Rock Your Stage
Blogs are your own personal concert stage. They are your speech in front of the crowd. They are a way to bring your ideas out to people and to see if they feel you out there, as the hip hop crowd might say. So, if you’re going to bother going through all the hard work of writing something, or posting pictures, or recording an audio or video podcast, why not make sure you put your whole heart into it, and give them the very best of what you can produce!
Start Strong
Launch with your topic really early. The only thing that works better by building up is fiction or mystery stories. If you’re going to take someone’s time for your blog or podcast, start with the best stuff first. Lead with your lead. Give them an idea where you’re taking them, and then go.
Brevity
You wouldn’t know it, but I try to keep my blog posts brief. Why? Because I know you have other things to do. I need them to have enough info for them to be useful, but then, after that, I want brief. Because your time is valuable to me.
Make It About Them
Participation is my best secret. Build community, build traffic, build awareness, build whatever by using participation. Why is PodCamp so successful? Because it’s YOUR PodCamp. Mr. Penn and I just started it. Why is my blog taking off? Because YOU are contributing and commenting and finding things YOU can use. Participation is the secret sauce to any community.
Give Your Ideas Handles
Sometimes, I think that idea will go on my tombstone. I say it all the time. What do I mean? Make it such that the person can run with an idea and port it to other instances. Meaning, if I talk about me, I’m really talking about you. If I talk about you, I’m really talking about you with some me sprinkled in it. Right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t IDENTIFY with this all.
Finish Strong
I love comments. I really love conversations in the comments section. Sometimes, I can’t answer everyone. But I always try to poke my nose in and get a conversation going. Part of that is Liz Strauss’s fault. She really has the best comment section of any blog I’ve ever seen. So what *I* do to drive comments is ask questions, or seek your opinion. I do this because I know you’ve got ideas. You’re smart. You’ve got ideas I haven’t considered yet.
I try to end every post with a question, because I hope it drives participation. Does that work for you?
Encore
Any rockstar knows they might be called on for an encore. In blogging, this means being sure to have your next post in mind. Be sure to comment on other people’s posts. Be sure to give them a reason to come back, and a way to surprise.
How about you? Did I miss anything?
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Photo credit, larksflem
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Comments
Mr. Brogan,
You rock!
Don’t forget the part that while you’re on stage, you’re supposed to be having fun!!
Yeah!
Right on, Chris! As the inimitable Infotainer, Joel Bauer, says, “Wrap the package” - he’s referring to how we dress, show up, and act. It’s the same with our blogs.
I’m also reminded of the Zen saying “How you do anything is how you do everything.” (Often attributed to T. Harv Eker).
Who you are comes gently off the page (screen) and connects with me - I read your posts and I LIKE you. You’re not trying to push, sell, convert or otherwise. It’s like you’re in conversation with your readers.
Same thing with a good stage presentation - good audience involvement always cuts it for me.
Cheers,
Mari Smith
Of all of the things you mentioned, probably the Encore resonates the most with me.
Always leaving ‘em wanting a little bit more - and always give them a reason to come back.
Excellent post. I am looking forward to reading more here.
Thanks!
One thing I strive for is “leave ‘em wanting more,” or, “end on a high note.” It’s related to “It ain’t over ’till the fat lady sings,” but she best be singing *high*!
Thanks for the posts.
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If your blog is a stage, which rock star are you, Chris? Me, I’ll take a good dose of Green Day!