Comments on: WordCamp 2007: Lorelle VanFossen, Kicking Ass Content Connections http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/ Stephanie Booth's online ramblings Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:15:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Lorelle http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14505 Lorelle Sun, 05 Aug 2007 03:39:13 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14505 <p>You are so write - I mean, right. :D</p> <p><br></p> <p>Integrity wins. Always.</p> <p><br></p> <p>I just wish it wasn't so hard for everyone to think, live, and work that way.</p> You are so write – I mean, right. :D


Integrity wins. Always.


I just wish it wasn't so hard for everyone to think, live, and work that way.

]]> By: Lorelle http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14504 Lorelle Sat, 04 Aug 2007 21:39:13 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14504 <p>You are so write - I mean, right. :D</p> <p>Integrity wins. Always.</p> <p>I just wish it wasn't so hard for everyone to think, live, and work that way.</p> You are so write – I mean, right. :D

Integrity wins. Always.

I just wish it wasn’t so hard for everyone to think, live, and work that way.

]]> By: Bart http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14507 Bart Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:32:42 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14507 <p>Personally, I think people should say what they want to say in their blog as thoroughly and effectively as possible, then the comments and traffic will follow. Rarely is anyone perfect enough that they will stop all conversation with their writing.</p> <p><br></p> <p>I feel like "how do I get more comments" was an overall theme of how you (Lorelle) talked about things, even when you were commenting on other people's talks. When I'm following someone's blog, there's nothing worse than seeing an author's writing shift towards doing things to get more comments instead of just focusing on what they want to say. I've known many people who get discouraged when their posts get few comments and stop writing the things that got me reading their blog on a regular basis in the first place. Even worse is when people start complaining in their next posts how this and this didn't get them the attention they wanted.</p> <p><br></p> <p>This gets into artistic integrity. Should an artist change what he paints to fill up his galleries more quickly? Should a musician write songs about topics that more people are interested in? I think it should all just come from the heart and the rest will follow.</p> Personally, I think people should say what they want to say in their blog as thoroughly and effectively as possible, then the comments and traffic will follow. Rarely is anyone perfect enough that they will stop all conversation with their writing.


I feel like “how do I get more comments” was an overall theme of how you (Lorelle) talked about things, even when you were commenting on other people's talks. When I'm following someone's blog, there's nothing worse than seeing an author's writing shift towards doing things to get more comments instead of just focusing on what they want to say. I've known many people who get discouraged when their posts get few comments and stop writing the things that got me reading their blog on a regular basis in the first place. Even worse is when people start complaining in their next posts how this and this didn't get them the attention they wanted.


This gets into artistic integrity. Should an artist change what he paints to fill up his galleries more quickly? Should a musician write songs about topics that more people are interested in? I think it should all just come from the heart and the rest will follow.

]]> By: Bart http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14500 Bart Thu, 26 Jul 2007 20:32:42 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14500 <p>Personally, I think people should say what they want to say in their blog as thoroughly and effectively as possible, then the comments and traffic will follow. Rarely is anyone perfect enough that they will stop all conversation with their writing.</p> <p>I feel like "how do I get more comments" was an overall theme of how you (Lorelle) talked about things, even when you were commenting on other people's talks. When I'm following someone's blog, there's nothing worse than seeing an author's writing shift towards doing things to get more comments instead of just focusing on what they want to say. I've known many people who get discouraged when their posts get few comments and stop writing the things that got me reading their blog on a regular basis in the first place. Even worse is when people start complaining in their next posts how this and this didn't get them the attention they wanted.</p> <p>This gets into artistic integrity. Should an artist change what he paints to fill up his galleries more quickly? Should a musician write songs about topics that more people are interested in? I think it should all just come from the heart and the rest will follow.</p> Personally, I think people should say what they want to say in their blog as thoroughly and effectively as possible, then the comments and traffic will follow. Rarely is anyone perfect enough that they will stop all conversation with their writing.

I feel like “how do I get more comments” was an overall theme of how you (Lorelle) talked about things, even when you were commenting on other people’s talks. When I’m following someone’s blog, there’s nothing worse than seeing an author’s writing shift towards doing things to get more comments instead of just focusing on what they want to say. I’ve known many people who get discouraged when their posts get few comments and stop writing the things that got me reading their blog on a regular basis in the first place. Even worse is when people start complaining in their next posts how this and this didn’t get them the attention they wanted.

This gets into artistic integrity. Should an artist change what he paints to fill up his galleries more quickly? Should a musician write songs about topics that more people are interested in? I think it should all just come from the heart and the rest will follow.

]]> By: Lorelle http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14506 Lorelle Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:54:52 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14506 <p>Actually, I believe that if I said anything about the quality of posts it was about the quality of the comments, not the quantity. Quantity isn't important. That's why I don't look at my stats very often, nor blog for them. I blog for the one reader, not the many and most of my posts don't get comments.</p> <p><br></p> <p>The point of the two points mentioned, Bart, was that we as bloggers need to share our experiences and expertise to find what's missing that isn't being talked about. Sometimes those are the most important points to be made, not the obvious ones.</p> <p><br></p> <p>And IF you want comments, a constant question I get teaching blogging techniques, then present your information in a way that lets the reader join into the conversation. You can write a "complete" idea that invites participation, but expecting comments when you leave no room for conversation won't get you comments.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Stephanie, thank you for the great description of my talk. I love all the audience input that helped guide the program. Oh, and my comment about knowing about terrorism, that was against handling comment spammers not comments in general. :D</p> Actually, I believe that if I said anything about the quality of posts it was about the quality of the comments, not the quantity. Quantity isn't important. That's why I don't look at my stats very often, nor blog for them. I blog for the one reader, not the many and most of my posts don't get comments.


The point of the two points mentioned, Bart, was that we as bloggers need to share our experiences and expertise to find what's missing that isn't being talked about. Sometimes those are the most important points to be made, not the obvious ones.


And IF you want comments, a constant question I get teaching blogging techniques, then present your information in a way that lets the reader join into the conversation. You can write a “complete” idea that invites participation, but expecting comments when you leave no room for conversation won't get you comments.


Stephanie, thank you for the great description of my talk. I love all the audience input that helped guide the program. Oh, and my comment about knowing about terrorism, that was against handling comment spammers not comments in general. :D

]]> By: Bart http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14509 Bart Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:47:01 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14509 <p>I liked Lorelle's talk the least. She sounded like a car salesman / church pastor and I didn't like her telling people how to blog. There were also a lot of contradictions in her talk, like the part about "finding holes to fill," then telling us to leave stuff out of our posts on purpose just to elicit comments. I take offense to the notion that the quality of a post can be judged by the number of comments it receives (go to <a href="http://TMZ.com">TMZ.com</a> and you will find the opposite to be the case) and it doesn't seem very authentic to be writing posts just to get more comments. On my favorite blogs, I've read many great posts that didn't generate a lot of comments. It's nice to see something written so well that makes you think "wow, that was so great I don't even have anything to add".</p> I liked Lorelle's talk the least. She sounded like a car salesman / church pastor and I didn't like her telling people how to blog. There were also a lot of contradictions in her talk, like the part about “finding holes to fill,” then telling us to leave stuff out of our posts on purpose just to elicit comments. I take offense to the notion that the quality of a post can be judged by the number of comments it receives (go to TMZ.com and you will find the opposite to be the case) and it doesn't seem very authentic to be writing posts just to get more comments. On my favorite blogs, I've read many great posts that didn't generate a lot of comments. It's nice to see something written so well that makes you think “wow, that was so great I don't even have anything to add”.

]]> By: Lorelle http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14503 Lorelle Tue, 24 Jul 2007 19:54:52 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14503 <p>Actually, I believe that if I said anything about the quality of posts it was about the quality of the comments, not the quantity. Quantity isn't important. That's why I don't look at my stats very often, nor blog for them. I blog for the one reader, not the many and most of my posts don't get comments.</p> <p>The point of the two points mentioned, Bart, was that we as bloggers need to share our experiences and expertise to find what's missing that isn't being talked about. Sometimes those are the most important points to be made, not the obvious ones.</p> <p>And IF you want comments, a constant question I get teaching blogging techniques, then present your information in a way that lets the reader join into the conversation. You can write a "complete" idea that invites participation, but expecting comments when you leave no room for conversation won't get you comments.</p> <p>Stephanie, thank you for the great description of my talk. I love all the audience input that helped guide the program. Oh, and my comment about knowing about terrorism, that was against handling comment spammers not comments in general. :D</p> Actually, I believe that if I said anything about the quality of posts it was about the quality of the comments, not the quantity. Quantity isn’t important. That’s why I don’t look at my stats very often, nor blog for them. I blog for the one reader, not the many and most of my posts don’t get comments.

The point of the two points mentioned, Bart, was that we as bloggers need to share our experiences and expertise to find what’s missing that isn’t being talked about. Sometimes those are the most important points to be made, not the obvious ones.

And IF you want comments, a constant question I get teaching blogging techniques, then present your information in a way that lets the reader join into the conversation. You can write a “complete” idea that invites participation, but expecting comments when you leave no room for conversation won’t get you comments.

Stephanie, thank you for the great description of my talk. I love all the audience input that helped guide the program. Oh, and my comment about knowing about terrorism, that was against handling comment spammers not comments in general. :D

]]> By: Bart http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14501 Bart Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:47:01 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14501 <p>I liked Lorelle's talk the least. She sounded like a car salesman / church pastor and I didn't like her telling people how to blog. There were also a lot of contradictions in her talk, like the part about "finding holes to fill," then telling us to leave stuff out of our posts on purpose just to elicit comments. I take offense to the notion that the quality of a post can be judged by the number of comments it receives (go to TMZ.com and you will find the opposite to be the case) and it doesn't seem very authentic to be writing posts just to get more comments. On my favorite blogs, I've read many great posts that didn't generate a lot of comments. It's nice to see something written so well that makes you think "wow, that was so great I don't even have anything to add".</p> I liked Lorelle’s talk the least. She sounded like a car salesman / church pastor and I didn’t like her telling people how to blog. There were also a lot of contradictions in her talk, like the part about “finding holes to fill,” then telling us to leave stuff out of our posts on purpose just to elicit comments. I take offense to the notion that the quality of a post can be judged by the number of comments it receives (go to TMZ.com and you will find the opposite to be the case) and it doesn’t seem very authentic to be writing posts just to get more comments. On my favorite blogs, I’ve read many great posts that didn’t generate a lot of comments. It’s nice to see something written so well that makes you think “wow, that was so great I don’t even have anything to add”.

]]> By: Jessi http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14508 Jessi Sun, 22 Jul 2007 21:22:00 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14508 <p>Thank you for transcribing notes! I was there. I enjoyed Lorelle's hammy, chummy delivery. Her direction to leave "holes" in our posts that our readers can fill in with comments was the most sound advice given the entire day.</p> <p><br></p> <p>Wow, when I tried to post this comment just now, an alert came up that said since I use Safari, I have to change my security prefs to allow all cookies always. Then it refreshed the page, getting rid of my comment draft! Luckily I was able to use my back button to get to it. I'm changing my prefs and will change them back after this posts. I won't do it again, though! I hope you change your commenting system to make it easier for Safari users.</p> Thank you for transcribing notes! I was there. I enjoyed Lorelle's hammy, chummy delivery. Her direction to leave “holes” in our posts that our readers can fill in with comments was the most sound advice given the entire day.


Wow, when I tried to post this comment just now, an alert came up that said since I use Safari, I have to change my security prefs to allow all cookies always. Then it refreshed the page, getting rid of my comment draft! Luckily I was able to use my back button to get to it. I'm changing my prefs and will change them back after this posts. I won't do it again, though! I hope you change your commenting system to make it easier for Safari users.

]]> By: Jessi http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14502 Jessi Sun, 22 Jul 2007 15:22:00 +0000 http://climbtothestars.org/archives/2007/07/21/wordcamp-2007-lorelle-vanfossen-kicking-ass-content-connections/#comment-14502 <p>Thank you for transcribing notes! I was there. I enjoyed Lorelle's hammy, chummy delivery. Her direction to leave "holes" in our posts that our readers can fill in with comments was the most sound advice given the entire day.</p> <p>Wow, when I tried to post this comment just now, an alert came up that said since I use Safari, I have to change my security prefs to allow all cookies always. Then it refreshed the page, getting rid of my comment draft! Luckily I was able to use my back button to get to it. I'm changing my prefs and will change them back after this posts. I won't do it again, though! I hope you change your commenting system to make it easier for Safari users.</p> Thank you for transcribing notes! I was there. I enjoyed Lorelle’s hammy, chummy delivery. Her direction to leave “holes” in our posts that our readers can fill in with comments was the most sound advice given the entire day.

Wow, when I tried to post this comment just now, an alert came up that said since I use Safari, I have to change my security prefs to allow all cookies always. Then it refreshed the page, getting rid of my comment draft! Luckily I was able to use my back button to get to it. I’m changing my prefs and will change them back after this posts. I won’t do it again, though! I hope you change your commenting system to make it easier for Safari users.

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