Business School for Bloggers

June 21, 2008 · Comments

Happy Liz Strauss Liz Strauss is a superstar. She has helped more bloggers and businesses understand what each other needs (she helps bloggers understand business, and she helps businesses better understand how to use blogs to their advantage), and I’m particularly amazed at her ability to synthesize information using both her passion for the topic as well as her background as an educator and publisher of education materials.

A few months back, I flew to Chicago and participated in her SOBCon event, which was subtitled Business School for Bloggers, and ever since, I’ve been taking her advice there (and the advice of others I spent time with) and running with it. I’m thinking you should, too. I know that Liz is working on several projects, including some useful information for bloggers to consider in bringing their game up, especially if they’re considering business blogging, or blogging as part of their business. I can’t wait for that.

And in the mean time, I want you to start thinking about the skillsets you have on board, and the ones you need to add. For instance, I’m a great writer. I’m a great thinker. I’m great at relationship building and maintaining. I’m a pretty decent marketer. I’m not great at sales. I’m not great at negotiation. I have nothing with regards to legal or financial issues, except the understanding that I don’t know much about them.

If you were to need business skills as a media maker, what would they be? And if you were to be a business type looking at how blogging and other media might impact your business, what are some of the tools you would want to better understand? I’m sure Liz will be able to help you out a great deal, and in the mean time, I just wanted to start a conversation and understand what matters to you.

Are you already subscribed to Liz’s blog? It’s worth spending some time and getting to know her. She’s done a lot for me, and she’s where I look for advice and inspiration lots of times. And, if you are a decent sized corporation looking for some help in understanding the landscape, the educational requirements, and the business impact of blogging, Liz is a great resource to consider.

What do you need to know about business and blogs and vice versa?

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  • Yeah, Liz is the real deal with a great blog. Go there now!
  • As an outside consultant for companies rolling out digital strategies, I'm able to jump-start their blogs, but unable to be the drill sergeant that keeps them going.

    So my question is: How do I get business clients beyond the initial excitement of blogging to ensure they take transparency and conversation to heart?
  • Hey Chris!
    Thanks for pointing this out! Really interesting person and really insightful blog. I alreadly subscribed. ;)

    P.S. Chris, could you post about such interesting people more often, please? I discovered that you are like very good *filter* reducing information overload and allowing to hear what's really going on here. Keep up the good work!
  • @JoshKlein - I think you really need to find that source of passion and love for the product/service/topic that your clients are promoting and have that fuel the need to keep blogging.

    If the client feels like they are blogging for blogging sake, or don't really care about the topic beyond making a few bucks, the blog will never get off the ground.

    The other thing you might want to do is help them develop a system that makes the brainstorming and writing of blog posts easy. Rather than just saying "Ok now keep posting once a week," which is a very daunting task... help them setup an editorial board, help them schedule what day they write, what day they edit and review, and what day they brainstorm for next weeks. Give them materials on different types of posts (templates if you will, lists, reviews, comparisons, editorials, etc...)

    The easier you make blogging the more likely they will be to actually blog.
  • Reply to Josh Klein:

    See if you can get your clients to head on over to other great blogs in their own industry, so they can see what it takes to be successful with this new (hardly) medium. They have to experience the tone and manner in which good bloggers write - many new bloggers are in an 'article-writing mindset', rather than the easy conversational flow of folks like Chris.

    In my world of real estate, I often refer people to www.realestatetomato.com - Jim Cronin is doing a fantastic job of coaching Realtors in the art of blogging.... you may want to check him out because many of the posts/articles apply to any industry.

    Give it a kick,

    Richard :)
    Chief Deal Weaver
    www.BlackWidowNetwork.com
  • @Chris, You are why I'm smiling in that picture.

    @Jim, One of these days, we need to talk for real. Just playback your comments to yourself and sign them from me.

    @Josh, Some folks do make us feel like we have to take on the role of drill sergeant or police, don't they? But as with most human behavior, the actions that come with a change -- in this case, from enthusiastic beginner to disillusioned learner or from trainee to blogger -- are really symptoms, aren't they? We could treat symptoms or go after the cause. Why the change?

    Teachers see this behavior often. It can mean lots of things:
    1. They never believed it was important, i.e. they never got the purpose at the start.
    2. They want us to do the work.
    3. They don't have confidence to last for the long haul.
    4. Other pressures have enterred the picture.
    and more.

    Find the cause and you'll know the cure.

    @Vladislav, Nice to meet you. Thanks. Hope Chris does what you suggest.

    @Patrick, Great points all, especially your last sentence. :)
  • @Patrick, @Richard, @Liz,

    Wow! Thanks for these points. Definitely something to take with me and fold into the framework I use. It's not every day you get this kind of advice below the fold, in the comments of a post.

    Chris, what are you feeding these guys & gals? :)
  • SOBCon absolutely rocked. Liz knows her stuff--it's all about the relationsips.
  • chris introduced me to Liz a few weeks back and she certainly is great. her grace and sense of humor allows her to put up with me.
  • Thanks Chris,
    Liz's blog emits warmth.
    The interesting things in here is that this is beyond the "Tag Cloud".
    After reading other blogs post and some really negative comments on the web (like the one that Steve Gilmor recently wrote in TechCrunch - http://tinyurl.com/3uy2lj) it is great to go and read Liz's blog. I'm amazed by her ability to deliver this feeling in a blog and even better in the comment section (C'mon. Let's talk!).
    Yes, there is a lot to learn from Liz.
    When I read your blog I sense motivation, enthusiasm and fellowship (not sure if this is the right word - maybe community is better). Do you agree?
    So, think about the strength of this effect for a business blog.
    If one could learn this from Liz I envy him/her.
    Keren
  • Wow! Keren, thank you.

    Words are powerful. I sit and stare at yours.

    I'm taken by what you said. Comments like that make me want to keep doing what I do.
  • coreys
    I love your comments on skillsets! Yes, I am finally realizing what skillset I am missing: tech! I am just now learning how to blog and that there's a free software out there, Word Press. I have heard about blogging for business, but didn't want to invest the money in the software. Big mistake! I also found out about Glyphius software that scores your ad copy. Not free, but sounds great.
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