Monday, June 16, 2008
The Summer of Social Media Love
Your summer of social media love. June, July, August -- if you haven't done so already, give social media three solid months. Watch your brain start to make connections in new and exciting ways.
First up on your summer social media to-do list: find and subscribe to a few new blogs.
Why subscribe to blogs? Well, here are 3 very basic reasons:
Learn something new? On a blog? Really? Sure. Many bloggers are experts who write about a niche topic. Find a topic that interests you, and peruse the top blogs in that field.
Finding top blogs. A fabulous way to find great new blogs with scintillating content is to pop by Alltop.com. This new site helps you "explore your passions by collecting stories from 'all the top' sites on the web." Nice! Each collection is grouped into topic areas -- football, nonprofit, sales, education, what-have-you -- so that you can easily find the latest feeds from top blogs in the categories you love the most.
Alltop is just like standing in front of a magazine rack in your favorite bookstore. Only the headlines update instantly -- and most of the content is free.
For example, let's say you're interested in speaking. (I know you are, because you're reading this blog!) So, go to the speaking category for Alltop, and you'll find approximately 100 feeds, which get updated about every ten minutes. You'll have instant access to the latest tips, tricks, news, and info -- all from some of the best bloggers on the planet. (I'm honored to report that this 'lil blog is currently included in the Alltop list for speaking blogs -- so if you're a subscriber, your wisdom and good taste is hereby officially validated!)
Subscribe! The first thing I did at Alltop was scan the headlines -- just like when I'm waiting in line at the supermarket. I instantly found new blogs and posts that peaked my interest, so I subscribed immediately. I commented on some, bookmarked others -- all to enhance my own learning and further conversations with experts I admire.
Make friends. Commenting and corresponding with expert bloggers can ignite fresh ideas -- and help build relationships. Reading a blog gives you a sense of the writer's substance and style. If you like what they're saying and they seem approachable -- why not leave a comment -- or three? Many blogs give readers an easy platform for commenting -- so that you can reach out & connect with the writer. (Want to chime in on any post in this blog? Go for it! That's what the "comment" link at the bottom of each post is all about!)
Anti-Social Media. Over lunch last week with Twitter friend Ashima, I voiced a concern that if I'm not careful, participating in social media may make me narrow-minded. After all, it's too easy to subscribe, listen, friend, follow, and fan only the people I admire and respect. To be truly well-rounded, I must make sure to listen carefully to voices that do not share my values or opinions.
That's why I also subscribe to people who write views that differ greatly from my own. If social media keeps me informed, I can also use the social media platform to broaden my world view, too. Wouldn't Voltaire approve?
Your Summer of Social Media Love! By all means, use sites like Alltop to find people you respect and admire -- but also stay tuned to people who offer different viewpoints. Subscribe and participate at a variety of blogs, and watch how your synapses will start sparking and firing in new and exciting directions!
PS -- If you haven't subscribed to this blog yet with RSS -- please do. Here's my RSS feed. Put it in your favorite RSS Reader, and voila! Consider yourself subscribed!
Enter the social media mainstream. Yes, social media -- where people participate actively, publicly, and directly with online content and content providers -- are mainstream. When huge corporations start blogging, friending, following, fanning, tweeting, and digging -- you know that "the man" is infiltrating the social media scene.
It's not a bad thing. But it's smart to get hip to new ways of communicating and connecting. With social media, you can participate at your level of comfort.
It's not a bad thing. But it's smart to get hip to new ways of communicating and connecting. With social media, you can participate at your level of comfort.
Your summer of social media love. June, July, August -- if you haven't done so already, give social media three solid months. Watch your brain start to make connections in new and exciting ways.
First up on your summer social media to-do list: find and subscribe to a few new blogs.
Why subscribe to blogs? Well, here are 3 very basic reasons:
- To learn something new
- To make friends with people who share your passions and interests
- To participate in smart conversations.
Learn something new? On a blog? Really? Sure. Many bloggers are experts who write about a niche topic. Find a topic that interests you, and peruse the top blogs in that field.Finding top blogs. A fabulous way to find great new blogs with scintillating content is to pop by Alltop.com. This new site helps you "explore your passions by collecting stories from 'all the top' sites on the web." Nice! Each collection is grouped into topic areas -- football, nonprofit, sales, education, what-have-you -- so that you can easily find the latest feeds from top blogs in the categories you love the most.
Alltop is just like standing in front of a magazine rack in your favorite bookstore. Only the headlines update instantly -- and most of the content is free.
For example, let's say you're interested in speaking. (I know you are, because you're reading this blog!) So, go to the speaking category for Alltop, and you'll find approximately 100 feeds, which get updated about every ten minutes. You'll have instant access to the latest tips, tricks, news, and info -- all from some of the best bloggers on the planet. (I'm honored to report that this 'lil blog is currently included in the Alltop list for speaking blogs -- so if you're a subscriber, your wisdom and good taste is hereby officially validated!)
Subscribe! The first thing I did at Alltop was scan the headlines -- just like when I'm waiting in line at the supermarket. I instantly found new blogs and posts that peaked my interest, so I subscribed immediately. I commented on some, bookmarked others -- all to enhance my own learning and further conversations with experts I admire.
Make friends. Commenting and corresponding with expert bloggers can ignite fresh ideas -- and help build relationships. Reading a blog gives you a sense of the writer's substance and style. If you like what they're saying and they seem approachable -- why not leave a comment -- or three? Many blogs give readers an easy platform for commenting -- so that you can reach out & connect with the writer. (Want to chime in on any post in this blog? Go for it! That's what the "comment" link at the bottom of each post is all about!)
Anti-Social Media. Over lunch last week with Twitter friend Ashima, I voiced a concern that if I'm not careful, participating in social media may make me narrow-minded. After all, it's too easy to subscribe, listen, friend, follow, and fan only the people I admire and respect. To be truly well-rounded, I must make sure to listen carefully to voices that do not share my values or opinions.
That's why I also subscribe to people who write views that differ greatly from my own. If social media keeps me informed, I can also use the social media platform to broaden my world view, too. Wouldn't Voltaire approve?
Your Summer of Social Media Love! By all means, use sites like Alltop to find people you respect and admire -- but also stay tuned to people who offer different viewpoints. Subscribe and participate at a variety of blogs, and watch how your synapses will start sparking and firing in new and exciting directions!
PS -- If you haven't subscribed to this blog yet with RSS -- please do. Here's my RSS feed. Put it in your favorite RSS Reader, and voila! Consider yourself subscribed!
Labels: social media
¶ 6/16/2008 12:57:00 PM
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Love the post. Social media is extremely valuable and its goo to see that people recognize that. If you don't learn something new each day you are wasting your life - social media is great for this. From an entrepreneurial perspective you must ask yourself: How do I make a business out of social media? There are a lot of opportunities including blogs, optimization, social media advertising, and more.... www.readtheanswer.com/index.php?RTA=web2
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