NOTE: I apologize in advance to clients and non-bloggers for this post. While we try to keep in mind the perspectives of all of the audiences that visit our blog we know this post is pretty targeted to the blogging community in Des Moines. But, we do think there is value to be gained in the message. I’d also like to apologize for the Jerry McGuire-esque mission statement – promise though, I won’t flip out.
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A Challenge to Des Moines’ Bloggers
“I think we have a bunch of great bloggers. Unfortunately, I don’t think we link to each other and read each other’s blogs enough. I’m hoping that being listed on your blogroll will change that.”
This is the response Claire Celsi gave when asked by Silicon Prairie News – “What do you think the state of the blogosphere is in our region?”
Now I know Celsi gets more publicity on this site than Paris Hilton in a short skirt with the wind blowing, but dang-it-all if she isn’t right on the money with this.
Lessing-Flynn’s AdMavericks links to over 30 blog or corporate sites – most of them right here in Des Moines. And that’s just in our blog rolls. We link to over 1,000 different Web sites throughout the 298 posts we’ve written. Want us to
link to yours? If your content is relevant to our industry or the place we call home, we will.
Even if you’re a competitor.
Because it’s not always about competition. It’s not always about who’s better at this or that. It’s about moving Des Moines forward. Moving the conversation forward. And you can’t do that if you aren’t reading what other people have to say and sharing that information. If we all work together, we can all be better.
Your first challenge? Spend 15 minutes a day reading other people’s blog. If you like it, share it. If you don’t, don’t.
Your second challenge? Spend 15 minutes a month updating your blog roll.
What will happen when you do these things?
1. Your site traffic will increase.
2. People will link back to you.
3. Growth of the social media movement in Des Moines will flourish.
And abraca-freaking-dabra…
We claim Des Moines is the Social Media Capital of the World. Together, we can make it more than just a claim.
Author: Josh Fleming
www.lessingflynn.com
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Great thoughts Josh. I am bad at updating my Blog roll, but I do make it a point to read and comment as much as I can. I will take the challenge and run with it.
Josh, thanks for mentioning me in the same post as Paris Hilton. I’m sure she will see it and want to be my friend on Facebook. Here is my post today, proving that I am listening to your advice to link out in every post if possible! http://bit.ly/b2ky2V
Hey Pete, I was just noticing this morning that you are not on my blogroll and I’m not on yours. Let’s fix that today!
If there is a topic or something that attracts my attention, I will post a comment. Ask me to do that 4 years ago, I would be scared to death!
Anyway, I enjoy reading it, thinking about what I read, before commenting on it. Sometimes, I give it a 1 or 2-day wait, so that I can have my thoughts together before jotting it down.
To do list: Create a blogroll on my website
Gotcha…
Helping out your community is important, but I find myself linking to blogs outside my community a lot more than local ones.
Because our local blogging community is so strong and influential, it seems we have a lot of blogs that were created “because I was told to for my business” but not, “because I have new, amazing, relevant, content.” I see a lot of blog regurgitation instead…
They are still young and working on new and fresh content, but they are starting to come around following examples like Mike Sansone, AdMavericks, and McLellan.
Keep setting the standard Josh!
Justin, there is room for linking to both local and national blogs. I think Josh’s point is that we all have the power to recognize each other on a regular basis, so “why don’t we?”
And I disagree, there is a ton of fresh content on our local blogs. I get inspired everyday.
I have to side with Claire. I try to find new material to write, most of the time from a different perspective than the old proverbial “pros and cons”. My blog isn’t a business blog of any means. Which might be why no one hardly read or comment on it.
It’s not always about the profession anyone is in or their business.
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