10/23/2008
Hey Shel, I need to change the answer to your question:
4. How has it changed you? -
Answered: I think I’m still the same person I was before I began .. blah blah blah
In 2005, Shel Israel interviewed me for the book Naked Conversations. Most of my responses (a few were even a bit controversial) about blogging apply to social media marketing in 2008. But three years later question #4 would have a different response.
Last week driving back from speaking about social media to Jennifer Giffith's advertising class at the University of Georgia (UGA) I had a few extra minutes .. well several since I once again got lost getting on 316 back to Atlanta. (The students were amazing, our conversation was energize, I have a few new Facebook friends and Pamela Petersen even launched a blog - Advertising Media and Marketing Explored.)
I realized that the experiences from social media, including talking to terrific college students, influenced who I am from the "me" of pre social media days 2004 to the "me" of 2008. So my answer to Shel's question would be different today; because of the lessons learned I have changed ..
- Trust - in myself
- Trust - in the community that people will help you get it "right." Right may not be the
direction you began with but frequently results in is a stronger
outcome. People have different truths and that's okay.
- Acceptance - accepting ideas from people when I didn't ask for feedback.
- Patience - not everyone will "get" social the first time.
- Passion - for an industry that I love and belief that ii will influence better marketing and better business.
- Growth - personal and professional as a result of the people I've met.
- Humility - the responses and feedback from the communities online and offline are energizing while humbling
It's not all about me. It's all about You .. and it's all about Us together.
In May 2006, I launched a special website and called it Blogger Stories. I was fascinated by the way social media was influencing and changing people's lives .. one by one. I wanted to create an environment to tell those stories .. your stories.
There are
78 stories or chapters that include many business bloggers including Shel Israel. There are also mommy bloggers who helped Katrina Hurricane people, an American poet, authors turned bloggers and bloggers turned authors. There are people from Europe, the Far East, the United States and Canada as well as Australia and New Zealand. Blogger Stories was even highlighted in Bob Walsh's book Clear Blogging.
What makes Blogger Stories unique is that the stories are told by the people in their own words. People who have told their stories include:
* Alex Genana
* Allison Gower
* Andy Hayler
* Andy Howard
* Ann Handley
* Average Jane
* Beth Kephart
* BL Ochman
* Bob Walsh
* Carol Krishner
* Chloe Spencer
* Christelle Alexandre
* Cooper Munroe
* David Armano
* Debbie Weil
* Deborah Carraro
* Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff
* Des Walsh
* Donna Lyons-Miller
* Easton Ellsworth
* Ed Garsten
* Emily McKahann
* Geoff Livingston
* Gil C. Schmidt
* Holly Buchanan
* Ilise Benun
* J. D. Matthews
* Jack Yan
* Jane Genova
* Jayvee Fernandez
* Jeremy Wright
* Jody DeVere
* John Cass
* Jonathan Danylko
* Kalyn Denny
* Katie Delahaye Paine
* Kim Klaver
* Kristen Havens
* Kristie T
* Lewis Green
* Lisa Nichols
* Lois Kelly
* Lynda Lippin
* Mack Collier
* Marianne Richmond
* Mary Hunt
* Melissa Fletcher
* Meryl K. Evans
* Michele Lessiard
* Mike & Benjamin Yoskovitz
* Mike Sansone
* Mille, My Mom's Blog
* Monica Ricci
* Nadia Muna Gil
* Nedra Weinreich
* Nettie Hardstock
* Nichelle Stephens
* Nick Jacobs
* Pamela Slim
* Patricia Skinner
* Peggy Payne
* Peter Kim
* Pinny Gniwisch
* Richard Edelman
* Rico Mossegeld
* Rita Arens
* Robert Bruce
* Ruth Daniels
* Shel Israel
* Sherry Heyl
* Stephan Spencer
* Sybil F. Stershic
* Tammy Powley
* Tim Jackson
* Tris Hussey
* Valeria Maltoni
* Wendy Maynard
* Yvonne DiVita
So .. getting back to Shel's question #4. How has social media changed (or influenced) your life? What is your blogger story? Drop a comment if you want to tell your story. If you know people who have a great story to tell .. please pass along.
11/20/2007
Blogger Stories 
is a
special blog that I launched to tell the stories of how people have
been touched by blogs, podcasts, vlogs and other online interactions.
The virtual library "chapters" were written by bloggers from all over the world.
One fascinating viewpoint into how blogging has changed people is the site Blogger Stories. Clear Blogging
Creativity and writing are a common theme that that run through the three most recent chapters of Blogger Stories. Behind these pages you'll find a woman who wrote a cook book that included touching family stories; a blogger whose magazine articles tell about her life in Kentucky and the author of a book that was awarded the Best Books of the Year by School Library Journal. You will not want to miss these new entries.
Ruth Daniels: Once Upon a Feast, Recipes From 4
Every Kitchen, AskRuth
Beth Kephart: Beth Kephart Books
Lisa Nichols: Northern Kentucky News, Kentucky Vintage, Suite 101 Home Page
Drop a comment if you'd like to tell your blogger story!
08/06/2007
Blogger Stories is a
special blog that I launched to tell the stories of how people have
been touched by blogs, podcasts, vlogs and other online interactions.
The virtual library has almost 80 "chapters" written by bloggers from all over the world.
Although the newest chapters of Blogger Stories were all told by business bloggers their reasons to begin blogging and purpose of their blogs are quite diverse. Ilise Benun is using her blog to support her book on marketing and to help her clients.
Tammy Powley's experience with blogs began as a way to promote her jewelry and bead business. It led to new career opportunities in pro blogging.
For Peter Kim blogging began by helping a client navigate a blogosphere firestorm. He then launched an experimental blog for a major brand. Eventually Peter knew he had to get into the game himself and thus was born Being Peter Kim.
I see
blogs as conversations, two-way dialogue between individuals that were
made for technology’s current evolution. Who wants to be a voice that
people skip, block, and ignore? Peter Kim
I can assure you the voices of Ilise, Tammy and Peter are not to be ignored.
Ilise Benun - The Marketing Mix Blog
Peter Kim, Being Peter Kim
Tammy Powley - Jewelry & Beading, The Jewelry Weblog, Fat and 40, Blog Class Info
Have a great blogger story to tell? Drop a comment.
Sidebar: Catch Pete on Diva Marketing Talks my
internet radio show. 30 minutes. 2 guests. 1 topic on social media marketing. Peter and Marianne Richmond talk about the
importance of the M word - measurement in social media marketing.
06/29/2007
Friday Fun is Diva Marketing's virtual happy hour from cosmos to
Jack to lemonade. A waiting for the weekend 'playground' time to be
sophisticated-silly. Or sometimes just plain silly.
Blogger Stories is a
special blog that I launched to tell the stories of how people have
been touched by blogs, podcasts, vlogs and other online interactions.
The virtual library has almost 90 "chapters" written by bloggers from all over the world.
The new chapters of Blogger Stories remind us that we are indeed living in a global world that spins smaller with each click of the mouse.
Sunny Cervantes wanted to share her marketing expertise with her fellow marketers in the Philippines. Malaysian-born legal thriller novelist Yang-May Ooi, based in the UK, wanted to promote her works. Blogs offered them the opportunity to do both .. but these women, from the same side of the world, found social media gave them more ..
Sunny Cervantes - Confessions Of A Marketing Addict
Yang-May Ooi - Fusion View
Next time you're attending a dull Second Life conference multi-task .. read a blogger story or two!
06/22/2007
Friday Fun is Diva Marketing's virtual happy hour from cosmos to
Jack to lemonade. A waiting for the weekend 'playground' time to be
sophisticated-silly. Or sometimes just plain silly.
Blogger Stories is a
special blog that I launched to tell the stories of how people have
been touched by blogs, podcasts, vlogs and other online interactions.
The virtual library has almost 90 "chapters" written by bloggers from all over the world.
Toby's Blogger Stories project demonstrates once again the strongest reason for continuing to blog for years on end - the extraordinary people you meet by joining the community. BL Ochman
The new chapters of Blogger Stories are told by an author of five books (working on number 6) who owned a publishing company, a talented new writer who is working on his first novel and a woman who is blogging from what many would call paradise .. the island of Providenciales in Turks & Caicos.
Lynda Lippin - Pilates & Reiki In Paradise Blog
Lewis Green - Bizsolutionsplus
Alex Geana One Gay Date at a Time, Alex Geana
Instead of a chick book this weekend, treat yourself to a few stories from the blogosphere.
Sidebar: Happy Birthday to you Alex!
06/12/2007
Blogger Stories is a
special blog that I launched to tell the stories of how people have
been touched by blogs, podcasts, vlogs and other online interactions.
The virtual library has almost 90 "chapters" written by bloggers from all over the world.
The newest Blogger Stories chapters were contributed by two women who both share a common background. They began their careers in traditional print publishing. Innovators in their respective fields, BL Ochman and Patricia Skinner found that blogging provided freedom to publish when they wanted, where they wanted and what they wanted. Now they are passing along that knowledge and passion about social media to their clients.
BL Ochman: What's Next Up Blog
Patricia Skinner: Marketingmou - the blog
Never know were a blogger story will land. Bob Walsh highlights Blogger Stories in his book Clear Blogging - Chapter 1 Why Blog.
"One fascinating viewpoint into how blogging has changed people is the site Blogger Stories."
Blogger Story Tellers included: Pamela Slim, David Armano, Nedra Klein Weinreich, Holly Buchanan, Yvonne DiVita, Nick Jacobs and Ed Garsten. Bob forgot to credit the author .. but that's okay .. still love you anyway.* Read Bob Walsh's Blogger Story.
Sidebar: The graphic is the cover from Stories For Your Dog. Specially chosen with Benny Bix Ochman Labradoodle in mind.
Update: *Thanks Bob for your kind post.
02/23/2007
Friday Fun is Diva Marketing's virtual happy hour from cosmos to
Jack to lemonade. A waiting for the weekend 'playground' time to be
sophisticated-silly. Or sometimes just plain silly.
Bedtime stories site for bloggers, where blogging dreams and posts may change the world. - A Bugged Life
Blogger Stories is a special blog that I launched to tell the stories of how people have been touched by blogs, podcasts, vlogs and other online interactions. Building a library of stories gives us an opportunity to understand how lives have been influenced by social media .. from the heart. With these new chapters the virtual library holds 86 stories.
The new Blogger Story Chapters are stories from a professional screenwriter, a once upon a time journalist turned ad guy, a woman who is a "citizen of the world" who shares ideas about the human side of business ideas and a woman who created a successful in-home business.
Kristen Havens - My Back Pages
Jeff Livingston - Diary of an Ad Man
Valeria Maltoni - Conversation Agent
Kristie T - Kristie T's Home Business Blog
The next time you're on a boring conference call .. don't doodle. Read a Blogger Story! Want to tell your Blogger Story? Drop a comment and I'll send you the details.
01/12/2007
Friday Fun is Diva Marketing's virtual happy hour from cosmos to
Jack to lemonade. A waiting for the weekend 'playground' time to be
sophisticated-silly. Or sometimes just plain silly.
It's a gray day in Atlanta. The type of day to brew a pot of tea or perhaps pour a glass of vino and curl up with a good book or read a couple of new chapters from Blogger Stories.
Blogger Stories
is a special blog that I launched to tell the stories of how people
have been touched by blogs, podcasts, vlogs and other online
interactions. Building a library of stories gives us an opportunity to
understand how lives have been influenced by social media .. from the
heart.
You never know where your blog/social media adventures will take you. They can lead to a place to hang out with a community of friends, as Lewis Green learned. Somethings your career can change directions as Ted Demopoulos relates in his story. Or every once in awhile a blog turns into a special tribute that becomes a living memory to a loved one as we learn in Connie Reece's tale.
Ted Ted Demopoulos - Blogging For Business
Lewis Green - Business Solutions
Connie Reece - [email protected], CONnieVERSATIONS, Blogabillies
Sidebar: Blogger Stories now includes over 80 stories from business bloggers who say blogs have changed the direction of their careers to mommy bloggers who are using their blog to help people caught in the Katrina Hurricanes to a teenager from New Zealand who gets over 15k hits a day on her blog (and her dad who blogs too!) to a poet and more! Drop a comment if you have a blogger story to tell and I'll email you but please do not post your story. Thanks!
A special birthday wish for my favorite nephew Scott .. happy 17th!
business astrology for fun -
from The Astro Divas Paula Dare & Donna Page
Conventional thinking doesn’t bode well as Mercury enters the
revolutionary sign of Aquarius on Mon. 1/15. Think outside the box.
Write down all wacky ideas, the zanier the better. You may just come up
with a most brilliant idea that is enriched with endless possibilities.
Mars moves into Capricorn on Tues. 1/16. You can take all your brilliant
ideas and run with it. This energy can help you organize and manage your
plan of action. You can accomplish a great deal at this time. The
ambitious desire for recognition can be seductive. Take care not to step
on any toes on the way up the ladder. It will come to bite you in the
butt later on. If you are the boss, watch out for dictatorial
tendencies, you don’t want a mutiny.
The New Moon falls on Thurs.
1/18 with Venus conj. Neptune. Pay attention to your intuition. This is not
left brain energy. Things may not appear very logical. You may be shown
signs that give you the
solution so be open to new possibilities. This can
also be very romantic energy. Be careful of falling for a co-worker. Office
romances can end up in a disaster.
11/17/2006
Friday Fun is Diva Marketing's virtual happy hour from cosmos to
Jack to lemonade. A waiting for the weekend 'playground' time to be
sophisticated-silly. Or sometimes just plain silly.
Today's Friday Fun includes a couple of new chapters from Blogger Stories. Blogger Stories is a special blog that I launched to tell the stories of how people have been touched by blogs, podcasts, vlogs and other online interactions. Building a library of stories gives us an opportunity to understand how lives have been influenced by social media .. from the heart.
Bedtime stories site for bloggers, where blogging dreams and posts may change the world. - A Bugged Life
Girlfriend, ho ho ho present time is only weeks away so it seems appropriate to tell Pinny Gniwisch's story of bling and movie star gossip wrapped in a business blog strategy. Easton Ellsworth's tale combines both the head and heart of blogging .. nice to keep in mind as we head into the holiday season.
Easton Ellsworth, BusinessBlogWire, Know More Media
Pinny Gniwisch, Sparkle Like The Stars, Just Ask Leslie
Now 62 Stories .. Read A Blogger Story or two!
business astrology for fun -
from The Astro Divas Paula Dare & Donna Page
There is a lot of planetary energy that is shifting this week. I know you’ll be happy to hear that Mercury is turning Direct tonight. Miscommunications should clear up and hopefully the gremlins that have invaded your computer will vanish.
Many of you – especially the Scorpios – may have been experiencing the intense effects this past month from 5 planets in Scorpio. You should begin to feel your load lighten as the energy moves to carefree Sagittarius.
The New Moon occurs on Monday which is a good time to start new projects, but you may not accomplish a lot at work this week as Thanksgiving approaches on Thursday, I can guarantee you will have a lot of work at home if you’re the one cooking the Turkey dinner. Uranus also turns Direct before the New Moon. Expect unexpected change.
09/19/2006
B
logger Stories
is a special blog that I launched to tell the stories of how people have
been touched by blogs,
podcasts, vlogs and other online interactions. Building a library of
stories gives us an opportunity to understand how lives have been
influenced by social
media .. from the heart.
"Bedtime stories site for bloggers, where blogging dreams and posts may change the world." - A Bugged Life
What do a media guru from the other side of the world, a conversation conductor from the heartland of the U.S, a cupcake aficionado from Manhattan and a woman with a passion for green (and I don't mean Kermit) from a suburb in New England have in common? Read the lastest Chapters of Blogger Stories to find out.
Melissa Fletcher: Alotta Errata
Mike Sansone: Conversation Conductor
Jack Yan: Persuader Blog
Nichelle Stephens: Nichelle Newsletter, Chicks and Giggles, Fame of the Land, Keeping Nickels, All 
Cupcakes All The Time
Sidebar:
Be sure to wish Jack Yan, Persuader Blog, a happy birthday today!
The next time you're on a boring conference call ..
don't doodle. Read a Blogger Story!
Want to tell your Blogger Story? Drop me an email at bloggerstories at yahoo dot com.
Hey Shel, I need to change the answer to your question:
78 stories or chapters that include many business bloggers including Shel Israel. There are also mommy bloggers who helped Katrina Hurricane people, an American poet, authors turned bloggers and bloggers turned authors. There are people from Europe, the Far East, the United States and Canada as well as Australia and New Zealand. Blogger Stories was even highlighted in Bob Walsh's book Clear Blogging. 
