Blogging Stories

Origin

When we describe blogs to others we tend to focus on the technology involved. That seems the only common denominator in all the different types of blogs we see; linklogs, k-logs, teenage diaries, political pundits, warblogs, columns, groupblogs, etc. etc. the list goes on forever.

That does not convey however in any way why it is that so many have taken to it (Technorati is now tracking 2 million blogs) and even less why people keep on going.

Therefore LiliaEfimova and TonZijlstra (on the night before BlogWalk) came up with the idea of collecting stories around blogging. Stories of how blogging influenced us, changed us, our lives, our learning, our networks. It is in these stories that the impact of blogs will be better to see. The story is in the people, not in the technological tools.

In the end we might decide to capture these stories on video, or bring out a dead-tree version. We don't know yet. Let's start by bringing together stories first.

Stories

The job interview
Example of how blogs are reputation builders

During a recent interview TonZijlstra had for a new job, printouts from his own blog and others, especially MartinRoell 's Jobblog, were used by the interviewer. It helped establish professional focus and skills, as well as sketched the reach and breadth of his international network. (Will elaborate more later, TonZijlstra)

The business magnet
Example of how blogs are attractors of business through credibility in reputation

On two occasions ErikvanBekkum acquired business through his company weblog (http://www.efios.com/blog/∞) because (twice) a series of articles had drawn the attention of customers looking on the web for innovative and creative ways of working. During the interviews that followed with the customers, it turned out to be that the blog had been a major discriminator in assigning the business because the articles blog reflected the mindset / thinking required for the project whereas other blog entries provided sufficient insight to assist the reputation of the company.

The business model
Example of how blogs can disseminate ideas and become value adding

In his blog TonZijlstra regularly writes about how we might look at organisational models. In one of these entries he described how one independent consultant might become much more attractive if he can introduce his entire network into the work he does. John Dumbrille was thinking along similar lines at the time, and TonZijlstra gave him the final push to establish the business model he wanted to use. (Will elaborate more later and also an interview with John is in the works, TonZijlstra)

Hired as lecturer
Example of how blogs can get you work
MartinRoell got hired, as a lecturer at Berufsakademie Dresden.
(http://www.roell.net/weblog/archiv/2003/05/07/ebusiness_vorlesung_an_der_berufsakademie_dresden.shtml∞)


The catalyst for self-transformation
Example of how blogs enable self transformation
I started blogging because I was encouraged by a blogger, Chris Corrigan, to do so. It was a useful opportunity to get back to writing, to re-engage myself outside of what had become a stifling environbment at work. Over time, I began to find inspiration from many unexpected people suddenly constellated near my outlook. I slowly woke out of a fog, and after a few months I left my job and found more suitable employment as a consultant. The themes of the blog, which began as a personal diary with social commentary, began to crystallize and I renamed the blog and edited out some of the historical dross.
Some clients may see this blog of mine as a good thing, I kinow of one who came across it and found it curious, maybe not to be trusted. It doesnt really matter - I see it now as a necessary method of engagement.
John Dumbrille
http://www.johndumbrille.blogspot.com∞

Hired as researcher
Example of how blogs can get you work
SebPaquet got hired as a Research Officer in the National Research Council of Canada, in part based on the reputation he had gained from blogging his research.
http://radio.weblogs.com/0110772/2003/06/09.html∞

Blogs Can Pay
Examples of how blogs can win you projects
How my blog helped in getting the first project :
- it got me on the first page on Google search for qualitative researchers in India - before i started my blog - neither my name nor my company could ever be found on a google search.
- it allowed the client to read some of my perspectives on qualitative research - which i believe is more useful than a laundry list provided in 'cold' categories like Tools and Techniques or Types of Research pages of most company websites
- it also gave the client a more comprehensive understanding of the person behind the company, which in this case, worked to my advantage
http://radio.weblogs.com/0121664/2003/12/08.html#a327∞

And the second :
A large Ethnographic Research study from a client based in the US. Two ethnographers and research consultants in the US (both have their own blogs too), with whom i have been exchanging conversations - Steve Portigal and Clynton Taylor independently forwarded to me an advertisement the client had put up on a Yahoo Group, looking for social science researchers for a project in India. And asked me to write to them if i was interested. I did. And got the project. This time round, it wasn't the fact that i was first on a Google search for "qualitative researchers India", as was the case in the first project i landed. This time, in my first letter to the Client, i sent them a short ppt presentation on my company, and a link to my blog - urging them to read it and pointing to relevant categories, as they are better reflections of my thoughts and current preoccupations. And of the person they would be hiring. Which is very important in the field of qualitative research and ethnography, as these fields tend to be researcher driven, as opposed to 'colder' corporate names and credentials.
http://radio.weblogs.com/0121664/categories/blogsBlogging/2004/03/07.html#a382∞

Dina

Bloggers Collaborate
Example of how blogs can get you work
Johnnie Moore (http://www.johnniemoore.com∞) and Jennifer Rice (http://brand.blogs.com∞) got to know each other through each other's marketing weblog. As a result, Jennifer (in Dallas) invited John (in London) to work for her client (in Malmo, Sweden) on an international branding consultancy project. They both found it straighforward to work together and at the first client meeting were congratulated on the way they seemed to work together.

The reviewer
Example of how blogs can help researchers
After posting her PhD outline LiliaEfimova got contacted by Jack Vinson (http://www.jackvinson.com/∞) who asked for a text copy of it and then returned a very detailed review. Next time Lilia was able to get help from Jack again, as a "last moment before the deadline" support (http://blog.mathemagenic.com/2004/02/29.html#a1103∞)

Recognised by question
Example of how blogs help you to know each other
http://blog.mathemagenic.com/2003/12/23.html#a883∞


Add your story here

How Blogs might affect your life negatively

Reasons not to blog
http://dijest.com/dontblog∞