Good arguments of either side

http://riledup.com/debate/1646.....-of-wowzza

But for me, please kill the useless math question. 2 out of 3 times I enter the right number and it tells me I’m wrong. I have even used a calculator!

I miss your voice too.

I know you’ve struggled using the web to reach prospects. Yet, it really can work for you. And you and I can get back into how very soon.

Ed,

There’s more coming. You’ll see me writing more about social ‘marketing.’

Adam,

Thanks. You’ll love Naked Conversations. Just try to reframe some of the stories for you as a solopreneur.

Char,

Wasn’t this a really good meme Adam came up with.

Single Grain,

That’s awesome. Thanks for your feedback.

Mostly, though, I’m just trying to use sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, StumbleUpon, etc. … play around a bit, and see what I can figure out. It’s slow-going, though, so maybe some reading would make sense.

David: I love that in one casual comment “improving relationships with current readers…” you put into words what has been missing from much (most) of the blogging “advice” that goes around.

I often feel that there aren’t enough hours in the day, and that sleeping or meals can be an interruption. I get quite a lot done in my working day, but when it’s time for bed I’m always thinking what else there is to do.

I’m sure self-employment has a large part to play in my night time thinking, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

How do I use media? I am not sure how to answer that…do you mean how do I use blogging and the internet? Or all media? I don’t find myself being as juiced up by blogging as you have found…I feel distanced and spend a lot of time searching for posts that I want to respond to, and hardly any of those have anything to do with what I do. I can dole out parenting advice, but that’s not what I do in my business…

I guess my learning edge is simply learning HOW to find where I fit with blogging and internet marketing.

I have had more success with forums – so I do go on forums with my signature advertisment. b

But where I feel energized is in person with people. How do I convert that energy I feel being live with a group of service providers for families, or live with a group or individual parents to a computer screen on a topic I am not fluent in?

Is everyone made for blogging? Is every business set up to reap the blogger benefits?

I am thrilled I have a website that is available for those interested to read and get to know me, but I find it draining and dry to comb blogs hoping it will boost traffic. Even when it works.

So that’s my edge. I don’t like blogging, I love what I do and adore my clients and care about those interested in the depth of what I can share. I adore babies and parents and parenting and healing. I love talking to people. I feel filled up when I can hear a voice, when someone can hear me, when I can connect through the eyes…

So I feel caught, not sure what to do next, and life circumstances prevent full focus now and for the next few months.

Thanks for the tag, Dawud. And I miss your voice!

Of course everyone’s welcome to write a blog post in my comment boxes (it happens more than you might think). And of all people, you are certainly most welcome to use as much space as you need to share your wisdom. Thanks for doing so on this post.

I’m with you. I tend to be more high-touch first. And everything does pale to my blog content. The thing I’m trying to work out, though, is how to make myself more available to a wider audience in an organic way. Not through pushing or manipulation. But how to position myself so when people need my services, they know and remember I can help them.

And for me, social media is not limited to using the web. I think of social media as all the ways that we interact with each other – hence, social. The media part comes in the form of the word medium – a means of doing something.

So when I define social media for myself I see it as a method to build relationships.

Now look, I’m the one who’s writing the blog post in my own comments.

How do I use social media to grow my business? That’s such an interesting and overwhelming question to me — I can hardly contain it. Inside it is the question What is social media? I read your definition and know that’s what you’re asking about. Do I defer to that? I wish I could. That wouldn’t give a complete picture, and my DNA won’t let me do that. I’m sorry. Really.

I think about it as we did in publishing, where we had hard products to sell . . . as “product mix” or in this case “media mix.” My mix includes traditional and new media.

I know you can’t miss that like you I’m about conversation and relationships, and that my business grows primarily through “word of mouth.” So here’s how the mix works to support a “word of mouth” goal. So, I meet people in high touch, one-to-one ways first — email, IM, inboxes at Social Networks (Facebook etc.); telephone, Skype; then lower touch, mostly listening in to hear what folks are doing — Twitter, Pownce. THEN the mix switches to equal parts of bookmarking; recommendations; and commenting on other blogs.

All of the above takes a backseat to content on my blog.

Oh dear, I just wrote a blog post in your comment box. . . . It was the only way I knew how to answer the question. Thank you for asking.

You are like a light that shines the way for those lost in the darkness. I’m just moved to call you a friend.

David,

A man after my own heart. Taking care of your current readers, I feel, is often overlooked by people. So I’m with you. It’s a fine balance between meeting their needs and wanting to expand your influence. The question is, where do people like us, who do a service for a living, find enough time?

Great to read about the books you’ve found useful.

We’re quite similar in the time we’ve spent utilising blogs to our advantage, although you’re a few steps ahead with your RSS experience (just before Christmas of last year was when I really picked it up).

The social aspects are fascinating, and my learning edge at present is all around improving relationships with current readers (rather than focusing on building a bigger readership). I know there are some very intelligent people who visit my blog now and again and I’d love to see how we can work together.

Onwards and upwards my friend.