But seriously folks....I did indeed just get back from BlogWorld Expo which was held in Las Vegas this past weekend. I'll have more to say about that in another post, but the "just flew in" thing is kind of how I feel about coming back to blogging after taking most of the summer and part of September away from the medium.
Part of that distancing was a need to mentally re-group--to figure out what I'm doing here in blogging and social media, as well as to try some new things I didn't seem to have time to try. Subsequently, I've been posting on Twitter (@tishgrier) and testing Facebook, most notably starting the Placeblogger group page.
I also attended Andy Sernovitz's fantastic Word of Mouth Marketing Crash Course (lots of y'all might think of attending that one) an event at the Berkman Center, a sales seminar conducted by one of those uber-sales guys who tries to get you to buy his stuff, and, as mentioned, BWE....
Oh, and beyond beyond blogging, took on a Board position at PACE to begin to root myself a bit more in the real world of Easthampton, and am also serving on the Advisory Board of blog diva Toby Bloomberg's new venture (will have more on that soon. I'm so excited!)
There's also been lots of thought here about business names and being more of a business entity, as well as a few calls from headhunters and such...
But I guess most importantly, this time away from blogging has shown me that working at home with most contact through email, IM, Twitter and other social tools, can be a lonely and isolating experience. Social media is a wonderful thing, but it must be coupled with real-life interaction. For someone like me, who loves to be social, being alone all the time is very stressful and to some degree disorienting. When Toby asked me what social media meant to me, I answered that it was indeed the combination of social and media. Yet, by working in social media, I've found that there has to be a balance between the media and the social. If I'm too media--too much at home in front of the screen, then I need to leave for the real world of social. Sometimes that's not easy, but I have to find the time as well as the places to go.
The upshot of all this is after as summer-plus of exploration, I'll be back to regularly blogging. Perhaps a bit differently than before, but I think that will be for the better....
4 comments:
Tish - As someone who also works virtually I quite understand what you mean. blogs, tweets, videos and all the online social tools are wonderful but nothing beats face-to-face.
I'm thrilled that you agreed to be one of the founding members of our new social venture. that's all I'll say .. up to you to present it to your community ;-) will add that it will be fun and smart. Rather like you!
Hi Toby...it was so great seeing you! I think the way that we've used social media is a true testament to how one can keep in touch with business friends even when you don't see them regularly.
Still, face to face is so much better. which is why it was so great seeing you...
I'll be writing about the new social venture as soon as we hammer out details and we're ready.
Can't wait to see you again--and to hang out just a bit more :-)
Welcome back, Tish - hope that the conference proves to be as productive as you expect it to be.
Hi Ed...thanks! and BWE was really quite wonderful. will have a lot to say about it in another post.
Post a Comment