Do Featured Blogs increase the quality of content?
Over the years I've subscribed to and un-subscribed to many Social Networking communities. The main reasons for un-subscribing are obvious, and in this order.
1.) To much SPAM & Abuse
2.) Bad Social Networking Etiquette
3.) Poor Content
With regards to items 1 & 2 unfortunately this is a never ending battle. But what can we do about weak or poor content?
Sta.rtUp.Biz has a cool feature called Featured Blog Posts Recommended by the Editor. They even have a contest attached to it to help promote the Featured Blog. At first I was skeptical. But after following the Featured Blogs for a few weeks and months, I have found this feature has improved the quality of the content. Yeah!
Allow me to explain. Up until now a large amount of the Blog articles I've read were about selling the authors products or services. Okay, we can expect SOME of that. But the real practice of Social Networks like Sta.rtUp.Biz is about sharing ideas, and brainstorming with others in regards to building on your goals and efforts. The selling of your products and services is, or should be offered as a solution to your problem, not out right salesmanship (the hard sell).
Enter Featured Blog. The addition of Featured Blog at Sta.rtUp.Biz in my opinion has not only helped improve the quality of the content of blog posts, but the practice of the hard sell is gradually shifting to offering your business or service as a solution to your problem (at least in the Featured Blog catagory). This is the art of Social Networking in action. Imagine that!
Was this intentional or did Sta.rtUp.Biz get lucky? LOL ;-)
We should note, Featured Blogs is one good step forward, but there is still allot of work to be done. We owe it to ourselves and members to follow proper etiquette and offer quality content. In addition we all need to do our due diligent by reminding members of the rules and etiquette we practice here, and elsewhere.
Conclusion: Forget about the hard sell. Start building those relationships. Take pride in your Social Networking community. And remember, “When you look at a city, it's like reading the hopes, aspirations, and pride of everyone who built it.”
In closing I would like to know, Do you think Featured Blogs helped or is helping improve the content on this social network?
Continued Success,
Robert Mesa
1.) To much SPAM & Abuse
2.) Bad Social Networking Etiquette
3.) Poor Content
With regards to items 1 & 2 unfortunately this is a never ending battle. But what can we do about weak or poor content?
Sta.rtUp.Biz has a cool feature called Featured Blog Posts Recommended by the Editor. They even have a contest attached to it to help promote the Featured Blog. At first I was skeptical. But after following the Featured Blogs for a few weeks and months, I have found this feature has improved the quality of the content. Yeah!
Allow me to explain. Up until now a large amount of the Blog articles I've read were about selling the authors products or services. Okay, we can expect SOME of that. But the real practice of Social Networks like Sta.rtUp.Biz is about sharing ideas, and brainstorming with others in regards to building on your goals and efforts. The selling of your products and services is, or should be offered as a solution to your problem, not out right salesmanship (the hard sell).
Enter Featured Blog. The addition of Featured Blog at Sta.rtUp.Biz in my opinion has not only helped improve the quality of the content of blog posts, but the practice of the hard sell is gradually shifting to offering your business or service as a solution to your problem (at least in the Featured Blog catagory). This is the art of Social Networking in action. Imagine that!
Was this intentional or did Sta.rtUp.Biz get lucky? LOL ;-)
We should note, Featured Blogs is one good step forward, but there is still allot of work to be done. We owe it to ourselves and members to follow proper etiquette and offer quality content. In addition we all need to do our due diligent by reminding members of the rules and etiquette we practice here, and elsewhere.
Conclusion: Forget about the hard sell. Start building those relationships. Take pride in your Social Networking community. And remember, “When you look at a city, it's like reading the hopes, aspirations, and pride of everyone who built it.”
In closing I would like to know, Do you think Featured Blogs helped or is helping improve the content on this social network?
Continued Success,
Robert Mesa
Tags: blog, content, etiquette, featured, networking, social
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Charlene L. Ragsdale on -
I don't think a Blog - featured or not that has the one and only purpose to "hard sell" is effective or provides valuable content.
I do believe though, that the featured blogs have been very helpful, at least for me and the chance for me to meet others on this forum.
I became a Diamond Member - had my Blog featured last month and my connections have soared and most importantly, great relationships. I am looking forward to my next Featured Blog and to meet more people.
Blogs are the same as anything aspect of social networking.......building trusting relationships and move onward from there. Some buy and some don't.......
Speaking of buying, let me tell you about this great new product: It slices, it dices and will wash your dogs hair - buy it! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Charlene L. Ragsdale - Las Vegas, NV
“Proper Business with a Purpose”
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Permalink Reply by Robert Mesa on -
Hi Charlene,
Thank you for your comments.... but you tease me with your hard sell, "It slices, it dices and will wash your dogs hair", and then you don't tell us what the product is??? That's so wrong... LOLOL
Continued Success,
Robert Mesa
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Permalink Reply by Nascent Dynamics ( ) on -
I agree Robert,
the featured blogs program on Sta.rtup.biz has improved the overall content onsite. There were some good discussions going by people who knew what they were doing, understood how to present professional articles, and supported the interaction they encountered. It seems to me SUP was pleased with the quality of content and noted a lot of positive feedback from members who were stating that was a key feature that attracted them to the community. Taking advantage of the paid membership options does seem to show some advantages. Namely, I think SUP offers some editing on the articles or at least sets a standard. From there it is all about the direct accessibility and face time the author gets in publishing.
What's missing...in my opinion, I think the very concept of weblogging is a little taken for granted. It may be a decision derived from actual utilization and quality, however I used to appreciate finding those rare blogs which actually documented someone's experiences and interests on an ongoing basis. The featured blogs I think overshadows some of the natural use of blogging that can be enjoyed and offered by members who do not pay for the service. Plus, the volume of interaction may detract from actual engagement on point. A lot of comments are essentially tokens of approval, agreement, or self-serving plugs. I personally don't have the time to read through every response. So I kind of miss the intimate settings of blogs and the occassional direct engagement/ expansions of topic that come about from more traditional blog work.
Certainly, featured blogs blows up page hits, sort of walks people through the motions of "speed networking", and delivers a tangible value to the network users who are, by most facets, well understood by SUP leadership. The improvement of quality will add value to support the growth and retention of members. Associating in that kind of environment gives the members a more professional footing to convey themselves wheras in other environments they can easily get washed with the masses. I think the solution is a good fit here. My network may compliment SUP with an alternative approach to blogging I think a lot of people will enjoy. So the featured blog initiative here does support the differentiation of my concept. The best thing for me is a regular conversation starter in the featured blogs that gives me an opportunity to share my views openly. A lot of traditional blog environments actually take offense and can inhibit the free flowing of communication and ideas on their blogs. SUP has done a great job with this. I think maybe all they really need to improve on it is to actually announce the monthly winners.
Best,
Anthony
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Permalink Reply by Robert Mesa on
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Hi Anthony,
Thank you for reading my article, but most importantly for sharing your comments. In response to a portion of your comments...
"A lot of comments are essentially tokens of approval, agreement, or self-serving plugs."
Unfortunately, this is a side effect of attaching a contest to the featured blog. Some comments are just in for the count and this is a distraction from the conversation. At least we can agree the content is improving.
So, if counting how many blogs you post comments to doesn't seem to be the answer. How do we raise to level of the comments?
Always great to hear from you.
Continued Success,
Robert Mesa
SiliconPost.Com
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Permalink Reply by Charlene L. Ragsdale on
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Robert,
I don't think "we" raise the levels ourselves - we are only responsible for what "we" post. Therefore, "we" can only hope that our posts provide an opportunity to post content.
I do know that the contest isn't based on "just posting a reply" it must be an intelligent reply to be counted to the drawing.
I just try to start blogs and hopes it creates conversations - if it doesn't, oh well - next blog.
All the best to you, my Friend -
All the Best,
Charlene L. Ragsdale - Las Vegas, NV
“Proper Business with a Purpose”
Recent Winner of the Star.tup.biz $1000 Giveaway!
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Permalink Reply by Robert Mesa on
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Hi Charlene,
You're telling me comments must be an intelligent reply to be counted towards the contest? No wonder I have'nt won this contest. LOL
I really hope this is true. At least in your case this is true. I enjoy reading your blogs and comments, which are good examples of quality content. Which also leads me to believe "we can" raise the level "by example". ;-)
Thank you for sharing your talents and insight with us.
Your friend,
Robert Mesa
SiliconPost.Com
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Permalink Reply by Nascent Dynamics ( ) on
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I also agree.
Charlene does post quality content and demonstrates excellent interaction on subject too. Robert, you are notorious for being personally responsive to almost every comment made on one of your segments. It's always a pleasure to connect with your proactive expertise.
You asked, "How can we raise the level of comments?" I think we can, and this does not necessarily need to go entirely through the featured blogs on SUp. I like to do my part here on the General Business and Management forum. I try to demonstrate exceptional thinking and engagement in the comments I post. I also try to come up with themed segments on occasion too.
I like the idea of promoting this network as long as I have a chance to be a special part of it, influence it with my perspective, and to experiment with my own initiatives within it. So continuing to produce interesting and useful content in our relative areas of expertise can really go far in self-organizing a movement within the community. I also like to include a touch of service, so I also read every post and make an effort to address anyone I can offer a compelling viewpoint to. I particularly try to respond to new messages so as to ensure people find timely consideration and interaction when they engage in discussions.
I would like to invite you both to help me host a group here I am setting up http://sta.rtup.biz/group/modernbusinessexploration In that, the basic idea is to engage people more comprehensively in a two way expose/ interview. I have experimented with a format for covering the who, what, where, how, and why of people while using my social networking savvy to tie in relavent perspectives and corresponding activities I am into.
Some of the feedback I've had from my first two interviews was it was one of the best experiences they had in social networking online. Now I have integrated it into my new strategy for Sta.rtUp.Biz, something you could discuss with me there or here. I would like to start by creating a couple of segments to explore each of you. If you find the experience truly valuable, then I will invite you to pay it forward and conduct your own hosted explorations there.
There's no set format, and it can be set up to be done over time, and as an ongoing discussion. So it would be kind of neat to see what you two could come up with in interviewing eachother through a group media event. I think this kind of thing could really help to raise the quality of content and interaction.
So as I do my thing, I like to see your respective works. We each have some style and thought out technique to our discussions. You both do a tremendous service to the end-users in this community and I know your businesses offer that quality in the products and services you provide. You simply don't push your work onto people as if they were mere "prospects". I certainly think that merits some reciprocation, reinforcement, and deeper investigation. It also speaks highly to what members exploring this forum find. So thanks for all that you do.
Best,
Anthony Reardon
Nascent Dynamics ( ) Modern Business for the Modern Environment
Let's Get Growing
Diamond Member Posts
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