Brian Heys
Brazen careerist
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Ryan Paugh
What are your favorite types of posts to read and comment on when you visit Brazen? I'm not sure if you guys realize this, but it's such a difficult job to filter through our database to find the best of the best. It's all relative + there's so much to go through that I could literally read blog posts 24-7. I like original, opinionated blog posts. I'm not a huge fan of cliche personal development posts. What about you? Help make my job easier :)
92 weeks ago from Blogging Ideas, Blogging, Gen-Y Professional Bloggers, Brazen Bloggers and Brazen Community Feedback3 more
Jim Parker, Tariq West and Ty Unglebower recommended this
Kenji Crosland:
I like posts that explore difficult questions, even if they don't provide answers. I dislike posts like "Five funky habits that will change your ...MoreI like posts that explore difficult questions, even if they don't provide answers. I dislike posts like "Five funky habits that will change your life!"
90 weeks ago
90 weeks ago
Elizabeth Marling:
I like posts that are both personal and informative: for example, someone gives instruction for a skill, task, etc. I get a lot more from an ...MoreI like posts that are both personal and informative: for example, someone gives instruction for a skill, task, etc. I get a lot more from an author who gives the reader their own real-life method. Sometimes people get stingy with knowledge and only share some of what they know, and I can usually tell. I want to know what the author knows--and something of their actual experience in the real world using that knowledge.
90 weeks ago
90 weeks ago
Brian Heys
Hey everyone, did you all see the recent article on Wired.com - 'The Web is Dead, Long live the Internet'? (Link: http://bit.ly/bknmCP). I've been wondering what sort of effect this is going to have on blogging as it continues to snowball. When we talk about the death of the web, are we also talking about the death of content?
Brian Heys:
Thanks for the comments and links everyone. Some really interesting views coming through here - all (perhaps unsurprisingly) in support of ...MoreThanks for the comments and links everyone. Some really interesting views coming through here - all (perhaps unsurprisingly) in support of blogging continuing to be strong. I wonder - as bloggers, are we not convincing ourselves that blogging will survive because that's what we want to hear? I'm trying to step back and think about it from a disconnected point of view.
91 weeks ago
91 weeks ago
Jenna Langer:
Again I get brought back to this thought - Content is King. With technology today we can consume all types of media at any time and anywhere. ...MoreAgain I get brought back to this thought - Content is King. With technology today we can consume all types of media at any time and anywhere. Maybe we will shift towards more video and less articles. Maybe it will be more streams and less essays. Either way compelling content will continue to attract our attention, no matter what form it is in.
91 weeks ago
91 weeks ago
Brian Heys
I recently called time on my blog and drew a line in the sand with my content. After trying for nearly a year to write about anything and everything, I decided I really need a niche. Has anyone else experienced this? Has anyone recently turned their 'failing' blog around? I'm writing a post series about the process, and welcome any input.
Katie Colihan:
Brian, I'm a little late on this, however "A Blog About Nothing In Particular" is a Niche. If you want to be more focused, though, then absolutely ...MoreBrian, I'm a little late on this, however "A Blog About Nothing In Particular" is a Niche. If you want to be more focused, though, then absolutely choose one thing, especially if you want to be recognized for it and Google Searched, etc. But, I literally write about a load of things, with no certain restrictions and I still get the same amount (if not more) traffic.
92 weeks ago
92 weeks ago
Becky Benishek:
@Page, you're very welcome!
Even after all this sage advice, I'm still feeling the itch to write about things not in my blog's scope. Not all the ...More@Page, you're very welcome!
Even after all this sage advice, I'm still feeling the itch to write about things not in my blog's scope. Not all the time, just every once in awhile. Do people ever do a "I know this is off-topic, but..." post in niche blogs, or is that generally not done, unheard of & frowned upon?
I guess one solution if this IS frowned upon is to find someone who blogged about what you want to talk about, and add your comment. :)
91 weeks ago
Even after all this sage advice, I'm still feeling the itch to write about things not in my blog's scope. Not all the ...More@Page, you're very welcome!
Even after all this sage advice, I'm still feeling the itch to write about things not in my blog's scope. Not all the time, just every once in awhile. Do people ever do a "I know this is off-topic, but..." post in niche blogs, or is that generally not done, unheard of & frowned upon?
I guess one solution if this IS frowned upon is to find someone who blogged about what you want to talk about, and add your comment. :)
91 weeks ago
Rebecca Thorman
I love when people quote and link to my blog, but I find myself getting frustrated when people take large pieces of my post and include it in their post, even with attribution. I just feel like the blogger is being lazy and can't come up with their own analysis, so they just copy and paste. Instead, I feel like they should say, "go visit this link" instead of reprinting my post into theirs. Am I overreacting? This happens to me often, and I'm getting fairly frustrated. Should I say something?
94 weeks ago from Blogging Ideas, Gen-Y Professional Bloggers, Wordpress Bloggers, Professional Writers and Editors and Freelancing3 more
Sid:
Always good to include a little bit of commentary along with the link. When they just list links it can come across lazy and as people just doing SEO
93 weeks ago
93 weeks ago
Rebecca Thorman:
Thanks all for these great answers! It was interesting to me how many noted that they'd just be grateful for the exposure. A sign, I think, of ...MoreThanks all for these great answers! It was interesting to me how many noted that they'd just be grateful for the exposure. A sign, I think, of blogging culture, which I don't always find myself comfortable in :) Nevertheless, I greatly appreciated everyone's input.
93 weeks ago
93 weeks ago
Brian Heys
Does anyone know anything about blog analytics, other than Google Analytics and WordPress stats? The reason I ask, is I posted the second part of my 'How to turn around a failing blog' series the other day, and while my advice is relevant to users of Google Analytics and WordPress, I'd love it if anyone could offer any tips about how to analyse traffic for Blogger, TypePad, Tumblr etc. The post address is: http://bit.ly/cW0W8e
Angela Palmier
Tribes by Seth Godin--If you have ANY desire for Leadership--your's or leading others, this is a must have. Good insight for teamwork as well. After that, try Linchpin--same author.
Brian Heys:
If anyone is thinking of getting 'Tribes', check out Audible.com first - you can download the audio version for free. I listened to it today on my ...MoreIf anyone is thinking of getting 'Tribes', check out Audible.com first - you can download the audio version for free. I listened to it today on my commute.
118 weeks ago
118 weeks ago
Jessica Schanberg
What do you do with your ego, your hurt ego, when no one comments, but you know there are readers out there? How do you get comments or feedback AND how do you deal with that feeling of being alone out there?
Jessica Schanberg:
@paulmacp While I understand your pont, my objective as a blogger is to write down what I honestly feel about a topicand sometimes that is ...More@paulmacp While I understand your pont, my objective as a blogger is to write down what I honestly feel about a topicand sometimes that is controversial, but usually it's just sincere and I'm not trying to incite a debate necessarily. It's something to think about. @sadya I use googleanalytics to check my visitor counts.
116 weeks ago
116 weeks ago
Sadya Siddiqui:
Jessica , how about putting a poll on some topic or what about putting a mini-form that just asks for the readers name&email. I'm throwing ...MoreJessica , how about putting a poll on some topic or what about putting a mini-form that just asks for the readers name&email. I'm throwing these ideas at you 'coz i'm gonna be trying this stuff for my blog too. i haven't worked seriously on my blog as yet , I'm shortlisting a few ideas & sprucing up my profile a bit. i suggest u try (i dunno how) to put a form at the START/TOP of the blog. I'm suggesting this because my day job is lead generation via online mktg and a form on ur own site is tried&tested formula.
116 weeks ago
116 weeks ago
Melissa Breau
Do you ask questions of your readers at the end of a blog post? I'm of two minds about this. I can't decide if it just makes you look dumb if no one responds & limits responses since people feel less welcome to comment if they are not directly answering the question or if it increases response rate... thoughts?
Brian Heys:
A few years ago, people used to advocate asking questions at the end of a post in order to solicit comments. Most people have wiser up to this ...MoreA few years ago, people used to advocate asking questions at the end of a post in order to solicit comments. Most people have wiser up to this now, and simply asking a question doesn't seem to guarantee a response like it did.
On my blog, I often find that open posts with questions at the end DON'T get a comment, while closed posts DO! It just goes to show there are no hard and fast rules.
119 weeks ago
On my blog, I often find that open posts with questions at the end DON'T get a comment, while closed posts DO! It just goes to show there are no hard and fast rules.
119 weeks ago
Melissa Breau:
Thanks everyone for your responses! I'm glad you all weighed in - I think I'm going to start asking them on occasion and see what result it has.
118 weeks ago
118 weeks ago
Cameron Plommer
Who benefits from a blog more: the blogger or the blog reader?
Blake Carson Poston:
I can say that one of the blogs I host serves to benefit myself more than anything else. I use it as a way to vent, share thoughts and emotions- ...MoreI can say that one of the blogs I host serves to benefit myself more than anything else. I use it as a way to vent, share thoughts and emotions- and just speak to whoever wants to listen- even if it's just me. My other blog was designed to provide information on my career subject- nonprofit management. With that blog I hope that the public will benefit from what ever tips or information I have to share. So, to answer your amazing question with a subpar response, I guess it depends!
121 weeks ago
121 weeks ago
Brian Heys:
Under certain circumstances, I think it's the blogger who benefits the most, and that's definitely the case in the early stages of a blog when ...MoreUnder certain circumstances, I think it's the blogger who benefits the most, and that's definitely the case in the early stages of a blog when there aren't many readers.
For me, my blog is cathartic. I write it to stop myself feeling bad. I don't yet understand why I feel bad if I don't write, but I do know I feel great when I've put out a post, so I'll keep doing it.
121 weeks ago
For me, my blog is cathartic. I write it to stop myself feeling bad. I don't yet understand why I feel bad if I don't write, but I do know I feel great when I've put out a post, so I'll keep doing it.
121 weeks ago
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