Twenty of my favorite ways to engage online

By Margie Clayman | July 20, 2011 |

As we wind down on the Engagement Series, I have to admit that I’m filled with a solid mixture of nostalgia and gratitude. I mean, let’s face facts here. Did I know you when I wrote post #1? Statistically speaking, the chances are good I did not!

I’ve learned a lot and (I think) I’ve grown a lot this year and over the duration of this series, so I thought I would use this time to tell you about the experiences and people who helped me get here. I share this information in the hopes that you will be able to enjoy the same benefits as I have!

Chats

Many of the people I’ve met I met because I tried out Twitter chats. Among my faves are:

1. #tweetdiner: Saturday nights at 9 PM EST (ok, I’m biased on that one)

2. #blogchat: Sunday nights at 9 PM EST

3. #mmchat: Monday nights at 8 PM EST

4. #leadershipchat: Tuesday nights at 8 PM EST

5. #custserv: Tuesday nights at 9 PM EST

6. #bizforum: Wednesday nights at 8 PM EST

7. #imcchat: every other Wednesday night at 8 PM EST

8. #b2bchat: Thursday nights at 8 PM EST

Blog Communities

One of the greatest ways to meet people is running into them in comment sections. You know you probably have similar interests since you’re at the same site, and you also get more than 140 characters, which is nice. Here are some of my favorite bloggy communities (other than y’all here, of course!):

9. Chris Brogan’s blog: I’ve met great people just because we all commented on Chris’s posts. That’s how I met folks like Rufus and Raul!

10. Mark Schaefer’s blog: Mark has such a great vibe on his site. Folks like Davina Brewer and Jay Baer often hang out over there.

11. Geoff Livingston’s blog: Reading comments from guys like Matt Ridings makes me feel a bit like an intellectual neanderthal, I fully admit. Geoff writes smart posts and his community responds in kind!

12. Danny Brown’s blog: In one comment thread on Danny’s site, you can find yourself nodding emphatically, arguing emphatically, and laughing your butt off. Now that’s fun!

13. Ingrid Abboud’s blog: Griddy-poo, as I’ve come to call her, has built a stellar community, in part because she pays tribute to those who comment a lot on her posts. She’s got a lot of great ideas there!

14. Gini Dietrich’s blog: It’s always fun to see who Gini is holding forth with on her site. Her exchanges with great folks like Nancy Davis make it cozy over there.

15. Jay Baer’s blog: Like Geoff Livingston, Jay’s commenters sometimes put my brain to shame, but they can also make me snort milk outta my nose (sometimes both at the same time, which is a very complex emotion). Jay’s interactions with folks over there really help seal the community together.

Favorite “other stuff” for engagement

Not everything is about straight-laced social media platforms. I also highly recommend looking into some of the following:

16. Tuning in to Kitchen Table Talks on Tuesday afternoons at 2 PM EST with Joe Sorge and Chris Brogan (it’s tied to Kitchen Table Companies). They always bring great guests on and they are growing a smart, fun community around the show.

17. The #usguys stream: You’ve heard a lot about #usguys on this blog and elsewhere, but the community (because that’s what it is) has become an invaluable part of my online existence. You can stop in at any time.

18. Facebook pages: I really enjoy interacting with people on Facebook pages. The conversation is usually streamlined around specific subjects, and it’s a great way to meet new people. I’ve had a lot of fun getting to know people who have popped by the Tweetdiner Facebook page, for example.

19. Forum websites: I have really enjoyed experiences I’ve had on forum sites like Third Tribe and Kitchen Table Companies. Yes, you have to pay for a membership, but I may never have gotten to talk to folks like Susan Giurleo or Jim Raffel if I hadn’t popped my head into some of these communities.

20. The People

I’ve mentioned a lot of people here today and in the past, but right at this juncture, it’s fitting to point out that I wouldn’t be here without YOU! That’s right, you! Whether you silently read or comment everyday, you help me stay on track here on ye olde blog. I never could have guessed I’d get so many subscribers – ever. I never could have predicted that I could bring such great people here to my site or to other places in the online world.

You – you rock. And I’m forever grateful that I get to engage with you.

How have you worked on your engagement in the online world? Who or what did I miss?

Hey, let’s talk about it…and engage 🙂

This is post #91 in the Engagement Series. Thank you for reading!!

Image by Benjamin Earwicker. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/bjearwicke

Posted in Marketing Talk

23 Comments

  1. Anne Saulovich on July 20, 2011 at 8:08 pm

    Margie,

    Lovely post. You reference some great people, blogs, communities (w00t #UsGuys!) and chats. Speaking of which, I think I can catch you over at the #bizforum chat right about now. 🙂

    That said, your blog needs a “+1 button” so I can bookmark this great post over on G+!

    Thanks for all you do!

    • Anne Saulovich on July 20, 2011 at 8:09 pm

      Opps. Just saw your +1 Button. NEVERMIND. 🙂

    • Margie Clayman on July 21, 2011 at 9:40 pm

      Thanks, Anne. We overlap in a lot of places…not surprising since you’re awesome!

  2. Raúl Colón on July 20, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    Thanks for the mention. I am so happy I met you via Chris Brogan’s Blog. You are one of the few people that make me smile and laugh many times a week.

    Why are you halting the Engagement Series.. Harry Potter ran for 10 years I say Engagement Series runs for 20.

    Have an awesome rest of the week!

    • Margie Clayman on July 21, 2011 at 9:41 pm

      Ah, Raul, you always hold me to the highest of standards. I had set out an engagement series of 100 posts, and I’m almost to 100…I think that’s enough posts on any subject, no matter what the subject is! Even Harry Potter 🙂

      You are awesome.

      • Amber-Lee Dibble on July 22, 2011 at 3:12 am

        What is your next … mountain, Margie? Do you know yet? Have I missed it? I like this list, thanks for it. It’s one of the biggies I have yet to explore- the #chats… not yet. After this season coming I’ll take that step. I’m glad I connected with you, I hope you aren’t doing something crazy…like telling us “ta-ta”!
        Take care and I’m just going to look forward to whatever you are planning next. ~Amber-Lee

  3. Renee DeCoskey on July 20, 2011 at 11:25 pm

    Business2Community.com! I owe them so much. I’m basically here because of them. 🙂

    • Margie Clayman on July 21, 2011 at 9:41 pm

      Good point, and an awful omission on my part!

    • Brian on July 23, 2011 at 2:22 pm

      Renee / Margie

      I owe just as much to both of you for being a part of Business 2 Community. Also, thanks for bringing Ingrid’s blog to my attention, I wasn’t aware of it but it is definitely on my list now to frequently check out.

  4. Nancy Davis on July 21, 2011 at 8:00 am

    I am just now getting into more Twitter chats. I really enjoy them. I made most of my Twitter friends on Chris Brogan’s blog, Spin Sucks and {Grow} they all have great communities and that is where I met you, Raul, and many others.

    Commenting on blogs is still my favorite way to get to know others 🙂

    • Margie Clayman on July 21, 2011 at 9:42 pm

      You truly excel at it, m’dear! You’ve really created your own community, and very quickly. It’s great to see!

  5. Kim Davies on July 21, 2011 at 8:39 am

    Hello, Margie.

    Yep, I didn’t know you when your Engagement series was started. But what I’ve known about you in Griddy’s house and in the places where I see you is that you always offer insightful comments that also have hints of humor. I don’t know if I will be able to manage that. I don’t think I have a humorous bone in my body. And, the places you mentioned above are all top-notch for engaging with others.

    We all appreciate you, Margie. And when you say we rock, all I can say to that is that we rock in part because we know you. 🙂

    • Margie Clayman on July 21, 2011 at 9:42 pm

      Gosh Kim, that is so darned sweet of you. Thank you! As for humor, I’ll bet you have a funny bone! 🙂

  6. Christina Pappas on July 21, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    We overlap in a lot of the communities you mentioned here but there are some tweetchats I have not heard of so I am going to start checking them out. Agree that these are a great way to meet people! Its interesting because I did not know you when you started your series either. In fact, it was because of one of the people on your list here (Gini Dietrich) that I bumped into you and I’m glad that you met her, made an impression and showed up as her #FF post so that I could start interacting with you!

    • Margie Clayman on July 21, 2011 at 9:43 pm

      Gini did me a very great favor by introducing me to folks like you. No question about it. I shall be forever grateful! However, it’s thanks to you because you stuck around. That means a lot too 🙂

  7. Susan Giurleo on July 21, 2011 at 4:36 pm

    Margie, I am forever grateful that we met – where? Third Tribe, Kitchen Table Companies, Chris’ blog? Who cares? Just glad we’ve had a chance to get to know one another (and I think we owe Chris a ‘thank you’, too) : )

    • Margie Clayman on July 21, 2011 at 9:44 pm

      I agree, Susan. You are a great addition to my circle of friends and a real wonder to watch in action. Very glad it all worked out this way!

  8. Judy Helfand on July 22, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    Margie,
    I am not sure, but I think we happened upon each other either on Chris Brogan’s blog or #blogchat..and I am happy we did.

    Judy

  9. Jeff on July 23, 2011 at 7:02 am

    Great job and thanks for the information. I will be checking out several of these this week. See you Saturday night at 9pm.

  10. Davina K. Brewer on July 23, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    I’d like to spend more time in chats if I could, and I have spent more than a few hours in some forums – fun, hobby stuff, not work 😉 ; I’m already enjoying G+ in that aspect, the biz engagement. I like the blog communities a lot, the discussions – am trying a ‘comment lite diet’ but of course am happy to visit many of the blogs you mentioned. If I could add a name: Marcus Sheridan’s The Sales Lion. He’s got some smart folks who really engage, leave some impressive and helpful comments so that’s a solid blog community. FWIW.

  11. Jason Sokol on July 24, 2011 at 10:18 am

    Holy cow Margie! You sure do get around. I’m just struggling with keeping my blog updated at the moment, let alone visit all of these sites. I’ve been to many of them, but I will have to drop by many of them as I have time.

    Thanks for all the wonderful resources. Oh, if I had to add one to the list, I would throw in David Meerman Scott’s blog. He rocks and so do many of his followers.

    @jwsokol

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