Regards

This conversation is great. And I’m learning so much for it. Thank you to each of you for posting such a thoughtful and introspective conversation.

Dave,

Conversation and relationship is what I’m all about. I just keep learning better ways to do it.

I know what you mean about “talking to myself sometimes.” I feel that way too in some posts. Funny, those posts are often the most interesting conversations.

Thanks for coming by and joining in. Please, feel free to join the conversation any time you feel moved too.

as for me: i’m writing about / to an audience of geeks who are building websites & internet startups, and yet i also feel like i’m talking to myself at the same time.

i guess where this makes sense is my real-world conversations are to startups i’m advising / investing in, and to the founders & product managers & marketers there. since it’s a job i used to also have, it’s sometimes hard to distinguish between the conversation in my head, and the conversation i’m having with them.

anyway, nice to meetcha..

- dave mcclure

To keep from getting too personal on a business site, I started Expat Mom, which allows me to talk about my life and be very personal. For me, this is the best way to communicate with my readers, without distracting people with non-relevant details in the main blog. I do think that it helps you to trust a blogger if you know a bit about their life, though.

Carma, I didn’t mean to imply it’s not ok to express personal opinions in blog articles. But the more successful blogs (successful = many subscribers, lots of comments, and/or possibly making money either from the blog or because it’s connected to a business, like Dawud’s here) focus on the reader and teach something, rather than only express opinions.

Dawud teaches us how to relate to people while doing business. Liz does a very similar thing. Darren shows us how to make money blogging. You, Carma, use your “life experiences to guide [us] along [our] way.” You teach, too!

I’m sure every one of these blog authors I listed expresses his and her own opinions in their blogs. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, just that the more successful and probably the more interesting ones focus on readers by teaching. Personal opinions and teaching are not mutually exclusive; you can have both at the same time.

What do you think? Is there a different way to say it? Maybe “teaching” doesn’t cover everything in the right way? Maybe more accurately what I’m trying to say is “a conversation that we all can learn from, which is started by the author.” Teaching.

This has turned into a fascinating conversation! Thanks for participating everyone

You make some good points. I always try to remember that people do business with people – not with businesses. That’s why it can be important to let your audience in on the fact that you’re a person.

But how much personal information is too much?

LaurenMarie,

Your opinion is always welcome here. So please, continue.

Carma,

Exactly. The important thing, I feel is not just that the customer feels wanted – it’s that they feel heard, understood…met. And a website/blog is a great place to open that conversation.

My thoughts on mission statements is that they are way too often about the business and not the customer. And if I’m the customer, I want to know what I gain by working with you, not just what you do. I agree…a fine line.

Jean,

Thanks. That’s why I’m blogging – the conversation. The conversation leads to relationships which leads to all types of possibilities – person and professional. When we reach out to each other, the world is naturally a better place.