12 Step Program

Blogger's Annon.

Hi, my name is Heather Rast.  I’m a blogging neophyte.  I’ve been blogging now for 12 days.  I’m already an addict.

Anyone that knows me is aware that I enjoy creative writing.  Snappy messages in greeting cards, funny anecdotes in emails, and then there’s my hobby.  Yes, I’m also writing abook (who isn’t?).

I’d been dying to actively participate in a blog where the conversations could be real and candid, reflect some personal element without being a recount of the day’s activities (do I really need to tell people that I yelled at my kids about Pop-Tarts this morning?).  The topics would talk about consumers and communications, blow a kiss at the healthcare vertical, and encourage a hug or two from respected peers.

So far, I’ve talked a little and (blush here) even proffered a chaste kiss or two.  Have received a couplea hugs, but since I can be touchy-feely, I’m definitely wanting more.  I’m a little insecure, folks, so please give up the hugs (post comments, in case you were’t following the ‘relationship’ analogy).

Imagine my surprise when I checked my personal email today to find a LinkedIn connection invitation from Larry Mickelberg, and a short comment re: my previous post (see Surface Texture).  How cool is that?  It’s like a stepped program:  1) read an industry pub 2) dig a story 3) blog about said story and interesting quote 4) receive a connection invitation.  Snap!  It’s like that.

So beyond my pleasant and immediate surprise that a VIP at a large prestigous firm asked to make my acquaintence, I was also caught off guard at, well, the immediacy of it all.  I guess I shouldn’t have been, when I really dissect it:  blog is public, complete name and title and company were referenced; I list my LinkedIn profile on my “About” page, etc.  Talk about connecting the bunny trails!  Or maybe its the convergence of the trails.  Hm.  Will have to ponder that.

So some take-aways, I think are as follows:

1. A blog or networking site is public and accessible to all.  Or at least you must presume so.  Like a person accepting an alcoholic drink at a restaurant, you must take your blogging responsibly.  Do so with regard for your forum, your audience, and your referral entity or person. 
2. Say what you mean, but be very comfortable with your words and the context and tone.  I’ve been in more than one situation where an email of mine was misinterpreted because someone inferred something that I didn’t mean to imply.  Or they mistook a particular style to be an indication of my interest level.
3. Attribute properly.  I guess it was old habits from college that made me include all of Larry’s deets, but what if I hadn’t?  What would the implications, or possible ramifications, have been?
4. Consider the space.  I’ll go vulnerable here, but this was my first personal experience with some downstream effect due to user-generated media.  Conceptually, I have understood the power and place, but this is my first personal experience (well, except for some inclusion in my employer’s blog, geovoices.wordpress.com.  but there I’m one of many voices and IMO don’t get enough podium time ). This revelation brings a whole new dimension to my grasp of “what if?” and how clients can grab hold.

I’ve always had a passion for consumers – what motivates them, inspires them, the ways they learn, the way they process, their decision stages/cycles.  I like helping position products (nowdays, services) and craft messages to precisely align with the unanswered need or desire that consumers have.  When you think hard about it, marketers are pretty much puppet masters without the evil chuckle.

Anyway, I think I need to go draw a graph or a chart, or throw together a picture – something to help cement how a blog post  (nay, an article mention) (both posting and reading are singular activities, but in the big picture are involving much larger audiences) evolved into a new connection between two individuals.

Powerful stuff.  Anybody know how we can harness this potent power for our clients in a way that adds value, relevancy, and authenticity to the proposed relationship?

Gotta go.  But I’ll be blog again tomorrow!