I will admit it. I've only been blogging for a while. I still don't quite understand "what" makes a good blog. I still can't figure out how to entice people to my blog site, and I still don't understand half of what I'm reading or seeing about blogging, tweeting, uttering, pinging, etc. All I know is that, much like a moth to a flame or a small child to something shiney, I have to reach out, hold this new world of technology in my hands, and marvel at it under the full glare of bright sunlight. The more I read from our learned colleagues about this new Web 2.0 world and see all their comments--the more I want to be where they are now!
But, you know, in dark night hours--my "quiet" time"--while I read blogs, and thread off to other locations for more blogging "how-to's", all of the technical information that is presented and the marvelous ways in which everyone is using the web for self-promotion and to boost business, well, it can make a girl of 40-something feel technically stupid. My coach and friend, Mark Boyd (also on Active Rain--check him out sometime) is encouraging and has been very helpful in directing me toward successful blogging sites. My broker Marston Myers (also on Active Rain) speaks almost effortlessly about widgets and gadgets and apps. I sorta know what everyone is talking about in their blogs and in conversations, but the "techno babble" and "geek speak" can be quite cacophonous. And, I often feel that even after hours of research on the web, I know no more at the end of the night than I did at the beginning.
Perhaps it was the rain and the dark, gray skies that made me question whether I would ever fully appreciate or master the "shiney" new technology afforded by the Web. To cheer myself up, I went to my Twitter account and began reading some of the blogs of the friends and famous people I am currently "following." I had a nice "thank you" note from a local colleague, and admired how some of the people I am following can seem to post tweets every few minutes or hour (do these people ever eat or work or go to the bathroom??), when I saw something that caught my attention. Dr. Drew, the famous television medical doctor, counselor to the stars and troubled teens in America, and just a darned smart guy had just micro-blogged "I just don't get this retweet stuff? Can someone help me?"
Hallelujah! Dr. Drew is as confused as I am!
Just then, the rain clouds parted and I saw sunshine. Yes, Virginia, there are plenty of people out there who are struggling with Web 2.0 and with all things associated with blogging, micro-blogging, and tweeting and retweeting, etc. I have been vindicated--I am in good company with other admirable neophytes! Of course, to remain buoyed by this new found joy, I had to discount the fact that probably some 15 year old was instructing Dr. Drew on how to retweet...but I digress.
So, as night falls and I sit here again reading the blogging "how-tos," playing with yet more applications that are supposed to help my site, and try again to reach toward the elusive "understanding" of the world of social networking, I feel fortified by the fact that Dr. Drew, like me, is confused and needs help. I'll keep struggling and someday I'll look back (or not) and laugh (or cry) about how hard social networking and blogging seemed at the time. Stay tuned... In the meantime, I have but one thing to say...
"Thank you, Dr. Drew...and good retweeting to you!"
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