

gasstationwithoutpumps — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:37:42 +0000

Indeed, everyone starts with zero, which means that the first several blog posts have to done without the expectation of feedback or conversation. If these are interesting enough and brought to the attention of the right audience, then eventually enough people will start commenting to have a useful conversation. But few people get the large active audience that you have accumulated, Dan, probably because few blogs consistently have good material, and people wander away. Even after over 300 posts, my own blog only averages 3 comments per post (which means many posts with no comments, then a flurry of comments on one post).

By: More tech PD: Sharing in the internet era, and how do we make it better? « Quantum Progress

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 04:10:46 +0000

[…] back to a haunting comment thread from Dan Meyer’s recent blog post highlighting my recent Mushy Love Ode to my Online PLC. 4 MBP There are, undoubtedly, benefits to blogging that are completely independent of the size of […]

By: Dan Meyer

Dan Meyer — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:25:18 +0000

gasstation: so having a large readership is a prerequisite to having a conversation in the comments.

Everyone starts with zero, right?

By: gasstationwithoutpumps

gasstationwithoutpumps — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:21:45 +0000

@MBP, the big-name bloggers get the most feedback, but even small bloggers get some, as long as they make some effort to let other people know about their blog. But it is true that few readers comment–my estimate is about 2% of page views result in comments–so having a large readership is a prerequisite to having a conversation in the comments.

By: MBP

MBP — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 04:18:13 +0000

There are, undoubtedly, benefits to blogging that are completely independent of the size of your audience. And you can participate in the conversation by commenting on the blogs of the big boys and gals. But I think it’s a mistake to sell blogging on the feedback you can get for your ideas. Because to get that kind of feedback, blogging isn’t enough. You have to be a really, really good blogger.

By: Jason Buell

Jason Buell — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 23:21:47 +0000

John Burk’s blog is outstanding.