Disqus - Latest Comments for Brad Shorr

Re: Read My Lips: Twitter Lists Are Meant to be Exclusionary

Brad Shorr — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:53:56 -0000

Hi Jan, Excellent argument, logical, and well stated. A couple additional points, one philosophical and one prosaic.

1. The act of not following someone on Twitter is itself exclusionary. The act of joining Twitter is exclusionary, as it excludes all the people not on Twitter.
2. As for pigeonholing, keep in mind you can put the same person on any number of lists you create.

Re: When Quitting is the Only Sane Option Left

Brad Shorr — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:54:46 -0000

Hi Jan, I too am glad you are giving up cigarettes. Nasty, nasty things they are. Take it from someone who knows - you are going to feel better physically and feel better about yourself. If there's anything I can do to help, please reach out.

Re: There’s No Such Thing As Bad Press

Brad Shorr — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:40:18 -0000

Hi Derrick, Thanks for expanding on my post. They say the opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference. I really do think when customers shut down, you've almost certainly lost the business. On the flip side, when companies don't talk to customers, customers feel the apathy. That's why blogs are such a great opportunity to connect!

Re: Social Web: Blogging Constant Change

Brad Shorr — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:27:39 -0000

I don't know Rick, but lately I'm tending to agree with Jason. Social media can be a great way to discover good blogs and specific blog posts on topics of interest. Sites like Twitter and Plurk and even LinkedIn compliment blogs more than compete with them, at least professionally-oriented ones. For business blogs, which I help clients develop, I definitely think it will be a positive if social chatter ceases to be a common element within the blog itself.

Re: Happiness CCXXXV

Brad Shorr — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 09:19:11 -0000

Thanks for brightening my day, Rick. A smile makes all the difference, doesn't it?

Re: Welcome back, Joanna Young

Brad Shorr — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:08:01 -0000

Hi Rick, Joanna - This project turned out to be a wonderful Twitter learning experience for many of us - an unexpected fringe benefit!

Re: How Do Companies Find Their Community Managers?

Brad Shorr — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:20:54 -0000

Rick, interesting post, one I think will grow in importance in the year ahead as more companies figure out social media must play an integral role in their marketing. I also do social media consulting, which truthfully consists of passing along what I've learned through my own participation over the last couple years. But almost every project involves asking other specialists for input and advice. Fortunately the blogging/social media community is very open to sharing and collaborating, which really helps accelerate the learning process for everyone.

Re: Blog Day 2008

Brad Shorr — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:24:58 -0000

Hi Rick, thank you so much. It's flattering to be mentioned by you, and in such fine company.

Re: Happiness CCLXXV

Brad Shorr — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:02:57 -0000

Congratulations! I hope you and your bride have many more.

<abbr>Brad Shorr´s last blog post..Did I Really Send That??</abbr>

Re: Status Update – Nov. 2008

Brad Shorr — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:35:51 -0000

Hi Rick, In an economy like this, yours is a good problem to have. It's always good to hear from you, whether daily, weekly, or whenever you have time. Happy Thanksgiving.

<abbr>Brad Shorr´s last blog post..7 Things I’m Thankful For</abbr>

Re: Social Media Something

Brad Shorr — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:17:51 -0000

Rick, Good questions - I was asked several of them today in a talk I gave on blogs and social media. In my case, I have definitely gotten more readers as a result of social media. More important, social media has deepened relationships to the point where they have been fruitful in terms of collaboration and referrals. Simplified my life? I'd love to say yes, but actually, no. Right now I'm sort of bewildered by the number of networks I'm in and the apparent overlap. I'm starting to think an inch wide and a mile deep is a better than trying to maintain a presence on 50 social sites. But I'm not sure about that. What do you think?

<abbr>Brad Shorr´s last blog post..How Important Are Subscriptions for Business Blogs?</abbr>

Re: Happiness CCCVI

Brad Shorr — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:41:03 -0000

Hi Rick, I've given you the Premio Dardos award - congratulations! Check my blog for details.

<abbr>Brad Shorr´s last blog post..Premio Dardos Awards</abbr>

Re: Walk Your Walk

Brad Shorr — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:29:49 -0000

Well said, Rick. Especially in these difficult times, it's important to stick to what got us where we are, rather than cave under economic pressure or whatever.

<abbr>Brad Shorr´s last blog post..An Online Marketing Fairy Tale</abbr>

Re: Gaining Consensus – Why?

Brad Shorr — Tue, 12 May 2009 06:34:17 -0000

Rick, You've stated the opportunity, the problem, and the solution extremely well. I would add that there should be a sense of urgency here. The speed with which social media is being adapted in business is rapidly accelerating. Companies run a risk of being completely outflanked by competitors in the battle for the hearts and minds of customers.

<abbr>Brad Shorr´s last blog post..Social Media Squeeze Endangers Midsized Firms</abbr>

Re: Happiness CCCXXIV

Brad Shorr — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 13:21:51 -0000

Having so few to enjoy, as has been the case this year, makes you appreciate the beautiful days all the more. Excellent sentiments, Rick!
.-= Brad Shorr´s last blog ..Business Model Innovation Comes before Branding and Marketing =-.

Re: BIGLIST SEO Blog Reviews 0020209

Brad Shorr — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:55:32 -0000

Hi Lee, Thank you very much for mentioning The Whoa Factor. Being on your list inspires us more than you can know. We really appreciate it.

Re: Zemanta is Your Blogging Assistant

Brad Shorr — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 15:42:43 -0000

Hi Mike, good to hear you like Zemanta, too. In Firefox 3, you can turn Zemanta onor off for whatever Web page you're at with one click. Very handy. Thanks for the mention!

Re: Follow These Folks on Twitter

Brad Shorr — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:00:28 -0000

All I can say ... is this ever COOL!

Re: Blog Blazers: A Gold Mine of Blogging Tips & Direction

Brad Shorr — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:17:21 -0000

Mike, I enjoyed this book very much, and have been recommending it to new bloggers as a way to learn from the horse's mouth what it takes to be successful. I hope Stephane sells enough copies to do a sequel.

Re: Thanks, You Lovely People

Brad Shorr — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:01:56 -0000

Jan, many thanks to you and your community of readers for taking part in what's turned out to be probably the most meaningful conversation ever on my blog. You are all so generous to stop by and share your ideas and experiences. I feel like I've made a whole bunch of new friends, and that makes me feel great. I am definitely not against happiness! But I did love the book. Thanks again to all of you.

Re: Is Voicemail Dead?

Brad Shorr — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:57:52 -0000

I use voice mail reluctantly, only when clients favor phone over digital communication. Shannon stated my feelings about VM perfectly. Political candidates around here (Chicago, IL) have developed a habit of leaving ridiculously long VM campaign messages, more than one a day as the election nears. They must be trying to lose votes!

Re: Is Voicemail Dead? | Web Business by Ken Burbary

Brad Shorr — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:57:52 -0000

Re: How to engage readers and build amazing community around your blog

Brad Shorr — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:03:52 -0000

Great points all around. I think regular posting is more important even than frequent posting. I tell clients you're better off posting twice a week like clockwork than posting tons for a week or two, dropping off, and starting up again. Does that make sense? Readers like to know what to expect.

Re: Should You Moderate Your Blog Comments?

Brad Shorr — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:45:25 -0000

Chris, I agree with you, but I do think moderation is less of an issue now than it was a few years ago. First, we now have the ability to subscribe to post conversations, which makes it easier for commentators to follow the flow independent of the time element. Second, People seem to be using Twitter and similar sites to discuss posts of interest (at least superficially), and then make longer, more thoughtful comments later on the blog post itself. The reader's desire to see a comment published immediately is still strong, but now we have other options to get that instant gratification.

Re: Should You Moderate Your Blog Comments?

Brad Shorr — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:46:52 -0000

Chris, You are absolutely right. I generally tell business clients to start by leaving comments open. If issues occur, comment moderation can always be used as a last resort. My experience has been that for business blogs, commenting is almost always conducted professionally and problems are few and far between. A more important issue for business bloggers to consider - how do we get people commenting on the blog at all? In that sense, occasional comment abuse is a good problem to have.

Re: A Cartoon For Our Times

Brad Shorr — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:06:12 -0000

Hi Jeff, Glad you like the cartoon! There's no doubt the Obama administration will bring change, but I sure don't see it going in the Distributist direction. As you say, time will tell.

Re: Useful copy in the real world

Brad Shorr — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:57:28 -0000

South west should be southwest, I believe, and lower case on the Northeast.

Re: How You Can Help End the Problem of Blogs With Great Content and No Readers

Brad Shorr — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:31:40 -0000

Excellent idea! Count me in please.

Re: Twitter Strategy with Multiple Accounts to Build a Competitve Advantage in Social Media

Brad Shorr — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:33:13 -0000

Very interesting post. One thing that makes Twitter a challenging medium for writers is that it requires versatility. Although I agree wholeheartedly that a Twitter identity should have a clear focus, mixing up Tweets seems to attract a greater number of engaged followers than hammering away on one type of Tweet.

Re: We vs. You! Are you Tuned In?

Brad Shorr — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:42:39 -0000

Cool tool! I scored the same as Patric. As a guideline, it's helpful, though I agree there are a lot of variables that affect the significance of a particular score. Measuring your blog over time, following a trend, might be more valuable than looking at a specific number.

Re: Pull Up, Kid: You’re Blogging Under the Influence

Brad Shorr — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:00:23 -0000

Hi Jan, Nice rant - I found it a little late. It's pretty hard to have an intelligent discussion without mutual respect. That's the main reason I've pretty much given up watching television news. What is it that makes people want to watch people scream at each other? I don't get it. There's plenty of that going on in the blogosphere as well.
.-= Brad Shorr´s last blog ..Match Your Motif to Your Message =-.

Re: Connecting with Readers Is Blogging’s Own Reward

Brad Shorr — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:53:22 -0000

Hi Jan, I agree with Blogger Dad - one style doesn't fit all. Blog posts can be anything - entertaining, informative, editorial, provocative, etc. As a reader, I enjoy many different writing styles, even in the same blogger - so long as the blog has a point that I can grasp quickly. Don't make me read seven paragraphs to find out what the topic is. Or, as we say up here in the Midwest U.S., don't take the long way around the barn. :)

Re: How to Become the Prince of Tweets

Brad Shorr — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:53:55 -0000

Nice post, Jan. Great advice. Lots of people in my age bracket (old) have trouble figuring out Twitter because it is so different from any form of communication that's come before. People use it in so many ways - some good, some bad - it's hard to figure out what you're supposed to do. You've summed it up perfectly. Thanks for including me in your list of friends. I'm grateful to be counted among them and the feeling is mutual. :)
.-= Brad Shorr´s last blog ..Use Hyphens, Not Underscores, in URLs =-.

Re: How Do You Squeeze in the Time for Blogging?

Brad Shorr — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:58:02 -0000

Jan, I always keep a notebook for post ideas, and when I have time, I write them. My goal is to have from 4-8 posts in draft form at all times. That way, if I get busy, I don't obsess about writing more posts. (Not that anyone should feel pressure to publish in the first place.) But everybody has down time, and that's a good time to write posts. Today, for instance, is kind of slow for me. I've knocked out 3 detailed posts and might do #4 this afternoon. Maybe if Lio approaches blogging this way, he can continue to enjoy it.
.-= Brad Shorr´s last blog ..Happy Fourth of July! =-.

Re: How Do You Squeeze in the Time for Blogging?

Brad Shorr — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:34:10 -0000

Jan, What you need is a recording of a keyboard clacking. You could listen to it on your iPod while you[re writing in your notebook. :)
.-= Brad Shorr´s last blog ..Don’t Let Testimonials Dictate Your Marketing Strategy =-.

Re: 7 Tips to Keep You from Killing Your Own Blog

Brad Shorr — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:47:07 -0000

Hi Jan, Great tips - collective wisdom is powerful and I hope Lio can make use of it. Thanks for including me, and best wishes to you and all your Exhaling readers.

Re: My Philosophy in a Bottle of Ketchup

Brad Shorr — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:07:46 -0000

Jan, Now that money is tight for us, I've taken to buying enormous bottles of ketchup at Wal-Mart. Family and friends joke about it when I thump one down on the table, but I'm laughing too ... all the way to the bank. So I guess what I'm saying is, we are the flip side of you, where too much ketchup is a sign of losing it, not making it! :)

Re: A Bumbling Influential Blogger Says His Thanks

Brad Shorr — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:16:24 -0000

Hi Jan, Congrats on getting your name out there despite the glitches. I wouldn't worry too much about stuff that goes wrong ... Blogging is a lot like golf. Some mistakes you make over and over; others are so crazy they happen only once in a lifetime. Regardless, the game is always fun.

Re: A Day in the Life of a Jedi Blogger

Brad Shorr — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 07:25:28 -0000

Hi Jan, Part of my weekend was consumed playing around with Apture, a blogging tool that pulls in multimedia files. I'll be posting about it later this week. That, along with exercise, errands, dinners out, and POOF - it's Monday. Sorry to hear about Cory Aquino. She was/is an amazing leader.

Re: Nominate Your Favorite Writing Blog: 4th Annual Top Top 10 Blogs for Writers Contest

Brad Shorr — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:53:05 -0000

My nomination - Confident Writing - www.confidentwriting.com. Inspirational, consistently creative, lively conversation.

Re: I Am Your Manager Now Listen To Me

Brad Shorr — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:09:09 -0000

Great post, but I fear the people who could most benefit from your suggestions are not receptive. Ideas like this inane smoking ban are promoted by folks who think they know better, and no amount of discussion will convince them otherwise.

Re: Holding on with both hands

Brad Shorr — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:25:37 -0000

Holli, Sounds like you are approaching your challenges with the right attitude. We can't avoid problems in our lives, but how we respond can make them better or a whole lot worse. Good luck.

Re: Permission to be Dour

Brad Shorr — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:25:39 -0000

Hi Jan, Wow, thank you so much for pointing your incredible blog community to my book review. It's enough to de-dour me! The book really struck a chord with me, and I am very pleased and quite surprised to find it struck such a powerful chord with you and many others as well. One of the knocks we sometimes hear about social media is that it is superficial and insincere, but conversations like the one around the "Against Happiness" post - not to mention many of your own conversations - prove once and for all that social media is capable of stimulating discussion of issues of fundamental importance to how we live and what we do. One thing I've learned from you (and others) and am grateful for is the courage to write openly and with feeling - the feeling I am experiencing at the moment. When I started blogging back in 2005, I thought exposing feelings would be counterproductive to my business. In fact, I think it helps. People want connections with people, not faceless, nameless corporations. Sorry for the rambling comment, but there's so much to talk about this week! Thanks again for the incredible shout out.

Re: The Art of Criticizing a Blogging Buddy

Brad Shorr — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:03:17 -0000

Hi Jan, As you say, there's a big difference between disagreeing with someone's ideas - which should be fine in a blog comment - and chastising someone for being disagreeable. For the latter situation, my policy is to praise publicly and criticize privately - though like anything there can be exceptions. Embarrassing people in public more often leads to both sides digging in their heels than to anyone experiencing a change of heart. Plus, ripping into somebody in a blog comment may give us a moment of satisfaction, but it may well be followed by a lifetime of regret.

Re: BIGLIST SEO Blog Reviews 0020209

Brad Shorr — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:32:56 -0000

Jacqueline, Thank you for reading! If you have ideas for posts, please let me know - bradshorr AT gmail DOT com.

Re: Surefire – But Often Ignored – Trick to Superb Writing

Brad Shorr — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:51:07 -0000

Jan, You have nailed it. It is impossible to become even a halfway decent writer without reading brilliant writers. Some of my favorites: G. K. Chesterton, Paul Bowles, Ray Bradbury, Gustave Flaubert, Michel Tournier, Anne Rice, Robert Graves, Thomas Merton, Philip K. Dick. One day I hope to write 1% as well as any one of them.

Re: Giving Good Loving To My Top Follow Friday People

Brad Shorr — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:32:14 -0000

Jan, Thank you for including me in this spectacular list. Now I have a whole bunch of new people I hope to connect with!

Re: Branding & Blogging-Bigger Impact in Smaller Business Cards?

Brad Shorr — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:02:38 -0000

Barbara, you've inspired me to get these. Joanna Young gave me one at SOBCon, and my first thought was, cool! The first thing I've seen in a business card that's really different in, like, thirty years.

Brad Shorr's last blog post..This Economy Calls for Immediate Discussion, Not!

Re: Link PR | 10 Strategies for Getting Inbound Links

Brad Shorr — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:49:18 -0000

Barbara, What an amazing post. I don't recall ever seeing such detailed examples of linking via social networking. I'm Stumbling this post immediately (which may be another way for you to get an inbound link!).

Brad Shorr's last blog post..Content - Is There Anything New Under the Sun?

Re: Event PR: Planning a Blogger Recruitment Party

Brad Shorr — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:08:39 -0000

My daughter started using evite - works great! I'd definitely bring a camera ... maybe work with my illustrator to create a post-event cartoon with caricatures. :)

Brad Shorr's last blog post..Words for Nerds - Portmanteau

Re: Project Confident Friendship

Brad Shorr — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:22:28 -0000

Barbara, Thank you for joining in! That's a beautiful photograph, just perfect for this beautiful late summer's day.

Brad Shorr's last blog post..500 Posts for Word Sell - Win a FREE Book

Re: Photo Prompt | talking heads or puppets?

Brad Shorr — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:28:17 -0000

LOL. Great metaphor, Barbara. Nothing more frustrating than talking to a puppet or listening to a talking head.

Brad Shorr's last blog post..Serious Blog Design Flaws

Re: Thought Leadership PR Recipe Calls for 29 Ps

Brad Shorr — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:06:11 -0000

What a clever post, Barbara! Your p-resentation makes it easy to remember these very important points.

Brad Shorr's last blog post..Win Up to $500 Blogging about Cell Phone Users and Abusers!

Re: Simply The Best | Group Writing Project

Brad Shorr — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 09:22:30 -0000

Barbara, What a fine choice! The storytelling post, like all your posts, is highly informative, but here your theme is extremely important.

Brad Shorr's last blog post..Eco-Friendly Christmas Cartoon

Re: Blog Redesign Priorities | Reader Survey

Brad Shorr — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:41:49 -0000

Hi Barbara, there certainly is a lot more to blog design than meets the eye! I think you've zeroed in on the right issues - 2,10,11,12,19,20 seem especially important to me. If you'd like to talk any of this over, I think I owe you coffee. :)

Brad Shorr's last blog post..Twitter - The One Stop Social Media Shop

Re: How do You Take Your Social Media?

Brad Shorr — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:54:33 -0000

Hi Barbara, Superb examples. For me, when you take the personal out of social media, it's like drinking a cup of hot water without the coffee. I send an automated response to new Twitter followers, but wonder if it's such a good idea. Other than that, I try to keep it real. When social media networking smacks of automation, it affects me more negatively than direct email (but not as bad as telemarketing calls!).

Brad Shorr's last blog post..Twitter - The One Stop Social Media Shop

Re: 10 Social Media Savvy Tips for Baby Boomers

Brad Shorr — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:29:40 -0000

Hi Barbara, Congrats on the podcast! What a great topic. It would be funny for us Boomers to have a designated day when we use our high school graduation pictures as our avatars! :)

Brad Shorr's last blog post..Twitter - The One Stop Social Media Shop

Re: SOBCon09 Biz School for Bloggers – Prelude, Postlude, Futuredude

Brad Shorr — Sun, 10 May 2009 07:38:46 -0000

Hi Barbara, Thanks for putting together this thorough, informative, fun, and insightful recap of SOBCon. What a wonderful event it was. Thank you also, for getting us all involved in the Social Media Club cocktail party, which was a ton of fun and gave me a chance to meet some really incredible people. You're the best, Barabara.

Brad Shorr's last blog post..Twitter - The One Stop Social Media Shop

Re: Financial Markets and B to B Social Media

Brad Shorr — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:46:56 -0000

Hi Barbara, Tremendously informative post - thank you! Financial services firms often shy away from social media, and it's nice to see a local firm leading the charge in this area of unlimited opportunity. (Glad to see CME is getting into SEO.)

Brad Shorr's last blog post..Twitter - The One Stop Social Media Shop

Re: Image Maker PR: 20 Ways to Look Good When You Say Cheese

Brad Shorr — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:52:54 -0000

Hi Barbara, Fantastic advice. Wish I would have read this about five head shots ago!

Brad Shorr's last blog post..Use Twitter to Lay Groundwork for Your Business Blog

Re: Blog Redesign Before/After in 24 minutes | Post 650

Brad Shorr — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:22:00 -0000

Barbara, Looks fantastic. Simple, easy to read - a home run.
.-= Brad Shorr´s last blog ..WordPress Thesis Ideal for DIY SEO =-.

Re: 10 Blog Lessons I Did Not Learn From Darren Rowse

Brad Shorr — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:20:31 -0000

Jan, You failed to mention your mastery of blog headlines - as evidenced from the title of this very post! Other than that one omission, I think you've put together an amazing list. There is a lot to be said for keeping your blog in perspective: at times I've allowed my blog to take on a life of its own, squeezing out more important personal and professional matters. Keeping a sense of proportion keeps you sane.

Re: My Top #FollowFriday People and Their Best Posts

Brad Shorr — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:12:26 -0000

Hi Jan, I like your inventive (and well executed) approach to Twitter network building - thank you for including me. I may have to steal your idea!

Re: Metrics that Trump Alexa Ranking and PageRank

Brad Shorr — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:08:45 -0000

Jan - Writing to Exhale was about quitting cigarettes - interesting! I hope you find a way to get off of those things - they're no good for you. To your questions:
1. I've never paid much attention to Alexa except when doing research on sites that compete with a client's.
2. I use PageRank mainly to quickly check the legitimacy of people who send link exchange requests and things like that. It's a decent benchmark, at least for now. This week I've been reading that Google is not paying much attention to PR these days.
3. My blogging inspirations are many - these people come to mind: Liz Strauss, Karen Swim, Joanna Young, Amy Palko, Jan Germonimo, Phil Gerbyshak, Rosa Say, Robert Hruzek, Fred Schlegel ... the list could go on for miles.