Blur the Lines
If you go to search Google today, you’ll find this in the top right hand corner of your screen:
Once upon a time, the list included ‘Blogs’ as a category. You can still search blogs exclusively if you click the ‘more’ carrot – but the significance here is that blogs have been absorbed into the greater category of ‘Web’. This didn’t happen yesterday, mind you – it’s not breaking news, but it’s a prime example of lines being blurred and the inclusion of social media in mainstream ‘information accrual.’
The other day, I was talking to the glorious Nevette Previd, and I was explaining social bookmarking. As I defined it in a narrow box kind of a way, Digg, Stumble, etc., she (who admittedly is not uber-familiar with social media) asked me, “wouldn’t links within blogs be social bookmarks as well?”
But, of course. And brilliant. It’s all so clear to those of us not bogged down by it, right?
For a while now, I’ve been referring to Twitter as a social bookmarking tool – but she is exactly right. All of the social networking sites and blogs are also social bookmarking tools – because links are being favorited, shared and saved.
And social networking extends beyond Facebook, Linkedin, etc. because we’re also networking, connecting and becoming fans on Digg, Stumble and Kirtsy and on blogs via subcriptions, blogrolls and comments.
And blogging? Well, we’re microblogging on social media sites with our updates and we’re leaving comments and reviews on social bookmarking sites…so that works too.
But don’t just stop there. Social media, new media, traditional media – they’re all blending. Or rather television and print journalism are integrating with new media at a neck-breaking rate.
The definitions are growing fuzzy and that’s good, I think – everything is being integrated. The best parts are being used, the bad stuff will be left behind. Maybe we’ll all be on the same page some day…or perhaps just on the same url.
Image by billselak
Filed under Blogging, How To, Myth or Reality, Networking, Social Media | Tags: blog, Blogging, Digg, facebook. linkedin, Julie Roads, kirtsy, social bookmarking, social media, social networking, stumble, Twitter, Writing Roads | Comment (1)digg it: the niched edition
As far as social bookmarking tools go, Digg is up there. It’s huge, and so is its playing field. The point of Digg is to allow anyone to post and share any good web content they find – whether it’s from a mega-site or a small blog – about any topic and from any perspective. They claim to be leveling the field by giving anyone a chance to be seen in this central place. And, this does happen. In the end, though, it’s all about the best content making it to the top….sort of. Right now, on the front page of Digg, there’s an article titled, “The 6 Biggest A**holes in the Animal Kingdom” – to be honest, I didn’t read it, maybe it’s a fantastic read.
Lauren Weitzman decided that the Digg pool was just too big. She’s right, you know. Why should people looking for political news wade through sports content? Why should gamers wade through celebrity fashions? And, why should moms wade through everything that is un-mommish?
Lauren’s (that’s @mommybar to all of you Twitterheads) solution was to develop MommyRanks. A site that allows Moms to post content about every subject you can imagine and then vote, or rank, the content. Just like Digg, the cream rises to the top. Yet, the field has narrowed because the common denominator is now Mom, whereas on Digg, it’s ‘everything Web’.
I asked Lauren what gave her the kick in the pants to create MommyRanks.
“I wanted to create a new type of site.” She said, “Most social networks are all looking the same lately, so I didn’t want to create another one of those. The social bookmarking and voting sites are a new breed and I enjoy participating in them, and I thought there was a great opportunity for the mom niche in this arena.”
And, why do Moms need their own social bookmarking site?
“Most of the big social bookmarking sites are great, but they are very broad. I thought that I could fill a need for mom bloggers. Also, mom bloggers love to promote themselves and their posts, and MommyRanks caters to this. Finally, with the new dsesign of MommyRanks, not only can moms promote their own site, but a screenshot of their webpage is embedded into MommyRanks for all to see. The slogan for mommyRanks is ‘Submit*Vote*Comment*Discover’, and I think that the site allows mom bloggers to do all four of these very easily.”
I think so too…and there’s a little more elbow room, more space (because it’s smaller) to let yourself step up and be heard. I would never suggest that a mom blogger somehow can’t play in the Digg sandbox (sorry, couldn’t help that), you know I think mom bloggers are uber-powerful…but for those of you just starting out, isn’t it nice to know that you can start here? Lauren will even help you if you need it…just ask.
Addition: If you read the comments below, you’ll see that Sandra, who is a fantastic mommy blogger, isn’t totally wowed by MommyRanks – and I think this opinion is totally valid and deserves some explanation on my part up here. MommyRanks is not Digg…yet. It’s still young, so neither its validity nor its impact has been proven. But I think there’s hope. And one of the best ways to grow it as a powerful site is to spread the word and encourage people to visit it and use it…so here I am, talking to you.
Filed under How To, Networking | Tags: Digg, Lauren Weitzman, MommyRanks, social bookmarking, social media, Writing Roads | Comments (3)how to become a freelance copywriter: NETWORKING
Networking, word of mouth and relationships have been the greatest marketing tools for my business. While I had to have the skill, know-how, tools, etc. in order to actually do any networking, my business was built on and continues to be sustained by this growing, active network and my participation in it.
1. Join a networking group or 5. I was a member of my local BNI chapter back in Northampton, MA where my business was born. You could also join your local chamber but most people find that it isn’t as effective for relationship building as BNI. Another smart choice is to find online, local if possible, groups that support each other. I’m part of a group called Hidden-Tech where jobs are posted, questions are asked and answered, information is shared, relationships grow and people collaborate every single day. You can find groups that directly relate any profession. BNI has been the most supportive of my business, however. I find it to be brilliant in several ways:
- a weekly meeting of a committed group of professionals with open networking, educational information, self-promotion requirements and shenanigans at 7am
- one seat is allowed for each profession – one writer, one graphic designer, one CPA
- you have the chance to tell your group all about your business and educate them about what you do every week
- everyone is there to network and help each other
- your chapter is your marketing team – they learn about you and your business and spread the word on a daily basis
- good chapters pass millions of dollars each year
2. You’ve heard me say it before, but I believe that every situation is a networking opportunity. Without being obnoxious (really), I talk to people about what they do and about what I do all the time. It’s seed planting and you never know where it will lead. Sometimes the rewards are instantaneous…and priceless.
3. Web 2.0, social networking, social bookmarking, blogging. Participate online. The internet was created to share information and to communicate. If you are just focusing on your local clientele, you are missing out on an entire world of opportunity. Participate by
- blogging and sharing information
- reading other blogs
- commenting on other blogs
- responding to comments on your blog
- bookmarking blogs, sites and articles on sites such as Digg, Hugg, Technorati, etc.
- actively networking on sites such as Facebook, Myspace, Squidoo, etc.
- being respectful and unspamlike at all times
