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Last January 19, MarketingProfs Publisher Allen Weiss sent me an email from his office in LA. "Hi Ann," Allen wrote. "Just want to confirm your interest in the blog concept...? Should be done within 7 days with a basic layout...." I wrote back from Boston within a few minutes, "Are you kidding...??? YES!" So began this blog....
The truth is, it took longer than 7 days to get it to lift off. Launching as we did on March 29, 2006, it actually took over two months to roll it to the ramp. So after a year in the blogosphere, I wrote an article in this week's MarketingProfs newsletter detailing the seven things I've learned. I encourage you all to read the full story here.
Here are some highlights:
1. Blogging is a high.... With a little sweat and elbow grease and a cadre of fabulous thinkers as contributors, this blog has enjoyed great success. We are No. 6 in the list of the Top 25 Marketing Blogs. Our weekly blog newsletter is mailed every Thursday to 8,500 readers. And our ranking in Technorati has climbed to 3,367, with links from close to 600 blogs.
2. ...except when it's a downer. Launching a blog may be as painless as getting hitched in Vegas, as my friend David Armano says. But like the actual marriage, the real work comes later. The truth is: Blogs really aren't widely read by marketers. At least, the marketers who subscribe to MarketingProfs. That's changing quickly as blogs gain credibility and exposure, but it's slow going.
3. I'm amazed at who I've met. Almost half of the people now writing for the blog, and many of the names in my inbox on any given day, are new blog friends I've made since last spring.
4. I know our readers better. Prior to the launch of the blog, I thought I had a pretty good sense of the MarkertingProfs audience of 200,000+. But a year into it, I have deepened that understanding. In other words: the blog has helped me do my job better, because I have a better sense of what my job actually is.
5. Blogging has made me a better writer. Like many writers, I have a particularly severe and unforgiving inner critic, which often made me give up a piece of writing before I'd really begun it. Blogging has helped unfreeze some of my creative concentrate.
6. Blogging begets a life observed. The very act of coming up with a regular supply of relevant blog posts forces bloggers to look a little more carefully at their life experiences, not necessarily to simply vet for post material but try to see the context and the larger meaning, the subtext and what's left unsaid, and the connections among experiences.
7. Finally: Bullet points are ALWAYS a good way to break up a blog post into bite-sized chunks!
So—in closing: A huge thanks to all of you who have been part of this blogging year. That includes all of the writers—a thousand thanks to you! —but also the readers, those who comment, and the wallflowers, too. You all make the Daily Fix the vibrant and alive place at it is.
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Comments
Ann,
Every writer needs inspiration, and for many of us you serve as a Muse. As one of your writers, a "million thanks" for sharing this forum. And, most of all, for becoming a friend.
Posted by: Lewis Green | 01.04.07
Ann,
Enjoyed reading your bullet points, really. I wanted to say thank you for the tremendous work and efforts you put in MPDf. Plus your posts are always full of insights and pleasant to read.
MPDf is the nucleus of a great community full of committed and talented professionals and thinkers. But there is more than that... respect and fantastic human values, which is imho, one of the most valuable key of successful marketing and communication.
Posted by: mindblob | 01.04.07
"The truth is: Blogs really aren't widely read by marketers. At least, the marketers who subscribe to MarketingProfs. That's changing quickly as blogs gain credibility and exposure, but it's slow going."
This is one of the reasons why I love writing here, and a big reason why DF is growing, because Ann has been smart enough to aim DF at bloggers, but to also attempt to bring marketers that aren't yet wired into the possibilities of social media, into the fold. I think it's very valuable to get 'new blood' in the blogging community, and I think that blogging teaches us many important lessons that can benefit mainstream marketers, and I'm proud of Ann for attempting to bridge that gap.
Posted by: Mack Collier | 01.04.07
Ann, I wanted to tell you how sorry I was to hear about your Aunt Mary. I read your post and I just went off thinking about all the great women in my family and those that aren't but that I truly admire.
I admire you! You obviously took a risk in diving in to your position at MPROFS. I know you're a mom like me and working with a child is necessary, rewarding, challenging, and just plain hard. Like I said before, you write like your smiling. You exude honesty and fun and I look forward to your posts.
"Every writer needs inspiration, and for many of us you serve as a Muse." (Cool line Lewis)
I hope you reread this post and give yourself a big dose of self-love and satisfaction.
What a great accomplishment!
You Go Girl!
P.S. I have never met you but I feel I can say this to you. (blushing emoticon)
Posted by: Tammy Strnatka | 01.04.07
Ann-freakin-Handley,
You rock girl! Seriously. You call me the "group hug guy" and then YOU come here and essentially throw out a nice big group hug too. I'm feeling pretty loved-up right about now...
You have done a fantastic job of building a strong and vibrant community here. As one of your "authors" here, I am always so happy to see my name in the list of contributors here. It's pretty cool and is a reflection of the work you have done here.
1) Yes, it's a high. BIG TIME... I just feel so much more connected and like I am learning all the time.
2) It's work... yes. Still, it is such rewarding work and the feedback is what really makes me happy. I'd do it all for my own benefit now, but having a community that engages me thrills me.
3)That is the thing, right there... the people. I love my people. I love that I have so many people I consider friends now that I have met through this medium.
4)The readers are awesome. I love the dialogs that take place here and all the places I go to visit or that I write in/ for.
5) Amen sister Ann! Yes, I have been able to refocus my bike nerd nuts-n-blots brain back into words and ideas by blogging. AND as a byproduct I have even done more writing off the blogs. That's good...
6) Yes again. I frequently find myself analyzing everything, often asking "is this blog worthy?" Hell, nearly everybody I know asks if I'm going to be "blogging this".
7) Really? Hmmm pages of rambling text don't work? (DAMN!)
Posted by: Tim Jackson | 01.04.07
Ann,
Great piece. I really enjoyed reading about your discovery. Being a newbie blogger, I'm glad to read about the experiences of others and yours lends a straightforward perspective. Thanks.
Posted by: Dave Conrey | 01.04.07
I've been blogging since Aug 2001 on 20 something different blogs or more. Everything you say it true.
Posted by: Jim Kukral | 01.04.07
Ann, great post! I especially like number 7. While dissecting every little thing that happens can seem inane to some people, it definitely has a way of always keeping you aware and on your toes. I've already noticed how much more quickly I notice little things these days.
Anyway, it's been a fun year, and I get the feeling that 2007 will be even better. :)
Posted by: Paul McEnany | 01.04.07
Thanks for the comments, Mindblob, Tammy, Dave, Jim and Paul.
Lewis: Millions backatcha. : )
Mack: You are too kind, bro. (And your check is in the mail.)
Tim: I do believe you've coined a new nickname for me.... "Ann-Freakin'-Handley." I kinda like it.
Seriously, gang...much appreciated. Blogging really does have a way of getting under your skin and becoming part of your DNA. I sincerely thank every one of you for being part of this blog, and for all the work you do on your own sites, too.
Cheers all around....
Posted by: Ann Handley | 01.05.07
Ann--
Do you know anyone who is good at showing entrepreneurs how to blog for their business? Independent folks, not grown up companies.
I have several hundred folks who are customers of mine, like that, who'd like to learn how to blog for their business, and wonder if you know folks who specialize in that kind of business blogging.
E.g. someone with a catering business, or a nutritional supplement business who wants to start a blog.
Kim
Posted by: Kim Klaver | 01.05.07
Kim-- I would think many on the DF contributor list would be wonderful -- BL Ochman, CK, Mack Collier, Lewis Green, Toby Bloomberg come to mind immediately. Anyone else -- chime in!
Posted by: Ann Handley | 01.05.07
Ann;
Very awesome! This great reflection inspired a post over at my blog.
See
http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/01/06/lessons-from-a-marketing-blog-queen/
Mike
Posted by: Michael Stelzner | 01.06.07
Michael -- you are too kind. As I said over at your blog, a blogging year is a little like a dog year -- so blogging newbies don't stay newbies for long.
Thanks for picking up the post -- I am both flattered and embarrassed by the "blogging queen" moniker! LOL....
Posted by: Ann Handley | 01.06.07
Congrats Ann for this year of blogging and thanks for the pony! :)
Eric
Posted by: Eric Kintz | 01.06.07
Well put Ann,
And what a year it was—you've helped to create a fine community of people who like to dabble in this whole marketing thing. Thanks for letting us tag along. :)
Posted by: David Armano | 01.07.07
Like Paul, I especially liked #7, Ann. Blogging makes you grow 'content-antennae' and see the world in a new light, one that gets shared. For commenter Kim Klaver, we also help entrepreneurs with biz blogging; I invite you over to our blog.
Posted by: Patsi M. Krakoff | 01.07.07
Patsi -- "content-antennae": I love it!
Posted by: Ann Handley | 01.07.07
Anne,
A very good post.
I think that blogs work because they are the new version of the newsletter, only doled out in small pieces a day at a time.
It's amazing to me how connections are made across a wide variety of other blogs as a result of someone who has either seen a link or a made a post to your blog.
Posted by: Jonathan Kantor | 01.08.07
inspired me to reflect and post Ann - thank you
http://onereaderatatime.blogspot.com/2007/01/seven-lessons-in-seven-months.html
Posted by: Bob Glaza | 01.12.07
We have been following your success with ibterest and have sarted to think, well, maybe we could enter the blogosphere ourselves, but to daye the workload just won't permit. it will have to wait for someone with passion, but that will come.
Posted by: John Snider | 01.15.07