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The Power to Change Your World

I’ve been blogging and networking on a national scale for a while and just recently have even been able to meet some of my online friends in trips to Arizona and North Carolina. It is WONDERFUL to see that in person they really ARE who they are online! (Or at least that’s been my happy experience so far!)

But lately I’ve made friends with some local bloggers mostly thanks to Twitter. (Twitter is an AMAZING tool for getting in touch, getting to know people and learning about new stuff FAST!)

One local blogger, Jason Keeling of A Better West Virginia, has put some serious work into promoting West Virginia in a positive light and organizing other WV bloggers to help him do it.

He’s used West Virginia Day, a holiday celebrating WV’s birthday, as an occasion to begin changing the mistaken stereotypical ideas about West Virginia. One look at 304blogs.com (a tremendous resource for WV bloggers created by Bill Gardner and Dave Epp) and you’ll see the positive responses already flooding the internet!

We’ve had coverage in The Charleston Gazette, on WOWK TV and on West Virginia Public Broadcasting. I think that after today’s efforts, attention will only grow. Link love from so many sources is not a bad thing.

If you’re wondering why I’m telling you all this, it’s because this is something you could really learn from. We ALL have local bloggers. Seriously, if you look at WV here in AR, you’ll see why I’ve had friends that have joked in the past that I have the only computer in WV. There just have not been that many Active Rain bloggers from West Virginia. If *I* have a band of local bloggers, YOU DO, TOO.

Meet them. Make friends. Think about what you could do together to make your area a better place.

As a blogger, you ARE the media. You DO help create whatever impression people have about where you live.

There. Now that you know how to do it – what are you going to do about it?

Posted by Sarah Cooper on 06/20/2008 09:50 AM

Comments (43)

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43 Comments on The Power to Change Your World

JUN

2008

I think that I will Twitter more often now! I joined there months ago, but have not been updating in many weeks now. I need to get back to Twittering!

Sarah I am going to meet with some local bloggers tom!! I can't wait!

Sarah - I am finding that I'm enjoying reading and commenting on the blogs of my fellow rainers and others from NH and I see the commaraderie building.

Sarah. You are correct that there is a lot of potential in the local blog world. Congrats on your own projects in this area.

Localism is one of the coolest ways to get out information on your part of the world - take lots of pictures!

Seeing you in action in person I have to say you are amazing! I have some great AR friends who live throughout NC and we have been very mutually supportive but I like the idea of taking it one step further. Some day I am going to visit your beautiful state!

Sarah, I think is such an important detail we forget is social networks and social networking, and while I really enjoy getting to know all of you even more, I want to get to know my local community even more too and being part of the social network is great way to be available and be a resource.

I haven't done the twitter thing, but then Im in MO so I can wait another 20 yrs and still be caught up. like the idea of 'being' the media on a place. giving me something to think about. cw

Great point, Sarah. We are lucky to have a ton of really good bloggers here in AZ. Maybe we can "steal" some of your ideas. :-)

Sarah, Great blog. I do believe we are the local voice. So I will do my part, but tell me so I understand, how does twitter help????

Still torqued that you were at the meetup about five minutes from my house and I wasn't able to attend, Sarah. You know what they say about toddlers and best laid plans ...

Hope you're able to make it out this way again.

Sarah, I am finding more and more interesting people on Twitter. it allows to break the generational barriers as well.

Sarah- always good advice from you! I too have been remiss....only so much time in a day but I will try and make more an effort. Thanks for the reminder.

Sarah, Thanks for the post.. I have had a local blog for a while here in Hickory NC but have been very slack on it.. I need to get going !! I do have plans for some posts here on Localism.. OK- WHERE did you go in NC, if you were close and I missed you I will be upset ;-) You are just a traveling gal lately.. Lucky RES.. God bless,

Gerard - Twitter helps because locals are USING it. They find each other, talk about what's going on locally and want each other to do well. Twitter helps just because it's one more way to get in touch with people. And rather than blogging where you talk in comments, you're talking in real time most of the time.

Nick - If I ever have a good idea, you run with it!! :) (Love you AZ guys!)

Cheryl - LOL!! Well, take your time! :)

Stephen - I started on Twitter with the just the people I already knew from here. We were kind of bouncing from one thing to the next. But then I started meeting friends of friends, and then was found by locals ... now I have a whole new group of FRIENDS that I didn't know before Twitter -- and I LOVE IT.

Diane - West Virginia would welcome you with open arms!! And I have a guest room, if you don't mind cats and dogs and kids and stuff. ;) Meeting you was AWESOME -- you are quite a woman!!

Penny - I am *always* taking pictures!!

Steve - Thanks! It's been a lot of fun meeting some of the locals and Jason is keeping me busy with interviews here and there! (Just asked me to do another ... we'll see!)

Judy - You're starting the right way, building friendships! I see good things in store for you! :)

Jeannette - Yay!! Tweet us all about it!! :D

Steve - Come Tweet with us! :)

Hi Sarah,

Most of the bloggers I interact with are from Rain. Most of them are out of State and we haven't met as yet. I look forward to a day when an in person opportunity will present itself. It is always nice to put a face with the type written word.

You are sooo right ! As bloggers we are a part of the welcome wagon, internet or cyberspace chamber of commerce...we have the power of the media we all too often complain about...we have the power...come on AR folks...let's use it !

<--- sitting here trying to figure out what the past tense of twitter is ? Or is it the past participle ? I'm confused.

Sarah: I think finding other local bloggers and partnering with them can do so much to promote our local areas, and our states, too. Thanks for sharing.

Sarah, all week long I have been reading about the benefits to Twitter. I haven't learned Active Rain yet and am afraid of just being overwhelmed!

I am not getting the whole twiter idea yet, but than again, I just signed up a few days ago

Anne

Little One...

I just read a post that seriously pissed me off...So...It was nice to come in here and smell the sugar :)

Ahhh...I feel better already :)

TLW...ROAR!

It makes sense in a straight forward way... as a newbie to blogging, any little nugget I can pick up is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

This is the second blog today I have read about that has said twitter is the way to go. I guess I better check it out. Congrats on your success and getting to meet your AR friends.

And I got to meet YOU and learn a lot more about WV from you :)

You are my WV HERO, Sarah Cooper! I was so proud to know you with your newspaper interview, TV interview (even the one you didn't go do).... YOU ROCK!

Sarah, nice blog. Kudos to Jason Keeling of A Better West Virginia. Hope to see you around town soon.

Sarah... I'm so proud of you. And I can't wait to meet some of these bloggers when we're in WV. I plan on doing a TON of WV blogging this year.

Sarah......great post with some valuable informaiton. Soon it will catch on and there will be more power.

You are right Sarah. Blogging is becoming an accepted way to convey information. It has a targeted audience and is becoming very influential.

JUN

2008

I looked at the pics in Arizona and North Carolina....wonderful! I like your 'smiling' pictures. You radiate :)

Get Jeff to bring you here......tell him to visit his uncle here....so he will bring you...:) :)

I've been doing it ....blogging my heart away :)

And you met folks in VA, as well - Sarah Cooper's just the girl around town!

I'd encourage anyone who's confused about how Twitter can help, whether just in networking or business, to sign up and try it out. I'm sure for most of us, our first "tweet" was probably something along the lines of "okay, how does this work?" but as you see your network grow ... I've seen an invaluable benefit to my business in terms of the informal education I've received from listening to and talking with other agents, then there's the ability to collectively solve problems in real-time, have some fun - and oh yea, I got to meet THE Sarah Cooper in person because of Twitter.

"You DO help create whatever impression people have about where you live."

Love that phrase. Well done, Sarah!

Well, I am the original twit, since I have no idea what Twitter is was and does. I am about to find out however.

Terrific post Sarah! I'll be taking you words to heart and seeing what I can do about rounding up some local troops.

Sara really super great post and Ican't wait to meet you some day soon I hope. Twitter is the way to go everyone follow me ChrisShouse

Hi Sarah, how has your week been, I've only been on Twitter a few times this week, it was crazy busy. I do follow many people on Twitter. The Ann Arbor News is there and when I checked this week, looking for information on a car wreck in Saline, I was thrilled to see they were following me, which is amazing because they don't follow very many. Clink, girl friend.

JUN

2008

I have learned how much power my written word carries! I am trying to bring a positive message and words that can assist and inspire.

JUN

2008

Sarah - Great Post! I try to show anyone who happens to read my blog just what my area is all about. From the Mardi Gras parades to Crab Jubilees . . . from Historic Housing to Area Nature Trails . . . there's a lot going on out there and a lot to blog about. I believe if real estate bloggers would focus on some of this instead of simply posting their listings they would see a much better return on their invested time. You GO GIRL!

JUN

2008

Well...I have to say that I haven't met my local bloggers. Even though I joined Twitter I haven't done anything with it. I need a few clones of Lizette to keep up with everything. Now there is this new outside blog too to figure out. How do you get it all done?

JUN

2008

I am checking out twitter right now

JUN

2008

hee hee I don't think I would ever find ya and our mutual love for deathcab until twitter! :)

cheers,

@cindeelean

@staged4more

SEP

2008

I'm gonna have to learn more about Twitter - sounds like a great avenue for networking that I haven't explored yet.

Sarah I use twitter and have met several folks on twitter in fact I'm closing a property in October and the client twitters. Great way to network.

I have checked out Twitter twice nice and there is something about it that I must be missing. Each time I intend to join and then don't. Hummmmm ... could be I am overwhelmed with blogging and reading posts or that I am not convinced others really care about what I am doing. Who knows - maybe the next time I am inspired to check out Twitter I will join. Thanks for your blog and sharing so much.

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