Why I Eat Up Everything My Favorite Bloggers Think Up (Blogs That Rock, Part 2)

January 10, 2010

As I confessed in my last post, I have become a bit of a blog snob (click here if you missed my confession). And when you are a blog snob, you become pretty passionate about the blogs you love.

Do you ever feel like a voyeur?  Do you find yourself being pulled into the blogs that give you a glimpse of the author’s personal life?  Business and life have jumped in bed and are in a pretty serious relationship these days.  Separating the two is just not natural.

Making It Personal

When one of my favorite bloggers use their personal life experiences as a launching pad to craft posts full of great advice, facts, tips and strategy, I’m in love.  I’m in love because their lessons and advice make more sense to me when they put it in the context of real life (vs. marketing speak that I may understand, but is void of raw emotion.)

Many of my clients don’t yet understand the art of marrying the personal and the professional. The best way I can teach anything is by showing examples.  As I mention in my last blog post, my favorite blogs include those from Jonathan Fields, Jay Baer, Melani Ward, Chris Brogan, Marie Forleo, Scott Stratten (unMarketing) and Naomi Dunford (IttyBiz).

Jonathan Fields is a natural at mixing it up. Check out this post on how Jonathan helped his daughter gain more confidence (and a shiny new iPod).  http://www.jonathanfields.com/blog/goals-concrete/

Marketing 101:  People do business with those they like and trust; blogging is a fantastic platform to let others get to know all sides of who you are and what you are about.

Scott Stratton is also a master at this.  On his blog site, he has a post titled “25 Things You Didn’t Know About Me” and the night I discovered this page, I was hooked.  Hooked on Scott’s blog, his message, his mission…and Scott himself. Getting to know Scott via his list made me want to eat up anything he put out there.  It all comes down to being real…and completely vulnerable (especially #28).

Crackin’ Us Up

Humor also plays a big part in making a blog stand out above the rest. I can give you a million examples of humor from my favorite blogs, but here’s a current one from Jay Baer about his little girl.

Too funny

Add Value…And Then Add Some More

I think we can all agree that valuable blogs offer useful tips and strategy. I read blogs mainly to stay current in my niche and to gain insight into what’s new in marketing and new media.  I take what I learn and apply it when helping clients or working on new programs.  Here are three very recent blog posts that offer solid advice for your marketing efforts and overall business endeavors:

Soul of a New Business by Chris Brogan

Here’s a highlight: “Business doesn’t have to have a soul. It truly doesn’t. But should you want to be passionate about what you do, either as an employee or as the owner, you might consider this question more closely. The purpose of any business, at some level, is revenue. If not, then it’s not really a business. It’s a pursuit, a hobby, a passion, a charity, or something other than a business. But seeking revenue doesn’t preclude having a soul, so let’s banish that thought.”

How to Balance Your Personal and Professional Lives in Social Media by Jay Baer

Here’s a highlight: “The fundamental truth is that your personal life is almost undoubtedly more interesting than your business life. Period. And, associating some sort of noteworthy character trait to your personal brand makes you more memorable in social media. The fact that you run a PR firm? Meh. The fact that run a PR firm, but also grow prize-winning roses? I’ll remember that.”

New Year’s Resolutions and How Not to Blow It Again This Year by Melani Ward

Here’s a highlight: “Most people will never admit that being comfortable is far more important to them than following through on their resolution because that doesn’t sound very good but that’s really what’s going on. And when I finally understood that, I discovered the reason I had failed so many times myself when it came to following through on my resolutions.”

Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone

And another thing:  “Edgy” is essential. I love a blog that is edgy, even controversial, because edgy and controversial are two things I am not by nature (and work hard to bring it out in myself). It’s important to express all emotions, and not just the “nice” ones.  Emotion can break or make a blog. Naomi Dunford is a true warrior in this area.  Just look at a few of her blog headlines:

How to stop being an information product slut and start creating the business you want

An Itemized List Of All The Shit You Don’t Know

A Peek at My Hate Mail and Why Women Fail

Headlines are almost more important than the actual post (in terms of grabbing attention) and edgy headlines scream “READ ME NOW!”

Expand Your Repertoire

I will leave you with this: Great bloggers don’t only write about their niche. For example, Chris Brogan is a new media marketing expert, but that does not stop him from posting about topics outside this scope.  This is what makes him most intriguing.  Take for instance his latest post.  It’s not about marketing, social media, business, etc.  It’s about HAVING MORE FUN:  http://www.chrisbrogan.com/are-you-ready-for-fun/ (But it’s easy to connect the dots and see how having more fun can easily play a part in your next marketing strategy, too.)

Give A Shout Out

I want to do something a little different here.  I would love your comments, so please post them below.  But I would also love you to post a link to one of your favorite blogs.  Give a shout out to someone you think is writing a blog that rocks  . . . and share it with all of us.  I “talked” too much here…and I really want to hear from you!



I Confess: My Name is Amy and I’m a Blog Snob. Now Pass The Wine. (Blogs That Rock, Part I)

January 8, 2010

Are there any blogs that you devour each time a new post pops up? You know, those really special blogs that you just LOVE and can’t wait until the author thinks up more.  If you can’t relate at all, I might be making myself look a little foolish here, but I get REALLY excited when my favorite bloggers post something new.

In all honesty, I think I have become a bit of a blog snob.

You know how a wine snob does that pretentious thing when the waiter brings over a bottle… they sniff the cork, pour a little, swirl it around in their glass, and then swish it around in their mouth before taking a drink?  Well if I could do that with each blog I encounter, I would. (Yes, that’s how obsessed I have become these days . . .)

A good blog is priceless. Because we all have a million things to do, taking the time to read  favorite blogs can almost seem like a luxury.   When days get busy, my “luxuries” take a backseat to the necessities.

That’s why I only read the best of the best blogs—the ones that I know I can count on weekly to deliver an OBSCENE amount of VALUE in a really quick read.  This is how I decide if a blog makes my short list:

• Is the blog entertaining?  Does it make me feel something?
• Do the posts trigger new ideas, new thoughts and different ways to look at things?
• Do I get a glimpse of the author’s personal life?  Can I see what they are all about, what their honest view on life really is?  To me, seeing this side of the blogger makes all the difference.

Right now my favorite blogs include those from Jonathan Fields, Jay Baer, Melani Ward, Chris Brogan, Marie Forleo, Scott Stratten (unMarketing) and Naomi Dunford (IttyBiz).

I share them with you now because if you are interested in social media, marketing strategy, business and have an entrepreneurial mindset, these blogs might peak your interest too. In “Part 2” of this blog post I am going to give you a glimpse into why these blogs pretty much rock…and what you can learn from each.  (Hint:  The magic of these blogs include staying current, mixing up their delivery, talking to other people, occasionally having a mouth of a sailor and making you feel a bit uncomfortable…but in a good way.)

Each time you write a blog post, think of your favorite blogs.  What makes you come back for more?  What value do you get from reading them regularly? To increase the success of your own blogs, take those elements and model them. Just make sure to make them your own (because if you just copy what you see, your blog is likely to fall flat.)  Tell me this, what do you think makes a blog kick some serious butt?  I want to know!

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