The Bloggers With The Most To Say
Favorite tools...what are yours?
I'm speaking at a conference for 200 young adults looking to figure out the web, social media, and blogging, and wanted to crowd-source the presentation from you guys to some degree.
What tools do you use as bloggers?
What have you found useful in 'diving in' to blogging; things you've learned since you started blogging.
What social networks and tools do you use for purposes like growing readership, getting jobs, or accomplishing goals? Which do you think suck for these purposes?
If you were speaking to 200 students about how to use social media to kick ass at life, what would be your one piece of advice?
Thanks guys! I'll reference you if I use you in the prezzo:)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Smile Soup on -
Use Social Media with purpose. You might want to be something more than a witty snark-purveyer one day.
If you're anonymous, you should be prepared to be unmasked. Don't write anything you wouldn't be happy to own under your name.
If you post on something, make sure it's something you'd be happy to have your name to in the newspaper. It's just as published.
Edited to add: This perspective is from a 20-something who works in politics. I've seen people loose their jobs and close doors to possible futures for themselves over social media.
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Permalink Reply by Smile Soup on
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yep. I didn't want to be a wet blanket, but it's horrible seeing people damage their lives by posting something silly online.
Also, the internet is a huge force for positivity and good. You could talk about some of the big blogger campaigns - the blogging for Japan thing earlier this year was really powerful. You can influence the whole world with a keyboard and a modem.
Good luck with your talk - I'm sure it'll be inspiring. Also, sorry I haven't given you more specific tools. My ethos is more about creating positivity in my own life.
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Permalink Reply by R...RAWR on -
That sounds like a fun conference :)
I don't really actively use anything to increase readership. I suppose 20sb and twitter count, but I think that's more as an associated perk than what my primary reasons for using it are.
WRT jobs, for my field I use the Peace and Collaborative Development Network, who're on Ning.. so I suppose that counts? I also find a lot of interesting things via Twitter, and this is obviously related to who I follow.
Unsurprisingly, I get to 'speak with' a number of people working in development from across the world via Twitter, and their blogs/popular aid blogs.
I don't think I use any tools for accomplishing goals.. unless the Day Zero project counts?
Re: advice for using social media and being awesome at it... I think that super popular article on being your genuine self on the Internet, summed up so much about how to interact on the Internet & gets at a lot of things about our 'online identities' that several of us struggle with.
I think it's really important to recognise that blogging isn't just a platform to speak from, it's really one to learn from too. I don't mean only as a way to learn about things, but also in that it's extremely self-reflective and you can really challenge yourself and the assumptions that are inherent to yourself. It's where you will be challenged to reconsider your positions, to recognise your fallacies, and to realise your own shortcomings.
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Permalink Reply by Erin McNaughton on -
I agree entirely with this! One of the greatest perks of blogging is the readers, comments, and the sense of community - other people can often offer a new perspective, their own experience, and invaluable pieces of wisdom.
I use Facebook, Twitter, and 20SB, but most of my "networking" is done through WordPress by commenting on other blogs. When diving in for the first time, it's best to search for blogs with similar themes and connect with bloggers or join some kind of group (I've met many great bloggers through #postaday2011 on WordPress). Another (non-social network) tool that I love is OmmWriter software (free) and David Ummmo's ambient background music (iTunes) - it's important to be able to focus in a world with so many distractions.
As for goals, having a physical (online) list will help you stay accountable and actively talking about those goals and recieving encouragement and praise from readers will help you reach the finish line. When people are looking up to you and cheering you on, there's more incentive to keep going.
The biggest piece of advice I could share is to be genuine, authenitic, and true to yourself. Writing about your passions and topics you're knowlegdable about is going to help you stick with it. In addition, it's easy to see when someone loves what they're doing - be that person.
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Permalink Reply by DShan on -
Thanks both!
Is anyone using Facebook for anything beyond friends/community? IE business, networking, job hunting, career stuff?
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Permalink Reply by Erin McNaughton on
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I think that would be awesome, but I have no idea how to go about doing that. I have a personal Facebook profile and a page for my blog, but I essentially use them to connect with friends and blog readers.
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