This is only the second blog I have ever posted. I claim no expertise, and I am by far, the amateur of all amateurs, for sure!
One doesn't have to be an expert in social media to understand that there is one constant within any social media platform. Community! As our reading suggests, "this is where it all begins" (radian 6, 2011). It begins with one person who has a message to pass along to others who share a similar interest in a topic.
 |
Photo is courtesy of ProBlogger.com
|
Soon we begin to see the community grow. As the community becomes larger, the content begins to change and shape new and interesting discussions. Both radian 6 and ProBlogger.com suggest becoming an active participant in your own blog. What do you suppose would happen to the blog if the curator didn't drive...Let's say the driver ended up in the back seat as a silent observer to their audience? Can the blog still be successful? If a small company (10 employees) has created the blog, how important is it that each employee engage in the conversation and reach out the their community?
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/02/28/8-tips-for-building-community-on-your-blog/
www.radian6.com
Nice work on this blog Re, I like the graphic you chose depicting the little red guy building a group, It was visually stimulating and gave interest to your blog. It really is about community as you say.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeff,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback!
Let me pick your brain for a sec! Social collaboration is more than just getting a blog or other social media outlet up and running. It also entails getting people to participate. How would you encourage employees that have been slow to embrace social media to participate in this new and challenging form of communication?
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteExcellent Question, honestly speaking I haven't much experience in getting people to engage in social media. My hunch is that initially I would encourage them to find a blog that has subject matter that fits their own interest. Perhaps that would be a good starting point.
DeleteIf you don't mind Re, I will respond to your question because I'm new to blogging and haven't found a place in my life for using it yet. I would suggest that a person has to find value in using anything. I guess I have not found value in using a blog. I've done it a time or two in another past class. Once the class ended I did not use a blog until now. For personal use of a blog, can you help me find value?
ReplyDeleteFrom a business perspective, I would rather have face-to-face conversations with a work group or team, because there is so much more to communication than words. For example; if your face-to-face you can see the visual queue's and other non verbal forms of communication. I'm just trying to figure out how blogging can fit into my life. ????
Thanks, Paula
Hi Paula,
DeleteI struggle with blogging too! I haven't found it to be of value to me on a personal level yet either.
I can see the value of blogging for some groups of people. Let's say for example, blogging in healthcare. Certain health issues might be difficult for people to discuss in a face-to-face setting. For example, incontinence, or erectile dysfuction to name a couple. Within an online community or blog, this affords people anonymity that would otherwise be absent. As such, they might feel more comfortable opening up or reaching out to someone online to discuss their health related issues.
Looking at blogging from the professional side, the same is true. We (the medical team) can help answer medical questions about the patient's problem. Sometimes it's trust-building that is needed and then once the person is comfortable, they will schedule an appointment. If this is the case, do you suppose it's better to be an active participant or do you think it's better to allow the patient's to drive the direction of the blog?
Glad you responded!!
-Re-