Reflections and Reviews of Septembers Gone By

At the turn of the calendar, let's revisit some posts from this and past Septembers: September 2010 Why You Should Be Keeping Score of Your RSS Metrics & Using Feedburner -Amazing how many bloggers don't measure their feeds - not just subscribers, but reach and item views. Here's a few examples of what you can glean from the data. Abuse Doesn't Warrant Non-Use, it Argues for Correct Use - Rather than shutting them down or shutting them up, shouldn't we be showing them how? True in the boardroom and the classroom. 64 Different Kinds of Blog Posts to Keep Your Writing Fresh - What started out as a small list turned into a day-long project. But it was worth it for me, and hopefully for you. 3 Ways to Write List Posts Easy as ABC - And working on the above list was the motivation for this shorter (thankfully) post. Look, list posts get clicked and read. Write with the Reader in Mind. Get Outta Town - Link out - globally, not just locally. Everyone wins - and it will grow your business reach and your collaborative network. Storefronts as Conversation Stations - Make it Count - Conversation Stations can happen anywhere (not just online). This story of a small town retailer missing out on both conversations and measuring foot traffic translates to a few online practices as well. What Can You Do With 5 Years? - Never stop learning. Remember yourself from 5-10? What did you learn back then?  And are you not smarter now? September 2009 Reading with Ears Wide Open - Occasionally, I'll blog in poem. Here's one of my favorites. L.E.A.R.N - Motivator of Conversation - I need to flesh this idea out more. The acronym is really about how we react and respond to content -- with conversation. Social Media Expert or Social Media Escort (Video) -  A little heat on a topic that still has too muc  steam.  Here's a more recent video take on the whole Social Media Expert topic. Purpose Driven Blogging Worksheet - A Google form to help you think out your blogging (mostly for beginner's, but a good thing to revisit now and again. September 2008 Blog Posting: It's Okay to Begin in the Middle - Don't get hung-up on the headline. Just write. First draft with the heart, then go with your head. Thank You Paul Newman: Busines Quotes from His Movies - Some great movie quotes from a great actor who had just passed when I wrote this piece. H.A.S.P.O  or A.S.P.O.B.O. -- Your Choice - Who do you hang around most often? It might have a big impact on who you are. Wallflowers: An Important Part of the Conversation, Still - Lurkers are important - just think of the phrase: "Long-time listener, First-time Caller."  Even the lurker can spread your word - and most often, you won't ever know. September 2007 Blog Posts Are Inventory - Blog Sites are Displays - One of my favorite posts ever and a metaphor I use often. Business Bloggers, Mingle With Your Audience - This is kind of along the theme of the Storefronts link above. Just because your blog is a platform doesn't put you on a pedastel. Go ahead and mingle with your readers. Discovery Along the Blogging Path - It's not hard to find a relevant post to link out to - and here is the example of one lesson (with screen shots). When the Lights Go On - We Move Forward - So, I know a ton of business owners expecting me to be a consultant (and I do love consultants), but as a coach - I instruct to independence. September 2006 Putting Your Ears to the Blogosphere - The first step into any conversation should be with your ears. Hey, nobody's ears ever got them in trouble Putting Your Toes in the Water - Personally, I prefer the dive - but this post is about having a community before you even get in the water. Married to Panera - Still, after all these years. My Crash Davis Belief Statement - Still