Struck by something in Dave Winer’s post today, near the bottom:
…but I’m hoping we escape the grips of centralized thinking and remember that what made blogs work was that everyone gets their own platform to speak their mind. TechMeme takes us back to the place that didn’t work, where everyone fights for scarce attention.
Our websites are a point in space, and a moment in time, but they are not the end-all of our online presence any longer. To be engaged, fully, on the web, is to build your passports, configure your listening tools, and launch off to all the various places that hold pertinent conversations and information at hand.
Is search the most important tool, or just the most used? How’s listening starting to rank for you? Because to me, listening is a big part of the game.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.
sign up for the 
subscribe to the 
follow Chris on 
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Our websites are a point in space, and a moment in time, but they are not the end-all of our online presence any longer. To be engaged, fully, on the web, is to build your passports, configure your listening tools, and launch off to all the various places that hold pertinent conversations and information at hand.
My favorite thing I read all day. Thank you.
You definitely hit the nail on this one. Not too long ago it was all about pushing the idea down the customer (or visitor’s) throat; gulp on this and hopefully, if it’s to your liking, you’ll hit the BUY button. Now it’s all about pulling the opinion from them and adjusting ourselves to their satisfaction (static vs active pages, chatting vs leave a message and we’ll get back with you in 24hrs or less). I even saw a widget on a blog where you can leave a message to the writer and he/she can answer you back on the same widget - next time you visit it blinks, just like an answering machine. It’s not about the technology, it’s about the conversation. Thanks for always putting things in perspective for all of us!
What a great quote from you Chris, and I completely agree. The Internet maybe a huge place, but not really, if you open your eyes and ears and get around, it becomes that much smaller.
Chris,
Listening is an *essential* tool on the Internet. I can search for pain points in social media circles, let’s say, or I can read Chris Brogan’s comments, and the pain points will come to me. On the other blogs I may find out about real, heartfelt small business or startup concerns. By being part of the community I hear without being a spy—because I discuss my own issues, too—and the view I get is much richer that it would be otherwise.
Using the Internet as a big shouting match, or as a place to come and plunder for info, doesn’t lead to nearly as much understanding.
Regards,
Kelly