Blogging, Z-Lists & Squidoo

Intent
Firing up a Typepad account this year, we really didn't know what to expect when we published our first blog entry. We conceived "Viasblog" as a small and direct channel for posting information helpful and relevant to our clients and partners. We chose topics that we live and breath for -- user experience, technology and the human experience, Web 2.0, Internet marketing and communication strategies, cool gadgets and technologies, even a heated debate on Net Neutrality.

Experience
We post on our blog as often as we can. We have it on our radar every day. This year, we found ourselves dedicating summer evenings to Geek Night and fun posts for Fridays. Blogging has become an intricate part of the fabric of who we are as a consultancy and it has also become part of the fiber of who we are today. It has given us a refreshed sense of self expression -- a voice for new ideas, collaboration, and outreach to an extended community beyond what we couldn't have imagined.

Value
While we do not get to blog with the frequency we'd like, when we do, we blog with a sense of professional responsibility where the time invested, the topics covered, and the posts published we hope are valuable to our readers. We have enjoyed all the comments posted and email suggestions and forwards on articles readers wanted us to cover or comment on. We appreciate all the subscribers who engage with us by RSS and email. Each new reader has made us feel more connected and more energized about what blogging offers.

Acceptance
Over the course of the past several months, there has been a great deal of buzz about blog rolls and people's circle of influence (See Blogroll Buffet, What's with the Blogroll), Technorati rankings (what makes a blog an "authority," popular, elite), Alpha Bloggers, the Bloggerati - an A-List Bloglebrity and even blog value (how much is your blog worth?)

Thanks to a meme originated by Mack Collier of The Viral Garden and Mike Sansome of Converstations who kicked off a groundswell of "link love" for our blog, our blog now has been given exposure to a wider community than we ever imagined 10 months ago. Now, incorporated into a recent post, What to Read Next, by Seth Godin as well as on his lens on Squidoo, he published this extensive list of "Z-list" blogs, a community based list of recommended blogs "you might want to check out, but haven't heard of."

Exposure
Viaspire's blog was added to this list early on thanks to Mike at Converstations, who was one of the very first bloggers to reach out to us. He was one of the first to refer links to us. His genuine generosity is what makes the blogosphere so connecting and so rewarding.

Meaning
Exploring what it means to us as a Z-List blog, it made us think about what we do, how we do it, and what blogging has meant to us. In wrapping up the year, we wanted to revisit the fundamentals of blogging. It's a list that has been explored at many levels. Feel free to contribute to the list.

Blogging...

• Creates conversation.
• Extends the conversation outward.
• Creates community.
• Connects people to people (or not)
• Gives a voice to everyone.
• Memorializes experiences.
• Is organic.
• Can be creative, analytical, serious, and light-hearted from post to post.
• Is a form of self-expression
• Can be a credible source of (citizen) news and information.
• Demands authenticity.
• Requires transparency.
• Allows for lurkers to read or active subscribers to engage.
• Can create or kill a brand.
• Can be short and sweet or long and long-winded.
• Provides a commentary on timely issues.
• Can be useful, informative and intelligent.
• Is significant (despite what Joseph Rago, of the WSJ may think).
• Can be a fun outlet for self-expression.
• Is effective and efficient.
• Is challenging.
• Is measurable.
• Will soon be essential and necessary for business.
• Can give someone 15 minutes of fame or infamy.
• Integrates the written word with video and audio.
• Is a skill.
• Elevates ideas and new thinking.
• Is extensible.
• Is universal.

Happy New Year!

Comments

[mindblob]

Hello,
Wow! What a great post. Your "Blogging..." list shows how deep you go into reading the blogs. This shows a great respect and deserves great respect in return.
I'm glad I just found you through the Z-List.
Best wishes from mindblob. : )

[Mike Sansone]

What a great list (one I'll want to share). Thanks for including so many articles I hadn't seen (and for mentioning me as well)

Thank you for engaging in the larger conversation - all your readers benefit from your efforts. I'm glad I'm one of those readers.

Have a great 2007. Stay contagious.