This week makes it one year since I started writing this blog, and I wanted to take a moment to say a sincere thanks to every one of you that occupies even a minute of their increasingly precious time by reading Convince & Convert.
The volume of high quality, free, online content (especially about marketing) is astonishing, and I’m delighted that you’ve chosen to consume my water droplet within that fire hose.
As some of you may know, before starting Convince & Convert I seriously considered a university position teaching digital marketing and social media. The two things I like best (outside of wine and BBQ) are pontificating and networking, and although I’m not in a classroom, I hope this blog can become a place for learning where we’re all teachers and we’re all students. I think we’re on the way there, and thanks for being a part of it.
More to the point, thanks to my amazing clients and colleagues who have given me the gift of having a career instead of a job. To be a professional social media consultant right now is an invigorating and fantastic opportunity. I appreciate the trust you put in me every day.
Stuff I’ve Learned
As I look back on the past year (which feels like about 14 minutes), a few observations:
- Social media closes the gap. You can develop relationships and opportunities within the social media sphere that you can’t replicate offline.
- Don’t worry about promoting your blog until you’ve written it for a while. Your community will help guide the development of your voice.
- Give more than you take. If you shine the light on other people in social media, eventually that light will shine on you.
- Blog “success” is maddeningly difficult to bottle. Sometimes, posts that you just knock out become big pass-along hits, and the posts that you slave over go nowhere. Kismet is a cruel mistress.
- Build some hooks. With regard to the fire hose of free content I referenced above, you have to stand out somehow. For me, it’s living in the forest, bottle opener business cards, and the Twitter 20 interview series.
- Blog like a magazine. I used to get up every morning, read a ton of blogs, figure out what was interesting to me that day, and write. My schedule makes that game plan untenable now, so I try to post every T, W, Th regardless of circumstance. I tend to write posts in batches, and release them on that schedule. I sacrifice time sensitivity, but I gain consistency and discipline and rigor. And with so many blogs being abandoned, that’s a trade-off with which I can live.
- Listen. Much of what has made this blog successful was imparted to me by others. The ideas and the writing is mine, but Chris Brogan taught me about images in posts and how to get more comments using questions. Amber Naslund taught me a lot about ease of use. Mack Collier provided invaluable advice about “humanizing” your blog and having a signature series of posts. Valeria Maltoni continues to set the standard for making your blog a community. Darren Rowse and problogger.com have provided more specific, tactical advice than I can even remember. And Chuck Reynolds keeps this blog from blowing up on the technical side.
- Remember that all bloggers start with zero. One of the very cool elements of blogs is that that with rare exceptions, all bloggers are self-made. Conversely, ournalists have an audience largely due to the reputation of the media outlet that employs them. That’s why it’s so important to support new bloggers. If you like somebody’s work, retweet it, comment, build a relationship. Today’s new blogger is tomorrow’s Jason Falls – who was the first blogger to support me. And I’ll never forget that.
I’m fired up about year 2 of Convince & Convert. In fact, in my long digital marketing career, this may be as excited as I’ve ever been (actually, the invention of the browser was a pretty big deal). The way brands interact with their customers and prospects is changing. And it’s changing forever. It’s not about the economy, or technology, or tools. It’s about faces, not logos. It’s an opportunity for us to remake the nature of marketing and communication together.
Let’s make it happen.
(if you have any ideas, feedback, criticism, input, about C&C and what you’d like to see here, this would be a really good time to add a comment along those lines).
(photo by Perfecto Insecto)
Big congrats, Jason. I’m definitely glad I came across your blog and looking forward to an even better 2nd year. Keep on rocking!
Thank you Sonny. Of all the people out there in the blogosphere, you epitomize the “give more than you take” principle the best. You are a model for others to follow. I really appreciate your support and friendship.
Wow, it’s been that short a time? The way you write Jason I figured you had been around for the last five years (the established voice and all).
Definitely agree about the hooks. You have to separate yourself from the crowd in order to be heard. Have definitely enjoyed reading you over the past four months. (I’m a late to the party kind of guy). Thanks
Thanks Stuart. I really appreciate your loyalty, and the kind words. I’ve been doing C&C for a year, but I was a column writer for about 10 years before that. Maybe that’s why my posts are so long!
A year already? Wow congrats Jay, you’ve certainly made quite a mark for yourself in a very short amount of time! Happy Blogoversary, here’s to many more years of your smartitude!
Thanks Mack. As long as I keep following your lead, I figure it will all work out. I’m just a humble acolyte, trying to keep up with The Viral Garden and the master.
Twitter Comment
Congrats to @jaybaer on his first blogging anniversary – [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Grats Jay RT @jaybaer: Observations on the one year anniversary of Convince & Convert. [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
It’s just like you to celebrate your anniversary by sharing the lessons you’ve learned with us. I love your point that “we’re all teachers and we’re all students” — to me, that’s what makes this medium so exciting.
Congratulations and thank you, Jay — I can’t wait to see what comes next!
Kellye, sincere thanks for your consistent patronage and comments. I love having you here!
Congratulations, JB! Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Can’t wait for more inspiration in Year 2.
Twitter Comment
Congrats to @jaybaer on the one year anniversary of his excellent blog, Convince & Convert! [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Congrats, Jason and thanks for the great work! @jaybaer Observations on the one year anniversary of Convince & Convert. [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Convince & Convert social media blog is a year old, congratulations @jaybaer ! [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Another blog anniversary – @jaybaer’s Convince & Convert turns 1 – congrats Jay [link to post] (via @MackCollier)
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Congratulations to @jaybaer on the one year anniversary of his blog, Convince & Convert | [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Another of my fave blogs is celebrating a birthday! What a blog “draft class” this yr! Wish @jaybaer a happy 1st b-day: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
[Congrats Jay! His blog is one of my top reads] RT @jaybaer Observations on the 1-year anniversary of Convince & Convert [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
It’s a Week of Birthdays Blogs…! @jaybaer Shares Some Observations on His 1-Yr Anniv of Convince & Convert [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Congrats, Jason. Alongside my wife, my mother and a precious few others, you continue to hold down a spot in the “I should really pay attention to everything this person says” club.
Thanks buddy. It’s mutual. I still use you as examples in speeches all the time.
Twitter Comment
@jaybaer Congrats on one year of Convince & Convert, Jay! [link to post] (via @adamcohen via @MackCollier)
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Reward him w/ a review! http://bit.ly/oLpDb RT @MackCollier: Congrats to @jaybaer on his first blogging anniversary – [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
@jaybaer Happy anniversary and congrats. Love the blog.
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Your Message
Woo hoo Jay. Congratulations. I have followed you for a while and appreciated your insights at PCBC last week. You’ve got a great thing going, and a lot of contributions to make. Looking forward to even more.
-teri-
Thank you Teri. Terrific to meet you at PCBC. I’m delighted to have you here, and look forward to your contributions.
Congratulations, my friend, and more importantly, thanks for everything you’ve shared. I’m lucky to have enjoyed the benefit of your knowledge, intelligence, and humor for many years before the blog launched, and it’s gratifying to see you sharing that out to the world. Cheers!
All part of my master plan. I make stuff up, and tell it to you. If it doesn’t fail miserably, I figure it’s at least partially accurate. More importantly, congrats to you on Eight Trails. Can’t wait to see what you do on your own blog. http://www.eighttrails.com (Subscribe to it, folks. Ed is a great writer and knows his stuff).
Twitter Comment
Some astute observations from Jason Baer: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Observations on Day 365 [Delicious/tag/blogging tips] http://bit.ly/NoSP6
Social Media Observations on Day 365 | Convince & Convert News …: As some of you may know, before starting.. http://tinyurl.com/mp5qft
When it comes to social media: “We’re all teachers, and we’re ALL students.” words from @jaybaer at http://ow.ly/fFcK
Twitter Comment
Congrats to @jaybaer on one year with Convince & Convert (Great Blog) – [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Congrats Jay. I came for the bottle opener business card. But I stayed for the great info. Keep up the great work!
Some astute observations from Jason Baer: http://bit.ly/4XBM2
Hello JB, I must confess I am a new reader of C&C and I must say that your blog is rich. I look forward to more tips and forward thinking leads from you. Thank you JB and God bless.
Congrats to @jaybaer on one year with Convince & Convert (Great Blog) – http://bit.ly/4XBM2
Twitter Comment
RT @JasonFalls Congrats to @jaybaer on one year with Convince & Convert (Great Blog) [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
[...] More here: Social Media Observations on Day 365 | Convince & Convert News … [...]
Likes @jaybaer RT Social Media Observations on Day 365 | Convince & Convert News | Social Media Consulting – http://tinyurl.com/mp5qft
RT @JasonFalls Congrats to @jaybaer on one year with Convince & Convert (Great Blog) http://bit.ly/4XBM2
Twitter Comment
RT @tweetmeme Social Media Observations on Day 365 | Convince & Convert News | Social Media Consulting – Convin… [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Likes @jaybaer RT Social Media Observations on Day 365 | Convince & Convert News | Social Media Consulting – [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
RT @tweetmeme Social Media Observations on Day 365 | Convince & Convert News | Social Media Consulting – Convin… http://tinyurl.com/mp5qft
Jason, congratulations on learning, sharing and teaching us so much in just one year. I feel very lucky to have spent time wth you at the MPB2B and look forward to more opportunities to do so. Happy Bday #1!
[rq=65157,0,blog][/rq]Andrea Learned on Bridging New & Old – Social Media Series
[...] Jason Baer, on things he has learned since he started his blog one year ago. [...]