Comments on: Julie/Julia; blog lessons learned http://www.sustainablesem.com/juliejulia-blog-lessons-learned/ Stop chasing algorithms Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:50:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: admin http://www.sustainablesem.com/juliejulia-blog-lessons-learned/#comment-179 admin Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:04:53 +0000 http://www.sustainablesem.com/juliejulia-blog-lessons-learned/#comment-179 Dr. J. I agree with all you said. For those who blog, and wish to be successful at it and develop a following, though, those three things are a must. Churlish curmudgeon that you are, your supreme personality really comes to the fore when you write. I think some plodding business owners can still do well with a blog if they think of what their customers need, like giving a few "tips" now and again. It really helps the search engine ranking if they do and so I encourage it, knowing full well that it most likely ain't gonna happen! Dr. J. I agree with all you said. For those who blog, and wish to be successful at it and develop a following, though, those three things are a must. Churlish curmudgeon that you are, your supreme personality really comes to the fore when you write. I think some plodding business owners can still do well with a blog if they think of what their customers need, like giving a few “tips” now and again. It really helps the search engine ranking if they do and so I encourage it, knowing full well that it most likely ain’t gonna happen!

]]> By: J Toman http://www.sustainablesem.com/juliejulia-blog-lessons-learned/#comment-178 J Toman Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:33:51 +0000 http://www.sustainablesem.com/juliejulia-blog-lessons-learned/#comment-178 I've been listening to Christmas carols again, which pretty much took the edge off any churlish response I may have. I think that your prescription is good for people like you, who are generally bubbly and extroverted. A lot of people though are naturally dispassionate, or have personalities that need to be overlooked to see the real person underneath, and because of the limits of the printed word they come off like curmudgeons when they write. Maybe that stilted business language is best for them? And a lot of people, and that includes small business owners, are plodders. That's not wrong or less, it's just who they are. Plodders make the world go 'round, they may not be inspirational, but they are dependable. I certainly hope not many truly creative people are in the carpet cleaning business, for instance, as necessary as that may be. What, really, are they going to talk about in their blog? "Wine stains I have known"? It's a job, they do it, they're good at it, but it doesn't make for good copy, nor is there something to say about it for every news cycle. Which is why I think blogging is oversold, or at least suitable for businesses only in those industries that have some creative component to them. And even then there's the danger of running out of content and having to repackage old posts in order to "feed the beast". Most people have something to say to one person. Some people have something to say to two or three people. Very, very few people have anything to say to the entire world. I’ve been listening to Christmas carols again, which pretty much took the edge off any churlish response I may have. I think that your prescription is good for people like you, who are generally bubbly and extroverted. A lot of people though are naturally dispassionate, or have personalities that
need to be overlooked to see the real person underneath, and because of the limits of the printed word they come off like curmudgeons when they write. Maybe that stilted business language is best for them?
And a lot of people, and that includes small business owners, are plodders. That’s not wrong or less, it’s just who they are. Plodders make the world go ’round, they may not be inspirational, but they are dependable. I certainly hope not many truly creative people are in the carpet cleaning business, for instance, as necessary as that may be. What, really, are they going to talk about in their blog? “Wine stains I have known”? It’s a job, they do it, they’re good at it, but it doesn’t make for good copy, nor is there something to say about it for every news cycle. Which is why I think blogging is oversold, or at least suitable for businesses only in those industries that have some creative component to them. And even then there’s the danger of running out of content and having to repackage old posts in order to “feed the beast”. Most people have something to say to one person. Some people have something to say to two or three people. Very, very few people have anything to say to the entire world.

]]> By: admin http://www.sustainablesem.com/juliejulia-blog-lessons-learned/#comment-177 admin Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:46:49 +0000 http://www.sustainablesem.com/juliejulia-blog-lessons-learned/#comment-177 I know! I loved the movie... at 45 I think I still haven't started my "life's work" yet so I found it inspiring. Meryl Streep is SO amazing!!! I know, the biggest tragedy about the blog is not being able to find her posts related to a particular recipe... It would be fun for people cooking from Julia's book to find out what Julie's experience was with the process, but nope. WEIRD! I know! I loved the movie… at 45 I think I still haven’t started my “life’s work” yet so I found it inspiring. Meryl Streep is SO amazing!!!

I know, the biggest tragedy about the blog is not being able to find her posts related to a particular recipe… It would be fun for people cooking from Julia’s book to find out what Julie’s experience was with the process, but nope. WEIRD!

]]> By: Nicki Hicks http://www.sustainablesem.com/juliejulia-blog-lessons-learned/#comment-176 Nicki Hicks Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:44:34 +0000 http://www.sustainablesem.com/juliejulia-blog-lessons-learned/#comment-176 Carolyn, First of all, this is ironic - I *just* watched this (fantastic) movie this weekend! Second, I'm so glad you wrote about this. It's funny, as I was watching it, I had a "holier than thou" expression. "Blogspot, really?" But you're absolutely right - those 3 things are really what gave her such success even without much usability or any design! Thanks for reminding me content really is king! :) Carolyn,

First of all, this is ironic - I *just* watched this (fantastic) movie this weekend!

Second, I’m so glad you wrote about this. It’s funny, as I was watching it, I had a “holier than thou” expression. “Blogspot, really?”
But you’re absolutely right - those 3 things are really what gave her such success even without much usability or any design!

Thanks for reminding me content really is king! :)

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