Blog Snob II: Darth Blogger!
Blog Snobs on the Web
Remember what I said earlier about how Blog Snobs, “…wag their finger and remind you how much you’re missing out by not playing their way;…”
Well, I just got this email today from one of those “blog gurus” and the sanctimonious and arrogant tone is exactly what I was talking about. Read more
Have You Ever Met A “Blog Snob”?
I’ve met a few lately. They look kinda normal – except for a few ticks…
…the slight raising of one eyebrow, “You mean you only blog once month!?”
…or the haughty look down the nose, “I have over __ followers on Twitter and made ___ dollars as a result. What about you?”
…or how ‘bout the gun-slinging swagger of the tech wonk (I had another word for gun…), “If you’re not using such-n-such technology/application/plugin/widget/web tool/hardware/software, you’re an idiot.”
In the old days (like about 3 years ago) a Blog Snob was someone who took a ‘tude with a non-blogger. Nowadays, I meet Blog Snobs who deride their fellow bloggers for a variety of reasons:
- Not blogging often enough
- Not doing it right
- Having a “lame” blog site
- Not using the “right” technology
- Not optimized appropriately
- ….and other crimes against blogging
Blog Snobs laud their social networking prowess, as if the fantastic number of friends, feeds, fans and followers confirms their “expert” moniker and popularity. It’s like we’re back in high school – puhlease, not back there!!
Another thing Blog Snobs do is wag their finger and remind you how much you’re missing out by not playing their way; trying to impress you with their knowledge, their name dropping, and how successful they are. It’s all about them. They don’t really give a rat’s ass about what other people might need, want, or prefer – leaving them feeling somehow lacking or inadequate.
You might think I’m projecting here. Maybe I am. I’m the poster child for ‘glacial blogging’ and don’t care. I tweet when I feel like I have something to say that’s relevant, interesting, funny, or acknowledging. I’m more amused and curious by Facebook than “strategic” about it. A lot of it I find inane. I’ve been on LinkedIn for a couple of years and would probably use it more if I swam in the w2 ocean like I used to. For now, I use it mostly to check people out – like my ex-husband, whose profile is exceedingly boring and straight-laced, just like he was.
Here’s what I say: engage in your blogging, tweeting, writing, podcasting, video’ing, and basically communicating and expressing yourself in ways that feel authentic and good for YOU.
Don’t worry about frequency, style, quality, image, looking good, doing it right, doing it wrong, being perfect, screwing up, or breaking the internet. Do what you want, and don’t do what you don’t want.
And don’t try and be someone you think others will want you to be. I’ve been down that road – heck, I helped pave it – and it sucks! I have more power, am more successful, and make more of a difference to others and to my communities when I am true to myself. I suggest encourage insist you do the same. Ignore the Blog Snobs.
Stand up for who you are.
Open up to who you are.
You are totally enough!!
Waking Up Like a Dog
Kara Mia taking a nap
Yeah, it’s been a while. I know. I’ve been in the process of re-invention for too long and it’s time to pull the trigger on a few things, even if they’re not perfect. Anyone relate?
The topic of this post seemed like an easy way to ease back into regularly blogging for the Breakfast Blogging Club. Although, I can tell you that future posts will likely NOT be about just blogging. It feels too narrow and there are SO many other blogs doing it better.
Besides, it still stings when I recall telling some snobby Oakland blogger a couple of years ago about BBC, and he sniffed, “Oh, how refractive.” I think that was the word he used. Yet another Blog Snob encounter.
But I digress.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m still a HUGE proponent of blogging for business, and it can work well when incorporated into an online and social media strategy. Happens all the time.
So as I peek out, one eye open, gearing up for full blog consciousness, I thought I’d start with this easy beginning step. I’ver already committed to going to WordCamp in August, and now I’ll throw my collar in with The Media Awards coming to San Francisco in October. (This Oakland girl thanks the organizers for not picking a south bay venue!)
Here’s the scoop.
The World Media Awards and Event
Learn how to use the latest technologies and techniques to boost your blog and publishing results. The purpose of the event is to gather people and knowledge to celebrate the best in blogging and media creation. If you get the importance of a content startegy – regardless of the size of your business – you’ll want to be there.
At this event, there will be a series of workshops and events hosted by some of the world’s leading publishing experts. The event takes place on Wendesday, October 26th at the PayPal building in San Francsico.
Tickets are $50, but you can blog about this event for a chance to go for free. Yes, I’m going this route myself. But you need to be one of the first 100 bloggers to post about it. Wish me luck.
Space is limited to 500 attendees and you can contact the organizer, Murray Newlands. Murray is also the organizer of the San Francisco Blogging Club Meetup. Sorry to say I haven’t been to one of their meetings yet.
If you’re part of the Breakfast Blogging Club circle and either follow this blog (really, thanks for hanging in there), are a member of our Meetup, or get the weekly emails from our Quick Start Guide of juicy blogging topics (HUGE thank you), then this event is for you. I also think folks in PR, media marketing, authors, business bloggers and content creators will benefit from attending.
Here’s what Murray Newlands says about it:
“I love blogging and wanted to create an event to celebrate the best in blogging and media. I meet lots of publishers and want to be able to create an environment where they can exchange knowledge and creativity.
“We are pleased to have eBay as lead sponsors of the event. eBay is keen to support the publishing community.”
More to be said about the event includes:
The eBay partner network is increasingly reaching out to support bloggers. Other sponsors include Growmap, VigLink and Trancos.
World Media Award judges include Steve Hall, Sarah Austin, Chang Kim, Pierre Zarokian, Cheryl Contee, Krystyl Baldwin, Adrian Harris, Jeremy Wright, Rob Bloggeries, Dave Duarte, Tanya Alvarez and Dana Oshiro
Media partners include Adrants, The Affiliate Marketing Awards, Read Write Web, mediavisioninteractive.com and Bloggeries.
And just who is Murray Newlands? Seems like a busy guy, doesn’t he?
Murray Newlands is author of “How to Make a Blog Book” and “Online Marketing; a User Guide.” He is also founder of the Affiliate Marketing Awards. Born in the UK, he now spends his time in San Francisco and New York. Murray works for Audience Mindshare and consults for Trancos Ins as well as being an advisor for VigLink.
Would love to see some of our Breakfast Blogging peeps there. Let me know if you’re planning on going.
And I promise not to hit the snooze button.
P.S. That’s my dog Kara in the picture. She’s about 10 months old. Got her from the Oakland SPCA. They told us she was a border collie mix, but she looks a lot like a Chesapeake Bay Retriever. She seems to like herding and loves water…well, mud anyway.
Risky Writing
Your idea of a risk will be different from mine.
Define your kind of risky writing. For some, it is:
- controversial
- voicing a strong opinion
- being contrarian
- stating your readership’s fears
- showing vulnerability
We’ve done a few risky blog posts n “Blog Snobs” here, at the Breakfast Blogging Club.
Writing risky posts can generate attention, bring more readers to your blog, and create more connection with your readership.
What risky writing will you do/have you done? Let us know!
