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26

What Need Does This Site Fill

May 29, 2007

Brian Clark pays me to link to him. Okay, he doesn’t really, but he should. I love his work on CopyBlogger. In this case, Brian’s answering the question he gets all the time. You know the one. “What’s the secret to getting all those blog subscribers?”

His answer: be remarkable. Fill a need for your audience.

Curse You, Brian Clark!

What the hell does my audience come here for? I don’t know! The best answer I have, the only answer I have, is that people feel like they’ve received something new to think about when they finish reading my average post.

But you know WHO comes here? That’s just it. Moms, entrepreneurs, tech geniuses, professors, preachers, developers, artists, my parents, people at my office forced to read my blog, and a whole other bunch of crazy Hong Kong Kavaliers.

So I don’t know. I just don’t know.

You Tell Me

This isn’t a “Make Chris Feel Happy” question. This is an honest question: Why do you read this site? Is it entertainment? Is it your own version of The Learning Channel? What do you wish I’d do more? What do you wish I’d do least?

Your call. It’s your game.

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Comments
Comment by Michael Sorg on May 29, 2007 @ 11:36 pm

I come by, mostly from meeting you at Podcamp. I know your someone well versed in this “new media” and found your blog to be an extension of that. It’s deffinately educational, and interesting to see someone that’s involved and get an inside look when I’m too locked into a day job to scope allof these conferences that would interest me that I’ve never heard of. (similar reasons for befriending your Twitter account.)

Now, why does someone read sirpsychosexy.net. I know you have (at least once).

Comment by Eric Skiff on May 29, 2007 @ 11:40 pm

It’s funny, I think of personal blogs as “long form twitter” now. How quickly one little app can change our whole way of thinking!

I read your blog and blogs of other people I like and respect for a few reasons. One is to see what they’re up to and feel connected to them. Another is to make sure that I’ve got my ear to the ground - when something is worth paying attention to, the people I’m tuned into will generally begin to buzz about it.

You’ve also done a great job of making this blog a place for discussions like this one. Asking people what they think and feel about issues and then giving them a space to react is a powerful thing.

Comment by Connie Crosby on May 29, 2007 @ 11:41 pm

I find you to be honest and downright entertaining, but you keep poking me with a big stick to be a better blogger! Sometimes it is too much and I go away for a while to mull things over, but eventually I come back for more grueling punishment. Oh, maybe that should read “enlightenment”. I’m also amazed at how much you blog in a day. Sometimes I get blog post envy, or maybe that should be lifestyle envy.

Anyway, whatever it is that you figure out that you do, keep doing it.

Cheers,
Connie

Comment by Bryce Moore on May 29, 2007 @ 11:56 pm

Let’s see… Why do I read this sit…

I got it! I needed someone new to argue with… er, wait…

We agree on a few things and disagree on many others. We also have different approaches and mentalities in respect to this so-called “new media revolution”. I could accuse you of being a cheerleader at times, and you could (rightly) accuse me of being a cynical, depressing wet blanket with a side of sour grapes and a second helping of skepticism.

However, at the end of the day, I think we can respect and understand each other and each other’s opinions in such a way that we can continue to debate and discuss such differences in a logical, well-mannered way.

It takes a special person to be able to do that.

Comment by Connie Reece on May 29, 2007 @ 11:56 pm

I come here because you ask. Nicely. On Twitter. Actually, that would get me here once or twice only, but when you tweet with a blog update, I will often visit right then, without waiting for it to appear in Google Reader.
Bottom line: I feel like I know you from your blog and Twitter and a handful of e-mails. I come here to read YOU. Sometimes your writing is educational, sometimes it makes me think. Sometimes it’s funny. But it’s all interesting to me because it’s a reflection of you, and over a period of time I’ve come to think, “Hey, that Chris Brogan is somebody I would like to get to know.”

Those are the blogs I always read first — the authors who write with a distinctive, authentic voice. The authors who put connecting with their readers above their Technorati ranking. Building subscribership is important, but building community is even more important. At least, that’s my view.

And Brian Clark is on my must-read list along with you.

Comment by Bryce Moore on May 29, 2007 @ 11:57 pm

site, not sit… put the wrong letter in the wrong place and it sounds even worse!

Comment by Eric Rice on May 29, 2007 @ 11:58 pm

I read you cuz I know you. Pretty simple.

Going through the same issue myself. Half my blog is for the echo chamber, the other half wants to be for a more mass audience– and taking the DIY approach to penetrate areas where people don’t hang on every web 2.0 shiny thing, is a tough, tough thing.

So, I keep putting it off and not giving a crap day after day, and some how, that’s like fame or something.

Let it flow, man. Cuz when you start thinking, you start beating yourself up. There are so many great bloggers that are lost in the perfectionism of it all, that they never pen a word. And ‘just do it!’ doesn’t cut it for everyday folks.

Comment by Becky McCray on May 29, 2007 @ 11:59 pm

You are a connection point in the community. This blog is one of your communication channels. Let’s refer back to your post on using the right tool. You do a good job of using this medium to share the long form text that flows out of your head and fingers unchecked. That info is more or less targeted to helping build the community and to helping build a connection between you and us.

Comment by Grace Piper on May 30, 2007 @ 12:01 am

I dig your blog because you connect with so many different people that if you blog about or mention a company/individual/meme/idea/whatever I know it’s most likely something I will want to know more about or should know more about. Thanks for being my own personal Web 2.0 filter. I trust your judgment.
Grace

Comment by Mark on May 30, 2007 @ 12:31 am

Simply put, you offer motivation and inspiration to think about things — things people generally don’t think about. Which is probably why people tag you a lot for your thoughts. People like Andrea and I who included you in our 8 Things Meme.

Mark

Comment by Justin Kownacki on May 30, 2007 @ 12:52 am

You’re figuring things out and you share that experience with us. You’re the designated explorer for the Web 2.0 world. Because you’re passionate about gathering information and meeting people, it influences the rest of us to reconsider what we’re doing and whether it’s what we WANT to (or SHOULD) be doing, every day.

Comment by Shaine on May 30, 2007 @ 2:05 am

I read your blog because I’ve met a couple people who seem to know you; basic networking. Of course, that wasn’t enough to get me to subscribe to your feed. Your writing encourages interaction… See, you tricked me!

I also want to get back into tech and internet. You seem to know what’s going on.

Comment by julien on May 30, 2007 @ 2:11 am

you have better ideas than almost any other blogger i know. for serious.

Comment by Jeff O'Hara on May 30, 2007 @ 3:02 am

I come back for the Self Portraits, Chris your just so damn sexy! All kidding aside, I come back for your articles. Even though this is more of a personal blog without a main focus, everyone of your posts are extremely high quality and well thought out.

Comment by Jim Stanger on May 30, 2007 @ 3:15 am

In high school and university the science classes always had two parts, remember? The main class (theory) and the almighty lab class (methodology.) Both were valuable, and you couldn’t really be successful at it unless you absorbed each. But one was always more fun for me. It was the class where the rubber hit the road, where I’m encouraged to take the theory and make fire, where I got messy trying, and where I had the most fun learning. The lab class provided the real experience!

I’ve consumed my share of new media over the past few years. Now I’m eager to hop the fence and get better at making it, and your blog is a good guide so far. I enjoy your writing style and point of view. It encourages me not just to think about new media but to get out and do it!

I read you, Chris, because you are a lab class.

Comment by Jim Stanger on May 30, 2007 @ 3:22 am

It’s interesting that you’re examining you’re perceived contribution to our ever-evolving culture. Reminds me of a quote from another pioneer who didn’t know what kind of dent he was making:

“…This day I completed my thirty first year, and conceived that I had in all human probability now existed about half the period which I am to remain in this sublunary world. I reflected that I had as yet done but little, very little indeed, to further the happiness of the human race, or to advance the information of the succeeding generation. I viewed with regret the many hours I have spent in indolence, and now sorely feel the want of that information which those hours would have given me had they been judiciously expended. But since they are past and cannot be recalled, I dash from me the gloomy thought and resolved in future to redouble my exertions and at least endeavor to promote those two primary objects of human existence, by giving them the aid of that portion of talents which nature and fortune have bestowed on me. Or in future, to live for mankind, as I have heretofore lived for myself.”

Written by Meriwether Lewis on 18 August, 1805, while he, William Clark, and a few dozen others were busy doing nothing much except being the first Americans to chart a course from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.

In your own way you’re helping chart a course through a new world making it easier for others to follow. If you’re happy with your place in the conversation this should be an interesting site for some time to come.

Comment by JoeC on May 30, 2007 @ 3:47 am

Aside from having interesting ideas and questions, you write well, both stylistically and grammatically. One is talent, the other simple discipline and good craftmanship. The man knows his English.

Comment by Rupert on May 30, 2007 @ 4:51 am

You write about the stuff I’m interested in. You articulate things well - often things that I have vaguely taken on board in a woolly unarticulated way or things that I am trying to understand. And you don’t Tell Me How It Is - you’re always asking questions and not pretending to know the answers, which makes you feel much more like a smart peer and less like someone who’s setting themselves up as An Authority - something which bores me about a lot of tech blogs.
I feel like we’re on the same mission - but you’re the point man.

Comment by chrisbrogan on May 30, 2007 @ 6:14 am

Well thanks, everyone, for the insight. I didn’t really hear something new, but that in and of itself was telling. In sum, most of you said the following:

1.) I like your talk about new stuff and ideas.
2.) I like who comes to the blog.
3.) I like connecting with others on the blog.

Three good reasons in my estimation. So thanks!

Comment by Whitney on May 30, 2007 @ 6:15 am

You are a connector, and this blog is a like an airline hub for other interesting people as well. We all can sit in the “Chris Club Lounge” knowing we’ll have a great conversation about something we care about- community, making a difference, upping our game, striving to be just a little better and remarkable….
Besides enjoying your content, I know I’ll be pointed to other things that I find interesting, but wouldn’t have found on my own. I read the NYT for news, and your site for the “New Media Times”- your editorials always prompt me to engage rather than just skim the surface, and that’s what I need to do to try to be remarkable myself.

Comment by Stavros on May 30, 2007 @ 7:42 am

I visit your blog often because your content is honest, you give great advice, you help me become a better blogger and the discussions in your comments are just excellent. I’d recommend your site to anyone making a start in this medium.

Comment by The Goat on May 30, 2007 @ 11:28 am

I just read the coded messages.

More ice cream, fool.

Comment by Tommy Vallier on May 30, 2007 @ 11:33 am

Why do I read it?? I like it!

I pick up your feed in Netvibes, Chris, and make a very strong point to read every entry, often twice. I like keeping up with the thoughts, ideas and chaos going on in your world and knowing what you’re up to.

Your blog also bubbles over with tips in the world I’m so (apparently very) quickly immersing myself in - New Media. Business card advice, networking, how to talk to people and interact… and pointing out fun new sites or nifty services… Or what’s going on in the podcamp world.

I (try to) keep up with over 100 blog and news feeds… But your is one of very few I keep an extra close eye on yours.

See you in June.

Comment by Sarah on May 30, 2007 @ 12:31 pm

I keep coming back because you make me look at things in ways I hadn’t thought about before. When I start to lose motivation for whatever crazy scheme I’m working on these days, reading one of your posts gets me excited about *doing* things again. I got hooked when you started talking about superheroes, and I’ve been here ever since!

Comment by Goldie Katsu on May 30, 2007 @ 8:25 pm

I read your blog because you make me think. You ask good questions, you explore interesting ideas. And I also read your blog because I like to know what you are thinking and what you are up to.

Comment by Clintus McGintus on June 8, 2007 @ 1:12 am

I know this is way old but I really wanted to respond. I read your blog because you are a huge inspiration to me. You always seem to have something meaningful to say. You are so well connected that I find new people and sites and new information every time I come by. I am a huge fan of yours and am subscribed for life.

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  • About Chris
    Chris Brogan advises businesses, organizations and individuals on how to use social media and social networks to build relationships and deliver value.

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