If you come to this blog just to read the blog posts, you're missing what may be the best part. There's a whole lot more going on here than just my screeds. What I mean is, what really adds horsepower to this blog is the stuff in the sidebars.
I'm not talking about "recent posts" or categories, or anything directly related to the blog posts themselves (the "recent comments" are an exception; that's where the conversation happens). I'm talking about the other add-on and widgets:
- Blogroll - I link to some great thinkers and analysts who share great insights to the conversational media marketing space
- Twitter updates - I often share relevant links
- MyBlogLog - Other that a tool for knowing who has visited this blog, it's a door to other bloggers who share an interest in conversational media
- The Conversation Group - Now, this widget is really something. Talk about great bloggers and posts. This is where they're found.
- My link blogs and bookmarks - This is where I house much of the news-related posts and articles I come across. Typically, I'll post newsy items to Tumblr, and articles and sites of interest to StumbleUpon and del.icio.us
- My other accounts - This section leads you to most all the social networks I participant in.
Historically, one of the key roles blogs have played since their inception is as a portal, a mini-directory to other topically-related Web sites and blogs. The blogroll, for example, is a very useful tool to connect to other bloggers who talk about the same issues. (It's also not a bad tool to use in breaking the ice with other bloggers.)
For me, the purpose for maintaining a blog is not merely to share my own knowledge or insights. It's also about creating a place where visitors can engage in conversation and find links to other information dealing with the topic. It's really all about trying to create a sense of community.
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