In my view, blogging is not a popularity contest or about growing your profile. It's about engaging in a thoughtful, transparent online conversation with readers and other bloggers on topics that you all share a passion for. Along the way you might be lucky to gain loyal feed readers - "fans" if you will. In addition, you may also find some folks who let's just say aren't your fans. They may not be your enemies either, but they certainly are not your fans! If you regularly post thoughtful valuable content and are discovered, I guarantee you will get an earful from passionate readers on both sides. This week I experienced this first hand and I learned a lot from it.
Regular readers all know and heard enough about PRSA Bloggergate, so I will spare everyone by not belaboring this any further. It's over. However, I do want to share with you an incredible random act of reader kindness that truly shocked me tonight.
As you all know, last weekend I got married and blogged about it. My new wife, Lisa, and I were flattered and surprised to have received so many wonderful, thoughtful blog comments and email wishes from readers around the world. But today, two individuals blew us away by sending us a basket of gifts from off our bridal registry! You know it's a special time for blogging when your readers take the time to buy you gifts. And this was exactly what I needed to balance out a rough week of battle in the blogosphere.
I want to publicly thank Lee and Josh from iMedia Connection. Your four reading eyeballs are already the most amazing gift I could ever ask for, but it was also incredibly nice of you to think of Lisa and I during this special time in our lives. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.
